Worked at the Fair from opening day to closing day, and enjoyed every minute of it. That was the summer between my sophomore and junior years at LSU, and it was the BEST SUMMER EVER.
Hard to believe that was 33 years ago. I was a senior in high school when it opened and liked going to the Soul Food Kitchen to watch the breakdancing.
What kept the NO World Fair from being a success is that it fell in the same year as the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles and thousands of people preferred to go and see those than to come to New Orleans and also it fell just two years after the 1982 WF in Knoxville, TN. My oldest daughter was born on May 31 of that year and my wife and I took her to see the Fair several times before it closed (though she doesn't remember any of it). Despite its financial problems, it was very well organized and contained many activities. It was a great time to be in New Orleans. I just wish more people had come to experience it.
Ironically, I live in Los Angeles and I was hearing all the doom and gloom about the traffic that would cause gridlock all over and I decided to come to New Orleans with my mom (who was having a class reunion in conjcktion with the fair) not only to see the fair, but to have one last trip there before I started college in the fall. Unfortunately, the fair proved to be a disappointment ride wise with only the water flume ride the highlight. Also, when I was looking at ABC's coverage of what was supposed to be "Black Friday" with several events going on in the Downtown area at once, I was shocked to see how smooth the traffic was running on the Harbor Freeway (I-110).
First off, thank you for taking the time to visit our fair city at such a grand time. In response to your comment about the rides, I knew some of the people who worked on the organizing committee and they told me that they tried not to emphasize the rides at this WF; they wanted it to be a celebration of cultures from around the world. It was a chance to experience different aspects of various cultures like an Oktoberfest at the German Pavilion and to attend various music festivals playing folk music from different countries. It sort of tried to emphasize the global village aspect (before, I think, that term was even coined). The rides were mostly for the kids but we didn't want to become a Six Flags-type WF that Knoxville was. As i said, I think it was a great event but it just couldn't compete with all the other major events occurring that summer.
There is also speculation that the opening of the WFNO played a part in the decision to close the Pontchartrain Beach Amusement park in September of '83.
It is too bad that they did such a piss poor Advertising - so many lost their shirts because of it! Would have been nice to see it then but still they should done much better!
Worked at the Fair from opening day to closing day, and enjoyed every minute of it. That was the summer between my sophomore and junior years at LSU, and it was the BEST SUMMER EVER.
Hard to believe that was 33 years ago. I was a senior in high school when it opened and liked going to the Soul Food Kitchen to watch the breakdancing.
Tha City was awesome during those times...will be missed 😭
Where did the last 30 years disappear to?
What kept the NO World Fair from being a success is that it fell in the same year as the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles and thousands of people preferred to go and see those than to come to New Orleans and also it fell just two years after the 1982 WF in Knoxville, TN. My oldest daughter was born on May 31 of that year and my wife and I took her to see the Fair several times before it closed (though she doesn't remember any of it). Despite its financial problems, it was very well organized and contained many activities. It was a great time to be in New Orleans. I just wish more people had come to experience it.
Ironically, I live in Los Angeles and I was hearing all the doom and gloom about the traffic that would cause gridlock all over and I decided to come to New Orleans with my mom (who was having a class reunion in conjcktion with the fair) not only to see the fair, but to have one last trip there before I started college in the fall. Unfortunately, the fair proved to be a disappointment ride wise with only the water flume ride the highlight. Also, when I was looking at ABC's coverage of what was supposed to be "Black Friday" with several events going on in the Downtown area at once, I was shocked to see how smooth the traffic was running on the Harbor Freeway (I-110).
First off, thank you for taking the time to visit our fair city at such a grand time. In response to your comment about the rides, I knew some of the people who worked on the organizing committee and they told me that they tried not to emphasize the rides at this WF; they wanted it to be a celebration of cultures from around the world. It was a chance to experience different aspects of various cultures like an Oktoberfest at the German Pavilion and to attend various music festivals playing folk music from different countries. It sort of tried to emphasize the global village aspect (before, I think, that term was even coined). The rides were mostly for the kids but we didn't want to become a Six Flags-type WF that Knoxville was. As i said, I think it was a great event but it just couldn't compete with all the other major events occurring that summer.
Bernard Ignatius Grayson EPCOT opening at Walt Disney World in 1982 had an effect too. It was more or less designed to be a permanent world’s fair
Wait so they open in 1984 and they couldn't make it through the year?what about the year after
There is also speculation that the opening of the WFNO played a part in the decision to close the Pontchartrain Beach Amusement park in September of '83.
Thanks to the state of Louisiana all school kids here got to go at least one time free!
I was there Square Dancing at the Mississippi Pavilion as a 11 yo kid
I remember going 😊😊
Best school field trip ever.
I thought the gondolas were supposed to be permanent?
I was there!
It is too bad that they did such a piss poor Advertising - so many lost their shirts because of it!
Would have been nice to see it then but still they should done much better!