Today in Expo 67 History: April 30

Expo 67 Photos from La Presse

I just love the media attention that Expo 67's anniversary is getting. Newspapers and television networks alike are opening their vaults to reveal Expo 67 eye candy. It was precisely during the 30th anniversary media blitz back in 1997 that I fell in love with Montreal's World's Fair...

Enjoy these archival photos from french Montreal newspaper La Presse:

An aerial vue of Île Sainte Hélène.

An aerial vue of Île Notre Dame.

Queen Elizabeth visiting the Quebec pavilion.

General Expo 67 Hostesses in their rainy day outfits.

International hostesses striking a pose...

More international hostesses.

Yet more international hostesses!

Expo 67 crowds at a Minirail station.

More crowds, this time in front of Man the Producer.

Yet more crowds at Expo 67!

A panoramic view of Île Notre Dame, featuring Canada's Katimavik.

images: cyberpresse.ca

And Speaking of Anniversaries...

The Expo Lounge celebrates its first year!

I frequently get asked why I love Expo 67 so much. Expo Lounge's inaugural post sought to answer that, setting the tone for what has grown into a well-respected and much visited Expo 67 and retro reference.

I'd like to thank each and every one of Expo Lounge's 16,756 visitors!

Today in Expo 67 History: April 29

C'est Twenty!

Today in Expo 67 History: April 28

Just for the Occasion

I wore my Expo 67 tie to work today!

photo: Janicke Morissette (www.lebureauofficiel.com)/
Jean-François Brière (www.jfbriere.com)

Happy Expo-versary!

Expo 67 was inaugurated 40 years ago today!

Here at the Expo Lounge, visitors will re-live Expo 67 through a new series of posts devoted to Expo's day-to-day events. The facts and figures will be culled from Yves Jasmin's book: "La petite histoire d'Expo 67", from 1997.

images: designed by jason67

Laval Hockey Team Logos

I grew up in Laval, a Montreal suburb.

I've never really considered anything about Laval cool until I stumbled upon these retro logos, courtesy of The Canadian Design Resource:

From top: Laval National Primary (1972 & 1976-79), Laval Voisins (present).

The Pavilion of Israel

Israel's pavilion at Expo 67 was a white, windowless structure. Located on Île Notre Dame, near the Expo-Express station, the 2-level pavilion featured modern cubist walls and a geometrically patterned roof. A landscaped Biblical garden surrounded the building.

In the entrance hall of the pavilion, visitors were introduced to Ancient Israel through an exhibit of archeological treasures, the crowning jewel of which was a complete Dead Sea Scroll.

Displays encased in the walls of a ramp leading to the second floor described the destruction of ancient Israel. Near the top of the ramp were vast figures that expressed the Jewish longing to return to Israel.

A section on the second floor described early Israeli settlements. Another section contained a sombre exhibit of the holocaust. From the gloom, visitors then emerged into a bright hall of photographs showing refugees returning to the reborn state of Israel in 1948. The challenges that faced the reborn state were discussed next, in the Hall of Modern Israel.

In an adjacent circular area, short films on Israel's cultural heritage and the Hebrew language were projected on a revolving drum. Throughout the area, pale colors and bright lighting recalled Israel's hot, dry climate.

Another ramp lead back down to the ground floor, to the Beauty of Israel Hall. Here, visitors could buy Israeli products, books and stamps, and obtain tourist information. Next to the hall was a 250-seat auditorium that was used for film screening and song and dance performances.

Near the pavilion's exit was the only kosher restaurant at Expo 67.



images: (1) alamedainfo.com
(2) library and archives canada
(3-4-5) westland.net/expo67

Happy Birthday, Michèle Richard!

Michèle Richard turns 61 today!

I sent her this birthday wish by email, via her official website:

The card reads: "Happy Birthday-a-gogo! From Jason, the Expo 67 fan".

Michèle knows me as the "Expo 67 fan", so I wanted to make sure to include that on the card. I also put a photo of myself to jog her memory...

A Mod Trio

Photographer William Claxton began taking photographs for fashion designer Rudi Gernreich in the mid 1950's. Claxton began a romantic affair with a then-unknown Peggy Moffitt in 1958. In 1962, Peggy began to work as a model for Gernreich, becoming his muse and collaborator. By the late 1960's, Claxton was photographing Moffitt in Gernreich's designs.

The images that resulted from this dynamic trio remain some of the most iconic from that period...

Enjoy!

Little Boy suit with tank top, 1966.

Color blocking in wool knit, fall 1967.

See-through minidress in lacquered chiffon and wool crepe, fall 1967.

Beardsley group, fall 1968.

Long matte jersey dress with doorspring hardware, fall 1971.

Wool-knit tunic over shorts, fall 1971.

Roualt swimsuit, resort 1971.

Long orange matte jersey t-shirt with hot pink insert, spring/summer 1972.

images: williamclaxton.com

Expo by Boat

This video shows some Expo 67 sights, as seen from various watercraft:



I just love the groovy soundtrack...

Expo 67 Chocolate Drink

A reader sent me this photo of a sparkling chocolate drink from Expo 67.

The label reads: "Bottled by or under authority of Pure Spring (Canada) Limited. Ottawa, Canada by appointment of EXPO 67".

The bottle was never opened. I wonder how it tastes...

image: special thanks to Kevin Read

Bob Ross

When I was a kid, I used to love watching The Joy of Painting.

The Joy of Painting was hosted by Bob Ross and ran on PBS from 1983 to 1995. During each half-hour segment, Ross would instruct viewers in the art of oil painting by creating an entire landscape.

With a soothing voice, he would describe the subjects of his paintings in such terms as "happy little trees" and "pretty little mountains". He believed that everyone had inherent artistic talent and the potential of becoming an accomplished artist given time, practice, and encouragement.

Bob was fond of saying, "We don't make mistakes, we just have happy little accidents."

image: wikipedia.org

Happy Easter!

Urban Sculptures Celebrate Expo 67

Artefact Montréal - Urban Sculptures is an event that invites artists to create ephemeral public sculptures, on a chosen site in Montreal.

For the 2007 edition, 20 artists from 5 different continents will come celebrate the 40th anniversary of Expo 67. From June 27 to September 30, these artists will create ephemeral works based on "the concept of a pavilion", on Île Sainte-Hélène.

The Artefact Montreal website states: "In this edition of Artefact Montréal 2007, the intention is to re-visit a site but also an era – a given time and place – that will bring back memories for some and at the same time let a new generation discover the great significance of this international event that literally transformed our metropolis."

As in previous editions of Artefact Montreal, the sculptures will be dismantled at the end of the event.

images: (top) artefact-montreal.com
(bottom) flickr.com/photos/debe

Retro Wallpaper

I've always loved wallpaper!

Wallpaper was very popular in the 50's, 60's and 70's, but seemed to fall out of favor after that. The fashion pendulum is now swinging back, making wallpaper once again the must-have element to any stylish decor.

A new generation of young, dynamic designs is emerging. And fashion's fascination with all things retro means only one thing: retro wallpaper!

Check out wallpaperfromthe70s.com for some groovy eye candy...

images: wallpaperfromthe70s.com