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Letterhead

 FESTIVAL OF GAS STORY

FESTIVAL OF GAS PAVILION
FIRST AT THE WORLD'S FAIR

The Festival of Gas -- first at the New York World's Fair -- typifies the entire World's Fair in the sense that it has something for everyone ... young or old ... seeker of knowledge or seeker of fun.

The pavilion, sponsored by the gas industry, first to contract for space and break ground at the Fair, helped set the pattern that has been followed by most exhibitors ... entertainment and then ... education.

Designed by Walter Dorwin Teague Associates, the pavilion is a gleaming-white, open, spacious structure with pools, fountains, and colorful landscaping ... and it is a "fun" place.

Visitors will get their first preview of the pavilion while they ride a giant, gaily decorated Carousel, complete with huge, colorful prancing horses.

A number of special features, such as a Fun House, a Puppet Show, a Magic Show, a Garden of the Giants, a Pantomime Promenade, a Theater of Food, and one of the best restaurants at the Fair, will provide something of interest and entertainment for everyone.

Located on one of the main thoroughfares, the pavilion has an inviting, natural, park-like garden of amusement look which will draw Fair visitors.

A moving ramp will whisk people to the Carousel located in the heart of the pavilion twelve feet above the main floor.

From the Carousel, during a five-minute ride complete with narration, visitors will get a bird's eye view of the Festival of Gas and an introduction to special features of the pavilion.

At the end of the Carousel ride, another moving ramp will return them to the main floor and the entrance of the Fun House of the Future.

Visitors will enter the fun House on an outdoor ramp over a lagoon. Once inside they will experience a number of novel, amusing, surprising, and sometimes delightfully eerie adventures.

In the first section of the Fun House, engulfed in a weird eerie near-darkness, visitors will see the major milestones of man's use of natural gas -- from gas worship to gas use -- emerge before his eyes.

 
Source: American Gas Association Press Release - Presented Courtesy Gary Holmes Collection

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Then they will be whipped on a magic carpet into the second section of the Fun House where the story of gas energy in the future will be told in a dazzling and dramatic display of multiple images accompanied by narration and music.

Finally in the third section of the Fun House, visitors will see the Gas Producer's Wishing Wells. Looking into the Wishing Wells, they will take part in the actual search for gas, land by helicopter on a sea-borne drilling platform, and see exhibits of everyday products, such as plastics which are actually "made" from gas.

Next on the tour of the pavilion is the Gas Transmission Pipeline Labyrinth where visitors will see a cross section of the intricate technology through which natural gas is stored, transported, and provided to industry and individuals when and where it is wanted.

The Festival's Magic show is a spectacular demonstration of the use of gas in industry, and particularly in the manufacture of glass. Visitors will actually take part in experiments and demonstrations becoming part of the Magic Show themselves.

The Festival's Puppet Show, featuring Tom Tichenor, famed puppeteer of the Broadway hit Carnival, is created to amuse both children and adults. It follows the adventures of Tom Therm in his battle against the elements and features a host of lovable Tichenor puppets which will work their way into everyone's heart.

Within the gay garden of amusement motif of the pavilion, visitors will find the Pantomime Promenade, a series of four miniature animated stage settings. These will dramatize the value of climate-control though "before-and-after" vignettes, featuring animated puppets.

The pavilion will also feature a unique way of displaying contemporary gas appliances within an entertainment theme. The appliances will set in a 24-foot high Ferris Wheel which revolves without center spokes. Festival of Gas visitors will walk through the center of the Ferris Wheel on their tour of the pavilion and the appliances will revolve around them.

The Festival's Theater of Food is a glass-enclosed, semi-circular, amphitheater where famous chefs from all over the world will perform. A new Guest Chef will be presented each week and from four to eight performances will be given daily. The Theater of food will hold 200 spectators for each performance.

One of the major exhibits at the 1964-65 New York World's Fair, which may rival television and and nylon exhibits at the 1939-40 Fair, is the Festival's Garden of the Giants.

In the garden a gas fired turbine demonstrates a dramatic portrayal of the industry's potential. The turbine, similar to those in jet airplanes, actually provides all the heating and cooling and a major portion of the electricity and power for the pavilion.

This is part of the industry's total air-conditioning story which is vividly being told in the fact that 80 per cent of the air conditioning at the Fair is being done by gas.

Another major highlight of the Festival of Gas pavilion will be the Festival '64 -- The American Restaurant -- which will feature regional American specialties. The restaurant with "see-through-walls" gives diners a pleasant unobstructed view of the fairgrounds, both night and day.

Set among the pavilion's pools and flowing streams, the Festival '64 blends into the garden-like atmosphere providing Fair visitors with a romantic, unhurried dining experience.The restaurant is managed by Restaurant Associates, operators of New York city's famed Four Season, The Forum of the Twelve Ceasars, and La Fonda del Sol.