Highlight of the 1964 World's Fair
At the New York world's fair of 1964, the sounds of Gershwin and a tremendous display of water combined with light and color to come alive as the Fountain of the Planets. The pool of industry at the fair was an exhilarating place, especially during the night when large crowds would gather for synchronized water, music, light, and fireworks, that combined into a dazzling display. The music of "Rhapsody in blue" was a particular favorite of the crowds. The fountain of the planets would come alive in light and color, evoking memories of Broadway, only here, under open skies. The fountains became the music, matching and amplifying every mood. The surging waters changed in shape and intensity as they danced to Gershwin's Classics. Underwater floodlights played the spectrum along the orchestra, sending forth beams of liquid light in Hughes too intense to believe. And then, launched from within the powerful geysers, fireworks. Dazzling brilliance that painted the sky whenever the score rose to rechristen no. Within moments of the show's beginning, the audience was hooked, hushed and mesmerized. It seemed like you were soaring on a magic carpet ride, but it was, after all, the 1960s. The fair was all about the future, and at that historical moment, in the middle of a difficult decade, the future still looked very bright. Anything and everything seemed possible for most Americans. Science fiction was busy being turned into scientific fact by the ambitious space program. So it was not too much of a leap of faith to believe that one day. You could check into an underwater hotel, just like the one presented by General Motors at the Futurama exhibit. Looking forward to a commercial flight to the moon? It seemed just a matter of years away. Many young people yearn to go. The idealism of the Kennedy years, had set a course of change for the country. It was an error filled with hope and what that hope can high expectations. America was pulsating with high levels of energy, and the big fountain in the pool of industry seemed to be the manifestation of that energy. Of course, it was a wildly innocent era, that only the benefit of hindsight can produce. A popular song of the day promised "a great big beautiful tomorrow", if you were going to argue with the notion, least of all the young of the era that stared in large crowds at the power and majesty of the fountains.
Somehow, the brackish water, of the fountain of the planets was not unpleasant to smell. Somehow the unique odor added to the charged atmosphere of the late-night shows. It was like watching towering breaking waves, cascading across the ocean, glowing with phosphorescence. For many people that were there to witness it, the Fountain of the Planets occupies a special place in their memory.