Famous for its  Westinghouse Time Capsule, futuristic car-based city and displays of early televisions, the 1939 World’s Fair held in New York City was the second-largest American world’s fair of all time. Not only was it marked by a variety of themed “zones,” including transportation, communications and business systems, as well as government, but the fair also occurred in a very different NYC than exists today.

In 1939, the air was polluted with a lot more smog, elevated trains boomed through Midtown, and young boys danced amidst the city’s fountains. If nothing else, 1939 was a less-expensive time in the city: Five pounds of potatoes could be purchased from a street vendor for just 10 cents. Traffic actually moved… somewhat.

City life during the 1939 World’s Fair was captured at the time by a French tourist, and archivist Vincent Romano has now put it together in a video available on YouTube. Published just 10 days ago, almost 900,000 users have already viewed the footage.

Samantha Lile

Samantha Lile is a 2002 Missouri State University graduate of journalism and mass media. She has served as a reporter and editor for various newspapers throughout her journalism career. She made the leap into writing full-time after working for a major financial institution since 2000.

Because of her banking background, Samantha is knowledgeable in finance reporting, but is also strong in commentaries, personal profiles, youth studies, horticulture, history and entertainment-related works.

Samantha lives in Ozark, Mo. with her husband of nine years, four dogs and two cats.

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