Scouting Service at 1964 NY World’s Fair
We recently received some patches from a Scouter out of New York. While asking about his involvements, an Eagle Scout and 1960 National Jamboree participant, he mentioned he served on the Boy Scout Service Corps for the 1964 New York World’s Fair.
Less and less we come across participants let alone staff members from the World’s Fair so I asked him about his remembrances. Here’s what he had to say (nice piece of personal history about his guiding Vice President Nixon btw):
Working the fair was a great experience. I think I worked a week or two mainly weekends and holidays (it was during the school year) before they rotated in other than local scouts to man the pavilion over the summer. Our principle jobs were to demonstrate scouting skills (I remember demonstrating a lot of first aid), give directions, help with lostchildren, and escort dignitaries. I do remember taking the then King of Burundi around and the then former Vice-President Richard Nixon, whose foot I stepped on. I was kidded for years about that.
I went to the 1960 National Jamboree, went to Philmont in 1962, worked the Scouting pavilion at the 1964 World’s Fair, and I was an Order of the Arrow member (Horicon 246). I grew up in southern New York State, Washington Irving Council, and was a counselor at their Camp Read. I was later active in the explorer program. I always felt that scouting was tougher than the peacetime Army.
on August 14th, 2012 at 12:36 am
From these comments, it sounds like this writer was from the New York area. I was one of the out of town Scouts that was “rotated in,” and served in the Boy Scout Pavilion for two weeks in June with a group of Scouts from Alabama and West Florida. We were transported by Greyhound Bus from Pensacola and stayed in Army Bases both coming and going. The night we spent at Andrews AFB on the way home wsa memorable because the Base movie house was showing “What a Way to Go” starring Shirley McClain and we all were invited to attend it. I’m sure I remember it as well as I do because of the unique circumstances. While in NYC we were housed in the Army barracks at Fort Totten, near LaGuardia Airport. We were bused from our lodgings to the Fair every day, and as it was unseasonably cold for our two weeks, the thin plastic windbreakers we were provided with the enormous blue and orange patches on the back were our constant companions, and they were needed since we were required to wear our summer Scout uniforms complete with garters and tassels regardless of the weather.
We went through a short training regimen at the start, and each day our “Patrol” would rotate to new pavilion duties, including building a campfire and cooking over it. I was in the middle of grilling some fish when one of my Alabama neighbors gave me quite a surprise by tapping on my shoulder and asking for some… I had no idea they would be coming to the Fair.
My particular specialty was demonstrating, by way of a custom-made device for the purpose, “How Seat Belts Save Lives,” which I got so good at, they pretty much kept me doing it when I was available. The device consisted of a car seat placed on a spring-loaded track. As I cranked the chair back into position, I had a spiel I would say to the gathering crowds, and then, at the most dramatic moment, hit the release and the seat would lurch forward and either send the life-sized rag dummy sitting in it flying through the air, or, if strapped in, it would remain safe. Simple but effective at a time when hardly anyone had, much less used, seatbelts.
My “VIP duty” was similar to your other writer except that, in my case, the VIP was Otto Kerner, the Governor of Illinois at the time, who was escorted all day by me and one other member of the Corps, including his only visit to the Illinois Pavilion, which featured one of the first Disney audioanimatronic figures, Abraham Lincoln giving the Gettysburg Address. It proved to be one of my favorite exhibits, and not just because I was sitting next to the Governor when I saw it. I should add that Gov. Kerner was famous a second time around for authoring the classic Kerner Report on the state of Civil Rights in this country, and then, a third time when he was convicted for taking a bribe after becoming a judge later in life. He died in jail, so my claim to fame is, I suppose, somewhat tarnished, though the same must also be said of Richard Nixon at the end of the day.
Once we returned home, I was asked by the National Headquarters to represent our group and make a speech about our experiences to the local Council, which I did, by filling in and elaborating on a “template” speech that the National office had created and sent to me for that purpose. I still have it, and that was nearly 50 years ago!
All in all, this was a magnificent experience and I kept (and wore) my jacket until it was stolen from me sometime in the early 80s. I’d love to have it back since I had added many of my father’s early patches to it over the years (as well as my own). Ah, well… Much too much info, I fear, but hope you appreciate the story. Thanks for letting me share.
on August 29th, 2013 at 9:21 am
I was also an outside area scout in the summer of 1965. I might add that my red jackets had a round jacket patch, and besides an arm band- we also had a pocket hanger round patch. My principle service area was information duty, on the top of the two towers – made famous again in the movie Men in Black. The most asked question – where is the rest room!
I also went to 1960 and 1964 Jamborees
on February 3rd, 2014 at 6:51 pm
I was a Queen Scout from Ontario, Canada and spent two weeks at the Worlds Fair during July, 1964. We were billeted at a nearby army barracks with a troop from Georgia. Our duties were both as ambassadors for our country as well as demonstrating scouting skills. It was a fabulous time. We also were billeted with a scout troop from Rumson, N.J. and then a week of camp at Monticello, N.Y. It was a fabulous experience and with this being the 50th anniversary, I have been thinking about it a lot. All the best in scouting.
on October 1st, 2015 at 9:58 am
Hi- fyi… I just listed a 1964 NY World’s Fair red scout jacket on Ebay. Item: 181889974605 Thx!
on October 1st, 2015 at 10:11 am
You’re WAY overpriced, IMHO, at a starting minimum bid of $250 – by a factor of 10. $25 would be a more fair starting price. Rather than calling it ‘Rare’ (as in implying it is coveted) you would be better to describe it as obscure. There is limited collecting or even nostalgia demand for the patch on the jacket. It is not a signature item from this Scouting event.
on October 3rd, 2017 at 7:37 pm
I was in a troop from Baltimore Md. and was at the Fair in Aug. 1965. We billeted in the same Army barracks as the scout noted above. My job was to guide 6 deaf and blind men around the fair. It was a transforming experience for me to relate to such handicapped men and see them truly enjoy the experience of the fair on their deaf and blind terms. I think getting to feel the taxidermy polar bear was the best for them and for me as I saw true joy in their faces. That experience was my first on a road to a medical career for which I am ever grateful.
on May 14th, 2020 at 8:33 pm
I was among a group from Galveston, Co. Texas …we stayed at Ft. Totten on Long Island. Great time, and I still have all my patches & neckerchief …at the time, it seemed like I was visiting a foreign country.
on May 14th, 2020 at 8:33 pm
I was among a group from Galveston, Co. Texas …we stayed at Ft. Totten on Long Island. Great time, and I still have all my patches & neckerchief …at the time, it seemed like I was visiting a foreign country.
on January 30th, 2022 at 1:37 pm
My brother was also a scout at the Fair – we lived in Queens, maybe 15 miles from the fair, but he also stayed at Fort Totten, an army reserve base in Bayside, still in NYC, off Bell Boulevard. I have his patch, neckerchief, and neckerchief slide.