BY
It went from an ash dump to one of the most popular sites at the 1964-65 World’s Fair. Then, it served as a concert hall, roller-skating rink, and filming venue for the 1978 movie The Wiz before becoming an idle structure at center of modest civic controversy.
Get the whole story about the New York State Pavilion via Modern Ruin at Queens Theatre on Sunday, July 14, at 3 pm.
The event begins with a screening of Matthew Silva’s 2015 documentary Modern Ruin: A World’s Fair Pavilion. Featuring interviews with architects, fair attendees, historians, writers, and others who have experienced the structure in its many facets.
Then, Director Silva and Bill Cotter, co-author of The 1964-1965 New York World’s Fair, participate in a panel discussion moderated by Queens World Film Festival Artistic Director Preston Cato and Executive Director Katha Cato.
Admission is $17.
Queens Theatre is located at 14 United Nations Ave. S. in Flushing Meadows Corona Park. There’s plenty of free parking nearby.
Modern Ruin is part of Theaterama!, a series of monthly performances celebrating the World Fair’s 60th anniversary.
It runs from April through October. Here’s the remaining schedule.
Queensboro Dance Festival presents outdoor performances by Queens-based troupes during 1964/65 World’s Fanfare, Part II on Sunday, Aug. 4, at 6 pm at the Unisphere. (Free.)
Queens Theatre hosts Taste the World’s Fare! on Sunday, Sept. 22, at 3 pm. Attendees eat the Fair’s big hits, including waffles, falafel, Coca-Cola, and sangria. (Suggested donation at entrance. Food available for purchase.)
World’s Fair Plays – Revisited is at Queens Theatre’s Shulman Theater on Sunday, Oct. 27. Details haven’t been announced yet, but the plan is to present readings of plays inspired by the World’s Fairs.
Images: Queens Theatre