BLACK ARCHITECTS: By Frank White

111
Shapers of Urban America
Dasfcner of the lohnso htlllshllc Ct. buiJdJng. home of EBO!'IY, Jr:r and EBONY JRI magazines ln
Cbkago. is ChJcago architect John Moutoussamy. n.e U-stoty budding w:u completed in 197L A
partner lo the Rrm o( Dub{o. Dubin&: Moutoussam)'. bels also the designer orthe
36-"ory Regents Park twin towers to the Hyde Patk atea in ChiCago.
62
They've helped to
mold the nation, but
say their biggest
success is survival
B
LACK architects in the United
States don't respond quickly when
asked to cite their most outstanding
individual achievement in architec.
ture. One might expect Robert Perkins
of New Orleans, a planner for the
World's Fair, to rattle off the conven
tion cente r in Ne w Orleans or the 840
million Lenox subway station in At-
lanta or the South bank Rlverwalk to be
constructed in Jacksonville, Fla. But
he doesn't. pausing instead to properly
phrase an aoswer that has oothlog to do
with c-hoosing ll building.
Charles F. McAfee of Wichita, Kan-
sas, could easil}' mention the Midtown
subway station in Atlanta or the
McKnight Art Center and The Edwin
A. Ulrich Museum of Art at Wichilll
nt-.a CIO MA.Jwi.&U.
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As IIJ., ll two-tlllnls ,,r thl" ho.ultl inlt" ut it''CilS tlnht'rsltv d<'liiJtnNI b) llou,tnn ,.,, htrcc John Ch_. <pbtn'f'). twhind hfn i$ IMM" ofthrrn
tlu TSL
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\lllr,lt,,JI or l.o!". flnn 11...- lr;tininte f,,," 1111nl lll"r or tii.K'k Tt-.ltiL1 a.rd.it..cu-. lkLJW,
\\'tfldo II $2.'; 111illiun C.ary(IMI )Ci, M- Cco-nto"r in fi t hd pt'(l NnliOtllll In 1071
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Robert (U;Ip) Ptrkhu Orle .. priltcif)li.l uf Perkin.v alld a fOf lbt!
1984 World's Frur tu Nc through joint ventutt! wilh lbe Onn of Pere-z and
Ccntcrpk'' Wr the fair b the convcntlorl C<>nter. shO\'. n m backgi'O\md.
Ont ollllt ftSitJatrs of du! 8109 miliJon CAncer
l\e$eareb Ceoter m w.-s.hi:ngton, O.C'!., Js ur.
cllitect ltah..-rt XaJ(h, Mc-hih:i: t HQI)('rt I'
Mndison ;and l1h b"'tb .. r, Julbu C. {bt!II)W),
nf tlu. University
b-1ilding lwhind du 111.
BLACK ARCHITECTS <HnueJ
State University. Yet none or these will
do. and his pause. like Perkins. sug
gests thnt a refen)ncc tc> S<)mcthing in-
tangible is forthcoming.
No diffe rent is Andrew Heard in
Chicago. who srnilcs wryly in his luke-
front office over n query that might he
answered in one word o a thousand
words. Certainly ):ds .nost outstandiog
nchicvc mcnl 'illpC}rScdCll by rar the
Chicago Cook Count)' Ins titute or
Forensie Medicine he deslgoed . And
no t many b loc ks awo. y, \ Ve nde ll
Cnmphcll. fre sh rn)m dcsigning the
recently comp1eted Clvic Cente r in
Gouy. lnd., doesn't cite that downtown
landmark.
Whc;n these and otl1e r Black ar-
chitects do teU their highest achie ve ..
rnents, tb(' ir answe rs llfC ide ntical:
su ,.vi cui.
'' I think the m has been a gene ration
of guys like me.'' says Heard. " When
we s tar ted , t11e oo lion of a Black
owned flrm was very r.1dical. 1 thh1k to
have take n sud) a thing and managed
to make it survive is our greatest con
l rlbution."
Accomp lished designers that they
are. some Black architects sec the m-
selves as being confined to public
related jobs. which in t heir vJew
doesn' t make them

better
off than they were 20 or 30 )'Cars ago.
The)' believe more oontrocts from pri
vate industry- making t he m designers
of hanks, office building and corporate
headquatters -would not only give
the m a se nse of greater fulfillment but
also make the ir naturally unstable bus-
inesses more stable. "None of us is
guar!lntced wo rk for the next 18
months," notes Heard . .. Our market
base is jus t thnt thin." Says McAfee .
whose nrm includes two daoghte rs. ar-
oh itects Cheryl ond Choryl: .. We have
a country club profession without a
country club license. It ' t get you
on the golf course in the CQuntry club,
and it doesn' t get you in the bank board
" room.
Jn Hous ton, j ohn Chase agrees that
Black architects are ye t to make the ir
presence felt in industry. Says he: "I
think H night be khld of hlteresting to
take th0 Fortune 500 list and see how
many Black architects have designed
fOr the compa1lies. And I' m talking
about c:ompanics that sell a great dt..oal
of the ir products to both Whites and
Blacks." It isn' t a question of expe rtise,
he assures. "Charlie:: (McAfee), as far as
I'm concerned, is one ofthe better ar
chitectural designers io the country,
bar none," he says. "The man is good.
Ch:1rlie' s of proj ects is lim-
ited."
t he limitations facing the architects
aren' t j us t c:omingout they
are built into the Black archite<:tural
as we ll. Unlike a few Black busi-
nesses. Blac-k architectural firms have
no reliable clie ntele. Contracts for
schools, ch\lrchcs and multi-purpOse
s tructures financed by tax money t.'OmC
v.;th no freque ncy. Black business ba-
rons who might provide busitless are
few and fur between. Even $0, some
consider it presumptuous to expect
these Blacks to
caiJy e tt'lploy Black architects. "You
can"t put that burden on a Black guy
who happens to be tmcces!)ful," says
j ohn Moutoussamy of Chic;ago, de-
signer of the johnson Publishing Co.
building. "I think he ought to use the
architect that serves his needs best ."
L
IMITATIONS notwithstanding ,
Black architects aren't crying over
not receiving more of the Jucmtive jobs
coming out of industry. And they pride
the mselves io haviog made the grade
whe n affirmative action mandate s
Juty, 1983 Continu d on Pog 68
J
1
BLACK ARCHITECTS c-"d
made them benenctaries in .some
multi mllllon-dollar jobs. In many
they were an:hitectu:raJ uxilia-
rie.s i_n ventures where majority f'irms
couldn't get federal dollan without
hiring mfnoriJies. aut peculiarly
enough. something interesting came
out of that," says Robert Nash of
Washingt on. D.C .. one of the de
siguers of the $109 miiUon Cancer Rc-
::arch Center fnthe District. "Before,
their was o constant s tatement,
cnn I give you a $25 million project
when you've never worked on one? ..
Asa result ofthis breakthrough. new
doon are being opened for more Blaclc
arehitectural Onns. Meanwhile, the
equal opportunity legislation seem-
ingly bas made Black m:hitects see the
stance of their White counterparts as
being not so racial: The competitive-
ness from Whites is perhaps a manifes
tation thot Blac.k architects are being
viewed as full-nedged. Says Nash, "It's
kind or turned into backla>h in the
sense that one says, 'Okay. we helped
you to get there. Now you're taking the
jobs from us."'
The ro""' behind initiating the equal
opportunity legislation came from the
architects. OinatisGed over common
problems .some or them me t in the
early '70. to form the National Organi-
zation of Minority Architects. NOMA
sought to do some ne tworking and si-
lence governme nts and others who
were Black architects couldn't
be found. I think if we've done any-
thing," says Robert Perkins, .. we've
made the public aware that we exist.
But I don't think private industry is
utilizing this awareness-.-
E
VEN the quickest glimpse at the
role of Black arcl!itects fosters tho
At WkiiiU ShU lllv..-, m Wichta. atthilttt Charles aod hO Cbyl, an
t.rdilhm Ia his flrm. statld ln frootoltM MC'I::n.Jiflt Art CH.wraodlhe A. Vltk-h Mu.JeUmof
An deslp<d .,. !he ...... McAfc< - clousht<r, a.u,f. is abo wllh lois llno
qu6tion of "' hether they are distinct, four percent might have 20, the
either as artists or operators. number carried b)r many top Black
Whe ther Blacks have a motifin their nrms. There are excepttons: Robert
architecture is a topic that has been Madison in Cleveland, owner of Madi-
tossed about for years, with no con son Madison International, stn.fTs 92.
crete conclusions. Generally s-pcnkfng, Blacks who have recently become
any nrt form tl\llt Blacks could ex1>rc.ss architects are demonstraUng tho.t any
would be found in structures that call llrChitcctural firm is ju.st that. Madison
for s uch. In the case-s of The Schaum- and Chase can remember the ir offices
burg Ubrary in New York City and the being the only outlets for Blacks
Martin Luther King Center ln Atlanta, needing experience for licensing.
for <umple. Max Bond and his st:IIIT Today, young Black architeds from the
designed the main reading room.s wflh most reputable schools are star1ing in
oct.gonal space- an eifort to relate to nonminority Rrm.s before moving on to
building$ designed by Blacks based on - or up to - Black Rrms. Cheryl
African traditions. They went a step McAfee. 26, with a malter"s degree
further: In both buildings tbey paneled from Harvard. worked for n lnte ma-
$Omeorthe rooms with wood imported ti01tal firm before joining her rather in
from Mric. Wichita. "Technically. I d eveloped
Whether Black archite<:ts can claim working "1th the other Rrm because I
an expression or not, tho.se who huve was n tt."Chnician and an architect /' she
OrmJ cannot operate them differently. recalls. "But here. I do de tnlled spe-
Few Arms, mOljority or minority, can ciflC'ations and marketing. where you
alford to sustain lalge stallS. and own- have to perform with the client." A
ers usually hire suppOrt only Houston architect, \Vesley Hender
when the job calls lOr it. Probebly 95 son, 31, took a similar route al\er
pe""'nt of all m:hitedural f'mns have earning bachelor's and master's de-
no more than two architects:; three to grees with honors fto1n M. J.T. While
no longer with a firm, Hender
son says personal re<:Ognltion might
have come faster had he chosen to re-
main. ' 'There's no one building I can
point to and say it's lll}' design.'' he
says. And 1 wouJd have to be on staff
(nt 11 nonmjnority firm) an awful lot of
years before I could do this."
If the predictions of Black arch item
hold up. their chalj.,nges "111 be the
same as everyone else s as we appi"'iiiiCb
the 21s1 Century' adapting to technical
and environmental changes in a capita1
intensive industry. Madison sees
greater opportunity ahead. But there
will be greater stress," he add$. "Com-
pe t-ition from majority firms will be
keener and Black architects 11re going
stnctunt ,...,..d by Andrn Mt.ard of Chicago have tof.led 1ln1t .S200 million in cost Jin<.'t' he tlrted to be getting more lnvolve d with
Hea.rd& AJsodllel in 1967. lie is .shown lxwewUh theCooltCo.mty McdJdne. multi-ethnic- personne l.''
68
fJIONY July, 1983
The Brvan Times, Friday, November 11, 1983
WORLD EXPO
WASHINGTON !UPll
The People's Republic or
China will lake part In lhe
1984 Louisiana World Ex
position in New Orleans.
Its pavilion will realure
many aspects or Chinese art,
technology and culture and
wUl tnclude a restaurant and
cafeteria.
'fOtllmT ATniAC'I'IOio"S
New Orleans gets ready for the 1984 World's Fair
An()( her world's faJ r-whh \-ember J I this year thc:re will dry land fealllt'in.g a 50,000
memoriC'S of Knoxville's 1982 be a special world's fair in E9IIOrl and the selg
f:alr Still lingering? The Bureau Orle:ns, which I::Lst hosl lng of Mardi Gras JX!ntdes
of lntem:uional Expositions in ed ooe-the great Cotton E.'t each day of Lhe fair. A motlO
Plri.s saooions two kinds of p<ilion-JOO ye-.trS ago. rail will circle the 82acre ex
wol'ld's faitS: Universal fai rs At the LOuis-iana World Ex posit ion sl1e (most of il en-
scheduled at least 1cn position this year will be ex dosed :md air-conditioned).
years ap:tn, and $maller-scale hlbits from up 10 2S roumrles.. For general Informal ion,
"speci:tl" birs c:1n be schetJ.. a pavilion .vilh major art call 504 525-FAJR or write to
uled any rear in bcrween. works from the Louisiana World
From M:rr 12 through NO don. the sp.1 shunJe Enter P.O. Box l984, New Orleans,
:m olshorc oil on I.a. 70l581984.
.. Meriden, Ct ., 23,
Netv Orleans air
limps toward debut
NEW ORLEANS (UPI)
-:- Despite forecasts of
economic doom and fears
or half constructed exhib
Its, officials predict the
World's Fair that be
gins next month will be a
financial success.
The Legislature last
week gave Louisiana
World Exposition Inc. a
$5 million emergency
loan to pay April con
structlon bills and prom
!sed another $10 million to
'. keep the fair afloat.
To alleviate money
problems in March, the
fair sold $6 million in dis
counted tickets to depart
ment store chain D.H.
Holmes. Fair officials
also are trying to arrange
: a $2.5 million ticket sale
to the Superdome to use
In a tour package.
Petr Spurney, general
manager of the LWE,
said all Is well at the fair,
snd construction of exhlb
Its and vending outlets on
the 84-acre site along the
Mississippi River will be
' finished when the gates
open at noon May 12.
"The fair will open on
May 12. It will be com
plete," he said. "It is
going to be a success.
" In the past there have
been times when I won
dered If we would make it
or if it would be worthy of
being called the World's
Fair. Such is not the case
today. We've got a great
show."
The theme of the expo-
sition along the Mississip-
pi River Is "The World of
Rivers. Fresh Water as a
Source of Life." At least
24 countries and 71 cor
porations are setting up
exhibits, including an ex-
travagant pavilion featur-
Ing a multimillion-dollar
Vatican art display.
Visitors will be able to
ride a gondola that
stretches across the Mis
slsslppl River or a futu
rlstlc monorail train that
goes around the site.
Spurney said the fair
asked Gov. Edwin Ed
wards for a state loan be
cause It could not meet
about $10 million in pay-
ments due Its contractors.
But he said he was sure
contractors would not
halt construction, even If
their payments were de
layed.
"I assure you the con
structlon will not stop.
There's a lot of pride
there (among construe
tlon workers). We' re all lease a portion of the fair
working on the same goal site for a riverside devel
-to open May 12." opment in 1985 st3lled an
Spurney blamed the other source of expected
cash flow problem on lax Income, Spurney said.
advance ticket sales, a "We were very close,"
large construction rlraln he said. "We almost
In the waning days before made it without additio
the fair opens and efforts nal funding."
to make the fair felt in Spumey said or$aniz-
New Orleans long after it ers do not foresee msur-
closesNov. ll . mountable money
He said the fair spent crunches in the future,
extra money to permo and the fair will repay the
nently rejuvenate the $10 million loan with 12
city's rundown riverfront percent interest in 100
and to secure attractions, davs.
such as the space shuttle "Our projections show
Enterprise, to increase we definitely will be able
attendance. to make our pay-
A d e I a y i n a n ments," he said. 'Reve
agreement between the nues depend on ticket
city and the Rouse Co. to sales, of course."

NEW ORLEANS, La. (CP)
- A question that forms in the
mind of the about the
19M4 Louisiana World Exposition
goes this way: What's a nice
place like New Orleans doing
with a fair like this?
That's not to knock the ex-
clamation points in the advance
promises of "a World's Fair built
on fantasy and dreams," May 12
to Nov. 11 - "See it all!"
There's a $350-million invest-
ment. by private sponsors in
amusements, entertainment and
attracting 22 foreign govern-
ments to the riverside site of
abandoned includ-
ing a Vatican exhibit of artistic
treasures, a Canadian spot with
a wrap-around Imax cinema and
a provincial exhibit from Onta-

no.
It's not simply that world
fairs generally seem to be rush-
ing North America, with "special
frequency allowed by
the Bureau of Internrt ional
Expositions in Paris.
Two years ago, it was Knox-
Canadian Press
New Orleans will host world's fair from May l 2 to Nov. 11
r eans room rates
NEW ORLEANS, La. (CP)
- else the 191:!4 Loui
siana World Exposition adrls to
New Orleans - and sponsors
count on plenty of tourisr dollars
- it has already spawned new
cobble s1dewalks in the old
French Quarter, fresh street
paving and hundreds of hotel
rooms.
New hotels raised total
rooms in the city to about 25,000
- more than half within walk
ing distance of the downtown,
riverside fair - and most are
priced high by standards in
nearby cities.
The ange runs from $19.25
single. $24.20 doubie at the
YMCA, right on t! .e old street
car line in central Lee Circle, up
to a range of $140 to $ln0 a
night in the bright new Inter-
Continental nearby and at the
old, swank Royal Orleans in the
heart of the Fren<:h Quarter.
There's a 10-per-cent tax on top
of all rates.
Chain motels on the city
fringes are pric<td between the
extremes. But others in the old
quarter - a dozen blocks down
river from the fair - are priced
in the near-luxury range and
0
some are nsmg.
A l nn on B0urbl)n
Street, for example, priced a
double before the fa ir at a bask
$77.75, but during the fair it is
$103. with parking extra
A pl'icey bargain in the heart
of the action is tht brand new
Windsor Court, furnished and
servited in the English style. A
bask double is $1 :l5 a night, but
th1: basic is a suite with a mas
hving room, bedroom, bath
room, kitchen ancl balcony. Tea
is served, with scones and straw-
benies.
Food, one of the glories of
New Orleans, can be humblv

priced but tastily done in Creole

and Cajun fashion in spots as
modest as the Ho or at
dozens of similar restaurants in
the old quarter.
tio it is at Mother's, long
ehtablished on lower Poydras
Hl reet as producer of the city's
winning poor-bo (pronounced
po' -boy) sandwich, an exalted
0
su umanne.
But Mother's (no relation to
the pizza chain) also serves up
local specials such as gumbo, a
spicy concoction of gravied sau-
sage and turkey necks. The
place starts gett ing takeout and
sit-down lineups at mid-morning,
halfway through its 6 a.m. to 3
ville, Tenn., stepping into a de-
lay by New Orleans and losing
money. Two years hence it will
be Vancouver. Six years later it
will be Chi<ago again (previously
11:!93 and 19:.J3-34).
The New Orleans expo, at
$15-a-head daily admission, fea-
tures an Aquacade on a scale
said not to have been seen since
the precision swimming at the
New York World's Fair in 1939.
A 10-storey-tall ferris wheel ri-
vals the ft.rst erected by George
Washington Ferris at Chicago in
1893. Scheduled shows in an
extra-admission amphitheatre
include the Boston Pops and
Culture Club, starri ng Boy
George.
Beyond the publicism, prolif-
eration and plagiarism of world
fairs, the main question right
here is based on the feeling that
any organized expo seems super
fluous in a city that is a living
exhibition in itself, a permanent
celf:tbration for all the senses, a
vibrant place also gi ven to
masks, mime and frequent festi-
vals.
Here is a fair, the official
theme of which pays tribute to
"Fresh Water as a Source of
Life" with man-built lagoons and
machine-powered streams cours-
ing through a concrete pavilion
- right beside the levee on the
mighty Mississippi itself.
Here are a stationary mockup
riverboat and made-up
canoes - just steps away from
real river traffic. steamers and
free ferries, a bustle of barges,
tankers, freighters and tugs in
the world's busiest river port.
Here is a roundabout expo

r1ce
p m. day, Tuesdays to Saturdays
only.
One of the finest spots for
more formal eating, at entrto
prices of almost $10. is Dooky
Chase's in the black neighbor
hoori of Orleans Street. an ex
tenl-iion of Basin Street.
The Creole fish dishes, gum
bos and even ritual ed beans
and rke are deliciously done by
Leah Chase, dnughwr-in-law of
the founder, who is also a volu
ble store of information about
the city's present and past when
she has time to chat with cus
turners at a late lunch.
CALGARY HERALD Sat.. Apr. 28, 1984 C5
monorail - within a few down-
town blocks of the clanging old
streetcars that run regularly, at
60 cents a ride, ante-
bellum mansions, gardens and
parks the length of St. Charles
Street and out toward Desire.
Here is n fair full of franchise
eateries with microwave cuisme
- in a community that assails
t he nose and palate with fresh-
cooked Creole and Cajun tradi-
tions, the sandwiches
at Mother's, gumbos at Dooky
Chase's, fish dinner at Antoine's,
spicy red beans and rice any-
where, especially on Mondays.
Here is a tent for fairground
music in a town where music is
already everywhere, and espe
cially at the city's annual spring
Jazz and Heritage Festival,
which will be held from now
until May 6.
Music whistles from the slith-
ering fingers of the busker play-
ing ,J. S. Bach on water goblets
among the weekend st reet musi-
cians and magicians of .Jackson
Square. It's a big-band sound in
the Blue Hoom downtown and
pumps from the pep of old Di-
xiemen in Preservation Hall
(entry $2), playing tunes of late
citizens like J ellyroll Morton,

Satchmo and Sweet Emma

Barrett.

a1r
Here is a fair that boasts an
internati onal flavor - in a
uniquely cosmopolitan city with
palpable reminders of conne< .
tions with Spain, France,
Caribbean and the American
South, among other places,
through more than three centu
ries and a million citizens.
And here is the fair's fea
tured Wonderwall, a sculptured
walkway of figures and folklore
that a publicist explains as "a
Mardi Gras parade standing
still."
There are t he pre-Lenten
carnivals of Fat Tuesday, With
the ritual enthroning of Rex and
the Mardi Gras queen, mythtc
symhols of fertility and growth.
There are parades by and for
ethnic groups on their special
days; there a re the mvriad cos
tuine societ ies, masked" marchmg
''krewes,'' including descendants
of blnek slaves who still dress as
native Indian tribes. an inherited
envious tribute to people who
once seemed freer than Ameri-
can blacks.
It may be that a clue in the
question about the New Orleans
fair lies in those mvsterious

masque rituals. It fits the
masking traditions, in a way,
that th( fair mimics maskers
mimicking life.
lAA Sunday, May 13, 1984 THE TUSCALOOSA NEWS
N fo:W OIU,IO:I\NS I 1\P 1 - Heralded
by rlv<'rhout whisllts und skyrockets,
the dcht-plngmd s:J50 million 1984
world's fail OIH'tl<'d Saturday. after a
nJght or rr:mti<. constructlon and
c'eanup that still l<.rt purls of It un
finished.
; "Let the good Limes roll ," Mayor
Dutch Morini told the crowd at open
lng ccnrnonles 111 tlw huge fair
amphitheater ovtrlooking the Mlssl s
stppi Hlvcr.
['loyd L<'WIS, chairman or the cor
porat10n that stt up the fair, urged
ijlosc In the mulitnce to become "a
rot the fair. and as you
leave the amphitheater. don't leave
any trash hthuu.l lwtnusc we're trying
to g<'l the platc cll'<med up.' '
Ltttl<' of the ll<hris lumber stacks,
sand pllts. mountains of cardboard
box<s and scarroldltJJ.( that marred
the 112-mrt silt Jt'ridn v visible Sal

urday 'l'h1 ralr'<:
wort
I
s
Petr Spurney, appeared to have kept
his promise to have the site cleaned up
by show time.
Perfect weather - sunny skies and
temperatures In the 70s - enhanced
the site.
But at least part of the fair was not
ready. Only about 10 or the 40 cars had
been attached to what Is billed as the
world's largest Ferris wheel.
Reports that the fair might not be
quite ready Called to dim the
enthusiasm of the lines or people at the
gates - many or them veteran New
Orleans partygoers who gathered as
early as 8 a.m. to begin what they saw
as the beginning or a six-month Mardis
Gras.
There was some early confusion
over the opening ceremonies - which
were by Invitation only to about o.ooo
dignitaries. The crowd outside both
gates, some of whom bought their S15
ti ckets at 8:30 a.m when the booths
opened, were not allowed ln until noon.
However, at the stroke of noon,
blasts or riverboat whistles, Clreworks,
bells and an Air Force Oyover signal
ed the ofCicial opening, and the South
ern University band led a dancing
wave of first-paying customers
through the sturnstlles.
Commerce Secretary Malcolm
Baldrige pressed a button to unleash
84 skyrockets. which exploded high
over the festivities.
Orflcials hoped that 88.000 people
would pass through the gates by the
time they closed at 2 a.m. Sunday.
State officials hope crowds will flock
to the fair, which has been plagued by
cash flow problems and slow advance
ticket sales. The corporation putting
on the fair, Louisiana World Expo-
sition Inc., had to go to the state Legis-
lature last month Cor a $10 miJilon loan
to pay overdue construction bills.
SARASOTA MAY 13, 1984


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Release of balloons signals start of 1984 World's Fair in New Orleans

atr e1zs
TltotL'-;81l(ls En joy
Almost Cotnpleted
Ex flO in New Orleatt."i
By CHARLIE HlliSKING
HeraldTr1bune Reporter
NEW ORLEANS - It was Mardi Gras in May in
New Orleans Saturday as the 191:W World's Fair
opened in spectacular fashion despite its troubles.
Skyrockets exploded over the Massissippl, a 100-
piece Dixieland band belted out jazz !rom a
paddlewheel steamer. and costumed representntives
o! 24 nations paraded during the colorful opening
ceremonies at a riverside amphitheater.
An estimated customers were expc(ted to
pass through the turnstiles during the warm, cloud
less day. The visitors formed long lines in front of
the Vatican art exhibit and t.he monorail, toured a
working oil rig, gawked at a prototype o! the space
shuttle Enterprise and applauded the high divers
and precision swimmers at a aquacade.
Cajun bands, bluegrass and gospel groups, strolhng
mimes, juulers and magicians added to the carni-
val atmosphere.
The crowd arri\'ed only hours after construrtion
out the gate. ln_deed, though the
!atr s thPme is "The World of RtvPrs," the most
appropriate symbols !or this $350 million extrava-
ganza might be a hard bat and some srnf!olding. As
late as press preview, forklift trucks were
still crisscrossing the site. and the painters,
pipe!itters and electricians outnumbered the re-
porters.
By Saturday morning, most of the lumber piles
and the debris had been cleared, but several exhib
its, particula.rly in the international pavilion, were
still incomplete. Even the giant ferris wheel was
missing most or its gondolas.
If the !air wasn't quite ready for the world, man)'
are wondering i! the world is ready !or the fair.
It was only two years ago, after all, that another
southern city, Knoxville, hosted an exhibttion that
played to decidedly mixed reviews. And ad\'ance
t k ket sales !or this fair tadmission is $151 legged so
!ar behind projections that of!irials had to borrow
$10 milhon !rom the Louisiana Legislature to meet
owrdue construt'tion baits.
Coutuuu:d Oil luA


ltl Nc,v Or lea tis
Contirm.ed ftom lA
But Petr Spurney. the fair's pres
irlent and chief executive of firer,
was with confidence Sat-
urday a.s he watched visitors stream
past the statues of bare-
breasted mermaids that flank the
front entrance.
"This is a great day, and it's
to be a great six months.''
said Spurney. "We still have a few
finishing touches to take care of,
but we're prepart>d to show people
the time of tht>ir lives."
At this expnl'ition, the emphasis
is verv dt>finitely on entPrtainmPnt
rat her than on introducing techno-
logical or scientific advances. It has
its educational aspects. but as
its barkers keep repeating, this is
primarily a "fun fair."
The whimsical outlook is best
svmbolizt>d bv the Wonderwall, a

half -mile long festi ve breezeway
containing a of arrhi-
tt>ctural <'IPments. Gothic windows,
Grt>ek tt>mple facades. Roman aqua
ducts, ornat(' domes and turrets are
all t('presented in the Wonderwall,
which houses a variety of kiosks,
food outlets. p('rformance areas and
shaded rest spots.
Runni ng parallel to the Won
derwall is the Fulton Street mall
area, a row of 19t h cent ury
warehouses renovated to give the
feel of a mini French Quarter.
The restaurants and bars in the
market area were j ammed all day,
as visitors lined up for such New
Orleans favor ites as Shrimp Creole,
smok('d ribs, boiled crawfish and
jambalaya. The ubiquitous frozen
daiquiri booths were also domg a
booming business as the heat grew
more intense.
In the e\'ening, two legendary
?\t>w Orleans jazzmen, Pete Foun-
tain and Al Hirt, performed at
clubs in the mall area. Meanwhile,
singer Andy Williams and the New
Orleans Symphony were stage
the amphitheater 1 there IS an addi-
tional to see all of the top-
name entertai ners). A massive !ire-
works and a Mardi Gras-
style parade cappt>d off t he night.
The World's Fair refl<>cts the fla-
vor and tht> hPritage of its host city
to a rE>markable dewee. As New
Orleans Mayor Ernest Morial said
during the opE>ning ceremonies,
"Our world's fair is different. It is a
living exhibit which showcasl's one
of North America's greatest cultur-
al inventions the city of New
Orleans."
The fair site is only a 10-minute
walk from thP business district and
the historic FrE>nch Quartt>r. It lies
on the bank of the Mtssissippi, and
the river is one of the fair's
most appealing attractions.
From a broad promenade, visitors
can watch th!> nation's busi('st port
in action. Tugboats. freightt>rs and
barges are constnnt ly passing by,
and on opening day the Navy's USS
Stump. two paddlewhrelst('amers
and the Coast Guard's tall ship Ea
gle werE' dock('d at the fair site.
In order to break even, the fair
neE>ds to draw 12 million visitors -
about 70,000 a day - bPfore closing
in November. By that time, its pro-
ponents maintain, more than $2.6
billion will have been pumped into
the New Orleans economy.
But thP city is already realizing
som!' benefits. The fair has sparked
a redevelopment of the waterfront
area, for yt>ars one of New Orleans's
most rundown sections. A new con-
vention center has been constructed
on th!> fairgrounds, and cleanup
campaigns and road repair projects
havP been carried out in the French
Quarter.
"This fair is a statement of our
r"awakening, our renaissance, our
rlt>t('rmination to become a leader
among cities," said Mayor Morial
on Saturday.
Nt>w Orleans resid('nts to
be regarding the fair warily as
opening day approached. They were
eager for it to be a success, but
concerned that its failure could em-
barrass the city.
Which will it be? An exit poll of
weary visitors brought mixed reac-
.
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AP WIAEPHOTO
People line up Saturday at entrance to world's fair.
tions.
"They should have let us in for a
discount today," said Edward Bu-
chholz of New Orleans. "I almost
stepp('d in a can of paint near the
Wonderwall, and the air condition-
ing wasn't working in a couple of
exhibits."
The Vatican exhibit, showcasing
religious art from the Vatican col-
lection and museums around the
world (including an El Greco on
loan from the Ringling Museum)
SPemed to be a unanimous favorite.
But some complained at having to
pay an extra $5 to see it.
The dramatic multi-screen film
in the Canadian exhibit was also a
hit, as was the 350-foot high gondo-
la ride across the Mississippi. But
the Chrysler Pavilion, which ex-
plains how the company uses com-
puter technology to produce its
left several visitors cold.
"ror me, the best part of the fair
was just wandering around and ex-
p('riencing it all," said Maureen
McGee of Mobile, Ala. "I can't sin-
gle out one exhibit that really
floored me. But I had a real good
time."
THE lEDGER/SUnday, May 13, 1984
'magination flows at 1984 Lo_uisiana orld Exposition

art

' VIsitors to the 1984
;
Louisiana World Expo-

, sltton In New Orleans
can view "The Trea-
. sures of the Vatican.''
nearly 40 works of art
from the Vatican Mu-

seums, In a special pa-
. vlllon on the fair site.

Admission Is $5, In ad-

dition to tickets to the
fair Itself (turn to 11 E for
Information about ticket
prices). VIsitors can
learn about the Shroud
of Turin at the pavilion,
too. At right are two of
the works of art In the
''Treasures" collection:
(left) "Jesus on the
Cross with Mary and
John," by Raphael, and
(right) "The Good Shep-
herd," believed to be
the earliest depletion of
Christ as a shepherd
providing pastoral care
to his followers.

er

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By Jeanne Nathan
f you're planning to visit New Orleans for the 1984
Louisiana World Exposition, better bone up on New
Orleans-speak. New Orleans ls, after all, tbe result of a
colorful international mingling of peoples. and the way
inhabitants speak reflects the city's rich heritage.
First of all, say New ORllns. Never say New Or
LEENS. This pronunciation Is permissible only when sung.
Second, it's Loo-EEzee-anna. Never LOO-zee-anna,
which Isn't even acceptable when sung, Suzanna.
Third, and this is a tough one, Tchoupitoulas Street. It
was named after a fish, and it's pronounced CHOPahtoo-
lls. (Actually it's much easier to say than spell.)
With those basic pronunciations in hand, you can move
right along to a favorite New Orleans game called "show
and tell." The game is played thusly: I'll show you an
ordinary, everyday object, and you tell me what it is.
For example, if someone tells you to catch a streetcar
(trolley) on a neutral ground, you don't have to wave a
white flag and seek the DMZ. The neutral ground ls the
median strip on major streets. The expression originated
when the city's founding Creoles and the newcomer Amer-
icans were at each other's throats. Canal Street was de-
clared a neutral ground or zone, and Voila! civility
reigned.
No, there isn't a canal on Canal Street. But you can
catch a streetcar there that will take you to a supermarket
to "make groceries." "Making groceries" stems from the
French expression "faire marche,"literally to make mar
ket. which is something the Creoles did daily at the French
Market in the Vieux Carre (Voo Cah-ray).
Now that you've arrived at the market, you should know
that an avocado is an alligator pear, a mi.rllton is a musi
cal pear and green beans are string beans.

Better to try a great Creole restaurant. Creole means
just about anything grown in or on Louisiana soil. This
Includes people, cuisine, language and tomatoes.
The menu, please. There's Redfish CourtbouJUon (Coo-
bee-yon), Gumbo File (Fee-lay), Boulli (Bwuh-lee), Craw
fish Etouffee (Crauhflsh A-too-fay) and Beignets (Ben
yays).
Not to worry. If you can't say it, point to it. But whatev-
er you do, don't miss any of it.
..
Ticket information
It is approximately 668 miles from Lakeland to New
Orleans, which averages out to 14 hours driving time.
There are numerous travel packages available for those
who prefer to fly or take a tour bus. Contact your travel
agent for specifics.
For advance ticket sales, mall check, money order or
cashier's check to The 1984 World's Fair, Ticket Sales
Department, P.O. Box 61238, New Orleans, La. 70158.
Prices: One-day adult (1254), $15; one-day child (411),
$14; senior citizens (55 plus), $14; cblldren through 3 years
of age, admitted free.
Consecutive two-day ticket - adult, $28; cblld, $26; se-
nior citizen, $26.
Handling fee ls $1. Make check or money order payable
to the 1984 World's Fair.
Each admission ticket entitles tbe visitor to free use of
the monorail around the site as well as entry to all pavil
ions, exhibits (except for "Treasures of the Vatican,"
wblch has an additional charge of $5) and virtually all
regularly scheduled entertainment.
To charge your admission tickets to VISA, MasterCard
or American Express, calll-504525FAIR.

By Jeanne Nathan
he 1984 Louisiana World Exposition in New
Orleans bas created a world of art, artists
and artisans. Milllons of visitors wlll bave
tbe opportunity to not only view priceless
masterpieces, but also be able to watch as artists
and artisans create traditional and unusual, one-
of-a-kind pieces of art right on tbe fair site.
"So many of tbe everyday things we take for
granted are actually the products of someone's
skill and imagination," says Peter L. Spurney,
president and cblef executive officer, Louisiana
World Exposition Inc.
"It is these, and tbe making of them, we bave
brought to the fair. By creating environments
where artists can actually work, by opening the
arcbltectural texture of the event to a wide var
iety of artistic media and by embraclng all forms
of art, we bope we bave lncreased tbe interaction
and relationship between art and its admirers,
and so have created a new perspective for all our
. visitors to tbe World's Fair and the world of art."
Early on, the World's Fair sent out a call to
sculptors to enter its International Water Sculp-
ture Competition. In keeping with the theme, "Tbe
World of Rivers: Fresh Water as a Source of Life,"
472 artists from SZ countries submitted designs.
Of these, three were chosen: "Wave of tbe World"
by Louisianian Lynda Benglls, "The Source" by
the French team of Claude and FrancolsXavier
Lalanne and "Rain Tow era" by Belen Escobedo of
Mextco.
These monumental works will be seen in var-
Ious sites around the fair and afterwards will be
permanently located, on publlc view, 1!1 the
greater New Orleans area.
In a more tradJUonal format, tbe bu
u
.
n
Artworks '84 fact sheet
created a pavilion especially designed to house its
exhibition, "Treasures of tbe Vatican.'" Works of
art collected from tbe Vatican, Italy, Spain,
France, England, Ireland, Canada and Africa by
masters such as El Greco, Caravagglo, Giotto,
Roualt, Georges de Ia Tour and Dali comprise
part of the. exhibit. Being displayed for the first
time in this country are, among others: Raphael's
"Tapestry of tbe Crucifixion," Matisse's "Chasu-
ble" and Roualts's "Ecce Homo."
Admission to view tbe "Treasures of tbe Vati
can" is ,5, in addition to fair admission. A free
gallery adjacent to the Vatican's main exhibit
will feature a film showing a scientific exarnina-
tlon of tbe Shroud of Turin, a photograpblc displet
of the travels of Pope John Paul ll and a showin&
of religious works from Louisiana. .
From the Vatican exhibit, which focuses ob
past visions, visitors to tbe fair are also afforded
perceptions of today in the Artworks '84 multi
component program. Located ln the Great Hall,
Artworks '84 is a comprehensive and
visual arts presentation with four components.
These include an exhibition tltled "The Art of the
State: A Celebration of Louisiana Art," 14
exhibitions, an artistinresidence studio and a
vldeo and film program tltled "So There, Orwen
1984." :
Like the World's Fair itself, Artworks '84 is a
constantly changing and evolving event.

In tbe World's Fair intemauonal pavlUons, llf
dividual countries wlll feature showings of art
and al'tlfacts, arcbltectural and dress traditions
and artisans actually creatlng local bandicraft4.
In addiUon to these tradJUonal and not-so-tradl
tional di.Bplays, vlsltors wlll be by

See OUtllde on page 11E
THE lEDGER/SUnday, May 6, 19M 11E
rtworks '84 is a comprehensive and dynamic
visual arts program. Located in the Great
Hall, Artworks '84 wlll occupy 16,200 square
feet and will have four components:
"The Art of tbe State: A Celebration of Louisiana
Art" - A two-faceted exhibition showcasing the works
of some of Louisiana's major artists.
ing the six months of the fair. The artists selected are
Clyde Connell, Tina Girouard, Robert Warrens, Robert
Gordy, George Dureau, Gerald Cannon, Arthur Kern,
Ida Kohlmeyer, James Steg, Frank Hayden, Lin Em
ery, Elemore Morgan, John T. Scott and Pat Trivigno.
One lacet will feature artwork juried by Dr. Mitchell
Kahn, curator of American and Contemporary Art at
the North Carolina Museum of Art.
The other facet ts an invitational show featuring the
works of artists invited to participate by a jury of
prominent Louisiana artists. These jurors are Lin Em
ery, George Dureau, Elemore Morgan, John Scott and
Pat Trlvigno.
Solo exhibitions - Fourteen of tbe 80 artists partl
clpatlng in "The Art of the State" will be honored with
solo exhibitions. These exhibitions will be rotated dur
Artists-in-Residence Studio - This program will
feature nine artists from Louisiana and other parts of
the United States. Each will be "in residence" for se-
veral weeks in a special studio/loft space located wltb
in the exhibition area, where visitors wlll be able to talk
informally with them. The artists wlll work in diverse
media - from painting and papier mache to "perfor
mance art."
"So There, Orwell '84"- This video program pro-
duced by Beard's Fund Inc. will feature a screen room
with a continuous program of outstanding works by
New York City artists working in television. In addi
tion, a block of time will be devoted each week to
exclusive showings of video work by Louisiana artists.
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Outside the World's Fair site, even more celebrations of at .
Louis XVI and the New World" opened in the historic Just blocks away from the fair's downtown site is the
continued from 1E Cabildo in Jackson Square of tbe French Quarter. The Contemporary Arts Center. The CAC regularly schedules
many forms of art - from fantasy architecture to tradi exhibition wlll explore tbe life and times of the legendary showings and performances in many fields of art - from
tional realism. Tbe very gates to the fair are extravagan- king and wlll run through Nov. 12. realistic sculpture to avant-garde theater. During tbe ear-
zas of a form that can only be called Mardi Gras art - The New Orleans Museum of Art, located In City Park, ly months of summer, several original plays wW be pro- '
giant mythological sea creatures and gods constructed of will mount several exhibitions during the months of the duced, including a puppet show and an original musical,
papler mache tower over their illusory kingdoms of water. fair. Beginning in May, visitors can view fine examples of and various exhibitions will be mounted in tbe galleries. :
In the "Wonderwall," 30-foot-long sandbag alligators and American Western Art and Spanish Colonial Art. In July, New Orleans has long been a mecca for artists and
soaring pelicans roam beneath and above a balfmlle-long NOMA will mount the exblbit, "Turning Point: the Harlem ideas. It Is an architectural paradise, a photographic dis
paean to the architecture of the ages. Neon barges drift Renaissance from Traditional to Ethnic Expression" and, play and a garden of delights in dance, music and llvlng .
along a water course, and flags, pennants and banners in October, the Art of Cameroon. NOMA is also co-sponsor theater. Within this fascinating settlng 1s tbe 1984 World's
designed especially for tbe fair fly overhead everywhere of the "Treasures of the Vatican" exhibit. Fair _ a wonderland of science, industry, exblbltry and
on the site. In keeping with tbe fair's theme, the New Orleans Muse- entertainment. It's the good life raised to a fine art.
All of this and more wlll be found on-site at the fair. Off- um of Art has also scheduled a far-reaching exhibition
site, in more traditional settings, visitors will find tbe city titled "The Waters of America: 19th Paintings of ---,..----------------
itself has joined tn the celebration of art. Rivers, Streams, Lakes and Waterfalls. This showing wlll Jeanne Nathan Is on the staff of tile Fair's public relatlou
On April 29, the extraordinary exhibit "The Sun King: continue throughout the World's Fair. department.
Wilmington Morning Star I Monday, May 14, 1984
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Maacot Seymour D. Fair greet vlaltora Sunday.
Slow Sunday start at world fair

NEW ORLEANS- The opening
of the 1984 Louisiana World
sltion drew who ' let
the good times roll.' But on Sunday
it still seemed the party got off to a
premature start.
Some of the international pavil
Ions remained unfinished at the
$360 million exposition. Paul
Creighton, director of operations,
predicted that it would be a few
days before everything was operat
ing fully.
Liberia's deserted exhibition hall
still had unpainted sheetrock walls
with hanging naked wiring. The Pe
ruvian pavilion was not open.
The promised tropical rain forest
had not materialized at the com
btned exhibition of Honduras, Be
lize and the Dominican Republic.
The Ferris wheel, advertised as
the biggest in the world, remained
closed - half of its seats still miss

mg.
As the gaas opened for the Sun
day show, lines were short com
pared to the throngs straining at
tbe turnstiles at the riverfront fair
grounds on opening day Saturday.
Creighton said the official re
vised count for Saturday's opening
was 83,000.
The figure would place New
leans third on the charts for world's
fair opening day crowds.
.
Bang6t Dally News, Monday, May 14, 19M 27
World Expo attendance drops off
following opening day success
NF.W ORLI'!ANS cAr>l - The OPf'ning o( the 19R4
Loui!;l::ma World Exposition drt>w 83.000 p<>ople who
"ll't thP good limes roll." but on Sunday it seemed the
party got off to a prNnature start.
Some of thl' intC>rnatlonal pavilions tcmalnt>d unfln
l5hrd at the million expo!!lllon and Paul
Crt>ighton, director of op<>rations, prC>dlcted it would
be a few days lx>fore evrrythlng was oprrallng fully.
Librrla 's desrrted t>Xhiblllon hall still hod unpalnt
rd sheetrock walls with hanging naked wiring. The
Peruvian pavilion was not open.
The promised tropical rain forest had not matrrlal
izrd at the combined exhibition of Honduras. Drllze
and the Dominican Rl'public. A spokesman sa1d It
would be another threl' Wl'eks.
The ferris wheel. adverllsed as thl' biggest In the
world, remained closed - half of Its scats still
missing.
As thl' gates opcnl'd for the Sunday show.llnes were
short comparl'd with the throngs straining al the turn
stiles at the riverfront fairgrounds on opening day
Saturday.
Louisiana Gov. Edwin W. Edwards opened the fair
Saturday with the Cajun expressiOn, "Latssez lcs bon
temps roule," which is French for, "Let the good
times roll."
Creighton said the official revised count for Satur
day's Op<'ning was 83,000-20.000 more than the figure
made public at the end of the fi rst day.
Jeanne Nathan said the smaller
n l'lber C\ mted only those people who had clicked
t' rough t11 turnstiles by 11 p.m.
It d1dn't 1clude the 5,000 VIPs who arrived before
anyone eb ! for opening ceremonies, the people who
rndt> the Mi5!'issippl River gondola into the fair,
who rode In on a rivPrboat. shl' sold.
ThP R3.000 figure would place Ne\V Orleans third on
the chatLr; for world's fair opening day crowds. Knol(!
v!IIP had 87.000 on its Op<'nlng day and Spokane
8.5.000 Seattle remains fourth at 51.000.
On Sunday. traffic In the New Orleans central busi
nrss district was as light or than it had bl.'en
Saturday, dPsplle a United States Football League
game In the Sup<>rdomc.
In contrast to th> big opening on Saturday, with its
Spl'Ctacular 1 ceremony that included pohli
clans. jazz. two blimps and 70.000 helium-filled bal
loons. there was a small protest downtown called the
"Pl.'ople's Fair."
Attended by a few hundred p<>ople, the one-day
event was highlighted b the "OJ under Walt," a pohtl
cal satire of the worlds fair's $5 million "Wonder
wall" of art objects and concessions.
The "Blunder Walt" was a banner full of quotes by
President Reagan.
ln addition to pt>rformers such as Doug Kershaw,
Pete Fountain and AI Hlrt, the fair features big name
enlertainment for an extra prtce In the 5,5()(). seat
amphitheater on the riverfront. Andy Williams and
Lola Falana were the opening night attraction, with
ticket prices ranging to $40.
It Is an expt>nsive fair. Parking is $5, an adult ticket
$15, a guidebook S7, a onesheet map $2.50 - all
pushed up by the city's 14 percent tax on everything
sold at the si te.
Amusement rides cost extra. So does the $3.50 gon
doll! ride, one of the fair's biggest attractions whic)l
resembles a skillft cor on a spectacular high trip
across the Mississippi River. ..,..
...
THE MILWAUKEE JOURNAL Thursday, June 28, 1984


$17.5 million loan
to help world fair
Baton Rou&e, La. -UPI- Louisiana lawmakers
have approved a $17.5 million loan to help pay the
bills of the 1984 world fair in New Orleans and
keep the exposition open through I ~ six-month
run.
The loan, approved by legislators on a 72-27
vote Wednesday, wut make partial payment on
the fair's unpaid construction bills and overdue
bank loans.
In excbange, fair managers have been forced to
turn over the dally financial dealings of the expo-
sition to a seven-member committee representing
the state, the city and creditors.
Gov. Edwin Edwards presented the bailout pro-
posal to the Legislature last week, saying the state
had Uttle choice but to save the exposition.
Legislators were told Wednesday that the state
would recoup an earller $10 million loan and
would not have to cover the bailout loan If the fair
could average a daily attendance of 50,000 for Its
remaining 22 weeks.
The cash flow crisis has . been blamed on too-
optlmlstlc: estimates of 70,000 payin& customers
per day. Dally attendance so far bas averaged
42,500.
Lawmakers acknowledged that they had little
choice. ,
"We can't stand the degenerate Image that we'd
present nationally and Jntemauonally lf this state
would lo.wer Itself enouab to allow this thin& to
fall," satd Rep. John Hatnkel, a Democrat.
,
D
HOLLAND AMERICA' S
NIEUW
AMSTERDAM


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JUNE 1984
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accoum of itM: If, using audio/visual and Dis-
neyesque devices to achieve this end. A
waterway has been built within the Louisiana
pavilion. VisilorS will climb into boots #nd
drift makebelieve b3)'0U, :dong the
way viewing plantation home$, cajun log cab-
ins, off-shore oil wells. sugar cane. rice and
cotton lields.
Instant Lisi3na and New Orleans won' t
satisfy all whoCQme. ' 'Stay a few days, .. say
the folks :11 the fair. ' 'Regard what we offer
as an introduction ...
Okay. But a " few d<iys" won' t do. New
Otlean.s is Jike nowhere )'Otl "ve been. It's a
1'nuhitude of fasc-inating cry of
" Noo-Aaa-1ecltS" from the. deck of Ddra
Queen when she pulls into the le\cc. The
sound of music, from all directions. live, im-
prO\Iised music, from opeo <.loots of c.'Lfes.
New Orleans is the faint aroma of Creole
cooking. l'hc curiotl$ mixture or English and
Cruisin' to a World's Fair
Rollin' Down the Mississippi to a New Orleans Extravaganza
Drobtem; How to divide one's cjme be
C this fair city (no pun iniCndcd)and
its spectacular World' s Fair, opening May 12
fOr a six-month's run.
Many in New Orle<'nS by cruise
ship and river boar (1he Della and Mississippi
Queens) ask thcmsel\cs that. Some even
question the nud of a World's fair. 'New
Orleans.'' they say, ''is an event in itscl(!"
Ne\ertheless. a persistenl group of buSi
nessmen and politicians: ha\e spc:nl the last
seven years selling nations. neighboring
states and U.S. corporations on being part of
the 1984 Louisiana World lh:position. a.:s the
Fair is officially CltlJe<l. By November I I. irs
dosing date, bctv.ttn II and 12 million peo--
ple will ba\e seen it.
Its 32-acre site overlooks the Mississippi.
With Or Man l{i\'CT rollin' along, and with
ships of the \1/Qrld docking at its edge. it's just
a00.1tthe fineS! site ever chosen for ao Expo
$ilion. IL<i splendid location dri\cs home its
theme: "The World o( Rjvers. Fresh Water as
the Soull."t of Life.
'The: con met between city and Fait for num
bcrOnt! attraction been resolved. accord-
ing to the fair's planners. "Come-sec New
O..lc-.ans-At the Fair: is what tht)' are say-
ing. Mardi Grns parddcs will be scheduled
twice daily. Cmwfish etoofets. muffaJettas
nnd po' boy sandwiches will be served at
restaurant$ and food .St;ul(.ls. An acri;d tr.\m-
wny will run back and forth over the mighty
Mississippi and musicians from Bourbon
Street an:: bOoked for tbe Jazz Tent. Tbe host
state, Louisiana. also imcnds to give an
French spoken by the bi-lingual people on the
street. Then of roune there' s the Freocb
Quarter. tbe old pru1 of New Orleans, as
famous as Dixieland ja1,7, and Fat Tuesday.
packed with two-llndthreestory. rosered
brick houses. every other one with an iron
balcony, overflowing with plants perpetually
gree1:1.
' llli.s might be the Mediterranean but it's
New Orleans. as it on<:e was: the old town
from which the city. now 1.3 million. grew
rounded by Jean baptis-te lc
Moync Sieur de Bienville i.n 1718 and named
Nouveau Orttans for the Due d'Odtans. Re--
gent of France.
Tbe French Quarter eonsisiS of 96 square
blocb. That it still exists is somewhat of a
miracle. Not long ago there was a move
tOWV() leveling S01Ue Of thSC CCtl l\lriCSOfd
buildings to make way for highriscrs. but a
powerful citizen' s conunittee pre\ented it.
aDd toda)'. though lhCd omd w()fked in, vis.--
itcd by thousands dail y. it re-mains much as it
was when originaJiy buill.
New Orleans ge4s about seven mill ton visi-
year. In hono-r or the Fair. and the ract
1ha1 several milliQn mOJc will be comi ng, the
d1y $pent SSO million in repairing 1hc French
Quarter' s stn:cts and sidewalks. At a bmlk-
faM press conference. at whkh a jan band
played and coffee was servtd--boch strong
and hot enough to induce a hyperbolic state
men!. the Mayor of Ne-w Orleans announced.
that in view of the costl y face lift just given
1he Qua_ner, it would be offici:tlly known as
the New Orleans Pavilion at th<: WOJid' s f air.
B
e that 8l) it may. Tile point i.o; that the
Quanc:r is on.ly a fivemjnute walk (rom
the Fair. Its anUque shops. its rt$.1aur.an1S. its
small intim111e hotels ate world ramous. Jack-
son Square. wilh its sjdcwalk artis-ts. stnx:t
musicians and entertaining clowns. much
sought-out place. It is prt$idedoverby h)we'""
ing Saini Louis C::uhcdral and by a hemic
Statue of Andre-w Jackson. his horse fero-
ciou$1)' pawing the air. pul chere after his
defeat uf the British at the Battle uf New
Orleans in the W111 of l812.
A must for visitors co the French Quarter is
Preservation Hall whett jau is played by the
musicians wbo helped to create:. it. A dollar
dropped in a basket at the door buys entry.
T'hert are cwo fascinating Sighcs jusc ovct
the Quaner's Rampart Street boundary. One
3Q..foot statue of louis " Satthmo" Arm
WOt'lg in Annstron.g Patk (he wll$ OOm in
Nc:w Orte:ms in 1900}; the other i$ a burial
ground named St. Louis Cemetery Numbcr 1.
To describe: it. it must first be explained that
mostofNewCkleans lies bclowsc01level. Dig
two feet down and you come to water. ConSC:
qucntly. the dclld are buriOO above: ground. in
rows and rows of tombs. one: on top of the:
ocher. Uke taJIIWng cabinets, and in Which.
gencratiol'l gtner.uion. families are in
tcrred. How can so mnny bodies be placed in
5UCh a small place'? Simply put, when !'I new
bOdy is put in, the re-mains of one already
there is pushed co the back and f:.lls down a
shoot into the g_round!
Look for the tomb o( Marie Laveau. the
SI()-Cal lc:d Voodoo Queen o( New Orleans. Its
covered with fresh chalk marts, in 1he shape
of crosses. MarieLuveau. bclkm:d
to have been a son:eR:$5. from casting spells
from the groave.
Adding some subs.tsncc to the Mayor's rc
mark that the French Quaner would serve as
the Fair's New Orleans' Pavilion. i5lhe rocc
!hat one of the Fair's panicip31i.ng
nations. will mount its so-called Sun King
exhibition there. rather than at the Fair iLSelf.
200 priceless objects. pri
nuril )' from the Louvre and Vel'li.silles. will
be shown at the Cabildo. the Quancr's most
hiSioric building. It now scr.cs as the l ooisi
CruiM Ship to the Fair
8ec:ause or fhe uniQue toce11on oS the
Fai r-withi n the po.rt area ol New Or
lean&-disembal1ting cruiseship passen
g$1$ will walk fight It'll In addition to numer
ous scheduled calls by the famous inland
mer tat&. lho Mrs$1$$ippl and tho [}(tlra
Queens, the toi!O\Wig cruise ships will at
rive: Nordic Princ6 (Royal Caribbean
CruiSe Line), May 12 and .a date not aa yEN
set i n early August: Sagafjorrj (Cunard
line), May l2; Bermuda Star (Bahama
CruiSe Uno), September and Oclot>er.
ana State Museum. Admission (S3.50) is not
included in a ticket to the Fair (S IS). bot as
v.<CII as viewing the Sun King
you sec the room Th01nas Jeffmon
1)\U his name on 1hat fatoousdetd. the Louisl
ana Purchase, whereby Fr.tnoo sold us one-
third or olll the land i.n these Unit1.'d S1.ares foe
$15 million!
Second in intercsa only to the Freooh Quar
ter is the Garden Di5trict, built by the " Amer-
kans' who came to Louisiana after UlC 'Pur
chase. preferring 10 live apart from the
Creolcdominated French Quaner.
At 11 34 F'irst Street is 1hc house in which
Jefferson Da\'is. President of the Confetler.ne
Stares during the Civil War, died. At Wash
ington and Prytania Streets is lhe ramou.s gym
where Gentleman Jim Corbett 1t1ined foe his
fi ght with John L.. Su1liv01n. The Ctlmpuscs or
Thlane, l.Qyola afld S1. Mary' s Dominican
College are on this route. as is Audubon Park.
which was the site or the last world'! fair. held
in Nc:w Orleans in 1894, exactly 90 ye.srs
ago.

it some1imes seen's like a bit of

Europe. New Orleans is an American
d ty. Make no mistake. Tour the Superdomc,
the huge sports .stadium. which the rown built
for its beloved ' 'Saints. It is the height of a
27'Story building. It holds 13,000 for sport$
e\'altsand IOO.OOOplus for ooocerts. as it did
wben the Rolling StoDCS came to town. Its
rouf is 9. 7 acres. The stripS or turf
that are tipped together co form a football or
b3sebaJI field are called " Mardi Grass"!
Another reminder that quaint New Orleans
is in the: U.S.A. is the sptawl of oilrefining
plants and related industries, along the Mis
sissippi. as you drive into town; names like
Du Pont. American Cyanirnid, Reynolds
Metal. Dow ChemM::al. 'kxa.co and ochers.
sprung up siDCt oi.l and gas were discovered
in Loui.si.sn:a IC$$ than 40 years ago.
Back at the:. f air. visitors wi.ll Jearn about
this economic mi.racle-how an agriculturuJ
State suddenly changed in1o an inChlStriaJ
economy.
In fact. a tourist slogan for Louisiana might
be see our scenic WOt'lders whjle 1hey tast."
for mdic.:ll change looms within the ncxtiWO
decades.
Never mind lhat the Delta Country is dclin
c:ated at the Exposition. See it for )'OUr
...elf-che low lying spongy I :and. with
w:uerwa)S, where (lnly 3ulls. terns and
cru.ncs disturb chc pervasi\'e. quiet. Or drive
oorth to high and less soggy ground to see the
world of Scarlet O'Hil.ra Rheu
lc:r-thc beautifull y restored plantation
homes. some of which take guests oemight.
Don' t miss Baton Roub>e. with its incred
ibly 1all scone capitol bt1ildi1lg. Of the country
side made famous by Longfellow's poem.
"Evangeline.'' This is where the Arcadjans
(now called "Cajuns") sc1tled behlg
driYc.n QUI or Carwdn by the British rOf their
religious beliefs. coming by ship ond by an
incredible journey overland.
Continued on 65
Black Enterprise, jun 1984
Fair hslaess
IJJerlulllu
Tho 1914 Warid
Blp<llition IIIOJ be.., OCOIIOIIIlc
bcweng for black eDtftpl'o-
DIUft wllo bawe irn:ald thcJu.
-olclollonio--fOt
lllofair.
- Spunoy, pnoiclenl ol
Lolioioo World l!apooilioa,
IDe., ..,.. "l11e muhilllillioo
dollor...,._wm_
_,than 'lO,IIOO .,.._ adoy
lllroaaboat the Uolted
ud abrold. ..
Por 194 ciQI. - May 1210
N- II, bloclt Louioiooo
..._, wiD abibit their
lllemslllll oompet!q
with ... ..,..,......, ......
- .t ............. firlt
- orcblleclunl llnD jq the
Lo.,itiu, M'r 'ppi ud Ar
---boo led llli
DOI'Iry tMWnrr ill.volftlllel1t ia
lllofair. v ...... --
ert -stip"" PettiDI. llle ftnll"s
praident IDd 01101 ..... ud Jail
rice prooidoot ol markeliq.
Sbeaw Copelio, bow -
tund 1 number ol lucrative
joialelltare poe....... One
----............
--firm.IOdo-
oip ........... fair-
- For OliiiDp)e. - .t
l'lrlllen helped develop the
535-IDIIIIon New 0rtaas eo..
-lioa .t Edlibilioa Center,
the S4 mmioc lntemolionol !'a
rilion IIIII a priYOie povilicn for
the 1Jnloa - Corporation.
PcrtiDI, a cleejper OR a DIJID-o
..., or ICMithern-bued p<Ojectl.
IIJO, "l11e fair io Ill ecoaomic
coralyR for New Orleoas ond
oum>lllldlD8 ...... jllll llke the
Sopenlome - jq ... 1970o,
ond rm - 10 blow ..
.,..,... sipificlml pon iD its
overall clneJ.opmenL""
A$.,_, or 111o New Or
leaDI BMn Leape. Copelin
leod moceuiW drl.., 10 ...
block aod bUiinao
leoden 10 - S2 - jq
I--the- &oak
.t TrUll Co. to OMiol .....,.._.
..... iD ftnondq fair .,..,;.cu.
But oat oil ol New Ortaal'
- booin - opiOd 10
porlidpoleclindly jq ... -
llloo. Wllliom a...r. I""1P'ietor
IIIII ciUcf COIIIUI...,. olthe Afrn
Howe CGrpon&ioll, whicb Is lo-
colod ....... nilleo - the fair,
- ... willllill pra6t -
folr ocliriliel. Sayo Om!: "' ...
cidod that it - ,_.-
for me to coatinoe to iDvett 1DJ
1\mdo jq Olllbclllobiaa .. , buoi
- rather than bocrnw copilol
10 -ill pn)ject 10 ... dl-
roctly iDWIIwd ill the fair."
He ldda tt.t bit CODCCnl il to
..... p bait can: IDd
aids 10-
moclotelllor-..
...
Den wiD iDwll lppro' iPIUJIJ
$1011,1100 10 - IIIII rJI
tbe Afro liGule .....,...,,
iocladlac .....
c:cater aad beaatJ aapplJ
oliop wiD ... ia,.. ..........
J-Ooldoo oiOoldoe ..
tap' ......-.....
iocladoo the New Odooa l'bod
Sorrioco tnc.. wm..- _...
New Ort.m atyle 8l .. t..
---"We ......
- ,.,_ oD IJpeo oiNew
Orleoas ....... - ..... -'
food,- food, ....... ....
and llke-cNt ...... .
IJoldog-
-. .. ......,_
......... - Jllljolll) .... 1111
ill - olllor ...... --
.. ,. be apeca ldl t w tD
....... the--
... to develop a :UI lid
toad CCIIDi*IY"
A-, 10 folr ...... It,
- 21-. oiiM fair'II7S-
caaioa CCJDtractl haft bleD
awau:led to aaiaoritJ ..... .

the_..-olmw lll
- .. - .............
rar bcttt tlaa &aJ otlac
WOJid'o Fair."
JOHNSON PUBLICATION (!)
I
I
JESSE JACKSON:
'I'd Make A
. Great First Lady'
~ AACP:
1--l!!l Years
Of Fighting
For Civil Rights
EXCLUSIVE-
.
I WIAN
THE RUN:
his prison
Chicago's
John Branlon tens
nw he ned u.s.,
lived abroad 12 years,
11nd worked as a
personal physician to
ldl Amln In Uganda
JULY 1984 ' 1
75
New
Orleans'
Biggest
Show
The 1984 World's Fair
is showcasing a
variety of attractions
but none more
popular than the
Afro-American
Pavilion
T
HE dtyofNew Orlean has bcoomc
known r...-its de-otlon to PQgeantry
and spectacle. but nothlng- nnt even
Mardi "ith the glitter
and excitcncnt generated b)' the Ne"\v
Otlcaru \\'orld's Fnir,
11tere is food. n,ere is music. n,ere
arc displays. '111cc are IHnuscmcnt
rides. And tl1crc ore visitors from
around the world who have come to
the Cl'esccnt City to pnrtfclpate in
whafs oficn referred tons ''tan i ntcriUl.
tional festival.'' The Fnir showcases a
variety of exhibits (23 from othercmm
tries), but one o( the most popuhu and
rnost talked-about attrnctlon.s ls the
Afro-Amerlca.1 PQvilion.
The pa\ilion, a S3.2,.million show-
case of Black history. was a seed
planted by designer john Srott and
Mu. Sybil Morlol , wife of !Sew
Orleans Maror Ernest Morial. And
thank<& to wh.r..l Mrs. Morial calls "'an
outstanding sta.tr' and donations from
thousands of contributors. the powilion
has been nurtured into one of the
Fair' s most in1crcsclng exhibitions.
''For centuries. our history has beeo
11eglectcd and misinterpreted, and
thi.s t>avilfuu ofJ'crs the (: hnm."C to share
our histuT)' with uu clithntHcd 12 mil
lion people who ore expcct.;.-d to ttttcnd
the Fair," say; Moritll, president
and chairpcrron of I've Known Rivers.
Inc., the novront that
created the p.avilion. '"11lere h;u OC\' er
been a prc.sentQtton of Afro-American
history C;thlbitt:d in such a holistic
fonn. I think that an)'OOC who \' isits the
pa\;lion will leave with a deeper re-
EBONY .holy, 196
ll!l lilt' 1\"C'W OrkAns Wnrlcl.ll f.'1li r, opcnl."41 i n li 11
:n)Y;d (below) (I( nr;ul)' so.ooo l!oe:OIIc whn tlae f:l!!acre :dlt" .. lbe IJanb ur lh()
Mislii,:liJ)l1' River. It'll 1ha1 hy d)t> F'air on X1Mlllllwr II n11urt' lh"" l2
miJIWn wiJl h;i\t' t'llll"r..d i h jC.II .. lOr tbt- d l )',
.









NEW ORLEANS' BIGGEST SHOW <"""
spect for and a deeper appreciation of
us as a people:
The pilvilion, described hy Mrs.
Moria! as a ful14 0cdgcd pavilion and
not merely an exhibit,' ' is locat<,-d in-
side the New Orlea1U C.olventiol
Cente r on the 82-ac-rc Fair site whieh
runs along the banks oft he Mississippi
River. Inside the 8,000-square-foot
128
struct-ure. mutals. artifaels. S('ulptures:
and nudio.visuals combine to highlight
Ulnck p rogress, contributions and
achievements in The tour of
the two-lloor facility begins with an
impressive rCC'reation of the Middle
Pussage, the lc:mg, fim."L'tljourney from
Africa into slavery in the Americas.
Visitors enter a replica of a slave shit>'s
The AfroAmt:rican Pavil ion l :t1MIH'), u
$3.21flillioJu :.!.(w..t"il""' elf Black lmo
lm)'. b (lw uft lw l>' air':. nO:.t pJt.m
lll.r u t lr.tct lous. I t1sldc \llh"' c:. . ltl't.
and 111 lt<fl\ \'idtor-. !l)nr tlw twn.
lluor f:1dlit)' whid:1 hodudt":' :ot "'llp
hm ".\., a mi .trlif;.teh .
holding area. and :' l lll'ec-mitt ut c
diu-vi.suul prcscutntiml dcscriLc.s the
lulrril,lt <!tmtliticm.s that Afr ic:ans tn
'-'nnnhrt.-d during the time wlwn tlu:y
Wf'rl,! C:tpfund , clmirwd :md
shipped ac-ross the Atlantic to become

As visitoi'S move throu)!h the J"XWi l
iou. ycolr:. or Black history uufuld, with
cmp1m.sis on the cuntrihut-iuns thnt
Blacks hnvt: m:uh; in dght :m.ns- m1s
:md culh1re. husine!>s :md commerce,
science and tedmo1oro. history. poli
ti('S and law, religiorl, cducatiuf <\nd
S<Kial iustitutions. 'l'hc cxhihil, Scutt
.s:t}'S, is .. a prcscntutiun ufthc with
'' vision tOr thf.' fuhtre.''
Two yeats .M t'S, Morial <lnd
St:utt up with the idea to t"'U
struet the paviliorl. but at the time a.
number of people didn' t believe it
t.'<ml<l he done. Mrs. Murial, who dv-
nutcd the flrst $100 tow:.rd the project,
was determined to prove them wrong.
And she did. She formed a group of 100
lKmrd membe rs ami tlwn c.'orwinced
New Orlea.ns' top hvo DJack f'inancial
iostitutiorlS, Liberty Bank & Trust Co.
on Poge 130
NEW ORLEANS , ........
and United Savings & Loan Asrocia-
tion, to provide the initial funding for
the proj1..:.ct. Within weeks, thousands
of dollars in donations from <.'Orpora
ticms and iodividmtls began pouring in,
and Hewitt-\Vashington & Associates,
a Black ttrchite<:hlral fi rm in New
Orleans, began their work.
"This pavilion is symholic ofu c-oln-du
attitude," S.'lYS Petr Spurney, president
and chief executive of the F:air. ' 'There
were so maJ)Y who said it wouldn' t be
done. Oth(::rs said it 't he done.
Bot Mrs. Morhal and her staff didn' t
listen. It's a dynamic part of this ex
po.sition. and anyone who ' ' lsits this
pavilion will go away enriche<J."
\t\'hile the objective of the pavilion is
to educate people about tim hi.story
and heritage of Black people , it's also
des-Igned to inspire Black youngsters to
e mulate some of the great Blacks of the
past. "TI1is pavilion is fi)r the kids; says
Scott, a n nrt professor and former
chairman of the Art Department at
Xavier Universit-y. '"We have COm
pressed hundreds of years of hi!itOT)'
into the pavilion. and we hope it makes
suc-h a dynamic impressiorl orl the chiJ ..
drcn that they will seck to find uut
more about their :m<.-estors."
Whe1\ the Fair e nds on November
11, the pavilion will be d ismantled but
not destroyed. Constructed in a modu
lar d esign, it can be take I\ apart easily
and moved t'o another site in tlte city,
be<:orning the only permanent cultural
facilit)' of Its kind. coordfoators say. lt
will C(nl tinue to seneas an ins1>i ration
al and educational monume nt, and also
a showcase for artists, dancers.
actors and musicians who want to per ..
form arld exhibit the ir talents ... The
pavllioo won't die when the Fair doos,"
Mrs. Murial says. "It won't be a place
where yota can j ust pt1t stoff inn comer
and forget it. \Ve intend to make it a
live story of all the things we have to
offer as a people."
AMCmt l:he exhibits Ol display :1t tlu! Pa\ ilion is (at \..ll'\' er. At
the 1-'Mr {::tll\1\'t\ Jell) New Ork-;ans MO!)'ilr I :O. Iurial tiLlh will. mc-mheD u1edia. Hb \\ ift-,
M Srbil M01lal (abo"e, right}. ptesldetH and dalrperson (I( lhe that cre-Jted tbe
P:wilinn, is 11hown with Edw.ard C. foundErr o( Soft PYoduot:ts Co. h\C'. , uOO alsc:tthe
hit(Jt4.l:st 6d<YW, left, J)Ctr Spurney. president u.nd cbk:f exocul i\'t.: (I( the
.:bats wiU1 Bill)' 1':&ylor. And. below, IlK! t:Xc:t:'l livt.: bi)Jird include,; (1. to r.)
Edgar Chare, Mrs.Shelia Jll(!lu:(m, Cliffl)rd V. :O.lr$. Ml)ri;,), johu S. Keller, Mr$. Dol.:tret
1\ob..>rUoo, Judge Re\lus Ortlque. Mrs. Quinta Martin and Akleu J. McDonald Jr.

..
AN INI'ERNATIONAL MAGIZINE
...... oomMidlon
WOi'ld Commurifty llrvloe:
a IIIICiaiNpad
Rotary's Day at the Fair

N
ew Orleans, the .. -Mardi Gras
City.'' is again showing the
world that it knows how to throw a
party by hosting the 1984 Louisiana
World Expedition.
"The World of Rivers: fresh Water
as a Source of Life: is the theme,
intended to improve international
understanding of the problems fac-
ing our fresh water resources.
Once a visitor passes through the
fair's towering entrance gates where
huge images of aquatic mythology
pose in welcome, he will immediate-
ly feel the theme's full impact. It is
nearly impossible to walk more than
a few steps without somehow com-
ing in contact with water: a fantasy
waterworld with an intricate net
work of giant lagoons, streams,
bayous, and aqueducts courses
through the site.
The 1984 World's Fair, which runs
through II November, offers a pan-
orama of glitter and allure. There's
the shushing of the monorail, the
splashing of water performers, and
aromas of foods from every comer
of the world.
Rotary, too, plays an important
part in the fair. R.I. President Carlos
Canseco will visit on " Rotary Inter
national Day," Saturday 25 August.
All Rotarians are invited to join him,
Past R.I. Vice- President George Ax-
ceneaux, Jr., District 684 Governor
john Altaz.an, and immediate Past
Governor Tom Oower, jr.
1
at the
fair. Come and And out the true
meaning of joie de vlvrt.
The New Orleans Hilton River
side, the only hotel directly on the
fair site, wiU serve as the head
quarters for r resident Carlos.
The Rotary festivities will begin
on Saturday morning as city, state,
and fair of:ficiaJs welcome President
Carlos, his wife, Maria Aurora, and
all Rotarians. From that point on,
virtually every minute will be fi11ed
with enterta.inment. There will be
international foods and crafts to ex-
perience along a street in the old
warehouse district at the western
edge of the filir site. Entertainment
will be the focus in an open square
surrounded by indus
trial buildings, renovated for the
fair. There will also be a spectacular
aquacade.
The Vatican PavilHon offers an art
exhibit of world significance, "Trea-
sures of the Vatican,'' with works by
Giotto, Raphael, Caravaggio
1
and
others. Next door is Festival Park.
This historic Federal Fibre Mills
Building houses a German beer hall,
serving the best of German food and
oom-pah-pah ba.nds.
On Saturday evening, there will
be a reception and dinner, dubbed
"A Cajun Fiesta-New Orleans
Style," in the New Orleans Hilton.
The Rotary clubs in the New Or-
leans area also offer a special service
(or all Rotarians visiting the fair.
Everyday, except Wednesday, the
local clubs will provide a mini-bus
to pick up any visiting Rotarian at
the City Gate Entrance and trans-
port him to an area Rotary dub
meeting. (The Wednesday moeting
o( the New Orleans club, at the Fa.ir
mont Hotel, is within walking dis--
tance of the fair.) More information
can be obtained at any information
booth at the fair.
So mark yow calendar (or ' ' Ro
tary International Day" at the 1984
World Exposition in New Orleans
on 25 August. Don' t miss out on aU
the fun. 8
NEVER BEFORE- has ll'Jre gOld Deen aclaed to perhaps
the ot aJ Unlltl'd SlaW$ silver - The
WN.tring Uberty hall doll81.
bllone PtOOO$$ DY 'A'hich 24 KarM oo'<f i$ ;appll8d to
coins .vilh oxfr()'l'llt Cff:ti'US a tnag1-.beeN '"''0
meot preclou6 melaiS. The$.e mrac:I.Jioo& ;and gold
eoiM &e available Ol\ly tl'lfOUQI\ Cat1wheets, Inc. ot
Wlrnlng'lon. Oesa .... are
ll'lt ooitl$ al1hOI'CiC aoonor newly muY.eo medals
excluswe cover, Lenscote II. &Nls.
tlr<' PIQ(oct$1ho 1wo tone bOauty "Thl! nt:teklace, eOII'll)iete
1<1 Katal QOid hlled 2<1" ChaltUind \VldeOarld trarne Is
$129 The money c;lip &01 1n 24 Kllrat 9Qid is $00
II date meanngluiiOyou
bei"'"Wn lh$)1i!ill$ 1934 and 19-1-7 Ce11ir1C8tc:
ol Autheni!CC)' comes .... 11n each piece and all are om
...,Tl!lpped'" 'o'C1111et bol'1!1. we ouarooree a lui 'elund. won
rcc:;oint. )'O!J nro not cMiig!Ud. PriCe iS stbj&el
k>CI\af'IQ!!
SHIPM.EHT WITHIN 2A HOURS.
----------------------
CARTYI'HEaS, WC (lrfdett TOLL FAEE
2500 Grubb Road
W4minglon. CE 19E110
5oncl N!lciOkOI, Jk.JMy 0.
O'>Kk nclosecl S tnorve 0C. A, !.IC. VIS/.$ __
c.,,.
bo Ool --------
....... __ _
Cii)I'Stii*'ZIP'------------
Sunday, November 11, 1984 the Mohave Dally Miner
.
World's t=air closes

6-month 'disaster' exposition
NEW (UPI)' - The 1984 World's FAir, bills, employee firings and disappointing crowds.
spectacular in design and scope but far too extravagant Promoters bad hoped for attendance of 12 mtllion, but
for its budget, closes a six-month run Sunday tbat was only about 7 million passed through the mermaid
sparsely attended and left It drowning In red ink. . bedecked gates.
"Like many private things, it turned out to The fair could not even afford a lavish farewell and
be a disaster," said Gov. Edwin Edwards. "U this had had to rely on private funds for its quiet closing, an
been a public venture, there would have beeJ.l people evening of entertainment that contrasted.sharply from
sent to the state penitentiary, there would have been the gala opening.
lynchings, hangings Jlnd certainly a Jot of investiga- In late June, an independent committee was created
lions." . .. to fair finances and deal with unhappy
The fair closes with $140 million fit debts that forced creditors. The state loaned it another $15 million.
theexpositionintobankruptcy. Despite the money woes, the show went on. The expo
The 1982 Worldlt Fair In Knoxville, Tenn., criticized mixed carnival rides and the vigor of a county fair with
as boring and too expensive, might have fatally the solemnity of Vatican artwork. Jazz, and
wounded the New Orleans expo. The proximity of the folk music created a gumbo of sounds that rocked until
two fairs in time and distance diluted the potential dawn. .
audience and excitement ofthis year's expoellton. on July 4, 90,11S. visitors jammed the banks of the
"A world's fair has lost a little bit of Ita unlqueneu," Mississippi River to see a 23minute fireworks display
said 1984 fair Prestdent Petr Spurney. "As a result of that featured lasers bouncing off tne U.S. Pavilton and
KnoxvUle, the peoRle weren't real sure what they were the gondola spanning the river.
getting." . Although New Orleans enjoyed an unusually mild
Faar officials had to ask the state for $10 million in summer and was spared during the June-to-December
Aprll,leadangtoearlydoubtsabout atlvlabWty. hurricane season, mtd-year doldrums plagued the fair,
Advance ticket sales fell 28 percent below projections Americans spent evenings watchmg nauonal political
despite stunning exhibits from the Vatican, China, conventions and the.Olymplcs, and took advantage of
Australia and 24 other countries, the space shuttle, and . the strong dollar to travel abroad.
entertatnrnent by Bob Hope, WUhe Nelson, the London Attendance bottomed out In late August, falling below
Pbdharrnon1c O,rchestra and a dtvang pta. 20,000 on four consecutive days, but received a tShght
' 'The thing was woefully underfinanced from the boost with a Labor Day visit from Vice Presadent
beginning," Edwards said. "I don't know how 1t could Georae Bush. \A
have started with such limited capt tal." . Fair ofllclals promised attendance would skyrocket
One day before Its May 12 opening, hundreds of with the onset of cool fall weather and the start of the
national and International reporters were welcomed to convention season. But those projections again were
a sull-unfmlshed fair. Ttiough m01t pavU,ons were wrong and the fair continued to lose money, forcing
nearing completion, the ftrst view of the fair for
1
ff d 11
nulltons of potential visitors was of tncomplete klotks more ayo s an e mtnatlon of d@tly Mardi Grasli.ke
and ptles of garbage.
The followmg day was a celebration ol mustc, boat
parades and 83,111 eager visitors tiho jammed ticket
booths for hours. But the ceremomel marred by
the absence of President Reagun, who down
scverulmvatataons durmg the rtur ,
It wuK ull cluwnlull rrurn llwn, with most of the
Jlllhllclly nhmll llw $:SttCI tntlhuu rulr ccutcrlnK un unpnul
parades. '-.....)
''The trauma is how we could have been so far off in
, our attendance projections," Spurney sa1d. "It's still
someUung that causes me to lose sleep at mght.''
Fair officials clalmed the residual benefits to New
Orleans- a new convention center, repaved sidewalks
und riverfront development
7
more than compeflliated
rur llw ruuuwmllu,o;:;\'ll.
THE LEDGER/Monday, November 12, 1984
AP photos
The giant gates to the Louisiana World Exposition
In New Orleans open for the last time Sunday.
Closing jazz parade can't drown
New Orleans world's fair blues
NEW ORLEANS - A rip-roaring jazz parade Sunday
didn't drown out the financial blues as the 1984 world's
fair ended a six-month run, its critical acclaim overshad-
owed by losses of more than $100 mUUon.
"I'm crying inside," said Laura Halpenny, a fair em-
ployee, as crowds jammed the entry gates on the final
day. "But I want to remember the fair as it is now, alive
and happy, full of people. I wish the whole six months had
been like thls."
Instead of drawing the daily crowds of 90.000 or more
that would have led to success, the Louslana World Expo-
sition averaged 39,000 a day for its 184 days- about half
of what it would have taken just to break even.
Jet, 26 nov 1984
New Orleans World's Fair
Owes $100 Million, Has
Filed For Bankruptcy
The 1984 World's Fair which is
reportedly at least $100 million in
debt has filed for bankruptcy.
Poor attendance has turned
the fair into a financial disaster
since its opening in May. Instead
of p a c k i n ~ in 12 million visitors,
the exrosttion struggled to reach
a tota attendance of 7 million.
The World of Rivers
Fresh water as a source of life
S
eine. Po. Thames, Nile. Amozoo, Ml.s
sissippi. The Mmes roll oU the tonque
4S e4Sily os these majesuc: rivers flow
to the sel).
Throughout the 4QOS, rivers Mve been
the subjects cmd objects of odven1ure. sci
ence. legend. pleM:ure, dOd lltt. Some
Mve been mysteriously elusive: other.
moqniflcently present. Above all, rivers
Mve been a source o( Ufe for untold qen
erc1tions of mankind.
Within thls for reechlnQ concept is the
shape and soope ot rhe rheme of the t 9B4
World Exposition, "The World
o( Rivers: fresh W<1ter os 4 Source of
Ule."
The setlinQ for this most unique fcjr,
whk:h will e)l:p!ore the lnlin.Ue aspects of
rivers. is New 0r1Mns. ond there couldn't
be 4 more opproprill!e place. New Or
le4ns is 4 city wilh its J)4:SI. present, ond
future Inextricably bound to Us river.
One:e c!IQdi.n, the Qood times 4re obout
to Sl4rl roUinQ on the ri ver. Tedcy, New
OriMns i$ oetunQ teddy for o ce!ebrotlon
that promiSeS to be 4 lec:,enda.ry &vent.
The 1984 l.oulslon< World Exposition. II
rMrks a tumlnQ point in the city's h.lS1ory:
o return Md 4 renewed comm.ument to
New Orle4ns' source of life - the MISSiS-
s\ppt Ri ver.
Everywhere in New Oriedn:s, sLreet.s 4re
beinq repotred end beouti!ted. hotet. ore
QolnQ up. ond historic bulldtnqsore beinQ
restored <1.nd rennov4ted.
New Orlecn$ isn' t Jus1 SPNcinQ up. ll's
steppinq out Into o fu!Ur-e with 4 focus on
the river. For I he first time in over o cen
tury. the riverfront will be open to lhe
world. Not just during the F4lr, but for
rMny ye.:2rs to come.
A World's Foir must ond should edu
col& as well dS entertain. Never Ms le4m
inQ been more entertoininQ th4fl In this.
Folr's The United Stoles. )apo.n,
Al.t!ltrol14. Libeeio, Soulh Korea. ltoJy,
Fr4nce. Con4do, El S.atvcdor. China.
MexJco, Md lhe V cticcsn - os welJ as
severo! mc;or oorpor4Uons dtld Industries
- h4ve 411 cnnounced their intention o!
J)(lrUcipotjng.
In the Gr .. t HoU, 14 individual S1ol
wil) offer their speci41 exhlbils. so thc21 visi
tors. foreign 4nd dCf'ni!Slic oJike. C4n com
lo 4 oreater understcndinQ ol lhi.s v
country.
Like cny motor undertAkinQ. thls even
WdS yMrs in the makinQ. A qroup of for
siQhted Citllens (olned IOQelher ln 197
with rhe shored QOdl of moltnQ o dreo
reblity. Very soon. II wiU be. At o oost o
$350 mUliOn, It wos quite dream. But th
l 964 LouiSidoo. World ExposiUon Is ex
peeled to hve o $26 btU!on economl
1mpac1 on the state o.nd the c1ty.
t\s openlnQ day dr4ws neor. the e"dte
mont qrows. And the world waits for th
Qood limes to start rolling on the Mississi
p4 River. in New Ort .. ns. at the 1984 Lou
lsldna World ExPQ6ltlon.
by .lu.n.n. Nth.an
PubliC' RJ..tion. Ollie9
Z..OuW4rt .. W""Jd
Cou.rt-v Photo
1
72 Student Life
Artcu srech ct iK b s
LOUISI,\ Nt\
WORLLI
EXPOSITICli':
The pelican. official Louitiana
World Capoettion mucot, wUI weJ
e < ~ : m mJlll.oon.e to N- <hlana for
tha fair.
'l"h ntranc. to the World' Falr,
now j ~ t an artitt' ke-tch. -rill be
o- flolnQ with peoopl.. when d \4'
Fair open h'l Ma 1.
Courterv Photo