"Tomorrowland Amerifair, held in San Diego in the fall of 1957, was a billion-dollar salute to the American way. The theme-Man, the American-was dreamed up by the C.I.A. to keep the Cold War Kremlin on its toes. The Ameritron, the fair's colossal center point and the largest prefab structure ever erected, enclosed the bubbling red Atomic Lagoon (soon drained because it made fairgoers sick) and featured a no-entry Strategic Air"
"the Cold War Kremlin on its toes. The Ameritron, the fair's colossal center point and the largest prefab structure ever erected, enclosed the bubbling red Atomic Lagoon (soon drained because it made fairgoers sick) and featured a no-entry Strategic Air Command early-warning center; meanwhile, up top, golfers merrily padded over an Ultrasuede-surfaced eighteen holes. Too bad that the fair's closing ceremonies were marred by the sight of Sputnik racing across the October night sky."
Tomorrowland Amerifair took place in San Diego in fall 1957 as a billion-dollar celebration of American identity. The theme, Man, the American, was conceived by the C.I.A. to unsettle the Kremlin during the Cold War. The Ameritron functioned as the fair's colossal centerpiece and was the largest prefabricated structure ever built, enclosing a bubbling red Atomic Lagoon that was soon drained because it made visitors sick. The Ameritron also housed a restricted Strategic Air Command early-warning center, while its roof featured an Ultrasuede-surfaced eighteen-hole golf course. The fair's closing was visually marred when Sputnik sped across the October night sky.
Read at The New Yorker
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