Expo 67

[Jabba 18389]

I look at the current pictures of La Ronde and look past the rust, neglect & yet still remember the year-long gathering that was the 100th anniversary for Canada.

 

I was barely a kid back then. My parents released my sisters and myself at the entrance and said "meet us back here at 5pm". Off we went all by ourselves. I wasn't even a teenager. Holy crap - would you say that to a kid now??!

 

I remember taking the uni-rail from the entrance to the park islands.

I remember the U.S. pavillion (designed by Buckminster Fuller). Now burned-out.

I remember the inverted pyramid Canadian pavillion (never got into it).

I remember the Bell 360 degree pavillion - incredible!

I remember a Swiss Cheese bridge we had to take to get to the park. Really, the cement side rails of the bridge had holes randomly placed so that it looked like Swiss Cheese. The cement was painted yellow to enhance the effect.

 

Who of you were around back then?

Did you visit "Man and His World"?

For those of you who were alive back then, what are your memories?

[Reddog01 30280]

I remember....one little, two little, three little Canadians...

[mrrnice2 157005]

Now this is a thread that brings back memories. I grew up in Montreal and in 1986 I was so fortunate as a 14 year old to have a full 6 month passport to Expo 67. I spent evenings, weekends, and probably close to two full months of summer on the site.

The brand new Montreal Metro was a highlight in itself in just being able to use it to get to I'sle Ste. Helene.

I recall people, hordes of people, and recall all of the multitude of languages that I heard and the national dress that I observed from pavilion to pavilion.

I recall the geodesic dome of the USA and the unique structure of France that is now I believe the Montréal casino. The theatre in the round that Jabba speaks about with a screen that surrounded you. Flying over Niagara Falls in one moment, racing in a police car down Ste Catherine Street the next and then ending up by being in the middle of the RCMP Musical Ride at the end. It was perhaps this film the brought me to my Canadian identity and instilled my pride in being Canadian.

I recall tree lined walkways, the maze of paths that eventually I became master of, and acting as tour guide to the continual stream of company that spent time with us in that time period.

And probably appropriate for this site, I recall discovering girls that year. What a place to make that discovery!

Thanks Jabba for bringing this back to me. :)

[Reuben Sandwich 13841]

Well folks, I still have my Expo passport with all the stamps from the country's pavillions. and various corporations. I was 12 that summer and like Jabba, we were free to roam about the site. Our Mum was usually waiting in a line up for the women's washroom.

Ontario pavillion with big blocks of granite you could hop around on.

B.C. pavillion where you entered a elevator that "dexcended' into a mine.

Boarding Bluenose ll.

Some odd tasting burgers that were supposed to be buffalo.

I remember a great military tattoo at the Autostade but not sure if that was during the following year in '68.

The German pavillion with the cable tent covering similar to the future Munich Olympic stadium design.

 

Thanks Jabba. Now I'll be here all morning reminiscing.

 

[canuckhooker 19203]

I remember a great military tattoo at the Autostade but not sure if that was during the following year in '68.

 

 

 

The Military Tattoo was in 1967 for centennial year. They actually loaded all the bands and the cast on trains that took the show across the country, playing all different venues. Later on in the army, I played in bands and met some of the musicians who did the gig, and found out what a great time it was. Right before Trudeau gutted our military and made our traditions and history "un-Canadian".

[Jabba 18389]

Do you remember the Centennial Train that ran across the country. Sort of like a road show on rails.

 

http://www.railfame.ca/sec_ind/technology/en_2007_ConfederationTrain.asp

 

It had stopped in Ottawa at the (then) new Ottawa train station. Stupid me didn't want to drag my lazy ass out of bed to catch the bus & see it.

 

As I recall, the horn blew the 1st four bars to the national anthem.

 

...and don't get me started on Trudeau grrr.

[renegade 11027]

wow havn,t thought of this in a while we flew there in my dad,s mk 21 mooney lost the engine on the return home to saskatoon my first forced landing at age 11-i remember the subway ride and how cool that was as well as all the pavillions and how cool some of the snack stands were and yes my sister and i were allowed to wonder by ourselves as well on days two and three there-i still have my passport as well -thanks for bringing back those memories !!!

[Andee 220524]

I was seven years old I remember how excited I was when we took the Metro from Longueil. I remember gazing at the pavilions with the image of this one forever etched in my memory.

 

The best part for my siblings and I were the rides at LaRonde although the exhibits at Man and His World were interesting too although I don't remember much about them.