This one is a favorite. The original exhibit was billed as an "imaginative portrayal of possible war conditions of the year 2000, as foreseen by a mechanical expert who has followed closely the progress in the construction of battleships for the sea and air alike. It presupposes the existence of interplanetary communication within the next few decades. It marks the climax in the development of panoramic extravaganza and mechanical ingenuity, as displayed in this field." Very up-to-date - and prescient! The result was "a futuristic fantasy attraction simulating a war in the year 2000, in which New York City was destroyed by sophisticated weapons, wielded by Asians and Africans arriving in scores of battleships and airplanes." We only had to change a few details, if you know what we mean!
April 30, 2014