Sunday 30th April 1939

The New York World’s Fair, billed as a look at “the world of tomorrow,” officially opened. New York Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia mandated that the city’s nude dancers cover up during the fair. The cover-up evolved into the G-string and later the thong. The General Motors exhibit was titled Futurama. Philo T. Farnsworth premiered his television at the fair. AT&T presented its first Picture Phone at the World’s Fair. Salvador Dali created a pavilion that was called “Dream of Venus” and described as the “funny house of tomorrow.” In 2000 Miles Beller authored “Dream of Venus (Or Living Pictures): A Novel of the 1939 New York world’s Fair.” National Presto Industries introduced the home pressure cooker at the fair.