"Your HemisFair - 1968" [Draft] (open access)

"Your HemisFair - 1968" [Draft]

Summary of answers to frequently asked questions about HemisFair '68.
Date: December 29, 1963
Creator: unknown
System: The Portal to Texas History
Hemisfair $200 Million Dollar Dream (open access)

Hemisfair $200 Million Dollar Dream

Typed document by William Sinkin, President of San Antonio Fair, Inc. about San Antonio hosting a world's fair in 1968, called HemisFair. The document summarizes the administrative and financial work accomplished to date and outlines the road ahead for financial, local and state government support in order for the fair to become a reality.
Date: 1964
Creator: Sinkin, Bill
System: The Portal to Texas History
Building : Tynan House (open access)

Building : Tynan House

Several pages of information about the Tynan House, which was one of the historic houses on the HemisFair '68 site. It was built in the 1860s and located at 117 Goliad Street. Included in this 4 page set is a drawing of the front of the house, and a map showing its location on the HemisFair site.
Date: 1965?
Creator: unknown
System: The Portal to Texas History
Fair of the Americas Fact Sheet (open access)

Fair of the Americas Fact Sheet

Fact sheet for the Fair of the Americas.
Date: January 1, 1963
Creator: unknown
System: The Portal to Texas History
HemisFair '68 - The San Antonio's World Fair (open access)

HemisFair '68 - The San Antonio's World Fair

A brief history of the World's Fair by Marshall T. Steves. The speech must have been given several years before HemisFair '68 opened as most of his comments refer to designs and planning for the fair. Marshall Steves was president of HemisFair '68.
Date: 1966~
Creator: Steves, Marshall T.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Souvenir book of HemisFair '68 (open access)

Souvenir book of HemisFair '68

The souvenir book for HemisFair '68. The contents includes information about the countries participating, corporate and industrial exhibits, amusements, and food. The Tower of the Americas dominates the cover illustration.
Date: 1967
Creator: unknown
System: The Portal to Texas History
Major purposes of the Hemis-Fair (open access)

Major purposes of the Hemis-Fair

Text of a speech given by William Sinkin who served as President of the Board of Directors of San Antonio Fair, Inc. from April 1963 to November 1964. He outlines the major purposes of HemisFair '68 in five points: how it will benefit San Antonio, build community leadership, promote ties between San Antonio and Latin America, economic advantages for staging the fair, and leaving a heritage of permanent facilities and institutions for San Antonio.
Date: 1968~
Creator: Sinkin, Bill
System: The Portal to Texas History
Minutes of initial meeting of interested citizens pertinent to the "Fair of the America's" (open access)

Minutes of initial meeting of interested citizens pertinent to the "Fair of the America's"

Minutes taken at a meeting held Feb. 15th, 1962, at the Granada Hotel of civic leaders to discuss the idea of hosting a "Fair of the America's" in San Antonio, Texas. Those present expressed enthusiasm for the idea. At this meeting is was agreed that an executive committee be formed to investigate the feasibility of staging such a fair.
Date: 1962
Creator: Daniels, John A.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Speech by William Sinkin about HemisFair '68 (open access)

Speech by William Sinkin about HemisFair '68

Draft of a promotional speech by William Sinkin, the first president of the Executive Board of San Antonio Fair, Inc., about HemisFair '68. He describes progress made in planning for the fair and some of the benefits that would result, including cultural, and educational. There are numerous hand-written annotations and revisions to the typed text.
Date: 1966?
Creator: Sinkin, William, 1913-
System: The Portal to Texas History
Remarks, Executive Committee Meeting (open access)

Remarks, Executive Committee Meeting

Remarks made by H.B. Zachry, chairman of the board of San Antonio Fair, Inc. just before the closing of HemisFair '68. His remarks focus on financial aspects of the fair, in a 'setting the record straight' manner. He emphasises that all San Antonio Fair Inc. bills will be paid and that there would be no costs to taxpayers. He also talks about the income and jobs generated by the fair for the city of San Antonio and future benefits to the city resulting from having hosted the fair.
Date: October 1968
Creator: Zachry, Henry Bartell, 1901-1984
System: The Portal to Texas History
Report to Hemisfair Re-Use Committee (open access)

Report to Hemisfair Re-Use Committee

A report outlining proposals for what to do with the HemisFair '68 site in San Antonio after the fair closes. The author emphasises that the focus should just not be on the HemisFair site, but also include the downtown area, and that the site re-use should capitalize on the cultural and educational heritage of the city. One of the chief proposals in the report is to use part of the fair site to establish a four-year state college.
Date: July 23, 1968
Creator: Harlan, Douglas S.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Transcript of meeting on HemisFair '68 (open access)

Transcript of meeting on HemisFair '68

Transcript of a meeting held August 24, 1965 with Allison Peery, Richard Wilson, and Jim Glass. The meeting discussed the HemisFair project, why it was proposed, how it would be financed, the space planning, what facilities and attractions would be offered, as well as what the fair symbols should be. The transcript is typed, with annotations in hand, on "Culberson, Slaughter, Glass & DuBose, inc." corporate letterhead.
Date: August 27, 1965
Creator: unknown
System: The Portal to Texas History
HemisFair $200 Million Dollar Dream (open access)

HemisFair $200 Million Dollar Dream

Typed document by William Sinkin, President of San Antonio Fair, Inc. about San Antonio hosting a world's fair in 1968, called HemisFair. The document summarizes the administrative and financial work accomplished to date and outlines the road ahead for financial, local and state government support in order for the fair to become a reality.
Date: 1964
Creator: Sinkin, William, 1913-
System: The Portal to Texas History
General Electric Company's Theaterama press release (open access)

General Electric Company's Theaterama press release

Text is The General Electric Company's press release describing the Theaterama experience at the 1968 World’s Fair known as HemisFair ’68, held from April to October 1968 in San Antonio entitled "The Wonderful World of Progress." The Circular theater used a variety of audio visual techniques, including live-to-film, film-to-live, “op art,” “blue mat” and magic effects as well as music and lyrics. Featured was a mythical Genie of the Southwest, who spoke and interacted with the onstage hostess-housewife. The release details the writers of the show, its musical score, the 16 hostesses, the "genie" portrayed by television performer Bill McCutcheon and many of the special effects used. The release goes on to include the seating capacity of 16,100 persons and the length of the show, 20 minutes. The release also describes the performance as well as its objective at HemisFair ’68.
Date: March 28, 1968
Creator: General Electric Company
System: The Portal to Texas History
Press release given to the Washington press during Gov. Connally's visit, July 13, 1966. (open access)

Press release given to the Washington press during Gov. Connally's visit, July 13, 1966.

Press release about HemisFair '68 detailing how many visitors are expected, what the theme of the fair is, how it has been endorsed by the Bureau of International Expositions, and the affect it is having on the host city, San Antonio in terms of urban renewal and change.
Date: 1966
Creator: unknown
System: The Portal to Texas History
News release : Governor and Mrs. Connally  to visit Latin America. (open access)

News release : Governor and Mrs. Connally to visit Latin America.

News release announcing Governor and Mrs. John Connally's three-weeks visit to Latin American countries in July/August 1966 on behalf of HemisFair '68. He will invite countries to participate in the fair. Prior to his departure he will be honored at a reception in Washington, D.C. for his role as Commissioner General of the fair. The news release also mentions countries and corporations who have already signed up to participate in HemisFair '68.
Date: July 12, 1966
Creator: unknown
System: The Portal to Texas History
HemisFair '68: 1968 World's Fair/April 6-October 6 news (open access)

HemisFair '68: 1968 World's Fair/April 6-October 6 news

A news release from the Public Relations Department of HemisFair '68 highlighting some of the main buildings that have been constructed for the fair, including the Tower of the Americas, the Arena, Theatre for the Performing Arts, and Convention Hall.
Date: 1968?
Creator: HemisFair (1968 : San Antonio, Tex). Public Relations Department.
System: The Portal to Texas History
[News Release About Changes to Create HemisFair '68] (open access)

[News Release About Changes to Create HemisFair '68]

A news release from the Public Relations Department of HemisFair '68, highlighting the way that the world's fair represents an urban renaissance for San Antonio, with the construction of the Tower of the Americas and other satellite buildings.
Date: 1968?
Creator: HemisFair (1968 : San Antonio, Tex). Public Relations Department.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Two of HemisFair's high altitude attractions (open access)

Two of HemisFair's high altitude attractions

Information item about the Tower of the Americas and the Swiss Skyride. The Tower is 622 feet tall and features two observation decks and a revolving restaurant. Glass fronted elevators carry visitors from the base to the top in 43 second. Riders in the Skyride can enjoy panoramic views of the fair site from 80 feet above the ground.
Date: 1968?
Creator: unknown
System: The Portal to Texas History
Proposed tower = Torre en proyecto (open access)

Proposed tower = Torre en proyecto

Description of the Tower of the Americas concept drawing by O'Neil Ford. Description is in English and Spanish, and contains short information about the architect, cost, height, elevators, capacity, and tower facilities.
Date: 1965
Creator: unknown
System: The Portal to Texas History
HemisFair '68: 1968 World's Fair/April 6-October 6 news (open access)

HemisFair '68: 1968 World's Fair/April 6-October 6 news

A news release from the Public Relations Department of HemisFair '68, highlighting the Goliad Food Plaza, one of the food clusters at HemisFair '68, and lists a couple of food items available there.
Date: 1968?
Creator: HemisFair (1968 : San Antonio, Tex). Public Relations Department.
System: The Portal to Texas History
News release for HemisFair '68 on-grounds transportation (open access)

News release for HemisFair '68 on-grounds transportation

A news release from the Public Relations Department of HemisFair '68. It highlights the lagoon cruise boats and the Mini-Monorail as on-grounds transportation at HemisFair '68.
Date: 1968?
Creator: HemisFair (1968 : San Antonio, Tex). Public Relations Department.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Notes on Summary and Conclusions (open access)

Notes on Summary and Conclusions

Collection of correspondence, reports, and summaries from 1963 of cost estimates for land acquisition, construction, public relations, and miscellaneous other expenses associated with staging a World's Fair in San Antonio, Texas.
Date: 1963
Creator: unknown
System: The Portal to Texas History
Leon Valley PTA Speaking Engagement (open access)

Leon Valley PTA Speaking Engagement

Text of a talk given by William Sinkin to the Leon Valley PTA on February 9th, 1967. The title of the talk was "HemisFair '68: a Progress Report". Mr. Sinkin first gave some general remarks about HemisFair and then talked about HemisFair financing and the economic impact that HemisFair '68 would have on San Antonio.
Date: 1967
Creator: Sinkin, William, 1913-
System: The Portal to Texas History