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TOWER OF LIGHT
This is the
exciting exterior of the investor-owned electric utility industry's
exhibit at the New York World's Fair in 1964-1965.
A pavilion of vertically
staggered prisms, it rises 80 feet from a reflecting pool and
surrounds an open light court from which three 120-foot high
prismatic pylons extend. The court contains 12 searchlight, each
producing one billion candle power of light.
Inside, visitors step onto
a revolving ring after ascending to the upper floor via a moving
ramp. The ring rotates them through seven major exhibit chambers
in each of which they spend three minutes experiencing a segment
of the light-hearted, entertaining musical review. This tells
the story of the growth, development, and aspirations of the
electric utility industry and the concept of free enterprise
which makes it possible. Fast-moving, the entire show takes less
than half an hour counting the 30 seconds between each scene
necessary to revolve the visitors from one chamber to the next.
At capacity, it will play to 40,000 visitors a day.
Schematic
diagram of revolving ring and exhibit chambers.
"The Brightest Show
on Earth" uses a wide variety of techniques, including lighting
effects, music, dialogue, three-dimensional animated figures,
and motion pictures. All are electrically controlled and synchronized
to the script.
The editorial voice of
the industry and free enterprise is represented in the leading
character, Uncle Ben. he is an animated, three dimensional, talking
figure, electrically lighted and electronically controlled. he
resembles an earlier Ben named Franklin who once had a significant
electrical experience with a kite. His friend and constant companion
is an animated eagle named Sam, who narrates much of the factual
material.
Uncle Ben
makes his entrance via a light-bulb balloon.
A romantic touch is achieved
with two other characters, a boy and a girl who meet at the exhibit.
They are projected through film technique and become the bridge
between the audience and the fantasy of the show.
In the first chamber the
audience experiences a spectacular "overture of light"
and meets the main characters of the show. Worked into the story
line is the tremendous growth in production and use of electricity
over 25 years -- since the last New York World's Fair.
Words, music and dramatic
special effects in succeeding episodes tell the stories of transmission
and distribution, interconnection of power systems, and research.
Entertaining and educational
sequences follow on industrial and commercial uses of electricity,
farm applications, home use, the over-all enjoyment of total
electric living -- and the low cost of electric service.
The story of free enterprise
is emphasized in a Fourth of July sequence. The closing episode
is a charming treatment of Christmas in music and lighting effects
-- showcasing a profusion of electrical gifts.
After the finale, the visitors
walk down a spiral ramp to the ground floor where all sponsoring
companies are identified, and where the spectators can view the
dramatic source of the Tower of Light, visit a research exhibit,
and experience an all-electric climate conditioning show.
Sam the Eagle
in profile and full-face pose.
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- Show Designers
and Producers:
- ROBINSON-CAPSIS-STERN
ASSOCIATES, New York City
- Architects and
Engineers:
- SYNERGETICS,
INC., Raleigh, North Carolina
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Electric
XPOWER & LIGHT EXHIBIT
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N C O R P O R A T E D
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750
THIRD AVENUE * NEW YORK 17, N.Y.
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Uncle
Ben, a genial animated three-dimensional figure reminiscent of
an earlier Ben named Franklin, will introduce you to a delightful
cast of electrically automated animals who will sing to you about
the magic of electric power. An eagle, circus ponies, a kangaroo,
a flock of kilowatt birds, a "gorgeous" cow, two piglets,
three chickens, Santa's reindeer, a penguin, a polar bear and
a mermaid will sing the story of electricity in the home, on
the farm, in industry and commerce.
