Festival of Gas PavilionA puppet movie, a magic show, cooking demonstrations and product displays were assembled by the gas industry in a pavilion, airy architecture in a pleasant garden. A white roof, raised high on two columns, sheltered most of the area. Beneath, an arrangement of trees, shrubs, ponds and paths guided the visitor flow to the various exhibits and a restaurant.A giant carousel, 12 feet off the ground, slowly revolved within the exhibit area and permitted riders to view the displays that they were about to visit. A complete preview on the turntable took five minutes. "Fun House of the Future" in three connecting buildings, showing the importance of gas is dramatized by tricks and surprise displays. During the 10 - 1/2 minute tour, the narrator's voice eerily echoed in dark corridors, animated appliances popped out of the ceiling and color pictures flashed in unexpected places on the walls. A 15 minute film presented the sometimes tender, sometimes slapstick adventures of a puppet named "Truthful George." The latest in stoves, refrigerators, laundry dryers and other gas equipment intended for the home was displayed on a 15 foot high rotating wheel called the "Appliance Ferris Wheel." In a 150 seat amphitheater a magician chef did startling tricks with food. It was presented six to eight times a day. The gas turbine generators and coolers actually being used to heat, light and cool the pavilion were shown and explained in a landscaped area called the Garden of Giants. The final exhibit was called "From Earth to Home." Diagrams showed how gas was discovered, processed and brought to the consumer. The pavilion had a "Festival '64 - The American Restaurant" which had walls of glass and cascading greenery. It featured regional American dishes. Much of the food served in this restaurant was prepared right at the table. |