Coaster Enthusiasts of Canada

BOOKS
about the
WORLD OF TOMORROW
1939 - 40 WORLD'S FAIR


The following books are exclusively about The New York
World's Fair of 1939-40. Although not officially
sanctioned by The Bureau of International Exhibitions
as a Class One fair, it none the less deserves a place
in history as one of the best of these types of fairs.
For an overview of World's Fairs, see the General section.



THE FOLLOWING MAY NOT BE REPRODUCED
WITHOUT PERMISSION FROM THE AUTHOR ©




                                ________

AMERICAN ART TODAY  (1987)
  "New York World's Fair 1939"

        *(No Further Information.)


Published By:
        

ISBN:

Price:








                                ________

BILLY ROSE'S AQUACADE (1940)

       By (No Author Credited.) This large-format booklet (22 X 30cm)
       is more of a souvenir program than a book. In the second year
       of The New York World's Fair of 1939/1940, master showman and
       promoter, Billy Rose put on a big water show with synchronized
       swimming as the main attraction. Notables such as Eleanor Holm
       and Buster Crabbe starred in a show that featured live
       orchestras and singers of the day. The theme was World's Fairs
       of the Past. * (This booklet describes the show and performers,
       and gives a show program. There are many advertisements of the
       day from the show's sponsors.)

Published By:
        Isaac Goldman Company
        New York, New York
        U.S.A.

ISBN:
Price:
                                ________

DAWN OF A NEW DAY  (1980)
  "The New York World's Fair, 1939/1940"

        By Helen Harrison (Editor). This is a catalog of an exhibit at
        The Queen's Museum, but contains a lot of fair information, as
        well. *(Not Reviewed.)

Published By:
        University Press
        New York, New York
        U.S.A.

ISBN:


Price:




                                ________

FUTURAMA (1940)

        By (No Author Credited.) This small booklet (21 X 18cm) was
        put out by General Motors Corporation, most likely as a
        souvenir to those that visited their giant model at the Fair.
        The model (put in for the 1940 season), was MASSIVE: 3200
        square meters in area, 500,000 buildings, thousands of
        kilometers of roadways, and 1,000,000 trees. It showed their
        vision of a future (1960) community with city, farm,
        industrial, and recreational areas. *(Recommended. This was a
        fascinating exhibit and this book gives a good overview. It's
        amazing how accurate their predictions were. Even though not
        all of them arrived by 1960, they're here now: Yarns made
        from milk, eyeglasses made from coal, glass that bends, and
        the "talking flashlight" (light-beam communication) are just
        some that are mentioned. Though few give details, each page
        has pictures of a model section accompanied by the narration
        that patrons heard from individual speakers imbedded into
        552 "sound chairs", a moving chair system that took one
        through the model.) (No Publication Details Available.)
                                ________

MAKING A WORLD'S FAIR (1958)

        By Ed Tyng. A book about the directors' efforts to make
        this fair a reality. *(Not Reviewed.)

Published By:
        

ISBN:

Price:









                                ________

THE NEW YORK WORLD'S FAIR, 1939/1940  (1977)

        By Stanley Applebaum. *(No Further Information.)

Published By:
        Dover
        New York, New York
        U.S.A.

ISBN:

Price:








                                ________

THE NEW YORK WORLD'S FAIR, 1939/1940 IN 155 PHOTOGRAPHS (1977)

        By Richard Wurts. An overview of the fair in pictures *(Not
        Reviewed.)

Published By:
        Dover Publications

ISBN:   0486234940

Price:  $9.95









                                ________

NEW YORK WORLD'S FAIR VIEWS (1939)

       By (No Author Credited.) This large format picture book of
       24 X 30 cm shows pictures of the 1939/40 Fair. 48 pages of
       black & white photos and illustrations are in the book
       including a stylized map in the center. *(Recommended. For
       those that want to see what it was like, this picture book
       offers over 200 images, including pictures of The Amusement
       Area. In the background of one picture can be seen the
       parachute drop (now a rusting hulk at Coney Island) and one
       of Traver/Baker's famous "Cyclone" coasters.)

Published by:
        Quality Art Novelty Company
        Long Island City, New York
        U.S.A.

ISBN:

Price:
                                ________

1939: MUSIC AND THE WORLD'S FAIR (1998)

        By Claudia Swan, Robert Rosenblum and John Bell.
        *(Not Reviewed.)

Published By:
        Eos Music


ISBN:   0964808323


Price:  $25.00 (U.S. Funds)







                                ________

THE 1939 NEW YORK WORLD'S FAIR IN POSTCARDS (1988)

        By Herbert Rolfes. *(Not Reviewed.)

Published By:


ISBN:

Price:  $29.95










                                ________

1939: THE LOST WORLD OF THE FAIR (1995)

       By David Hillel Gelernter. This book discusses the fair partly
       through fictional characters based on discussions with those
       that witnessed it for themselves, and partly by the author
       himself. It includes a map of The 1939 Fair on endpapers, a
       photo section and index. *(The author discusses the fair from
       a somewhat synical 1990's perspective. Only selected areas of
       the fair are covered as were taken from literature of the time
       and the interviewee's memories. As such, it is not the best for
       those wishing an extensive description of the pavilions and
       attractions.)

Published by:
        The Free Press
        866 Third Avenue
        New York, New York
        U.S.A.  10022

ISBN:   0-02-874002-5                           Price:  $27.00 (Cdn. Funds)
                                ________

OFFICIAL GUIDE - NEW YORK WORLD'S FAIR (1939)
 "The World of Tomorrow"
       
       Fair Guide Book. Includes a fold-out color map in 3-D relief
       and a complete index. A copy is in The CEC's archives.
       * (This exhibition which also ran during the 1940 season, is
       looked upon fondly by most fair buffs. Although not
       officially sanctioned by the I.E.S., it's usually included in 
       most reference books on World's Fairs.)

Published by:
       Exposition Publications
       New York, New York
       U.S.A.

Original cost:
       $0.25 (1939 U.S. Funds)



                                ________

PATCHWORK SOUVENIRS OF THE 1933 WORLD'S FAIR (1993)
 "The Sears National Quilt Contest and 
      Chicago's Century of Progress Exposition"

       By Merikay Waldvogel and Barbara Brackman. *(Not Reviewed.)

Published By:
       Rutledge Hill Press

ISBN:  1558532579

Price: $19.95








                                ________

REMEMBERING THE FUTURE (1989)
 "The New York World's Fair from 1939-1964"

        By various authors. Gives a history of the two New York
        World's Fairs 1939-1940 and 1964-1965. This 200-page book was
        published in conjunction with an exhibition at the Queens
        Museum, NY. It covers topics such as Science & Technology,
        Arts, Architecture, etc. *(Recommended. Although leaning
        toward the 1964-65 fair, this book does a good job of
        comparing the two fairs with lots of pictures, behind-the-
        scenes information, and comments by well-known personalities
        of the times. Essays discuss various themes, and themes that
        were never to be. One detriment to readers of this website is
        that the amusement area is not discussed, save for the odd item
        like the U.S. Rubber ferris wheel.)

Published by:                                   Price: Unknown
        Rizzoli International Publications
        300 Park Avenue South
        New York, New York 10010                ISBN:  0-8478-1122-0
                                ________

SIX 1939 NEW YORK WORLD'S FAIR POSTCARDS (1994)


       By Maggie Kate. *(Not Reviewed.) 

Published By:
       Dover Publications

ISBN:  0486282198

Price: $1.00









                                ________

TRYLON (19  )

        By? 200 Pictures; most in colour. No additional details, but 
        may be the same book as the next listing, despite different
        ISBN's. *(Not Reviewed)


Published By:
        

ISBN:   0-8109-2415-3

Price:  $24.95 (U.S. Funds)







                                ________

TRYLON AND PERISPHERE (1989)
 "The 1939 New York World's Fair"

        By Barbara Cohen, Seymour Chwast, and Steven Heller. This is
        a large format picture book mainly showing memorabilia and
        collectibles associated with the fair. There is a write-up
        about the fair itself, and many letters and comments [some
        from famous people of the time] are included. *(Recommended.
        The picture quality is excellent thanks to the fact that many
        were taken on the then-new transparency film: "Kodachrome".
        This is an especially good book for collectors because of the
        range of fair items pictured, and also for the many views not
        usually seen in books about this world exhibition.) May be
        the same book as the above listing.

Published by:                                   Price: (Unknown)
       Abrams

ISBN:   08 1092 4153

                                ________

THE WORLD OF TOMORROW (1988)
 "The 1939 New York World's Fair"

        By Larry Zim, Mel Lerner, and Herbert Rolfes. This book has
        a strong emphasis on souvenirs and exhibits. *(Not Reviewed.)

Published By:
       Harper & Row
       New York. New York
       U.S.A.

ISBN:  

Price: 






                                ________

WORLD'S FAIR COLLECTIBLES:  (1998)
  "Chicago 1933 and New york 1939"

        By Howard Rossen. *(No Further Information.)

Published By:
        

ISBN:   0764304607

Price:  $29.95 (U.S. Funds)



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