#Knoxville International Energy Exposition

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60 Minute Developing Robot (another Android Amusements DC-2), 1982 World’s Fair, Knoxville, TN. "Visitors check out the 60 Minute Developing Robot during the World's Fair in 1982." – Remembering the 1982 World's Fair in pictures, Photo: Gary Heatherly, McClung Museum.

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Bowers on collecting: American World’s Fairs

By Q. David Bowers

I am in the middle of a Whitman project to create a book on American postcards. In the works for a decade, this will be a popular volume with much general information and many prices. One section will be devoted to world’s fairs and expositions. For numismatists, many of these fairs issued tokens and medals, some issued So-Called dollars, and a few issued commemorative coins. General information is given below, which I share as a matter of possible interest:

The Crystal Palace Transmitter, at 219 meters tall, is the fourth tallest structure in London, behind the Shard, One Canada Square, and Heron Tower. Hover to zoom. Photo by Tv boy.

Expositions, some of which were designated as world’s fairs, became popular in the 19th century, inaugurated in a significant way by the Great Exhibition of the Works of Industry of All Nations held at the Crystal Palace in London in 1851. Such events were usually characterized by the construction of special buildings, with the iconic Eiffel Tower for the 1889 Exposition Universelle being perhaps the most outstanding example. The similarly named 1900 Exposition Universelle held in Paris was the grandest of all up to that time and today is remembered especially as a showcase for the Art Nouveau movement, as epitomized by the work of Alphonse Mucha.

P.T. Barnum.

In 1853 in New York City the Exhibition of the Industry of All Nations, copying the British event of 1851, was opened in the Crystal Palace. This was not really a world’s fair, but a private enterprise for which the promoters solicited commercial and other exhibits. Showman P.T. Barnum was among those involved. After that time the American Institute and others held shows and displays there. In 1858 the structure, which had never earned a profit, burned to the ground.

A poster advertising the Brussels International Exposition.

The first world’s fair held in America was the Centennial Exhibition, as it was called, in Philadelphia in 1876, celebrating the 100th anniversary of American independence. This was a grand affair and comprised many buildings and facilities in Fairmount Park. The event was highly successful. Regarding the issuance of postcards, the World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago in 1893 inaugurated the release of colorful cards illustrating the facilities. By that time many government postal cards had been imprinted with advertising and other notices, but the Columbian issues were the first to stand alone and require a separate stamp to be applied.

The Anglo-Boer War program sold at the 1904 World’s Fair in St. Louis.

Among important later events the Trans-Mississippi Exposition held in Omaha in 1898, the 1901 Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo (New York), the 1904 Louisiana Purchase Exposition (generally known as the St. Louis World’s Fair), the Lewis and Clark Exhibition in Portland (Oregon) in 1905, the Jamestown (Virginia) Tercentenary Exposition of 1907, the 1909 Alaska Yukon Pacific Exposition in Seattle, the 1915 Panama-Pacific Exposition in San Francisco, and the 1926 Sesquicentennial of American Independence Exposition in Philadelphia were the most important prior to 1930.

Each of these events of the 1890s onward had officially appointed issuers of postcards, but beginning at the turn of the 20th century other publishers jumped into the fray, including makers of various cards showcasing products displayed at the fairs. Zeno chewing gum put out cards for the 1904 St. Louis Fair using images taken from a set of Tuck cards but printed in America (instead of England) and of lesser quality. Typewriters, automobiles, patent medicines, and others were featured on cards, usually in color.

“Viking” replica of the Gokstad Viking ship at the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair.

The largest and most successful of the early fairs were the 1893 Columbian, 1904 St. Louis, and 1915 Panama-Pacific. Certain others did not live up to expectations. The 1901 Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo had trouble covering expenses, and the 1926 Sesquicentennial in Philadelphia lost money. Perhaps worthy of mention is the 1902 United States, Colonial, and International Exposition planned for New York City and, in the same year, the Ohio Centennial and Northwest Territory Exposition, neither of which was held.

Roster of World’s Fairs

What does and does not constitute a world’s fair has been a matter of opinion over the years. Can a fair be a world’s fair because the sponsors call it one, or does it have to have recognition by an international body? In 1964 that was a point of controversy with the 1964 World’s Fair.

This list is from Wikipedia. Those with a bold date are official per the Internationally Recognized Expositions listed by the Bureau International des Expositions have the dates in bold type. Those marked with an asterisk (*) had legal-tender commemorative coins issued by the United States Mint:

1876 Centennial Exhibition, Philadelphia

1881 International Cotton Exposition, Atlanta

1883 American Exhibition of the Products, Arts, and Manufactures of Foreign Nations, Boston

1883 Southern Exposition, Louisville

1883 World’s Fair (planned but never held), New York City

1884 World Cotton Centennial, a.k.a. New Orleans Universal Exposition and World’s Fair, New Orleans

1887 Piedmont Exposition, Atlanta

1889 International Industrial Fair, Buffalo

1892 Exposition of the Three Americas (planned but not held), Washington, DC

1893 World’s Columbian Exposition (planned for 1892, opened to the public in 1893), Chicago*

1893 World’s Fair Prize Winners’ Exposition, 1893

1894 California Midwinter Exposition of 1894, San Francisco

1895 Cotton states and International Exposition (a.k.a. Atlanta Exposition), Atlanta

1897 Tennessee Centennial and International Exposition, Nashville

1898 Trans-Mississippi Exposition, Omaha

1898 California Golden Jubilee, San Francisco

1899 National Export Exposition, Philadelphia

1901 Pan-American Exposition, Buffalo

1901 South Carolina Inter-State and West Indian Exposition, Charleston

1902 United States, Colonial, and International Exposition (planned but never held), New York City

1902 Ohio Centennial and Northwest Territory Exposition (planned but never held), Toledo

1904 Louisiana Purchase Exposition (a.k.a. Louisiana Purchase International Exposition and Olympic Games), St. Louis*

1905 Lewis & Clark Centennial Exposition*

1905 Irish Industrial Exposition, New York City

1907 World’s Pure Food Exposition, Chicago

1908 International Mining Exposition, New York City

1909 Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition, Seattle

1909 Portola Festival, San Francisco

1911 International Mercantile Exhibition, New York City

1913 National Conservation Exposition, Knoxville 1914 National Star-Spangled Banner Centennial Celebration, Baltimore

1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition, San Francisco*

1915 Negro Historical and Industrial Exposition, Richmond

1915 Lincoln Jubilee and Exposition, Chicago

1915-1916 Panama-California Exposition, San Diego

1917 Allied War Exposition, San Francisco

1918 Allied War Exposition, Chicago

1918 Bronx International Exposition of Science, Arts and Industries, New York City

1918 California Liberty Fair, Los Angeles

1923 American Historical Review and Motion Picture Review, Los Angeles

1924 French Exposition, 1924

1925 California Diamond Jubilee, San Francisco*

1926 Sesquicentennial Exposition, Philadelphia*

1928, Pacific Southwest Exposition, Long Beach

1933-1934 Century of Progress International Exposition, Chicago

1935-1936 California Pacific International Exposition, San Diego*

1936 Great Lakes Exposition, Cleveland*

1936 Texas Centennial Exposition, Dallas*

1937 Pan American Fair, Miami

1937 Greater Dallas & Pan American Exposition, Dallas

1939-1940, 1939 World’s Fair, New York City

1939-1940 Golden Gate International Exposition, San Francisco

1940 Pacific Mercado (planned but never held), Los Angeles

1942 Cabrillo Fair (planned but never held), Los Angeles

1953 (Exposition planned for the sesquicentennial of the Louisiana Purchase but never held), St. Louis

1962 Century 21 Exposition, Seattle

1964-1864 New York World’s Fair (not officially sanctioned by the Bureau International des Expositions but popularly if not correctly considered a world’s fair by most Americans), New York City

1968 HemisFair ‘68, San Antonio

1974 Expo ‘74 (a.k.a. International Exposition of the Environment), Spokane

1982 World’s Fair (a.k.a. International Energy Exposition), Knoxville

1984 Louisiana World Exposition (a.k.a. 1984 World’s Fair), New Orleans

So-Called dollars of the 1915–1916 Panama-California Exposition, San Diego, is featured in the fourth edition of Mega Red, with illustrations, history, and valuation charts.

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"H.J. II" promotional robot by ShowAmerica Inc. for H.J. Heinz Co. (1982). Heinz was the "official ketchup" of the 1982 World’s Fair, held in Knoxville, Tennessee, known officially as the Knoxville International Energy Exposition. "A human-sized H.J. Heinz Co. robot shaped like a ketchup bottle added a little flavor to the experience of attending the 1982 World’s Fair. … The robot — which was appropriately 5 feet, 7 inches tall in tribute to the “57 varieties” company slogan — often got noticed by people entering the fairgrounds. Featuring mechanical arms but otherwise shaped like a giant ketchup bottle, it served as sort of an inanimate fair ambassador. ... Another Heinz ketchup robot named “H.J.,” which was based out of the Chicago area was to make a promotional appearance at a Cleveland, Ohio, department store, but its crate could not be found upon arrival via air travel. As a result, the Knoxville robot [is] apparently named H.J. II." – As World's Fair robots went, this one had to play ketchup, by John Shearer, Knox news.

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Expo Ernie by ShowAmerica, for the Canada Pavilion, 1982 World’s Fair, Knoxville, and event mascot for Expo 86, Vancouver, Canada. "Expo Ernie is one of the more unique robots developed by ShowAmerica. Created for the Canadian government and premiered at the recent World's Fair in Knoxville, Tennessee. Ernie is slated to be the mascot of the World's Fair of 1986 in Vancouver, B.C. The robot is presently on a national tour across Canada to build awareness for the fair." – The Personal Robot Book, by Texe Marrs (1985).

"For those who visited Expo 86, if they were lucky, they may have seen the event’s mascot, Expo Ernie. Rather than someone in a giant foam suit, Ernie was a remote-controlled robot that could interact with visitors. The idea for Ernie came about when Expo 86 Commissioner General Patrick Reid saw a robot at an American airport and thought it would be a great mascot. Responsibility for its design and construction fell on Ken Larson, who built Ernie, operated him, and provided the voice. Larson described himself as a freelance actor from Florida and he refused to have his picture taken because he felt Ernie should remain a robot in the minds of the public. Larson left the post of handling Ernie in 1985 when he moved back to Florida to work on acting and film production work. With Larson gone, Craig Wheeler, a 22-year-old acting student took over operation from Ernie. Leading up to the big event Ernie was a world traveler. [In] 82 He spent six months at the Canada Pavilion during the Knoxville World’s Fair." – Expo 86, Canadian History Ehx, by Craig Baird.

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Japan Pavilion Painting Robot, 1982 World’s Fair, Knoxville, TN. In the waiting area of the Japan Pavilion, the "Painting Robot" skilfully draws patterns chosen by guests. "Japan, no longer a tiny nation struggling to recover from defeat, had created the world’s second-biggest economy, and had just surpassed the United States to become the world’s biggest automaker, becoming a serious rival on the global market for several U.S. products. Highlighting their technological wizardry, Japan created a pavilion offering both a virtual and heart-stoppingly realistic bullet-train ride and a painting robot with a flair for semi-abstract art. It was just a symbol of what Japan had learned to do with robots in factories." – 1982 Worlds Fair in Hindsight, Knoxville History Project.

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"Connie" Conergy (an Android Amusements DC-2), The Conergy Energy Saving House, 1982 World’s Fair, Knoxville, TN. "Hi I'm Connie, I'm your robot from Conergy and I'm here to invite you to join us at the energy saving house at the 1982 World's Fair. We'll be there to tell you about all sorts of ways that you can save energy on residential housing. From household conservation, cooling, ventilation, heating, plumbing, and insulation. And we have all sorts of interesting characters that I'm looking forward to introducing to you when you come visit us at the fair. So please come join us. We'll be at the 1982 world's fair located across the street from the Japanese pavilion and next to the candy factory. Come see us." – Join CONNY and her friends at the Conergy Energy Saving House.

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Betty and Taro, from the 1982 World’s Fair, Knoxville, TN. "On entering the [Japan] Pavilion you are greeted by Betty and Taro respectively, the American and Japanese robots who must be related to that cute little robot R2-D2 from the Star Wars movies because the resemblance is remarkable." – From the Archives: Knoxville Worlds Fair Robots, WDEF News 12.

"THE JAPANESE ENERGY SITUATION The Japanese energy situation is introduced in an amusing manner through a dialog between the Japanese robot, "Taro," and the American robot, "Betty." Data on the Japanese and American situations are compared by use of a combination of graphic panels and an electric indication board which change according to the theme." – JAPAN PAVILION, The 1982 World's Fair, The Knoxville International Energy Exposition.

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"The Robot Family" at the Tennessee Exhibit in the Technology and Lifestyles Center, 1982 World’s Fair, Knoxville, TN. The "Robot Family" stars Otto C., Connie, Jordette & Jordy, and puppy Chow. "I want to introduce you to father robot, come on out here Otto. Come on over here and turn around – "Yes ma'am" – Face the camera – "whoa!" Otto is sponsored by odyssey of Magnavox and here inside his drawer that says Otto C. he has an odyssey video game, go ahead Otto – "That tickles, would you do that again please?" – Sure. And now for mama robot Connie; Connie come on over – "Hello Charlotte" – Hi Connie, you look so cute – "Thank you so much" – I love your little pink dress – "We're enjoying our stay at the fair well." – Turn around and show them your baby. This is baby Dawn. Baby Dawn's too little to talk but she can move around a little bit. Connie is sponsored by conergy which also has the energy savings house here at the world's fair. And now the kids, Jordette the teenager and Jordy the little boy. Hi guys, come on right back here. This is Jordette and this is Jordy, both sponsored by Jordache. And what family doesn't have the family dog; this is little puppy chow sponsored by Purina." – Robot Family, 1982 World's Fair, Knoxville Tennessee.

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Robot Raiders, Video Expo Arcade, 1982 World’s Fair, Knoxville, TN. "Eight waist-high robots dashing around a ring zapping each other with light beams to the beat of rock music at the 1982 World's Fair have added a new dimension to electronic games. But the game, which costs $1.50 to play for about two minutes, may be just the "horse and buggy" of robot wars of tomorrow, its developers say. The game, called Robot Raiders, is played much like a video arcade game, except the action involves real robots, operated by remote control, in an octagonal ring. The eight humans at the controls fight their mini-war to the beat of hard rock music. As the lights flash and the music pounds, the robots race around firing light beams from their outstretched arms. The object is to hit an opponent in a a panel that registers the shot and transmits it by radio frequency to a scoreboard. "The guy says 'Go.' and everybody kind of comes up with lasers blazing," said Joe Stewardson, a photographer who says he played the game several times at the fair in Knoxville, Tenn. The robots, which are about about 3 feet tall, are "kind of your traditional robot," he said. The control stick moves left, right, forward and backward "just like a fighter pilot's," he said. While the game is getting its first public exposure at the fair, the gnome-sized warriors have been in the works for years at Sound Spectrum, an Orange County manufacturer. "What we wanted to do is extend the game beyond the cathode ray tube and develop a game that not only appealed to young people. but also adults as well…” said Gary Taylor, the head of Sound Spectrum. Dan Laughlin, another owner of the exhibit, said the players can visually track their hits by watching the light, which shows up something like a flashlight on the robot. "There are lights flashing on the floor, above and around the robots," Laughlin said. The show includes black lights and music with different frequency sounds that come from each of the robots as they shoot. Laughlin said the players, using remote-control "joy sticks," move the robots in an 18-foot radius from control podiums on the corners of the octagon. "They are inside what is almost like a cockpit of a fighter plane," he said. "They have a console where the hits are recorded, with a button on top their joy stick to shoot. While the game is popular, the owners concede it is expensive. But,” says Kail, "If a kid wants to play, he's going to pay the money. A lot of them are off on summer vacation, and have summer jobs." It's more of a main attraction, not for the average video parlor, more for theme parks and major shopping centers," he said." – Robot Raiders involves real, remote control robots, by Dolores Wood, Santa Ana, CA.

"They paid a quarter million for the world's first robot arcade game. There were eight robots but they did not work. We spent the last two months of the Fair engineering and building new robots. We had a few completed by the time the Fair closed." – Doug Dotson.