Holy Stock Footage Batman!

Remember the old 1960's Batman TV series? Ever wondered what the first images were in the very first episode? Well, chances are you haven't, but the very first scenes were of the 1964 New York World's Fair. I ran across it last night and grabbed some screen caps of it. Naturally, the producers want the viewer to believe it was actually in Gotham City, but there's no doubt as to where it really was. While I'm still not an expert on naming the pavilions, you can see Johnson Wax, Eastman Kodak, Bell System, the Brass Rail refreshment stands (thanks to Michael for helping me with those), Better Living Center, General Electric, Pepsi-Cola, and I think the people entering are from the main entrance. Keep an eye out for episode 1 of Batman (Hey Diddle Riddle). You just never know where the Fair will pop up!

Observation Towers

Originally uploaded by duggy

Last weekend was spent totally obsessing about the New York World's Fair...the New York State's Towers still stand in much neglect. You can even see the “Star Streak” elevator stuck midway (to stop vandalism). The towers stand next to the New York State Pavilion (aka The Tent of Tomorrow). Each Observation Tower has a platform that is 64' diameter. There are 3 observation towers; the tallest is 226 feet high, giving a magnificent view of the Flushing Meadow site. It's just a shame no-one's been able to see it since 1965. There’s talk of refurbishing the towers and pavilion but after 42 years of talk it seems unlikely.

Worlds Fair Relics

Worlds Fair Relics
Originally uploaded by Seth W..

So we're back to the 1964 /1965 New York Worlds Fair again. Something keeps pulling me back. This photo is what's left of the New York State Pavilion and observation towers. The NY State Pavilion was also known as the "Tent of Tomorrow". It had (or has) the world's largest suspension roof, made of translucent colored plastic and hung from sixteen 100-foot concrete columns. On the main floor the Texaco Oil Company inlaid a mammoth map of the state in terrazzo. The map while still there, has broken into many pieces and the coloured roof removed in the 1970's. It was supposed to be bulldozed following the fair but still remains today - now a derelict remnant. The towers (of which there are 3) are still there but no longer operational. Then there's the Unisphere as well…

The Birds is coming!

I always thought it should have been The Birds ARE coming! I guess Hitchcock knew better. My latest obsession (if you could call it that) you have to go back to 1963. That year saw the release of Alfred Hitchcock's, The Birds. While at Universal Studios I was eager to photograph any location from any movie I'd seen. Naturally, I had The Birds, in mind. I had no idea if the sets were still standing. One of the scenes is where Melaine Daniels (Tippi Hedren) arrives at Bodega Bay and asks directions to the Brenner home. Later in the movie, poor Melanie gets trapped in a phone booth while the birds are attacking. It wasn't until tonight that I discovered, I did indeed take a photograph of the location. And it thrilled me no end. Yes, a tad geeky, but I don't care. I'm really happy the Universal lot still has buildings that have survived all these years. It's in a pretty generic area - so it can be used for countless different movies and TV series. But it will always be Bodega Bay for me. The photo would have been taken where the infamous phone booth would have been...just outside The Tides restaurant facade (which is also no longer there.)