“Designs Against the Sky” (c.1964) is a promo film showcasing the innovative use of steel in the construction of pavilions and structures for the 1964 New York World’s Fair, emphasizing the material’s strength, versatility, and design potential. Sponsored by the American Iron and Steel Institute, the film highlights steel’s functional and aesthetic qualities, such as its high salvage value and adaptability for bold designs. Through a combination of architectural models, construction footage, and aerial views, the film captures the ingenuity of mid-century modern architecture, featuring iconic structures like the Unisphere, Johnson’s Wax Pavilion, and Bell Telephone Pavilion among others.

Film opens (0:08). Scaled model of 1964 New York World’s Fair (0:21). Opening credits (0:39). View of Terrace on the Park banquet hall building, seen from Whitestone Expressway (0:47). Construction workers building overpass along expressway (0:59). Cranes help to construct and position Unisphere in Flushing Meadows Corona Park (1:08). American Bridge Company engineers work on Unisphere from crane (1:56). Steel workers weld together parts of the Unisphere including the different continents (2:03). Red steel frame of The Johnson’s Wax Pavilion – 500-seat theater in a suspended gold disc designed by Lippincott and Margulies (2:31). Camera pans steel column up towards sky to emphasize height (3:13). Scaled architectural model of Johnson’s Wax Pavilion (3:29). Construction of IBM Pavilion theater by Eero Saarinen and Charles & Ray Eames; Forty-five corten steel columns and steel ovoid (3:37). Scaled architectural model of IBM Pavilion Ovoid (4:25). Scaled architectural model of Travelers Insurance Pavilion resembling two interlocking umbrella shapes, designed by Kahn & Jacobs (4:30). Aerial view of Travelers Insurance Pavilion steel frame, emphasis on feet of crating steel roof (4:40). Travelers Insurance Pavilion at midway point during construction process, white roofing material applied (5:01). Scaled architectural model of General Electric (GE) Pavilion by Welton Becket & Associates, domed carousel theater (5:23). Aerial view of GE Pavilion under construction, lamella dome made with steel tubing (5:34). Close-up of pipes anchored at circumference of dome on ringed girder (6:03). Steel frame of Bell Telephone Pavilion by Harrison & Abramovitz, built to resemble floating wing (6:31). Scaled architectural model of Bell Telephone Pavilion (7:21). Scaled architectural model of Festival of Gas Pavilion by Walter Dorwin Teague Associates, structure cantilevered from two large columns and surrounded by a moat (7:30). Steel frame of Festival of Gas Pavilion, support of only two sculptured steel columns (7:38). Another view of Festival of Gas Pavilion, emphasizing interior space (7:57). Scaled architectural model of General Motors (GM) Pavilion by Sol King and Albert Kahn, domed structure with a reflecting pool and a 10-story entrance canopy (8:03). Steel frame of majestic canopy at entryway of pavilion and steel material used to construct dome (8:18). Sixty-four steel pylons of Ford Pavilion by Welton Becket & Associates, 3400 tons of steel used to create rotunda (8:52). Scaled architectural model of Ford Pavilion (9:21). Steel frame of Tower of Light Pavilion built by Synergetics Inc. using prefabricated steel-framed prisms (9:30). Scaled architectural model of Tower of Light Pavilion (9:52). Design sketch for Simmons Pavilion by A. Epstein & Sons (10:04). Emphasis on beauty and design quality of steel at Simmons Pavilion, close-up exposed steel beams and steel stairway (10:14). Steelmen guide prefabricated steel pieces “space frame” into place at National Cash Register (NCR) Pavilion by Deeter & Ritchey (10:41). Scaled architectural model of NCR Pavilion (11:32). Chrysler Pavilion by George Nelson & Co., quick construction due to prefabricated steel frame (11:37). Scaled architectural model of United States Pavilion, theme of “Challenge to Greatness” by Charles Luckman Associates (12:08). Steelmen at work guiding cranes to place erect steel frame of pavilion (12:19). Montage of steel frames of pavilions featured throughout film (13:05). Montage clips of steelmen welding beams into place (14:02). Steel frame of Terrace on the Park (14:20). Scaled architectural model of Terrace on the Park (14:37). Scale model of Unisphere to reveal model of the 1964 Word’s Fair grounds (14:44). Closing credits (15:03). Film ends (15:18).

This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com