>> WE ARE GOING TO TALK TO
PEOPLE WHO PUT IT TOGETHER AND
MADE IT A SUCCESS, WE ARE GOING
TO TALK TO CURRENT LEADERS IN
SEATTLE ABOUT SECRETS THAT CAN
BE APPLIED TO THE PROBLEMS
FACING 2022 BECAUSE THE WORLD'S
FAIR WAS ALWAYS ABOUT THE
FUTURE, SOMEBODY WANTS SMARTER
THAN ME SAID THAT SEATTLE LIVES
IN THE SHADOW OF ITS FUTURE .
AND I THINK SEATTLE IS A GOOD
PLACE TO BE IN 2022, AS GOOD AS
IT WAS IN 1962.
I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO OUR
HOST TONIGHT, JOINING THE IS
THE MARKETING DIRECTOR FROM THE
SPACE NEEDLE, THANK YOU SO MUCH
FOR LETTING US BE HERE AND I
KNOW YOU ARE PLANNING ALL KINDS
OF EVENTS TO CELEBRATE THE
ANNIVERSRY OF THE NEEDLE AS
WELL.
>> THIS MORNING WE KICKED IT
OFF WITH PAINTING THE ROOF
GALAXY GOLD, SO WE GOT IT
STARTED, YOU CAN SEE SOME
CLASSIC SPRING SHOWERS HAVE
ROLLED IN, WE WILL PROBABLY
PICK IT BACK UP TOMORROW AND ON
RIDAY WE HAVE SOME PEOPLE THAT
ARE GOING TO HELP US PAINT
GALAXY GOLD, IT'LL BE THE
ORIGINAL ROOF COLOR FOR THE
NEXT 12 MONTHS.
>> IT'S ALWAYS SHOCKING TO SEE
THE ORIGINAL COLOR BECAUSE HAS
SOMEBODY BORN AFTER THE WORLD'S
FAIR, I'M USED TO THE WHITE
COLOR IT HAS HAD, BUT IT'S ALSO
PRETTY INCREDIBLE HOW THE SPACE
NEEDLE BECAME THE SYMBOL NOT
ONLY FOR THE FIRE, APPEARING ON
LIFE MAGAZINE AND FILM
COVERAGE, BUT REALLY, IT'S A
SYMBOL OF SEATTLE.
IS THAT A SPECIAL AND UNIQUE
RESPONSIBILITY TO BE MARKETING
WHAT IS ESSENTIALLY THE SYMBOL
OF THE GREATEST CITY IN THE
WORLD?
>> ABSOLUTELY, THE SPACE NEEDLE
HAS BEEN THE SYMBOL OF THE
FUTURE AND SEE IDEA SEATTLE
WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN A TECHNOLOGY
IDEA FORWARD WITHOUT THE SPIRIT
OF THE FAIR, AND TO THE SPIRIT
OF '62.
WHETHER IT IS THE RENOVATION WE
COMPLETED A FEW YEARS AGO OR
THE WAY THAT WE ARE ENGAGING
EVERY DAY IN HELPING THEM
CREATE THOSE NEW MEMORIES LIKE
WE HAVE BEEN FOR THE LAST FEW
YEARS.
IT'S A RESPONSIBILITY WE TAKE
SERIOUSLY, AS THE PEOPLE WHO
WORK HERE EVERY DAY AND OUR
OWNERSHIP HAS BEEN TAKING CARE
OF THE BUILDING FOR 60 YEARS
FEELS THE SAME WAY.
>> IT HAS BEEN A CHILDHOOD
DREAM OF MINE TO HOST THE TV
SHOW FROM THE SPACE NEEDLE,
PROBABLY THE FIRST TIME AND THE
ONLY TIME WE WILL DO THIS, SO
THANK YOU FOR TUNING IN.
WE WILL GET STARTED WITH OUR
PANEL NOW, WE HAVE SOME
WONDERFUL GUESTS WHO ARE
JOINING US.
THE FAIR WAS 60 YEARS AGO, THAT
IS A LONG TIME AGO.
A LOT HAS CHANGED AND A LOT
WENT INTO MAKING IT A SUCCESS.
THE FACT THAT SO MANY DIFFERENT
ASPECTS OF OUR ECONOMY AND
COMMUNITY PITCHED AND WAS
PRETTY INCREDIBLE, THE FACT
THAT SEATTLE CENTER IS STILL A
CONCERN IS AMAZING TO ME.
WE HAVE THREE PEOPLE JOINING US
TONIGHT WHO WERE THERE 6 YEARS
AGO AND EVEN BEFORE TO MAKE THE
WHOLE THING COME TOGETHER.
OUR GUESTS ARE JUNIUS
ROCHESTER, HE WILL TELL YOU,
HE WAS WORKING DURING THE FAIR
AND HIS FATHER PLAYED A VERY
SPECIAL ROLE IN THE FAIR AS
WELL.
ALSO JOINING US, LOUIS LARSEN,
DIRECTOR OF TICKET SALES FOR
THE FAIR AND SPECIAL EVENTS FOR
THE FAIR.
AND ALSO LAST BUT NOT LEAST,
C. DAVID HUGHBANKS, HE JOINED
THE STAFF JUST AFTER HE GOT
UNDERWAY BUT STAYED IN SEATTLE
CENTER FOR A LONG TIME AS WELL.
GENTLEMEN, THANK YOU FOR BEING
HERE TONIGHT IT'S WONDERFUL TO
CELEBRATE THIS INCREDIBLE 60th
ANNIVERSARY WITH PEOPLE WHO
WERE ACTUALLY THERE.
LOUIS, YOU'VE GOT THE
MICROPHONE, WE HAVE TO PRY IT
AWAY FROM YOUR HANDS, I HAVE
BEEN TOLD TO BE CAREFUL.
WHAT DOES IT FEEL LIKE?
BEING BACK HERE TONIGHT ON THE
EVE OF THE 60th ANNIVERSARY?
>> IN MANY RESPECTS, IT'S JUST
LIKE YESTERDAY.
AND SO MANY THINGS THAT
HAPPENED DURING THAT TIME, THAT
YOU CAN NEVER FORGET.
I CAME AS, I HAD TWO JOBS, I WAS
THE ASSISTANT AND DIRECTOR OF
EXHIBIT SALES, AND ASSISTANT
DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC RELATIONS.
SO I HAD TWO ROLES, AND THERE
WERE A LOT OF REASONS FOR THAT
BUT WE CAN GO INTO IT A LITTLE
BIT LATER.
BUT THEN I BECAME THE DIRECTOR
OF THE ADVANCED TICKET SALES
WHICH WE PREDICTED IT WAS ONLY
GOING TO BE $2 MILLION IN
ADVANCED TICKET SALES, AND I
TOLD THE DIRECTOR OF
OPERATIONS, I SAID I WANT TO
TAKE THAT JOB ON A PERCENTAGE
BASIS.
HE SAID, YOU WOULD LIKE MAKE
LESS MONEY.
WHEN WE WERE DONE, WE SOLD 10
MILLION, I WOULD HAVE BEEN
ALMOST A MILLIONAIRE.
>> AND THAT MONEY WAS CRITICAL
FOR CASH FLOW IN THE DAYS
BEFORE THE FAIR OPEN FOR
BUSINESS, HAVING THAT MONEY WAS
A HUGE SHOT IN THE ARM.>> IT
PAID ALL THE UNDERWRITERS 100%
OF THEIR INVESTMENT PLUS
PROFIT.
>> DID YOU EVER THINK YOU WOULD
BE SITTING HERE 60 YEARS LATER
LOOKING BACK ON WHAT IT MEANT
AND HOW IT ALL CAME TOGETHER?
THE FAIR WAS ALL ABOUT CENTURY
21, BUT DID PEOPLE EVEN THINK
ABOUT THE 21st CENTURY?>> WELL,
WHEN I WENT TO WORK, THERE WAS
ONE GROUP DOWNTOWN THAT
CONTINUED TO CALL IT THE MERCER
STREET CARNIVAL, THAT IS WHAT
THEY THOUGHT ABOUT IT.
>> THE MERCER STREET CARNIVAL,
THAT WAS JUST A SET OF CARNIVAL
RIDES, I LIKED IT, A PART OF
ME.
THE GATEWAY WAS A BIG DEAL,
RIGHT?
THE CARNIVAL RIDES WERE A GOOD
THING.
LET'S TALK TO JUNIUS ROCHESTER
FOR A SECOND.
SO, AS I MENTIONED, YOU WERE
WORKING, WHAT WERE YOU DOING 6
YEARS AGO AND TELL US ABOUT THE
SPECIAL INTERVENTION WITH YOUR
FATHER?
>> WELL, THE FAIR 60 YEARS AGO
HAD TWO MAIN STATES FOR ME, ONE
IS FATHER WAS ONE OF THE
FOUNDERS OF THE IDEA, TALK ABOUT
THE ORIGINAL AMOUNT OF MONEY,
$5000 FROM THE WASHINGTON STATE
LEGISLATURE.
THAT IS JUST PENNIES.
AND MY OTHER JOB WAS I
REPRESENTED THE FAIR IN 1964
AND 55 AT THE SEATTLE WORLD'S
FAIR.
THE DEVELOPMENT, SHOWS LIKE THIS
ARE MORE OR LESS IN MY FAMILY
BECAUSE I HAD FAMILY
REPRESENTATIVES WHO WORKED THE
1893 COLUMBIAN EXPEDITION, ALL
THE WAY BACK TO THE JUDY
GARLAND SHOW BACK EAST, MY
UNCLE JULIUS SOLD WATER BACK
THERE, HE WAS ABOUT 14 YEARS
OLD.
SO WE HAVE A LONG HISTORY OF
INVOLVEMENT WITH THESE EXCITING
EVENTS.>> BEFORE THE FAIR
OPENED UP, DIDN'T YOU EARN
SPECIAL DECISION THAT GOT YOU
MEDIA INFAMY AROUND THIS
PARTICULAR, WHERE WE ARE
SITTING RIGHT NOW HERE TODAY?
>> ABOUT WHERE WE ARE STANDING?
>> DID YOU GET SPECIAL ACCESS
TO THE SPACE NEEDLE BEFORE
ANYBODY ELSE?
>> WELL, I DIDN'T KNOW THE
SECRET WAS OUT.
>> [LAUGHTER]
>> I HAVE TO CONFESS, I AM IN
THE HISTORY BOOK, BY THE WAY,
THE HISTORY OF THE SPACE
NEEDLE.
ORGANIZING MY EXHIBIT DOWN BELOW
, WHAT THEY CALLED THE HALL OF
INDUSTRY AT THAT TIME. WE
WALKED OUT, I HAVE FOUR
EMPLOYEES AND WE NOTICED THE
GATE WAS OPEN TO THE SEATTLE
SPACE NEEDLE.
CONSTRUCTION GATE.
OUTDOOR SPIRAL STAIRWAY.
WE LOOKED AT EACH OTHER AND
SAID, SHOULD WE DO IT?
AND THE FOUR OF US, FIVE
ACTUALLY, WALKED TO THE TOP.
IT TOOK A LONG TIME.
OPNED THE DOOR AT THE TOP AND
I CAME OVER AND SAID WHERE DID
YOU COME FROM?
I SAID WELL, WE WERE RIGHT NEXT
DOOR AND WE SAW THE GATE WAS
OPEN.
HE SAID DON'T TELL ANYBODY THAT
YOU CAME UP THOSE STAIRS.
OF COURSE WE CALLED ALL THE
RADIO STATIONS AND ALL OUR
FRIENDS AND WE TOLD EVERYBODY.
IT IS A MINOR EVENT BUT IT WAS
VERY CUTE.
>> LET'S TALK TO C. DAVID
HUGHBANKS, YOU WERE THE OLDEST
OF THE YOUNG GUYS OR THE
YOUNGEST OF THE OLD GUYS AT THE
FAIR.
>> I WAS THE OLDEST OF THE
YOUNG GUYS.
>> AND WHAT WAS YOUR JOB?
>> WELL I WASN'T GOING TO COME
TO WORK HERE, BUT I WAS
CONVINCED THAT I NEEDED TO DO
THAT AND PAPERWORK STARTED TWO
WEEKS AFTER THE FAIR STARTED.
AND I WAS VERY BUSY, I ONLY
WORKED WITH LOUIS LARSEN WHO
BECAME THE DIRECTOR OF OUR
DIVISION AND PROBABLY THE MOST
IMPORTANT THING FOR ME WAS
BECAUSE I MADE NO ENEMIES, AND
NEEDED SOMEBODY TO COORDINATE
THE CLOSING CEREMONIES AND TWO
WEEKS BEFORE CLOSING DAY, WE
HADN'T EVEN ORGANIZED IT.
AND THEY LOOKED AT ME AND SAID,
I THINK YOU ARE GOING TO DO
THAT.
SO I COORDINATED THE CLOSING
EVENT.
WHICH WAS IN THE STADIUM.
AND WE THOUGHT IT WAS A FAIRLY
GOOD SHOW.
THEN I STAYED HERE UNTIL 1976.
AND THE WHOLE REORGANIZATION OF
SEATTLE CENTER, AND WE PLAYED
THE MOST IMPORTANT CULTURAL
SPORTS AND EVERYTHING CAME OUT
TO SEATTLE CENTER SO WE HAD A
PLACE FOR THEM.
THEN THEY STARTED TO GRADUATE
TO NEW FACILITIES ACROSS THE
CITY.
SO, THE SPACE NEEDLE IN SEATTLE
CENTER DID A LOT FOR THIS TOWN,
BECAUSE WE REALLY NEEDED TO
REGENERATE EVERYTHING FROM HERE
TO PIONEER SQUARE AND
ULTIMATELY IT HAPPENED.
>> THERE'S NO OTHER WORLD'S
FAIR THAT HAS BEEN HELD AT A
SPECIFIC CULTURAL CAMPUS, IT
WAS CREATED SPECIFICALLY AND
INTENTIONALLY TO SURVIVE LONG
BEYOND THE SIX MONTHS OF THE
MERCER STREET CARNIVAL, AND
THAT SORT OF HOTHOUSE OR
WATERSHED FOR ALL THESE
CULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS, MAJOR
EXPORTS FOR THE SONICS, AND THE
COLISEUM IN 67 I BELIEVE. HOW
PALPABLE WAS THAT DURING THE
FAIR?
WAS ANYBODY THINKING THAT FAR
AHEAD, ANYBODY CAME UP WITH THE
IDEA OF BUILDING THESE KINDS OF
THINGS?
>> THEY TALKED ABOUT REDOING
THE OPERA HOUSE AND THE
PLAYHOUSE, THEY THOUGHT ABOUT
THOSE THINGS.
SO, SEATTLE BECAME ONE OF THE
GREAT CULTURAL CENTERS IN
AMERICA, WHICH WE MAY NEVER
FEEL THAT WAY AGAIN.
BECAUSE OF WHAT WE JUST
EXPERIENCED.
BUT, IT DROVE A HUGE
PERFORMANCE AND VISUAL ARTS
PROGRAM FOR THE WHOLE NORTHWEST
FROM ALASKA TO CALIFORNIA.
>> AND THE OPERA BEING
DEVELOPED.
>> YES, AND THEN CAME ALL THE
SPORTS GUYS, THEY WERE ALL HERE.
AND THAT BECAME THE REASON WHY
WE STARTED WORRYING ABOUT
BUILDING THE DOME STADIUM AND
ORIGINALLY IT WAS GOING TO BE
BUILT EAST OF SEATTLE CENTER,
AND IT WAS FINALLY DECIDED IT
WAS BETTER TO PUT IT AT THE
OTHER END OF THE CITY, AND IT
HAS FLUCTUATED AND DONE GREAT
THINGS FOR THAT.
AND YES, THE SEATTLE CENTER
CONTINUES TO HAVE A HUGE
AUDIENCE YEAR-ROUND.>> LOOKING
BACK 60 YEARS, WE KNOW THE FAIR
TURNED A PROFIT, WE KNEW THAT
IT WAS A GREAT SUCCESS IN TERMS
OF PUTTING SEATTLE ON THE MAP.
ALL THESE THINGS THAT I BELIEVE
YOU CAN'T OVERSTATE THE IMPACT
OF THE FAIR ON THE CITY IN A
GOOD WAY.
BUT, WHEN DID YOU KNOW THAT IT
WAS GOING TO BE A SUCCESS?
I KNOW YOU SOLD MILLIONS OF
DOLLARS IN TICKETS IN ADVANCE,
BUT ALSO ATTENDANCE WASN'T
GREAT FROM THE OUTSET, THROUGH
THE COLD PART OF APRIL AND MAY
AND EVEN INTO JUNE, THE NUMBERS
WEREN'T THERE TO REALLY APPEASE
ALL THE EXHIBITORS AND
EVERYBODY WAS SELLING STUFF.
THERE MUST HAVE BEEN SOMETIME
YOU KNEW IT WAS GOING TO BE
SUCCEED?
>> WHEN WE HIT 100,000, THAT
TOLD US WE WERE ON OUR WAY.
I HAVE ONE QUICK STORY ABOUT
THE SPACE NEEDLE.
J ROCKET WAS THE DIRECTOR OF
PUBLIC RELATIONS, AND BARBARA
CAME IN ONE DAY AND SAID DO YOU
WANT TO GO UP TO THE SPACE
NEEDLE?
SHE SAID I'VE GOT PERMISSION TO
GO UP THERE.
I SAID GREAT.
THERE WAS VERY LITTLE GLASS ON
THE WINDOWS, SO WE GOT ON THE
ELEVATOR AND WE GET UP AND ALL
THE WORKERS ARE HERE IN THE
WIND IS BLOWING AND THIS BIG
GUY COMES OVER AND HE SAYS,
WELL, HOW DID YOU GET UP HERE?
WELL, WE JUST TOOK THE
ELEVATOR.
WHO GAVE YOU PERMISSION?
HARLEY FARWELL.
AND HE SAID, I'M HARLEY FARWELL.
SO WE WENT BACK DOWN RIGHT AWAY.
>> IT ALWAYS SEEMS LIKE YOU
GUYS ARE HAVING A LOT OF FUN AT
THE FAIR, IS THAT TRUE?
IT SOUNDS LIKE IT WAS A GREAT
PLACE TO WORK.
>> IT WAS.
WE MADE IT ENJOYABLE, BECAUSE
WE KNEW IT WAS GOING TO END.
AND WHEN IT WAS OVER, IT WAS
OVER, AND THERE WOULDN'T BE
ANOTHER ONE HERE.
>> I WANT TO COVER A COUPLE
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE FAIR, I
ALWAYS HEAR ABOUT THE ADULT
ENTERTAINMENT SECTION, NIGHT IN
PARADISE AND WHAT DO THEY CALL
THAT PART AGAIN?
WHERE THEY HAD A GREASY HANDS
AND SHOW AND THESE SORT OF
RISQUC PUPPETS. WHAT WAS THE
DEAL?
TELL ME ABOUT THAT.
WAS IT AS LASCIVIOUS AS IT
SOUNDS?
>> MY FAVORITE PLACE WAS THE
SPANISH VILLAGE, AND IT HAD
DANCERS AND SINGERS FROM THE
UNIVERSITY OF MADRID.
AND IT WAS A GREAT PLACE, THE
FOOD WAS GOOD, THE ATMOSPHERE
WAS OUTSTANDING.
AND IT WAS KIND OF OFF THE
BEATEN PATH, SO YOU GOT OUT OF
THE MAINSTREAM OF ALL THE
TRAFFIC AND YOU COULD GO THERE
AND RELAX. IT WAS KIND OF LIKE
OREGON PAVILION WHICH WAS A
SMALL BUILDING, BUT WHEN YOU
WALKED IN YOU COULD SMELL THE
TREES AND IT HAD THE FLOWING
WATER AND IT WAS JUST A GREAT
PLACE TO RETREAT.
>> WHAT ABOUT, WAS THERE A
SENSE WHEN YOU KNEW, YOU TALKED
ABOUT 100,000 ATTENDANCE DAY,
THAT WASN'T UNTIL AUGUST OR
JULY SOMETIME?
IT TOOK A FEW MONTHS, RIGHT?
CAN YOU TALK ABOUT WHAT SHOW
STREET WAS LIKE?
>> SINCE I HAD BEEN AT THE
FAIR, THE SHOWS YOU MENTIONED
WERE A FAMILY EVENT, THERE WAS
SOMETHING FOR EVERYBODY.
SOME PEOPLE -- AND I GOT THE
CHANCE TO DANCE, I SHOULD MAKE
THOSE CONFESSIONS AT THIS
POINT, AND ALSO THE GREAT
ACTIVITIES THAT TOOK PLACE IN
THE FOOTBALL FIELD, WHICH
BECAME A HIGH SCHOOL CENTER
FOOTBALL, IT'S STILL HERE, BUT
ALSO THE SMALL EXHIBITS. PEOPLE
FOUND SOMETHING TO DO,
SOMETHING TO MAKE THEM LAUGH
AND OF COURSE THE GREAT SHOWS,
AND CLYBURN, JUST PLACE AND IN
MY MEMORY, I WILL NEVER FORGET
THEM.
SO IT WAS A SPECIAL TIME.
BUT IT WAS REALLY FOR FAMILY.
THERE WAS ALWAYS SOMETHING
GOING ON AND JACKIE SUITORS
BAND MARCHING RIGHT IN THE
MIDDLE OF EVERYTHING, HANDING
THE BATON TO ANYBODY WHO WANTED
TO LEAD, YOU COULDN'T BEAT IT
ON THE FAIRGROUNDS, WE WERE
MORE THAN STRANGERS, WE BECAME
FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES ON THIS
RATHER SMALL LOCATION.>> HOW
ABOUT DAVID HUGH BANKS?
>> WE USED THE SEATTLE BOYS
PIPE BAND, WE HAD AN IMPACT
SITUATION, WE NEEDED TO MOVE A
CROWD WHICH WAS FROM THE PIPE
BAND AND THE CROWD WOULD FOLLOW
THEM AND THEN DISPERSE AND MAKE
A BIG MESS.
IT WAS GREAT.
>> LOUIS LARSEN WAS ALWAYS THE
LEAD, YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND
THAT.
BUT WE HAD FANS ALL OVER THE
PLACE AND THEY DREW PEOPLE
FROM ALL OVER AND WE ENJOYED
THEM AND THEN WHEN WE HAD MORE
PAPERS THEN GOD COULD FIND THEM.
>> DESCRIBED THE TATTOO, WHAT
IS THAT?
>> IS AN EXTRAVAGANZA, BASICALLY
IT'S A MILITARY EXTRAVAGANZA,
WITH PIPE BANDS AND ALL SORTS
OF BANDS.
WE HAD THE CANADIAN, THE MODERN
PATROL, WE WERE THERE FOR A WEEK
, IT DREW PEOPLE EVERY YEAR FOR
THEIR PERFORMANCE.
I HAVEN'T SEEN THE TATTOO
CALLED THE SEARCHLIGHT TATTOO,
BUT THEY ALL HAD THEMES, THEY
ALL HAD A LOT OF MUSIC. IT WAS
A GREAT SPECTACLE.
I WOULD LIKE TO SEE US BRING
ONE BACK.
>> WHAT ABOUT, WASN'T THERE A
WATER SKI SHOW IN THE MEMORIAL
STADIUM AS WELL?
TOMMY BARTLETT?
WHAT WAS THAT ALL ABOUT?
>> THE OUTSTANDING PART OF THAT
WAS THE GUY THAT COULD SKI
WITHOUT SKIS ON.
HE WOULD DO IT BAREFOOT AND GO
AROUND --
>> YEAH, HE HAD BIG FEET, BUT
YOU LOOK AT HIM WITH DISBELIEF.
BUT WE HAD TO TAKE THAT OUT TO
ENABLE US TO HAVE THE TATTOO.
>> I WANT TO ASK YOU A QUESTION
ABOUT ELVIS PRESLEY, THAT GETS
A LOT OF ATTENTION, THE FACT
THAT ELVIS WAS HERE FOR A
COUPLE OF WEEKS FILMING OUTDOOR
SCENES AND SOME INTERIOR STUFF
FOR HIS FILM THAT HAPPENED AT
THE WORLD'S FAIR, EVERYBODY
TALKS ABOUT ELVIS.
EVERYBODY HAS SEEN THAT MOVIE,
IS NOT EXACTLY CITIZEN KANE
BUT IT HAS SOME NICE SCENES AND
SOME PRETTY COLORS.
WHAT WAS ELVIS BEING HERE?
>> WELL, YOU KNOW, JUST A
NORMAL GUY LIKE THE REST OF US
AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED.
WE WERE REALLY EXCITED AND EAGER
TO GET A PERFORMANCE LIKE THAT,
SO WE GAVE HIM EVERYTHING.
ALL THE PROTECTION. IN 2 YEARS
LATER, ELVIS CAME AND DID A
CONCERT IN THE COLISEUM AND I
WAS STANDING WITH THE COLONEL,
COLONEL PARKER.
>> THAT IS HIS MANAGER.
>> THE COLONEL LOOKED UP IN THE
PRESS BOX AND THEY HAD A KEY TO
THE BUILDING AND HE SAID, WHO
ARE THOSE PEOPLE UP THERE?
AND I SAID I DON'T KNOW.
SHE SAID, GET THEM OUT OF
THERE, WE DIDN'T SELL ANY
TICKETS.
BUT THE OTHER THING HE TOLD US,
HE SAID YOU FOLKS LEFT A LOT OF
MONEY ON THE TABLE AND HE SAID
WE WERE WILLING TO COME IN AND
PAY FOR ALL THE EXTRA SERVICES
THAT WE NEEDED AND YOU COVERED
IT ALL.
IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS, YOU
KNOW, YOU NEVER KNOW UNTIL
AFTER IT'S DONE.
>> SO, SEATTLE'S HOSPITALITY
WAS GRANTED TO ELVIS PRESLEY
AND HIS ENTOURAGE, I GUESS
THAT'S NOT THE END OF THE
WORLD, WE LEFT A LITTLE MONEY
ON HIS TABLE, I GUESS THAT'S
OKAY.
WE DID OKAY IN THE DEAL, WE GOT
ALL THE NOTORIETY IN THE SAME
FOR THE LOCATION, THAT MAKES
SENSE.
ONE THING I HEAR FROM PEOPLE
TALKING ABOUT THE FAIR,
DISASSOCIATION WITH BELGIAN
WAFFLES.
FOR SOMEBODY WHO HAS NEVER HAD
ONE, WHAT IS IT?
FIRST OF ALL, WHAT ARE THEY
LIKE AND WHY ARE THEY SUCH A
BIG DEAL?
>> IT'S A BELGIAN WAFFLE THAT
IS COVERED WITH STRAWBERRIES
AND WHIPPED CREAM, BERT MADE
ENOUGH IN THE FIRST MONTH, HE
WENT OUT AND BOUGHT HIMSELF A
BIG MOTORHOME.>> [LAUGHTER]
>> I TELL YOU.
IT WAS THE MOST POPULAR FOOD
CONCESSION IN THE FAIR.>> ANY
PARTICULAR FOOD THAT YOU
RECALL, ANY DELICACY THAT YOU
FIRST SAMPLED AT THE WORLD'S
FAIR THAT CHANGED YOUR LIFE IN
ONE WAY OR ANOTHER?
>> NOT THE FOOD PART, WHAT
PROBABLY CHANGED MY LIFE WAS
THAT EVERY DAY WAS DIFFERENT,
AND I WAS HERE AS THEY WERE,
I'M SURE, EVERY SINGLE DAY FOR
SIX MONTHS.
I DIDN'T MISS A DAY, OF COURSE
I HAD TO BE HERE BUT I HAD AN
OPPORTUNITY TO GRAZE WHICH
MEANS I WENT FROM BOOTH TO BOOTH
LOOKING AND EATING AND SEEING
AND DRINKING, AND IT ALL BECAME
MIXED UP AS ONE GREAT SHOW.
ONE GREAT SHOW.
I DON'T HAVE ANY FAVORITES, BUT
THERE WERE SOME FRANKFURTERS
THAT WERE SOLD, DO YOU REMEMBER
WHAT THEY WERE?
THEY HAD HOT MUSTARD ON THEM, A
LOCAL INDIVIDUAL, I DO HAVE A
MEMORY OF THAT.>> YOU ARE ALL
WORLDS FAIR VETERANS AND THIS
IS NOT TO BE MODELING BUT AS
THE WORLD FAIR YEARS GO BY,
THERE'S A FEW OF YOU AROUND.
I REMEMBER WHEN THERE WAS A BIG
CROWD AND J ROCKY WAS STILL
THERE.
IT SEEMS TO BE A KINSHIP,
EITHER WORKING IN THE OFFICE OR
AS AN EXHIBITOR, THERE'S A
KINSHIP YOU HAVE A COMMON
UNDERSTANDING. DID THAT MAKE IT
EASIER TO GET THINGS DONE IN
THE 1960S AND 1970S IN TERMS OF
TRADE SHOWS OR OTHER
INITIATIVES THE CITY TOOK ON
WHETHER THEY WERE TRYING TO GET
A POLITICAL INVENTION OR
TALKING ABOUT THE OLYMPICS, DID
IT GREASE THE SKIDS FOR ALL
THESE DIFFERENT PEOPLE WORKING
TOGETHER TO MAKE THE CITY
BETTER AND MORE PROFITABLE?>>
ABSOLUTELY.
YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE REASONS
THAT THE FAIR WAS SUCCESSFUL,
THERE HADN'T BEEN A WORLD'S
FAIR IN 21 YEARS, AND THE
OTHER, THIS WAS A PART OF THE
GEOGRAPHY OF THE COUNTRY THAT
NOBODY HAD SEEN.
I WILL GIVE YOU A QUICK
EXAMPLE.
WHEN I WAS SELLING EXHIBIT
SPACE, I CALLED ON THE VICE
PRESIDENT OF INTERNATIONAL
HARVESTER, FOR PUBLIC AFFAIRS
AND I MADE MY PRESENTATION AND
HE KIND OF LEANED BACK AND
SAID, NOW IS IT SEATTLE OR
SPOKANE? WE HAD TO DO A LITTLE
GEOGRAPHY LESSON.
AND I SAT NEXT TO AN EXECUTIVE
FOR OUR AD IN NEW YORK AND SHE
SAID, I WISH I WAS LIVING IN
SEATTLE SO I CAN RELAX ON THE
WEEKENDS.
>> I GUESS IT WAS DIFFERENT FOR
CIVILIZATION, OBVIOUSLY PEOPLE
HAVE BEEN COMING THROUGH
SEATTLE FOR WORLD WAR II, IT
WASN'T LIKE WE WERE COMPLETELY
OFF THE MAP OR AS FAR AWAY AS
ALASKA, BUT PEOPLE NOT KNOWING
THE GEOGRAPHY VERY WELL, IS IT
POSSIBLE TO EXAGGERATE HOW
DISTANCE, OR HOW DIFFERENT
SEATTLE WAS BEFORE THE FAIR
TRANSFORMED EVERYTHING?
IT'S ALMOST AN EXAGGERATION,
WHAT WE SAY, BUT IS SEATTLE
REALLY A PODUNK?
>> IT DEPENDS ON WHETHER YOU
LIVED HERE OR YOU WERE FROM
SOMEWHERE ELSE, THOSE WHO LIVED
HERE THOUGHT IT WAS A GREAT
CITY.
>> JUST A NOTE ON THAT, MY
FATHER USED TO SAY, THAT PEOPLE
CAME OUT HERE AND DIDN'T KNOW
SUCH A PLACE EXISTED IN THE
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
THIS IS A WONDERFUL CITY, AND
THE SPACE NEEDLE, BUT THERE'S
AN EARLIER ONE CALLED MOUNT
RAINIER.
THEY CAME OUT AND THEY SAW
MOUNT RAINIER, THEY SAW THE
FAIR USE GOING BACK AND FORTH,
THEY SAW LAKES, SALTWATER,
FRESHWATER, HILLS EVERYWHERE,
WE WERE BUILT ON SEVEN HILLS,
IT IS NOW SIX. BUT NEVERMIND,
IT'S A PLACE THEY DIDN'T KNOW
EXISTED.
AND THEY ALSO USED TO SAY THAT
AFTER THE KOREAN WAR, THE
SOLDIERS THAT CAME BACK,
BECAUSE HE WAS OFFICIALLY DOWN
AT THE CAPITAL, MANY OF THEM
LOOKED AROUND AND DID NOT
BELIEVE SUCH A BEAUTIFUL TOWN
EXISTED AND MANY OF THEM CAME
BACK TO LIVE.
SO PEOPLE CAME OUT, LOOKED,
ABSORBED, THOUGHT ABOUT IT, AND
THEY SAID LET'S FIND A HOME
THERE.>> I KNEW A PRIMARY CARE
DOCTOR, HER AND HER HUSBAND
WENT TO SCHOOL IN WISCONSIN BUT
SHE WAS BORN AND RAISED IN
FLORIDA.
AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT JUNIUS
SAID, SHE SAID I DIDN'T REALIZE
THERE WAS A PLACE SO BEAUTIFUL
IN THE UNITED STATES.
>> DAVE, LET'S GET THE LAST
WORD FOR THIS PART OF THE PANEL
WE ARE GOING TO INVITE A COUPLE
OF YOU BACK FOR OUR PANEL OF
THE FUTURE, BUT HOW DID THE
FAIR CHANGE YOUR LIFE
PERSONALLY?
HOW ARE YOU DIFFERENT?
>> WELL, I STAYED DOWNTOWN AND
I STAYED HERE AT SEATTLE CENTER
AND WATCHED IT GROW, AND
WATCHED ALL THE PERFORMING ARTS
IN THE INDOOR ATHLETICS AND
THINGS THAT WE ALL DREAMT OF
HAVING, AND THEY WERE HERE.
AND THEY WERE AT THIS 74 ACRES.
AND IT WAS AMAZING HOW MANY
GREW OUT OF LITTLE IDEAS TO
HUGE IDEAS, AND ULTIMATELY THEY
MOVED, MANY OF THEM MOVED OFF-
SITE BUT NEVER LEFT SEATTLE AS
ITS SPIRIT.
>> I WANT TO THANK OUR HISTORY
PANELIST, JUNIUS ROCHESTER,
LOUIS LARSEN AND C. DAVID
HUGHBANKS.
WE WILL BE RIGHT BACK AFTER
THIS.
>>> WELCOME BACK, WE ARE AT THE
SPACE NEEDLE ON THE SEATTLE
CHANNEL, IT'S THE SPIRIT OF
'62, I'M FELIKS BANEL, WE ARE
IN THE MIDDLE OF AN HOUR-LONG
SPECIAL MARKING 60 YEARS SINCE
THE CITY WAS TRANSFORMED BY A
SIX MONTH EVENT HERE AT SEATTLE
CENTER, IN THE SPACE NEEDLE,
TRANSFORMED THE CITY IN THE
REGION.
WE HAVE ANOTHER HALF AN HOUR TO
GO, WE HAVE A WONDERFUL GUEST
JOINING US RIGHT NOW, GREG
GILBERT HAS BEEN A PHOTOGRAPHER
FOR THE SEATTLE TIMES FOR ABOUT
55 YEARS.
YOU SEE PHOTOGRAPHS OF GREG
GILBERT FOR PRETTY MUCH EVERY
HISTORIC EVENT THAT HAPPENED
HERE.
BUT HIS WORK BEGAN A LITTLE BIT
BEFORE THAT, ACTUALLY DURING
THE 1962 SEATTLE WORLD'S FAIR
AND HE TOOK A PICTURE OF A VERY
FAMOUS PERSON, HE'S HERE TO
SHARE THAT STORY WITH US.
THANKS FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT
TO CELEBRATE THE ANNIVERSARY.
>> THANK YOU, GOOD TO BE HERE.
>> TO PAINT A PICTURE, YOU WERE
IN THE MARCHING BAND AND YOU
MADE A SPECIAL TRIP TO THE
FAIR.
>> WE WERE INVITED TO COME TO
THE FAIRGROUNDS AND PERFORM,
AND I THINK WE PERFORMED FROM
10:00 OR 11:00 A.M.
UNTIL NOON, THEN WE HAVE THE
REST OF THE DAY TO WANDER
AROUND, OUR BUS DIDN'T RETURN
UNTIL 5:00 THAT AFTERNOON, AND
OF COURSE WE HAD NO CHANGE OF
CLOTHING, I HAD MY BAND UNIFORM
ON AND I ALWAYS CARRIED A
CAMERA, EVEN BACK IN HIGH
SCHOOL.
AND I'M JUST WANDERING AROUND
THE FAIRGROUNDS AND ALL OF A
SUDDEN HERE'S THIS CROWD OF
PHOTOGRAPHERS AND REPORTERS AND
RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF IT IS
JOHN GLENN.
I HAD NO IDEA HE WAS EVEN IN
SEATTLE.
SO I JOINED WITH THE SCRUM OF
OTHER PHOTOGRAPHERS AND WE
FOLLOWED HIM INTO THE SCIENCE
CENTER AND THERE WAS ON DISPLAY
HIS SPACE CAPSULE THAT HE HAD
AND HE CAME OVER TO START ER.
TALKING, SO I ANGLED MYSELF
AROUND SO I COULD GET HIM IN
THE FOREGROUND IN THE UNITED
STATES IN THE CAPSULE BEHIND.
BUT I WAS LIKE 20 FEET AWAY AND
I HAD NO CREDENTIALS, I WAS
WORRIED AT ANY MOMENT, THERE
WAS THIS 15-YEAR-OLD KID IN A
BAND UNIFORM TAKING PICTURES.
SO, I DIDN'T GET TOO CLOSE, BUT
I FINALLY HAD TO PULL THE
CAMERA OVER MY HEAD TO GET A
PICTURE, WHICH WE CALL A HAIL
MARY.
AND I LUCKED OUT, AND IT TURNED
OUT AND FOCUS AND IT WASN'T BAD.
AND THE NEXT YEAR THERE WAS
THIS CLASSIC MAGAZINE
COMPETITION AND HIGH SCHOOL
PHOTOGRAPHERS HAVE PICTURES OF
THEIR DOG OR CAT OR FLOWERS,
NOT MANY HIGH SCHOOL KIDS HAVE
A PICTURE OF JOHN GLENN.
SO I WON AN AWARD.
>> DO YOU THINK YOUR CAREER
FOUND ITS DIRECTION AT THAT
POINT?
>> I THINK SO, I THINK SO.>>
AND YOU HAVE COME BACK MANY
TIMES OVER THE ENSUING 60 YEARS
AND TAKEN MORE PHOTOGRAPHS, AND
WE HAVE SOME OTHER IMAGES AND
YOU WERE HERE, I THINK IT WAS
1968, AND YOU TOOK PHOTOGRAPHS
OF THE PAINTING OF THE ROOF.>>
THAT IS CORRECT.
I HAD A SHOT OF TWO PAINTERS
OUT, THIS WAS WAY BACK FOR THE
ERA OF OSHA AND SAFETY
HARNESSES, SO THEY WERE JUST
STANDING OUT THERE IN AN APRON
AND TODAY WHEN I LOOK OUT
THERE, I THINK OF THAT, LIKE
WHAT WAS I THINKING?
IN FACT, JULY 10 IS WHEN I TOOK
THOSE PICTURES, THAT'S EXACTLY
ONE YEAR AFTER I WAS HIRED.
>> AND IMAGINE TAKING
PHOTOGRAPHS ALL OVER SEATTLE
CENTER FOR THE ENTIRE LENGTH OF
YOUR CAREER.>> FOR SURE.
>> DID BEING A BANDMEMBER AND
PHOTOGRAPHER, AND COMING BACK
AS A PROFESSIONAL, WHAT IS THE
BIGGEST CHANGE TO HAVE
WITNESSED IN THOSE 55 YEARS AS
A PHOTOGRAPHER?
JUST AROUND THE CITY AND THE
FAIRGROUNDS IN PARTICULAR.
>> THE FAIRGROUNDS HAVE
MIRACULOUSLY SURVIVED THE
INTERNATIONAL FOUNTAIN IS STILL
THERE, THE SCIENCE CENTER IS
STILL THERE.
AND THE WONDERFUL COLISEUM,
CLIMATE PLEDGE NOW, AS THEY
PRESERVED THAT, SO THERE'S A
LOT OF LANDMARKS THAT HAVE
SURVIVED.
AND THE REST OF DOWNTOWN, IT'S
ALMOST AS IF THIS AREA HAS
ALMOST STAYED AND OF COURSE THE
SPACE NEEDLE, TOO.
THAT SURVIVED.
BUT DOWNTOWN HAS CHANGED SO
DRAMATICALLY, BUT THERE IS THE
LITTLE SMITH TOWER, 42 STORIES,
WHICH WHEN I STARTED AT THE
TIME WAS THE TALLEST BUILDING.
>> HAS THE CHARACTER CHANGED
MUCH?
>> WELL, YES, PARKING IS
IMPOSSIBLE NOW, I HAVE TO DO
ASSIGNMENTS DOWNTOWN AND ONE
TIME IT TOOK ME 45 MINUTES TO
FIND A PARKING SPOT.>>
[LAUGHTER]>> NORMALLY WITHIN
THREE OR FOUR MINUTES WITH SOME
CREATIVE ENGINEERING AND MAYBE
MENTAL VISUALIZATION BEFORE I
GET THERE, THERE WILL BE A
PARKING PLACE.
BUT NOW IT'S GETTING REALLY
DIFFICULT JUST A PARK.
>> BUT WHAT ABOUT THE CHARACTER
OF THE CITY?
DO YOU THINK IT'S STILL THE
SAME?
COULD WE PULL OFF A WORLD'S
FAIR IN 2026 LIKE WE DID IN
1962?>> WELL, I DON'T THINK WE
HAVE THE SAME LEADERS THAT WE
HAD THEN.
JOE GANDY AND SMITH ANDY FORD,
HE WAS A GREAT SEATTLE LEADER,
AND I'M SURE HE WAS BEHIND A
LOT OF THE SUCCESS.
AND YOU KNOW, OF COURSE
DOWNTOWN, IT'S JUST DIFFERENT,
I DON'T KNOW THAT PEOPLE ARE
LESS FRIENDLY THAN THEY WERE IN
THE 60s, BUT THERE'S CERTAINLY
A LOT MORE BICYCLES.
>> LAST QUESTION, GIVEN YOUR
RETIREMENT PLANS, ANY NEWS
TONIGHT ABOUT THEIR FUTURE WITH
THE SEATTLE TIMES?
ARE YOU STILL GOING TO BE
TAKING PICTURES OF THE 65th AND
70th ANNIVERSARY?
>> WELL IF THEY HAVE A
WHEELCHAIR I CAN HOLD THE
CAMERA IN.
I'M 75, MAYBE IN A COUPLE MORE
YEARS, I DON'T TRAVEL BEFORE
I'M TOO OLD TO PUT A WALKER ON
THE AIRPLANE.>> THANKS FOR
BEING WITH US HERE TONIGHT,
SPIRIT OF '62, THE PICTURE OF
JOHN GLENN IS TERRIFIC.
IT'S NICE TO HAVE YOU HERE
TODAY.
>> WELL YOU ARE A GREAT
HISTORIAN, TOO.
>> WE ARE LIVE ON THE SEATTLE
CHANNEL, IT'S THE SPIRIT OF
'62, WE HAVE ANOTHER HISTORY
PANEL COMING UP ABOUT THE
FUTURE AND A BIG SURPRISE AS
WELL, WE ARE AT THE SPACE
NEEDLE AND WE WILL BE RIGHT
BACK AFTER THIS.
>>> WELCOME BACK TO SPIRIT OF
'62, CELEBRATING THE SEATTLE
WORLD'S FAIR, WE ARE AT THE
SPACE NEEDLE, MAKING ONE OF MY
PERSONAL DREAMS AND WISHES
COME TRUE TO HOST A TV SHOW
FROM THE SPACE NEEDLE IN
SEATTLE.
IT'S SO WONDERFUL TO BE HERE,
MARKING THE 60th ANNIVERSARY OF
THE SEATTLE WORLD'S FAIR, AN
EVENT THAT CHANGED THE CITY FOR
THE BETTER IN SO MANY WAYS.
AND WE ARE THINKING AGAIN ABOUT
THE FUTURE OF THE CITY AND WE
HAVE OUR PANEL PUT TOGETHER OF
SOME OF OUR OLD-TIMERS THAT WE
HEARD FROM EARLIER, PLUS A
COUPLE OF THE MEMBERS OF THE
CURRENT CITY LEADERSHIP.
WE ARE GOING FROM LEFT TO RIGHT.
WE HAVE C. DAVID HUGHBANKS WHO
WORKED FOR SEATTLE CENTER FOR
MANY YEARS . JON SCHOLES, CEO
OF THE DOWNTOWN SEATTLE
ASSOCIATION, COUNCILMEMBER,
ANDREW LEWIS, CHAIRS THE
COMMITTEE THAT OVERSEES THE
SEATTLE CENTER, AND LOUIS
LARSEN WHO IS THE LAST
SURVIVING EXECUTIVE FROM THE
SEATTLE'S WORLD FAIR , YOU ARE
ONE OF THE BIG GUYS IN HERE YOU
ARE IN 2022, THAT'S INCREDIBLE.
IT'S SO GREAT YOU ARE WITH US
TONIGHT.
I HAVE BEEN HAVING A REALLY
GREAT TIME IN THE LAST 30 OR 40
MINUTES.
AS I MENTIONED, SEATTLE IS A
CITY THAT LIVES IN THE SHADOW
OF ITS FUTURE.
MY OLD BOSS, LEONARD GARFIELD
SAID THAT, THAT IS A GREAT WAY
TO DESCRIBE HOW SEATTLE IS
ALWAYS THINKING ABOUT THE
FUTURE, THAT IS WHY THE WORLD'S
FAIR MADE SENSE TO FOCUS ON
CENTURY 21.
IN 2022, WE ARE COMING OUT OF A
PANDEMIC WE ARE LOOKING AT
INFLATION, WE HAVE ISSUES
DOWNTOWN AND ALL SORTS OF
THINGS THAT PEOPLE ARE
STRUGGLING WITH.
MY FANTASY IS THAT THERE WERE
THINGS DONE TO ORGANIZED AFFAIR
MORE THAN 60 YEARS AGO WITH
COOPERATION BETWEEN THE CITY,
THE STATE, FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
AND BY COOPERATION I MEAN MONEY.
AND PRIVATE INDIVIDUALS WHO HAD
A VISION TO DO SOMETHING
AMAZING.
LET'S START WITH YOU, JON
SCHOLES, FROM DOWNTOWN SEATTLE
ASSOCIATION, YOU DO ALL SORTS
OF EVENTS AND PROGRAMS AND
FOCUS ON MAKING DOWNTOWN
STRONGER AND MORE VIBRANT.
DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE WORLD'S
FAIR?
IS THIS IN THE BACK OF YOUR
MIND?
>> I THINK IT GIVES US THE
RECIPE FOR SUCCESS IN SEATTLE,
PRIVATE SECTOR'S COMING
TOGETHER AROUND A SHARED
VISION, TAKING COLLECTIVE
ACTION, EVERYBODY HAS A ROLE TO
PLAY.
AND THINKING BIG, AND THE
SPIRIT STILL THRIVES IN SEATTLE
TODAY AND I DON'T THINK YOU CAN
POINT TO ANYTHING GREAT WE HAVE
CREATED SINCE THE WORLD'S FAIR
AND SUGGEST THAT RECIPE DIDN'T
HAVE A ROLE TO PLAY.
WHETHER IT'S THE EMERGENCE OF
SOUTH LAKE UNION OR THE
WATERFRONT PARK OR ANY OTHER
BIG MOVES WE HAVE MADE IN THE
CITY, WE ARE COMBATING THIS
PANDEMIC FOR EXAMPLE, PEOPLE
WORKING TOGETHER.
THAT IS THE FORMULA.
WE KNOW IT WORKS, AND THAT HAS
BEEN OUR HISTORY.
AND I THINK IT HAS BEEN TRUE
SINCE THE WORLD'S FAIR AND IT
WAS REALLY AN INSPIRATION OF
THIS IS HOW WE DO THINGS IN
SEATTLE.>> COUNCILMEMBER, LEWIS?
>> COMING HERE TODAY, AND GOING
UP THAT ELEVATOR AND SEEING A
LOT OF THE CITY OF SEATTLE AND
THIS MONUMENT THAT IS A PART OF
THIS REALLY HISTORIC EVENT THAT
HAPPENED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE
CENTURY AND MADE SEATTLE WHAT
IT IS TODAY.
IT REALLY IS AN INSPIRATION OF
WHAT WE CAN DO AND SHOULD BE
DOING AS A CITY.
JUST THE OTHER DAY I WAS
TALKING TO FOLKS ON THE SEATTLE
WATERFRONT ABOUT THE WATERFRONT
PARK AND THE OCEAN PAVILION AND
WHAT THAT'S GOING TO DO FOR THE
CONNECTION OF DOWNTOWN AND THE
WATERFRONT.
WE CAN DO BIG THINGS WHEN WE
COME TOGETHER AS A CITY AND
THIS CAN BE AN INSPIRATION, BIG
OPPORTUNITIES ARE NOT GOING TO
BE WON BY MODEST EFFORTS, BIG
PROBLEMS ARE NOT GOING TO BE
SOLVED BY SMALL SOLUTIONS.
THIS IS A REMINDER OF THAT AND
AN INSPIRATION FOR US TO RISE
TO THE LEVEL OF THE CHALLENGES
WE ARE FACING.>> GIVEN THE
CHALLENGES RIGHT NOW, IS IT
FANTASY FOR ME TO THINK THAT WE
CAN ADDRESS CHALLENGES?
THE WORLD'S FAIR WAS ABOUT
OPPORTUNITY AND HAVING THE
CARNIVAL RIDES AND BELGIAN
WAFFLES AND ELVIS PRESLEY, SOME
OF THE CHALLENGES WE ARE FACING
RIGHT NOW AREN'T HAPPY THINGS,
THEY ARE TOUGH THINGS AROUND
CRIME AND HOMELESSNESS AND
ECONOMIC DISPARITIES.
HOW DO WE ORGANIZE, HOW TO
REUNITE AS FULLY AS WE DID FOR
THE WORLD'S FAIR AROUND THINGS
THAT ARE MORE CHALLENGES THAN
OPPORTUNITIES?
>> IT WAS ALSO AN OPPORTUNITY
TO RETHINK OUR PUBLIC SPACES
AND PUBLIC ASSETS, WE ARE
STANDING RIGHT NOW, OR SITTING
SEVERAL HUNDRED FEET ABOVE A
MASSIVE PUBLIC PEDESTRIAN CAMPUS
THAT USED TO BE LIKE THE
WAREHOUSE DISTRICT, OR USED TO
BE JUST ANY OTHER NEIGHBORHOOD
IN THE CITY, IT IS NOW A WORLD
SOUGHT AFTER LOCATION FOR
FESTIVALS. IT IS OPEN FOR
PUBLIC SPACES, THERE'S A HIGH
SCHOOL THAT I'M PROUD TO HAVE
GONE TO.
WE BUILT AND CLAWED A PUBLIC
SPACE OUT OF AN AREA THAT USED
TO BE A SO, AND AFTER THAT IT
WAS A NEIGHBORHOOD OF URBAN
DECAY.
I THINK WE ARE FACED WITH
SIMILAR OPPORTUNITIES IN THE
CITY RIGHT NOW.
LOOK AT A PLACE LIKE THIRD OUTER
AVENUE, WE SHOULD LOOK AT THAT
AS AN OPPORTUNITY, AS A CANVAS
TO CLAW OUT A NEW CIVIC PUBLIC
SPACE WHERE PEOPLE CAN WALK,
PEOPLE CAN PLAY, PEOPLE CAN WORK
IN AN URBAN PUBLIC BOULEVARD.
IT'S ABOUT LOOKING AT THOSE
PLACES AND SEEING OPPORTUNITY,
THAT IS WHAT THE GENERATION
THAT BUILT THIS CAMPUS AND
BUILT THE SPACE NEEDLE WERE
THINKING ABOUT.
AND THEY WEREN'T LIMITED BY ANY
OTHER ISSUE THAT WAS FACING
THEM, ONLY LIMITED BY THEIR
AMBITION AND VISION AND WE NEED
TO DO THAT TODAY.
>> SO HOW ARE WE GOING TO DO
IT?>> [LAUGHTER]>> YOU KNOW,
LOOK, I THINK WE'VE GOT A
RENEWED CIVIC SPIRIT IN THE
CITY RIGHT NOW TO COME BACK
UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF BRUCE
HARRELL, IT HAS BEEN GREAT TO
WORK WITH HIM ON THE COUNCIL
OVER THE PAST COUPLE MONTHS AND
I THINK HE HAS THE VISION TO
REALLY REIGNITE THAT SPIRIT IN
THE 60s.
PEOPLE SAY, WE ARE GOING TO BE
LIKE THE ROARING 20s COMING OUT
OF THE SPANISH FLU.
BUT IN A LOT OF WAYS, THIS
DECADE COULD BE LIKE THE 60s
AND WE COULD REALLY -- AND I
WANT TO BE CAREFUL TO SAY THIS,
BUT THAT WAS A TIME OF
CHALLENGES, BUT ALSO A TIME OF
REINVENTION, GROWTH, OF THIS
CAMPUS BECOMING WHAT IT IS.
AND I THINK WE'VE GOT TO TAKE
THAT OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY RISE
ABOVE WHAT OUR CHALLENGES ARE
AND THINK ABOUT WHAT IS THE
FUTURE GOING TO BE?
BECAUSE THE ONLY LIMITATION IS
WHAT WE CAN BUILD IN THAT
SPACE, IT'S NOT WHAT THE SPACE
IS NOW.>> LET ME ASK C. DAVID
HUGHBANKS A QUESTION, YOU WERE
HERE WHEN THE FAIRGROUNDS WERE
CONVERTED INTO SEATTLE CENTER,
THEY BECAME THIS HOTHOUSE AND
WATERSHED AND ALL KINDS OF
ORGANIZATIONS.
DO YOU SEE ANY PARALLELS NOW?
>> I DO QUITE FRANKLY, PIONEER
SQUARE WAS JUST THERE, AT THE
CONCLUSION OF THE FAIR, THE
WATERFRONT WAS THERE, AND AFTER
THAT, WHILE THINGS WERE
DEVELOPING HERE, THERE WAS A
CULTURAL SPORTS AND ATHLETIC
AND CONVENTION CENTER WHICH WAS
SPILLING OUT OVER THE 74 ACRES,
AND THINGS STARTED TO HAPPEN
DOWNTOWN.
SKYSCRAPERS STARTED TO BE
BUILT, RETAIL WAS HAPPENING,
THE FAIRWAY WAS COMING THROUGH.
REMEMBER, THE FREEWAY HAPPENED
AFTER THE FAIR WAS OPEN.
I REMEMBER ONE DAY IN 63, AND
REALIZING I COULD GET ON THE
FREEWAY AND DRIVE TO EVERETT ON
A SUNDAY.
EVERY TIME YOU TURN AROUND,
SOMETHING WONDERFUL WAS
HAPPENING IN DOWNTOWN SEATTLE.
AND HERE WE ARE.
I THINK WE ARE RIGHT ON THE EDGE
OF GREAT STUFF TO HAPPEN.
WE SHOULD NOT BE DISCOURAGED, I
THINK WE'VE GOT THE RIGHT
LEADERS IN THE RIGHT PLACE AND
THE POPULATION IS READY.
VERY MUCH SO.
>> HOW ABOUT YOU, LOUIS LARSEN?
>> WHEN WE WERE CIRCLING THE
GLOBE , SELLING SPACE, WE USED
TO TELL POTENTIAL EXHIBITORS
THAT WE ARE BUILDING A GREAT
CIVIC CENTER BUT DESCRIBING IT
AS THE WORLD'S FAIR.
AND THERE'S NO CITY IN NORTH
AMERICA THAT HAS ANYTHING THAT
LEFT FROM THE WORLD'S FAIR,
VANCOUVER, BC, ST. LOUIS,
CHICAGO, NOBODY.
I LOOKED AROUND AND I THINK
ABOUT, YOU CAN GO HAVE A
STARBUCKS AND YOUR GROCERIES
ARE DELIVERED BY AMAZON, IT IS
ENDLESS.
AND, INCIDENTALLY, WHEN WE WERE
SELLING SPACE, WE WERE TALKING
ABOUT THE CONVERSION OF THE
COLOSSEUM TO A SPORTS VENUE
THAT WOULD SEAT 18 TO 22,000
FOUR A NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
TEAM.
IT WAS A GOOD IDEA THEN BUT IT
ONLY TOOK THEM 60 YEARS.>>
[LAUGHTER]
>> AND YOU'VE GOT TO GIVE CREDIT
, THE MAN AT THAT TIME, PULLING
MONEY RIGHT OUT OF THEIR
POCKETS, THEY HAD CONFIDENCE
AND I THINK THE CONFIDENCE IS
BEING RESTORED RIGHT NOW WITH
WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THIS
CITY.>> AND I LOVE SEATTLE
CENTER, IT DOESN'T GET ENOUGH
CREDIT FOR WHAT AN AMAZING
RESOURCE IT IS, BECAUSE IT WAS
CREATED FROM THE WORLD'S FAIR,
BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN MANAGED
WELL ENOUGH OVER THE YEARS, IT
TENDS TO REINVENT ITSELF EVERY
10 OR 20 YEARS, DEPENDS ON
WHICH PARTICULAR ADMINISTRATION
IS IN CHARGE, BUT I THINK I
HAVE BEEN THERE AT EVERY AGE
DOING SOMETHING DIFFERENT AND I
HAVE MY FAMILY THERE AT
DIFFERENT AGES AND IT'S AN
INCREDIBLE CIVIC CAMPUS.
THANK YOU FOR PUTTING ON THE
FAIR AND LEADING THAT WONDERFUL
RESOURCE FOR ALL OF US.
I WANT TO ASK JON SCHOLES A
QUESTION, IN THE OLD DAYS, 25
YEARS AGO, THE NEXT THING FOR
THE SEATTLE CITY TO TRY WAS THE
OLYMPICS BID.
I THINK WE ARE PAST THAT, AT
LEAST FOR RIGHT NOW.
IS THERE ANY SORT OF MOONSHOT
STYLE CIVIC INITIATIVE THAT
ADDRESSES THE CHALLENGES, THAT
CREATES SOME KIND OF LONG-
LASTING RESOURCE? OR AM I JUST
LIVING UP IN THE SPACE NEEDLE
FOR TOO LONG TODAY?
>> I WOULD SAY WE ARE A BIG
EVENTS TOWN NOW, BECAUSE OF THE
HOTEL CAPACITY WE HAVE ADDED
OVER THE LAST 6 YEARS, WE'VE
GOT THE CAPACITY TO HOST BIGGER
EVENTS THAN WE COULD IN THE
PAST, BECAUSE OF CLIMATE
PLEDGE, THE FACILITIES AND
ASSETS, BECAUSE OF THE AIRPORT
EXPANSION, AND WE ARE BIDDING
FOR BIG EVENTS, WORLD CUP
INVICTUS GAMES, THE ALL-STAR
WEEK IS COMING HERE IN JULY.
AND WE ARE GOING TO GO AFTER
AND HOST BIG EVENTS.
BUT I THINK YOU ARE ASKING, HOW
DO WE TAKE ON SOME OF THESE BIG
CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES
WITH THAT SAME CIVIC SPIRIT
THAT BROUGHT THE WORLD'S FAIR
HERE?
I DON'T THINK THERE IS A CITY
IN A BETTER POSITION TO DO
THAT, WE ARE ONE OF THE
SMARTEST CITIES IN THE WORLD
AND COUNTRY, ONE OF THE
WEALTHIEST AND I THINK WE HAVE
A CIVIC SPEAR THAT IS BUILT ON
COMPASSION AND COLLABORATION
AND INNOVATION THAT OTHER
PLACES JUST ND.
THOSE ARE THE INGREDIENTS THAT
WE NEED TO DEPLOY TO ADDRESS
MAKING SURE THIS IS A
SUSTAINABLE PLACE AND WE
PROTECT OUR ENVIRONMENT, MAKING
SURE WE ADDRESS INEQUITIES,
MAKING SURE WE HAVE SHARED
PROSPERITY.
AND I DON'T THINK THERE IS A
BETTER REGION AND CITY TO DEAL
WITH THOSE ISSUES AS WE LOOK
AHEAD.
TO ME THOSE ARE THE ISSUES OF
OUR TIME AND WE HAVE THE
INGREDIENTS AND ASSETS TO
ADDRESS THEM.>> IT USED TO BE
THE THING CALLED THE SEATTLE
PROCESS.
AND JIM ELLIS'S EFFORT TO GET
BY WITH ALL THESE SPECIFIC
INITIATIVES AND 68, 69, 70, AND
SOME OF THEM PAST, SOME OF THEM
DIDN'T.
BUT IT FELT TO ME DURING THE
PANDEMIC THAT THE SEATTLE
PROCESS WAS SUSPENDED IN A GOOD
WAY, I FELT LIKE THERE WAS
COOPERATION BETWEEN THE CITY
AND THE COUNTY ON THE HEALTH
DEPARTMENT STUFF AND THE CITY
IN THE STATE ON PANDEMIC
RELATED THINGS AND THE
PRAGMATISM THAT AFFECTED
EVERYBODY.
BUT, IT SEEMS LIKE, IS THAT
SLIPPING AWAY?
ARE WE LOSING OUR PANDEMIC
COOPERATIVE SPIRIT THAT WE HAVE
HAD FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS?
>> I THINK WE ARE BUILDING ON
IT, AND THE CRITICISM IS
SOMETIMES UNFAIR, YES WE MOVED
TO SLOW IN CERTAIN RESPECTS,
BUT POINT TO DOWNTOWN, THAT HAS
A TOP THREE ARENA THAT IS GOING
TO OPEN A BILLION-DOLLAR
WATERFRONT, THE NEW CONVENTION
CENTER, BUILD LIGHT RAIL AND
HAVE A FLOATING BRIDGE, UP
NORTH, THE LIST GOES ON.
SO, POINT DOWNTOWN, WE DO BIG
THINGS IN SEATTLE AND IT TAKES
LONGER THAN ANY OF US DESIRE
BUT WE GET THEM DONE.>>
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS, TELL ME
ABOUT THAT SILVER LINING FROM
THE PANDEMIC, THE SPIRIT OF
COOPERATION THAT ALL OF US
WITNESSED.
IS THERE A WAY TO CAPITALIZE ON
THAT FOR THESE OTHER CHALLENGES
THAT REMAIN, WHETHER IT IS
CRIME OR HOMELESSNESS OR
ECONOMIC DISPARITY?
>> IT CRYSTALLIZES THE BROAD
AGREEMENT ON THE BIGGER ISSUES
WE NEED TO TACKLE AS A CITY
RIGHT NOW.
THAT IS THE FIRST PART TO WORK
THROUGH THEM.
WE HAVE SEEN REALLY GOOD
PROGRESS EARLIER THIS YEAR AND
COMING TOGETHER WITH THE
PARTNERSHIP FOR ZERO, THE
HOMELESS AUTHORITY UNDER THE
LEADERSHIP OF THE CEO OF THAT,
THAT IS GOING TO REALLY WORK ON
TACKLING GETTING THE POPULATION
OF PEOPLE EXPERIENCING
HOMELESSNESS IN DOWNTOWN FROM
NINE HUNDRED FOLKS DOWN TO ABOUT
130, THAT IS THE MOONSHOT GOAL
THAT EVERY MAJOR WEST COAST
CITY IS STRUGGLING WITH.
IT IS NOT UNIQUE TO US, THERE'S
MAJOR ISSUES WITH URBAN CHRONIC
HOMELESSNESS IF YOU GO TO
PORTLAND, SAN FRANCISCO, LOS
ANGELES.
BUT WE HAVE A REALLY AMBITIOUS
AND WELL ORGANIZED GOAL UNDER
GOOD LEADERSHIP THAT HAS COME
OUT OF THE PLANNING.
I WAS READING AN ARTICLE
RECENTLY, THE DUTCH CALLED IT
POLDER PLANNING BUT LITERALLY
THE PROCESS OF RECLAIMING LAND
FROM THE SEA.
BUT ONCE IT'S DONE, IT'S THERE
AND PERMANENT AND SUSTAINED.
THAT IS THE EFFORT WE CAN BUILD
AROUND THE PANDEMIC RESPONSE, I
THINK WE ARE GOING TO BE ABLE
TO BUILD IT AROUND
HOMELESSNESS.>> JUST A FEW
MINUTES LEFT FOR OUR BIG GRAND
FINALE SURPRISE, BUT MY FANTASY
IS THERE IS A MOVEMENT CALLED
SENTRY 22 THAT EMERGES AND
WRAPS THESE THINGS TOGETHER,
MAINLY AROUND LIMIT ISSUES WE
HAVE ALREADY DISCUSSED. BUT TO
CREATE A LEGACY WE CAN WORK
TOWARD THE WAY WE DID THIS
EVENT 60 YEARS AGO AND WE ALL
STAND ON THE SHOULDERS OF GIANTS
, LIKE YOU, DAVE, IT'S REALLY
COOL TO SHARE THE 60th
ANNIVERSARY OF THE FAIR ON THE
EVE OF THE 60th ANNIVERSARY OF
THE OPENING DAY AND THE SPACE
NEEDLE, THERE'S THE CITY THAT
WE ALL LOVE BEHIND US, THERE IS
ELLIOTT BAY, I CAN'T THINK OF A
BETTER WAY TO SPEND AN EVENING
HERE, MARKING 60 YEARS SINCE
THE WORLD'S FAIR FIRST GOT OFF
THE GROUND, I DON'T I WILL BE
HERE FOR THE 100th ANNIVERSARY.
YOU MIGHT BE, WHO KNOWS.
BUT I'M REALLY GRATEFUL TO YOU
GUYS FOR COMING HERE AND
SHARING YOUR STORIES, TALKING
ABOUT THE PAST AND TALKING
ABOUT THE FUTURE, BECAUSE IT
HAS ALWAYS BEEN ABOUT THE FUTURE
. AND THANKS TO YOU GUYS, WE
HAVE THINGS WE CAN POINT TO
THAT GIVE US INSPIRATION FOR
WHATEVER THAT FUTURE ENDS UP
BEING.
THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.
WE ARE GOING TO GET READY FOR
THE BIG GRAND FINALE.
STAY TUNED IF YOU ARE WATCHING
HERE ON THE SEATTLE CHANNEL,
THIS IS SPIRIT OF '62,
CELEBRATING THE SEATTLE WORLD'S
FAIR, WE ARE ON THE SPACE
NEEDLE AND WE WILL BE RIGHT
BACK AFTER THIS.
>>> WELCOME BACK, WE ARE LIVE
ON THE SEATTLE CHANNEL HERE AT
THE SPACE NEEDLE, CELEBRATING
THE 60th ANNIVERSARY OF THE
SEATTLE WORLD'S FAIR, MY NAME
IS FELIKS BANEL.
OUR SHOW IS WRAPPING UP, ARE
60th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION,
WE HAVE ONE MORE SPECIAL
SURPRISE FOR YOU.
I FIRST HEARD ABOUT WHAT WE
WERE GOING TO DO ABOUT SIX OR 7
YEARS AGO WHEN I INTERVIEWED A
WOMAN NAMED MAGGIE SAVAGE.
THEY PERFORMED FOLK MUSIC, AND
PERFORMING AT A CLUB DOWN IN
PIONEER SQUARE AREA.
AND A FRIEND OF THEIRS WROTE
SOME PARODY LYRICS TO A SONG
ABOUT THE GALVESTON FLOOD.
AND MIKE AND MAGGIE MADE A GO
OF IT, THEY RECORDED A 45 RPM
DISK THAT I CAME ACROSS MANY
YEARS AGO AND I HAD IT TUCKED
AWAY.
MAGGIE WAS A WONDERFUL
PERFORMER, SHE PASSED AWAY
ABOUT A YEAR AGO, MIKE PASSED
AWAY MANY YEARS AGO BUT THEIR
MEMORY LIVES ON IN THIS
WONDERFUL SONG, DISTRIBUTE THEY
PUT TOGETHER TO NOT ONLY THE
WORLD'S FAIR BUT THE SPACE
NEEDLE AND TO AUDIO NUDITY
WHICH WE CAN TALK ABOUT ON A
FAMILY TV STATION LIKE THE
SEATTLE CHANNEL, IT IS MORE
INFERRED, SO WE HAVE THREE
WONDERFUL GUESTS TO DO OUR
GRAND MUSICAL FINALE.
LISA BROOKS, AN ANCHOR WHO I
WORK WITH, DAVE ROSS, A HOST ,
AND BOB ANTONE, THEY ARE GOING
TO TAKE US OUT WITH A MUSICAL
GRAND FINALE , HERE ON SPIRIT
OF '62 CELEBRATING SEATTLE'S
WORLD'S FAIR.
♪
>> [SINGING]
GO TO THE SEATTLE NEEDLE, JUST
TO HAVE A LITTLE FUN, NO WAY UP
ON THE NEEDLE, THERE'S A
RESTAURANT AND THE TOURISTS
COME FROM EVERYWHERE TO SEE THE
PEOPLE IN THE CROWD.
ON THAT MIGHTY DAY, ON THAT
MIGHTY DAY, WHEN THE NEEDLE HIT
THE GROUND.
ONE NIGHT OF GENTLEMAN HUNGRY
NO, ONE IS LOOKING AT THE SKY,
AND HE WAS AT THE TRAIN THROUGH
A TELESCOPE, AND THERE WAS
STANDING THERE, MADE SO FAIR,
BUT BEFORE THE HIT, ON THAT
MIGHTY DAY, WHAT A MIGHTY DAY,
GREAT GOD, WHEN THE NEEDLE HIT
THE GROUND.
WELL HE SHOUTED HIS DISCOVERY
ABOUT THIS VERY OUT WEST, THEY
GATHERED AROUND JUST TO SEE
THAT LADIES --
>> WAS?
WHAT A MIGHTY DAY, WHAT A
MIGHTY DAY, WHEN THE NEEDLE HIT
THE GROUND.
WELL ALL EYES WERE ON THE
WINDOW AND THEY ALL GATHERED
THERE, THEY WERE SAILING
THROUGH THE AIR.
WHAT A MIGHTY DAY, WHAT A
MIGHTY DAY, GREAT GOD, WHEN
THAT NEEDLE HIT THE GROUND.
THEY CRESTED ACROSS THE
FAIRGROUNDS, AND THE COLOSSEUM
WENT TUMBLING DOWN, AND IT WAS
ON THE GROUND.
WHAT ANOTHER MIGHTY DAY, WHAT
ANOTHER MIGHTY DAY, GREAT GOD
THAT EVENING WHEN THE NEEDLE
HIT THE GROUND.
>> [SINGING]
WHAT ANOTHER MIGHTY DAY, WHAT
ANOTHER MIGHTY DAY, GREAT GOD,
THAT EVENING WHEN THE NEEDLE
HIT THE GROUND.
WHAT ANOTHER MIGHTY DAY, WHAT
ANOTHER MIGHTY DAY, GREAT GOD,
WHEN THE NEEDLE HIT THE GROUND.
>> [APPLAUSE]
>> I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO
LISA BROOKS, DAVE ROSS AND BOB
ANTONE, CELEBRAING THE 60th
ANNIVERSARY OF THE WORLD'S
FAIR, FROM THE SPACE NEEDLE ON
THE SEATTLE CHANNEL, THANK YOU
AND GOOD NIGHT.