My recollections and some restored photos from the archives after the jump...
We had season tickets, that I believe my Mom and Dad gave us as a present. The main thing I remember was that it was virtually impossible to get into the China Pavilion, the most popular exhibit. I believe we finally got in on the last day, as we made a frantic last round to try to see all the things we missed.
I also remember everyone trying to figure out an angle to make money on the fair. Lots of folks planned to rent extra rooms or houses or condos to visitors. My Mom and Dad had a house on Sevier Ave. that they had been renting to U.T. students. They fixed it up for the fair. I think they rented it a few times, but I don't believe anyone made a windfall from fair rentals, and nobody got the premium rates promoters were promising.
Some friends had a pub in one of the Victorian Houses in the artist district (I think, we never actually went there for some reason -- maybe it was too rowdy or something). One of them told me stories about hassles with the city and the beer license people and inspectors. I seem to recall him saying they didn't really make any money, probably due to paying themselves out of inventory.
We didn't see every exhibit at the fair, but at least we went up in the Sunsphere and rode the chair lift and saw some shows at the Amphitheater (the two I seem to remember enjoying the most were John Hartford and the Jeff Lorber Fusion, which unfortunately made Kenny G. famous) and had many beers at the Strohaus and at the Australian pavilion (our favorite watering hole). We also went to see the fireworks often, and had a great spot staked out on what was I believe the TVA exhibit barge.
We didn't go as often as one might expect. I guess we had to work, unlike folks who planned their vacation around the fair. Along with many others, we hightailed it out of town just after the World's Fair, owing mainly to the ripple effect of the Butcher banking empire collapse. I had job offers in Memphis and Orlando. We chose Orlando. Probably the best move I ever made.
View from the chair lift
Crowds at the Korean pavilion
View of the park in front of the then Convention and Expo center.
The Saudi pavilion
The fair drew huge crowds
Tennessee flags, base of the Sunsphere, and "Jake's Mistake" in the background.
The L&N Railroad building where Ruby Tuesday's was
The Candy Factory
The popular Antigua and Barbados Gemonites Steel Band
The Strohaus Beergarten
Flags of many nations
The Court of Flags
The river was a central feature. Here's the then new Calhouns.
Lots of big boats along the river.
The floating restaurant, where the enormous carp popcorn feeding frenzy was a huge attraction. The smaller barge over to the left was, I believe, the TVA floating exhibit. We would go around back where you see that railing to watch the fireworks, which were launched from a barge not too far away. It was awesome.
Submitted by bizgrrl on Tue, 2007/05/01 - 10:43am.
What a great time was to be had by so many!
Those were the days, my friend
We thought they'd never end
We'd sing and dance forever and a day
We'd live the life we'd choose
We'd fight and never lose
For we were young and sure to have our way
Submitted by rocketsquirrel on Tue, 2007/05/01 - 12:45pm.
hey cool. our friend and former Fourth and Giller, good librul attorney John Austin was quoted in the Time article from 1982. most of the landlords who tried to jack the rents didn't make much money, but I'm glad to know someone was keeping track.
For us it was half a lifetime ago. We were living in a tent in Cocke County because rentals were not to be found. The Old Man sure took pride in walking family and friends through those exhibits and pointing out what pipes he ran here and there.
What I don't remember is there ever being any crowds. I do remember thinking where is everyone?
Oh! I do remember our Cocke County neighbors complaining about the mile markers on 40 being changed to add kilometers.....
I remember the cool new K-Trans buses that lowered to accommodate elderly and handicapped passengers, and riding them every day from South Knoxville to Carnival World, in the old Kress building... ahhh, nothing like the basement of a huge arcade, where $5 per day bought unlimited tokens. For a kid, Carnival World was far superior to anything Worlds' Fair-related. Heh.
Submitted by Up Goose Creek on Tue, 2007/05/01 - 9:05pm.
I lived in the little house at the time and it was nothing to walk over the RR bridge and on to the Fair site. (the CSX bridge has a walkway) On the way you'd pass an amusement park where the T-B parking garage stands now.
I'll always remember driving down Cherokee Trail at night and getting a glimpse of that HUGE ferris wheel through the trees.
Most nights I'd climb up on the roof to watch the fireworks.
____________________________________
Less is the new More - Karrie Jacobs
My parents encouraged us kiddos to have a "World's Fair box" where we kept items from the Fair. I sealed it up not long after the Fair, and dug it out last night. Though I didn't go all the way through it, here's what I found thusfar:
1. it wasn't totally sealed; a mouse had been in it
2. a World's Fair watch, new, in box ('NIB') & with instructions (probably retailed at the fair for $20, probably worth that same $20 today)
3. World's Fair flame symbol painted by the Japanese pavillion's robot on the Fair's last day
4. unused postcard books
5. unopened deely boppers
6. couple sets of Sunsphere restaurant matchbooks
7. new (well 25 year old new) t-shirt
8. lots of programs
9. NIB sunsphere desk top model (with pencil sharpner in base; I'm sure you're swooning with envy ;-) )
10. big new Sunsphere poster
11. a few unopened decks of cards
12. family photos
Once I get thru the rest of the box, I'll try to report back what else was there. It was certainly fun looking back at all of the items.
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 2007/11/07 - 5:50pm.
was there a mention of the fair printed anywhere on the mb?
If there is and you would like to sell one I will pay $1.00 for a book but only if the World's Fair is mentioned...........
I recall the Park and Ride lots way the heck outside the city because people thought there'd be such a parking nightmare. There was one all the way out at either Lovell or Watt Road. With no parking problems, these lots closed in about 3-4 weeks.
Also, lots of landlords got greedy thinking there wasn't enough housing, so they booted out current tenants. And most of the landlords promptly lost their shirts since their apartments weren't needed by the tourists. Heh.
Submitted by redmondkr on Wed, 2007/05/02 - 1:35pm.
I knew a guy who built one of those park and ride lots on Lovell. He leased a farmer's land, agreed to restore it to its original condition after the fair, built the lot, bought a portable office - and never parked the first car.
It could not have happened to a more appropriate person.
What a great time was to be had by so many!
Those were the days, my friend
We thought they'd never end
We'd sing and dance forever and a day
We'd live the life we'd choose
We'd fight and never lose
For we were young and sure to have our way
(by Mary Hopkins)
I enjoyed the pictures.
Brian A.
I'd rather be cycling.
The Bear's Last Lap
Knoxville
October 16,1982
Vols-35 Tide-28
11 years of pain OVER!!
200,000 folks;in the neighborhood
I listened to the end of the game with
Jim Cooper;who was about to beat the fool outa
Cissy Baker for congress @ my dad's shoe store
in Morristown.
We had a Democratic Party rally,that evening,
Mayor Tyree was there;he was the Democratic nominee
for governor.
Somebody told Randy he had a call on his car phone.
Came back in & said he had to get back to Knoxville.
The celebration was getting out of control.
25 years my my
hey cool. our friend and former Fourth and Giller, good librul attorney John Austin was quoted in the Time article from 1982. most of the landlords who tried to jack the rents didn't make much money, but I'm glad to know someone was keeping track.
For us it was half a lifetime ago. We were living in a tent in Cocke County because rentals were not to be found. The Old Man sure took pride in walking family and friends through those exhibits and pointing out what pipes he ran here and there.
What I don't remember is there ever being any crowds. I do remember thinking where is everyone?
Oh! I do remember our Cocke County neighbors complaining about the mile markers on 40 being changed to add kilometers.....
I remember the cool new K-Trans buses that lowered to accommodate elderly and handicapped passengers, and riding them every day from South Knoxville to Carnival World, in the old Kress building... ahhh, nothing like the basement of a huge arcade, where $5 per day bought unlimited tokens. For a kid, Carnival World was far superior to anything Worlds' Fair-related. Heh.
Those were the days.
Thanks for the memories. It was a long time ago, but it was a good ride, wasn't it?
And, your memories are spot on as far as I'm concerned.
Gosh, that was fun. Why can't we do that again?
I lived in the little house at the time and it was nothing to walk over the RR bridge and on to the Fair site. (the CSX bridge has a walkway) On the way you'd pass an amusement park where the T-B parking garage stands now.
I'll always remember driving down Cherokee Trail at night and getting a glimpse of that HUGE ferris wheel through the trees.
Most nights I'd climb up on the roof to watch the fireworks.
____________________________________
Less is the new More - Karrie Jacobs
My parents encouraged us kiddos to have a "World's Fair box" where we kept items from the Fair. I sealed it up not long after the Fair, and dug it out last night. Though I didn't go all the way through it, here's what I found thusfar:
1. it wasn't totally sealed; a mouse had been in it
2. a World's Fair watch, new, in box ('NIB') & with instructions (probably retailed at the fair for $20, probably worth that same $20 today)
3. World's Fair flame symbol painted by the Japanese pavillion's robot on the Fair's last day
4. unused postcard books
5. unopened deely boppers
6. couple sets of Sunsphere restaurant matchbooks
7. new (well 25 year old new) t-shirt
8. lots of programs
9. NIB sunsphere desk top model (with pencil sharpner in base; I'm sure you're swooning with envy ;-) )
10. big new Sunsphere poster
11. a few unopened decks of cards
12. family photos
Once I get thru the rest of the box, I'll try to report back what else was there. It was certainly fun looking back at all of the items.
was there a mention of the fair printed anywhere on the mb?
If there is and you would like to sell one I will pay $1.00 for a book but only if the World's Fair is mentioned...........
I recall the Park and Ride lots way the heck outside the city because people thought there'd be such a parking nightmare. There was one all the way out at either Lovell or Watt Road. With no parking problems, these lots closed in about 3-4 weeks.
Also, lots of landlords got greedy thinking there wasn't enough housing, so they booted out current tenants. And most of the landlords promptly lost their shirts since their apartments weren't needed by the tourists. Heh.
I knew a guy who built one of those park and ride lots on Lovell. He leased a farmer's land, agreed to restore it to its original condition after the fair, built the lot, bought a portable office - and never parked the first car.
It could not have happened to a more appropriate person.
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