Queens Readies For World’s Fair, War In September 1938

At right the Astoria Center of Israel.

Get into a conversation with a long-time Queens resident and you're likely to discover a subscriber of the Long Island Star-Journal, a daily paper that informed the community about local and world news until it folded in 1968. A banner across the Star-Journal masthead reminded readers that the newspaper's name came from the merger of the Long Island Daily Star (1876) and the North Shore Daily Journal--The Flushing Journal (1841).

Welcome to September 1938

Above Nevile Chamberlain.

Rabbi Joshua L. Goldberg of the Astoria Center of Israel returned from a four-month trip to Europe, where he saw first-hand the plight of Jews and other minorities. He commented: “ In greater Germany and former Austria today the Jews are suffering all the disabilities of populations in ‘occupied’ territory; and—mark this well—not only the Jews are the sufferers.” The rabbi spoke indignantly of Hitler’s policy of “dumping” helpless Jews on the “world market,” depriving them of everything they had at home and insisting they leave the country with only 10 marks in their pockets, thus making them automatic paupers in strange lands. The rabbi reported that the pall of gloom over Vienna was such that suicides had risen to the point where rabbis had to permit burials on Saturdays. When asked what the solution for the oppressed peoples might be, Rabbi Goldberg ominously replied: “War!” But the rabbi also thought that the holocaust might be prevented if America were to take a positive stand with France and Great Britain. The rabbi continued: “America is the bright spot of freedom in this world, and we don’t appreciate it. You should know how hundreds of Viennese would give half their lives for an American passport. You should see great men ask to see my passport, just to fondle it and touch it.”

At top right one of many architectural layouts of the 1939 World’s Fair.—Photo eliwhitney.org

A group of organized Sunnyside residents, popularly known as the Reddington Penny Club, held an anti-war social. There were no speeches, but everyone had something to say, particularly, Fred G. Buchner, chairman of the event and captain of the U.S. Akron Ship Post, Veterans of Foreign Wars. “We are assembled here tonight to let the country know that we don’t want war in this country. And that goes for Communism too. There is room for only one ‘ism’ in this country and Queens and that’s Americanism.”

On September 28, the Star-Journal reported that Neville Chamberlain, the British Prime Minister, had announced agreement to hold a four-power (Germany, Britain, France and Italy) conference as a “last effort” to end the European war crisis. The conference was to be held the following day in Munich, Germany.

The way was being prepared for the World’s Fair, which would open the next year. Work on the Bronx-Whitestone bridge was being rushed so it would be open for the Fair. From 800 to 1,100 tons of asphalt were being used to resurface Queens streets. All streets which were not dead-end and, therefore, could be used as entrances or exits to the Fair were being entirely repaved or at least resurfaced with asphalt. Asphalt was also being supplied to three WPA projects, among which was the large Kissena and Parsons Boulevard widening program.

Murals of impressive dimensions were being installed at the Fair site. There were 102 murals by 32 artists commissioned by the Fair Corporation. The murals’ size range was up to 250 feet long and 60 feet high. The murals were to be of paint on stucco, raised cement and gesso. There would be mosaics executed entirely in contrasting metals. Unusual effects would be created through use of linoleum, polarized light and porcelain enamel on sheet steel. It was hoped that the use of color at the Fair would set new architectural standards. Artists felt that exterior adornment in color would eliminate the drab appearance of most buildings.

In the evening of September 27, residents of communities bordering the World’s Fair site telephoned the Newtown police station to report “an explosion or gunfire.” Police converged on the Fair site and found a dinner for 100 members of the Fair board of directors in progress at the Terrace Club, a World’s Fair restaurant.

Perley Boone, the Fair’s publicity director explained that the guests had just witnessed an experimental fountain fireworks display in Meadow Lake. “We’re sorry if anyone was inconvenienced,” he said, “but the display was comparatively small. When the Fair opens next spring, there’ll be nightly displays ten times more spectacular and ten times louder.”

You could buy a home in Queens for $6,000 to $7,000, and lots of them were being built. In Elmhurst, a 152-house project in the Juniper Park section opened with 10 houses for sale and another 50 under construction. The developer commented: “Because land values are just beginning to climb upward from their Depression lows, we have been able to duplicate all of the popular qualities of construction demanded in Jackson Heights at prices that set a new record low for value received in modern home building.” In response to the opening of Sonjack Homes at 82nd Street and 30th Avenue in Jackson Heights, the developer observed: “The Sonjack Homes operation will be an outstanding success, not only because of the desirability of the location and the value we have built into the homes, but also because we foresee the most active real estate season since 1929.”

Bebe Frary, a 13-year-old Jackson Heights Camp Fire Girl, demonstrated how a capable young domestic science student could prepare a meal in 30 minutes, using only odds and ends. She actually completed her task in only 29 minutes. The menu was conceived by Miss Cora Anthony, dietician, to meet the requirements of a well-balanced, inexpensive meal, prepared from provisions in the average family cupboard, to serve four persons at a cost under $1.30. The meal consisted of “salmon delight,” celery, bread and butter, peanut butter drop cookies and a fruit drink. Bebe’s meal set the pattern for 150,000 Camp Fire Girls attending similar cooking classes throughout the country. All 150,000 attendees were to serve the same meal to their families as a Sunday supper on October 16.

Playing at the movies were: “Give Me a Sailor,” starring Martha Raye, Bob Hope and Betty Grable, “Love Finds Andy Hardy,” starring Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland and “Little Tough Guy,” starring the “Dead End” Kids. Queens theatergoers could be amused by the live production of “Room Service,” at the Queensboro Theater in Elmhurst. The play ran for a total of 500 performances on Broadway.

That’s the way it was in September 1938.

For more information, contact the Greater Astoria Historical Society at 718-728-0700 or visit www.astorialic.org.

Photo zianet.com