GALLERY

IT'S BEEN LIKENED TO THE PIED PIPER OF HAMELIN

... this Cities Service World's Fair Band of America -- as it moves around the fairgrounds on its custom-built bandstand attracting listeners by the hundreds to various parts of the Fair. The unique bandstand is said to be the second most photographed object on the fairgrounds. The self-propelled, two-unit bandwagon is 72 feet long, 9 feet wide and 12 feet high. Operated by a driver in the lead unit and a tiller steersman in the rear unit, the bandwagon is jack-knifed to form a bandstand for concerts. When it is moving it operates at a speed of five miles per hour. The 50-man band, under the baton of Paul Lavalle, plays anything from jazz to the classics in its six daily concerts. It has added the national anthems of several countries to its repertoire as it provided music for the celebration of special days and dedications. TV-viewers in England, Italy, Spain and Japan have seen it in special news films, and the Voice of America has taped it for overseas broadcast. The Cities Service World's Fair Band of America is in direct personal contact with thousands of people from all over America and the world daily and is serving as an outstanding representative of Cities Service.

Source: Unknown ... possibly Cities Service Literature

Come listen to the world's most exciting music!

CITIES SERVICE WORLD'S FAIR BAND OF AMERICA

directed by PAUL LAVALLE

The stirring melodies of America, the historic music of the nations of the world, the rhythms that have inspired millions of men and women everywhere -- this is what you will hear from the Cities Service World's Fair Band of America. Six memorable concerts every day at the Fair. Just come and listen. Admission is free.

Source: Official Guide to the NY World's Fair - Advertisement

Source: Unknown

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THE CITIES SERVICE WORLD'S FAIR BAND OF AMERICA

Paul Lavalle The Cities Service World's Fair Band of America, conducted by the renowned bandmaster Paul Lavalle, plays daily from its unique self-propelled bandstand at the New York World's Fair. Mr. Lavalle, who is a noted composer, has conducted Cities Services musical programs on radio and television since 1944. Traveling in the two-unit, 72-foot long bandwagon, The Cities Service World's Fair Band of America of 50 musicians plays on the move and performs concerts to audiences in all areas. The official band of the New York World's Fair, The Cities Service World's Fair Band of America is presented by Cities Service Companies whose principal operating subsidiaries are: Cities Service Oil Company, Cities Service Gas Company, Colombian Carbon Company, Tennessee Corporation, Cities Service Tankers Corporation, and Cities Service International, Inc.

Source: Cities Service Post Card, Courtesy of Rich Post

 

Paul Lavalle Conducts The World's Fair Suite

Paul Lavalle, Conductor ...a dynamic premier performance April 22, 1964, opening day at the New York World's Fair. The debut of Grofe's suite was conducted by Paul Lavalle and played with evident relish by The World's Fair Symphony Orchestra. In this first recorded performance of The World's Fair Suite -- the official recording -- Paul LaValle is again the man behind the baton, using his generous skills to charge the music with all that is intended by the composer -- the limitless wonder, noble meaning, excitement and just plain fun of this big international show!

Source: LP Record Album, The World's Fair Suite by Ferde Grofe', Courtesy of Rich Post

Webmaster's note... Thank you to Rich Post and to Suzanne Lavalle Bothamley for a contribution of photographs of her father and the Cities Service World's Fair Band of America. It documents a happy part of the Fair for so many people who were able to hear the Band during those two summers of the Fair. Suzanne writes...

My father was Paul Lavalle, director of the Cities Service Band of America. I spent two memorable summers riding around on the band wagon as it traveled all around the fair each day and every day ending with a concert in front of the Unisphere. I remember meeting and having dinner with Walt Disney and my
dad, Lucille Ball deciding to forego a good bit of her planned tour of the fair to ride around (and swing the baton a few times herself) on the band wagon, meeting Richard Nixon, who had known dad for years and couldn't wait to direct the band himself and meeting President Johnson on that dreadfully rainy opening day. And I could go on for hours... Sadly, Dad is no longer with us, but I know one of his fondest memories was the time spent on that band wagon playing for and greeting thousands of people everyday. He and the band indeed had the best possible vantage point and it was a magical time for them.

August 5, 2002