(Cotter 10)
Plans
In May of 1935, a Jackson Heights engineer, Joseph F. Shagden presented an idea of a fair to New York businessmen (Appelbaum ix). After the idea was formed, a Steering committee formed (to set agendas and schedules). A temporary bank loan for $27 million worth of bonds to public businesses and unions and private donations from local millionaires was raised (Appelbaum ix). the next step was for planning to begin in 1936 (Appelbaum ix). This fair marked the first time definite plans were made to give to the local gov’t to use the space after the fair as a park (Appelbaum ix).
$26.7 million was spent for the permanent buildings. New York State spent $6.2 for amphitheater that houses Aquacade and a temporary building. Foreign nations paid between $30-$35 million for pavilions. The total cost for construction was $42 million. $52 million was paid by other sources such as exhibitors (Appelbaum ix, xi). The total investment was $160 million (Appelbaum xi).
The money made would distributed thus: 40% was to pay off Fair Corporations bonds. The first $2 million after that goes to New York for preparing the fair and $1.7 million goes to the city for extending the subway system. The rest of the revenue would be given to local charities (Appelbaum xi).
Also, it was hoped the fair would send about a billion dollars into New York City (Appelbaum xi).
Just after the Great Depression, few owned cars, and many could only dream of owning a house. The fair held a sense of hope and promise of those who were living in this era (Cotter 7). Exhibits like Futurama and Democrcity had predicted everyone would own a home in the suburbs not the cities (Cotter 7).
The dreams of a bright future were displayed in an "imaginative setting" of odd buildings, colorful flowers, sculptures and fountains. (Cotter 8).
$26.7 million was spent for the permanent buildings. New York State spent $6.2 for amphitheater that houses Aquacade and a temporary building. Foreign nations paid between $30-$35 million for pavilions. The total cost for construction was $42 million. $52 million was paid by other sources such as exhibitors (Appelbaum ix, xi). The total investment was $160 million (Appelbaum xi).
The money made would distributed thus: 40% was to pay off Fair Corporations bonds. The first $2 million after that goes to New York for preparing the fair and $1.7 million goes to the city for extending the subway system. The rest of the revenue would be given to local charities (Appelbaum xi).
Also, it was hoped the fair would send about a billion dollars into New York City (Appelbaum xi).
Just after the Great Depression, few owned cars, and many could only dream of owning a house. The fair held a sense of hope and promise of those who were living in this era (Cotter 7). Exhibits like Futurama and Democrcity had predicted everyone would own a home in the suburbs not the cities (Cotter 7).
The dreams of a bright future were displayed in an "imaginative setting" of odd buildings, colorful flowers, sculptures and fountains. (Cotter 8).