New Orleans Memories – The 1984 World’s Fair

Every once in a while, some government or corporate excess make someone bring up George Orwell’s classic, ‘1984.’ Thirty-four years after we actually lived that year, we’re recalling the book more than ever. More on that later.

Fear not, my on-the-fence, “Please, not another rant” readers. Today’s story only happened in 1984. I was pausing for effect. Today, on the 13th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, I recall one of the good times.

Louisiana World Expo Under Construction (February 1984)

Expo pavilions and the new Mississippi 

River Bridge going up at the same time

The 1984 Louisiana World Exposition was staged on the Mississippi River waterfront in New Orleans. It ran from May to November that year. Ninety-five nations participated. It was the last World Exposition held in the United States. Sixteen of these mega-fairs have occurred since…the most recent in Kazakhstan in 2017.

1984 was a busy year for the city. A second bridge over the mighty Mississippi was under construction. A huge new convention center was going to be part of the fair site and remain as the city’s new draw for larger convention business.

Louisiana World Expo (May 1984)

When the Age of Industrialization cranked up in the mid-nineteenth century, the tycoons and their governments wanted to showcase their accomplishments. Nations came together and built grand pavilions and exhibition halls to display new inventions and advances. “Here’s what we can do now. Buy our stuff.”

With the 1939 New York Worlds Fair, the theme shifted to one of cultural exchange. New technologies were displayed but in support of a better future of peace and understanding. “Here’s who we are. Here’s what we can do together. Buy our stuff.”

The Louisiana World Expo fell into this era. The theme was “The World of Rivers – Fresh Waters as a Source of Life.” Situated on the Mississippi River, the fair included a monorail, gondola rides over the grounds and MART…Mississippi Aerial River Transit, a really high cable car that took you across the river. The hope was to have it remain as a viable commuter option from downtown to the West Bank but ultimately, it flopped.

Louisiana World Expo Fireworks (29 October 1984)

Nightly fireworks were spectacular. Either that or this is a scene from ‘War of the Worlds’ and the alien death machine is raining hellfire on the city. Visible here is the East Bank tower of MART. My guess is that the cable cars were NOT running at this time.

The current era of expos has been one of nation branding. The fairs since 1988 have brought together countries that try to improve their national images. “Check us out. We’re stable and advanced. Build your next factory here. Buy our stuff.”

Lights and water were primary features of the fair. With the fountains and reflections, the grounds looked better at night. We enjoyed it and had season passes so we could return frequently.

Despite the seven million visitors who came, this fair was the only world expo event that declared bankruptcy before it closed.

Cyclone, Louisiana World Expo (29 October 1984)

I chose a pleasant, autumn week night to bring the tripod and take shots with longer exposures to capture the lights. To broaden the appeal of the Expo, they included amusement park rides. This ride spun you up to the top of the tower and spun you back down again. Leave the shutter open long enough and you get a giant, glowing flower.

One Hundred Years Later (29 October 1984)

The 1984 Fair had a pavilion that recalled the grandeur 

of the main building in the Cotton Centennial.

It had eye-catching water and light features.

The Expo came to New Orleans a century after another World’s Fair was held here. The World Cotton Centennial was held in 1884 on land that is now Audubon Park and Zoo. It included the largest roofed structure built up to that time (it enclosed 33 acres). Even back then, Louisiana had to give its own special imprint on the affair when the State Treasurer decided to escape to Honduras with a pile of cash, including the Fair’s budget..

Light the Way to the Beer Garden

Louisiana World Expo (29 October 1984)

I remember the attention paid to the lighting aspects of the production. There were some special installations to appreciate. They built the fair in a rather undesirable part of the city. Little-used, old warehouses and a railroad yard near the river were transformed into a special attraction.

Federal Mills After the Party is Over (May 1985)

When the Fair closed, development continued and those old, empty warehouses became trendy apartments. This is close to the same view shown above at night during the Fair. The light fixtures were the first things to go. It took a few years but the Warehouse district became a place to be with restaurants, galleries and cool, urban lodging. We lived in a building right behind this one for half a year before relocating to Maryland.

The End

Louisiana World Expo (May 1984)

Ballparks - 10 - Safeco Field, Seattle, WA

2 May 2005

The above date is also a link to the box score and anything else you could know from that game, courtesy of the great ‘BaseballReference.com website. I will try to follow that format as this series progresses.

Safeco Field, Seattle (2 May 2005)

Seattle became a big-league city for the first time in 1969. The Pilots lasted one year in the Emerald City before financial troubles forced the owners to sell them off to Milwaukee where they became the Brewers. Given the aging, outdoor stadium they had to endure, the city upped the ante and built the Kingdome in 1976. The new expansion Mariners began their existence there in 1977.

Today, perched on the Seattle waterfront, right next to CenturyLink Field where the Seahawks play NFL football, sits Safeco Field. The American League Mariners have been there since they moved out of the awful Kingdome in mid-season, July 1999. Unlike the standard domed stadium where all games are played indoors, Safeco Field has a retractable roof with three panels that can cover the field like an umbrella on those days when that Seattle ‘sunshine’ rains down. The field remains open to the outside air and there is no need for heating or air conditioning.

Safeco Field and its Retractable Roof (2 May 2005)

Following the tradition started by Baltimore’s Camden Yards in the early 90’s, Safeco has a ‘retro-modern’ layout with asymmetrical dimensions, real grass and better sight lines. After all, it’s a baseball-only park.

I was on my first getaway since retiring two months earlier…still in full thrall over the realization that I could go to the other side of the country and NOT worry about being back at the desk on Monday.

Google “Ichiro’s greatest catches” and you can find a link to the replay. Of course, I was nowhere near right field, high and behind home plate…pretty much as far away from the catch as I could be. BUT, I could have been paying better attention. Like the fight fan who lays out a pay-per-view expense only to miss the first- round knockout while he turned around to adjust his seat, I have no recollection of this play. I might have been in the can. Futzing with the camera. Concentrating on my beer. In late December when ESPN was waxing hysteric about ‘The Plays of the Year’, THAT catch from THAT game was a year-end TOP TEN play…and I WAS THERE…and missed it.

Safeco Field, Seattle (2 May 2005) 

With less than a 20-year history, the place has not had the time to rack up many significant events. It was here in 2004 that the great Ichiro Suzuki collected his 258th hit of the season, breaking a record that stood for 84 years.

One of the rarest feats in baseball, the perfect game (27 up, 27 out), has been pitched only 23 times in the Major League’s 140-year history. Two of those games were thrown at Safeco. Phillip Humber of the White Sox beat the Mariners 4-0 on April 21, 2012. Later that season, the home team’s own Felix Hernandez pitched the most recent perfecto, beating Tampa Bay 1-0.

That crazy 2012 season also had the Mariners throw an even more rare combined no-hitter (just 11 in history) where a total of six pitchers held the Dodgers hitless on June 8.

Downtown Seattle from Safeco Field (2 May 2005)

Fans seated on the upper deck on the first base side can see the great Seattle skyline as the sun sets (if there is sun that day). I’m leaning over the railing on top of the third base side for this view up the bay shoreline.

Shot of the Day – 26 – Little Daisy Hotel, Jerome, Arizona

Little Daisy Hotel, Jerome, Arizona (December 1978)

Beck and I were married in 1977. Our Best Man, Don married Marcia in 1978 in what was a most memorable, summer, multi-day party. That December, we flew to Arizona to spend the holidays with them.

We drove from Tempe north to Sedona and Oak Creek Canyon. On the way back, we spent a night in Jerome. The early 20th century was good to Jerome. The economy boomed due to the huge cooper mining complex in the area. The town’s population peaked at 15,000 in the 1920’s but after the Depression and WW II, demand for copper declined, the ore petered out and the mine closed in 1953. When we were there, the place was almost a ghost town with a population under 100. Artsy-craftsy types kept the place going and now it is a popular destination with 450 permanent residents, a state historical park and attractions for tourists interested in the area’s mining history.

During our “practically a ghost town” visit, most of the old buildings were abandoned and we spent the night in a modest rent-a-room above a saloon. The next morning, I walked the quiet streets with the camera.

In 2014, I posted a story about Mt. Shasta in California. The climax image in that note was a closeup of the snow-covered mountain. It had no sky and the curves and texture of the mountainside gave a different perspective of what one usually sees above the trees. I think the interesting aspect of the Daisy Hotel shot is the background. Note that Jerome is a hillside town. No two streets are on the same level. From that elevated view, I’m shooting down into the valley. It’s all ground, haze and morning light…making for an odd ‘sky’ above the hotel. You could say it was the right place at the right time.