Hello rich72-ga,
Thank you for your question.
Chita Rivera and alternately Gretchen Wyler starred in the show
“Wonder World” in the 1964 New York World’s Fair.
Here is a description from The New York World's Fair Guidebook
1964/1965:
“Some of the biggest names in show business have created a
two-million-dollar extravaganza, "Wonder World," in the only permanent
open-air auditorium on the fairgrounds. An international cast of 250
includes singers and dancers, swimmers and divers, comedians and
acrobats; the visual effects range from a giant waterfall, which pours
22,000 gallons of water a minute onto the stage, to the launching, in
a cloud of smoke, of a "lady astronaut" in a "moon rocket."
The Amphitheater, site of Billy Rose's famous Aquacade at the 1939
World's Fair, has been completely refurbished. The new production
takes place on a turntable 75 feet in diameter, one of the largest in
the world; in a swimming pool in front of the stage; and on movable
platforms that shuttle back and forth over the pool. On either side of
the stage are acoustical shells for an orchestra and choral groups.
The show is presented by society band leader Meyer Davis, directed by
Leon Leonidoff of Radio City Music Hall, and alternately stars Chita
Rivera and Gretchen Wyler. The choreographer and associate director is
Broadway's Michael Kidd. Jule Styne of stage and movie fame wrote the
music.”
New York World's Fair: Peace through Understanding
http://peace.expoarchive.com/6465/amusement/lapav02.shtml
Search Criteria:
“Chita Rivera” “Gretchen Wyler”
“Chita Rivera” World’s Fair 1964
I hope this helps. If anything is unclear please request clarification
and I'll be glad to offer further assistance before you rate my answer
and close the question.
Best Regards,
Bobbie7-ga |
Clarification of Answer by
bobbie7-ga
on
07 Jun 2003 11:58 PDT
Dear Richard,
I did additional research and here is what I was able to uncover.
Amphitheater
“Some of the biggest names in show business created a $2,000,000
extravaganza, "Wonder World" in the only permanent open-air auditorium
on the fairgrounds. An international cast of 250 included singers and
dancers, swimmers and divers, comedians and acrobats. The visual
effects ranged from a giant 22,000 gallon per minute waterfall, to the
launching, in a cloud of smoke, of a lady astronaut in a moon rocket.
Shows lasted 90 minutes.”
“The production took place on a 75 foot diameter turntable, in a
swimming pool in front of the stage, and on moving platforms that
shuttled back and forth over the pool. On either side of the stage
were acoustical shells for an orchestra and choral groups.”
Admission for unreserved seats was $1.00; reserved section $2.25;
special reserved section $3.50.
Copyright Jeffrey Stanton 1997
http://naid.sppsr.ucla.edu/ny64fair/map-docs/amphitheater.htm
On this map you can see the Amphitheater where Wonder World was
featured
http://naid.sppsr.ucla.edu/ny64fair/map-docs/fair64-mappart2.htm
This excerpt mentions that Wonder World closed in less than three
months with a great economic loss.
“Robert Moses had very conservative mainstream tastes when it came to
entertainment. He recruited Walt Disney to design major displays for
four commercial pavilions. But when it came to approving entertainment
in the Fair's amusement zone, his long record of opposition to Coney
Island's carnival atmosphere created a very dull area. He was
determined that the Fair's amusement zone would have none of the
thrill rides, razzmatazz carnival spirit or the Little Egypt nudie
shows that had been so popular at the 1939/40 Fair. Instead he relied
on cultural oriented shows. Three shows, "Wonder World" an aquacade at
the Amphitheater with only one great act - a man in a rocket suit,
"Dick Button's Ice-Travaganza, and a musical "To Broadway with Love,"
all closed in less than three months with a total loss of $7 million.”
http://naid.sppsr.ucla.edu/ny64fair/map-docs/buildingfair.htm
I hope this helps.
Best regards,
Bobbie7-ga
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