Morley Studio photographs and film of the Seattle World's Fair

Morley Studio photographs and film of the Seattle World's Fair, 1962

Overview of the Collection

Photographer: Morley Studio
Title: Morley Studio photographs and film of the Seattle World's Fair
Dates: 1962 (inclusive)
19621962
Quantity: 94 photographic prints (1 box) ; 8" x 10"
1 reel (200 feet) : silent, color ; 16mm
Collection Number: PH1385
Summary: Photographs and film of the Century 21 Exposition in Seattle, Washington in 1962
Repository: University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections
Special Collections
University of Washington Libraries
Box 352900
Seattle, WA
98195-2900
Telephone: 2065431929
Fax: 2065431931
speccoll@uw.edu
Access Restrictions: Entire collection can be viewed on the Libraries’ Digital Collections website. Permission of Visual Materials Curator required to view originals. Contact Special Collections for more information.
Languages: English

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

Morley Brotman was born in 1910 in Canada and moved to Tacoma, Washington in 1923 with his family. In 1937, Brotman incorporated Radio Communication and Motion Picture Engineers, Inc. and eventually founded Morley's Photography Studio in Tacoma working with McChord Military Base. Brotman would eventually open studios in military bases around the country. Brotman invented many items for the military, including the "Morley Automatic Camera" which allowed photographers to photograph large groups of soldiers, an engraver for name tags, and an idea for rapid-transit called the “terrafoil”.

Morley Studios was named the official photographer of the Seattle World's Fair on a nonexclusive basis and received a royalty license for photographic souvenirs, however Morley Studios awarded a subcontract to Mariner Films, Inc. for all commercial 16- and 35-millimeter film at the Seattle World's Fair. The Studio operated souvenir carts and shops that sold slides, movies, postcards, and panorama books as gifts available to order by visitors to the Fair. To help operate these carts and shops, Morley Brotman hired “camera girls” to work at the World's Fair. After the Fair, Brotman operated Colonel Morley's Louisiana Café in the Food Circus and continued involvement as a businessman and photographer at World's Fairs by operating photo machines, candy stores, and souvenir shops at other fairs in New York, Montreal, San Antonio, and Spokane.

Brotman was president of the Tacoma Athletic Commission in 1959, which is still around today and is dedicated to serving youth and sports in Pierce County. Brotman unsuccessfully tried to obtain a license to host a Muhammed Ali fight in Seattle. Unsatisfied with the Washington State Athletic Commission's decision, Brotman attempted to get two commissioners to resign whom had denied his request. Brotman had a huge role in securing a bond to build a Tacoma sports and convention center and sports museum. Morley Brotman died on April 23rd, 1980 with many accomplishments in photography, sports in Tacoma, and as a businessman.

Historical BackgroundReturn to Top

The Century 21 Exposition, or the Seattle World’s Fair, was held between April 21 and October 21, 1962 in the Seattle Center and drew in over 10 million visitors in its six month run. The idea for Seattle to host a World’s Fair came from city councilman Al Rochester, who wanted to commemorate the anniversary of the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition, however it was decided that preparations for the Fair would not be completed by 1959, therefore the opening date was set to 1962. The commission for the Fair settled on the Century 21 theme to focus on modern science, space exploration, and the progressive future. Exhibitors of the fair included Korea, Great Britain, Denmark, Canada, Mexico, and other nations. The U.S. Government, wanting to show the world the nation’s scientific achievements, contributed funds to build the United States Science Exhibit, now the Pacific Science Center. Areas for entertainment included the Gayway amusement park and the Show Street, the adult entertainment section that included bars, restaurants, and nightclubs. The centerpiece of the Fair was the Space Needle, standing at 605 feet with a rotating restaurant, the Space Needle remains today as a memory of the World’s Fair and an iconic Seattle Landmark.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

Photographs and film of the Century 21 Exposition in Seattle, 1962.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

Status of creator's copyrights is unknown; restrictions may exist on copying, quotation, or publication. Users are responsible for researching copyright status before use. Contact University of Washington Libraries Special Collections for details.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Processing Note

Processed by Paul Martinez, 2016; Rose Strickman, 2016; Hannah Palin, 2016.

Transferred from the Seattle--Century 21 Subject File, 2016.

Film donated by Northwest Film Forum, 2016.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

ConstructionReturn to Top

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Box/Folder	item
1/1	1	Construction at Century 21	1962

EventsReturn to Top

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Box/Folder	item
1/1	2	Lasrys and Baschet Brothers performance This is most likely a picture of the group "Lasry-Baschet Sound Structures" comprised of Yvonne and Jacques Lasry and Bernard and François Baschet. They toured the United States in the 1960s and appeared on such shows as The Ed Sullivan Show. The Baschet Brothers were known for creating visually striking, experimental and modernistic musical instrument which would have fit the theme of the Century 21 Exposition. (Source: Wikipedia "Baschet Brothers")	1962

TransportationReturn to Top

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Box/Folder	item
1/1	3	Cessna helicopter	1962
1/1	4	Century 21 Fairliner	1962

Fountains/Plazas/SculpturesReturn to Top

Container(s)		Description	Dates
		Plaza of the States
Box/Folder	item
1/1	5	State flags of Plaza of the States	1962
		Fountains and Sculptures
Box/Folder	item
1/1	6	Fountain sculpture and the Space Needle in the background	1962
		International Fountain
Box/Folder	item
1/1	7-8	International Fountain and Queen Anne neighborhood	1962
1/1	9	International Fountain and the Space Needle	1962
		Fountains at Night
Box/Folder	item
1/1	10	Fountains at the US Science Pavilion at the Science Pavilion Arches	1962
1/1	11-12	International Fountain and the Space Needle	1962

GaywayReturn to Top

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Box/Folder	item
1/2	13	Century 21 visitors watching other visitors play racing arcade game	1962
1/2	14	Century 21 visitors at a Skee ball booth shooting gallery and workers in a prize booth.	1962
1/2	15	All Western Show and ticketing booth for the show	1962
1/2	16	Three Century 21 workers stanidng in booth of stuffed animal prizes for Gayway games	1962
1/2	17	Century 21 visitors outside the Flamenco restaurant	1962
1/2	18	Century 21 visitors at the Krusteaz donut stand, Orange Julius stand, and tobacco stand	1962
1/2	19	Uso's Place Mexican Food	1962
1/2	20	Fiesta Restaurant Cantina Room	1962
1/2	21	Century 21 visitors outside the Argentina Grill	1962
1/2	22	Visitors standing and sitting outside the Paradise International club	1962

Space NeedleReturn to Top

Container(s)		Description	Dates
Box/Folder	item
1/3	23	Cenutry 21 visitors walking into the United States Post Office at the Space Needle	1962
1/3	24	Waitress serving water to diners in the Space Needle Restaurant	1962
1/3	25	Diners in the Space Needle Restaurant	1962
1/3	26	Visitors using the telescope on the observation deck	1962
1/3	27	Elevator and Space Needle mezzanine	1962
1/3	28	Space Needle mezzanine from ground level	1962
1/3	29	Elevator and top of Space Needle from ground level	1962
1/3	30	Space Needle from ground level	1962
1/3	31	Aerial view of the observation deck	1962
1/3	32	The Space Needle, US Science Pavilion and Arches and the Gayway	1962
1/3	33	Space Needle and the Seattle Skyline	1962
1/3	34	Space Needle and visitors in the Fairliner transport	1962
1/3	35	Space Needle and Seattle Skyline	1962
1/3	36	Seattle, the Space Needle, the Armory, the US Science Pavilion, Washington State Pavilion	1962
1/3	37	Space Needle and Seattle skyline at night	1962

ExhibitsReturn to Top

Container(s)		Description	Dates
		Library 21
Box/Folder	item
1/4	38	Library 21 librarians and staff	1962
		Fashion Pavilion
Box/Folder	item
1/4	39	Platform for fashion shows and benches for spectators	1962
		Heniz Food Exhibit
Box/Folder	item
1/4	40	Visitors at the Heinz exhibit	1962
		Million Silver Dollar Pavilion
Box/Folder	item
1/4	41	Million Silver Dollar Display, the Headquarters for World's Fair Medallions	1962
1/4	42	Million Silver Dollar exhibit	1962
		Commercial and Industry Pavilion
Box/Folder	item
1/4	43	Visitors at The Art of J.K. Dinesen British Columbia, Canada	1962
1/4	44	Visitors at Collier's Encyclopedia exhibit	1962
		Bell Telephone Pavilion
Box/Folder	item
1/4	45	Bell Telephone Telstar communication satellite	1962
1/4	46	Visitors and presenter at the data-phone display	1962
		NASA Pavilion
Box/Folder	item
1/4	47	Nimbus weather satellite display	1962
1/4	48	Visitors lining up outside the NASA Pavilion for the Mercury Space Craft display	1962
1/4	49	Mercury Space Craft display	1962
		Great Britain Pavilion
Box/Folder	item
1/4	50	Great Britain exhibit and Queen of England display	1962
1/4	51	H.M.S. Belfast Guard in front of Queen of England display	1962
		Canada Pavilion
Box/Folder	item
1/4	52-53	Visitors in the aircraft display	1962
1/4	54	Arctic Circle map	1962
1/4	55	Arctic Circle display	1962

BuildingsReturn to Top

Container(s)		Description	Dates
		Aerial Views
Box/Folder	item
1/5	56	Washington State pavilion, Plaza of the States, International Fountain and Queen Anne	1962
1/5	57	Seattle skyline, Memorial Stadium, Armory, Space Needle, Science Pavilion, Washington State Pavilion	1962
		Safeco Insurance
Box/Folder	item
1/5	58	Century 21 visitors outside the Safeco Insurance building	1962
		Opera House
Box/Folder	item
1/5	59	View of the empty seats taken from the Opera House stage	1962
1/5	60	Sideview of the empty seats taken from the Opera House stage	1962
1/5	61	Opera House staircases	1962
1/5	62	Outside view of the Opera House	1962
		Food Circus
Box/Folder	item
1/5	63	Paul Bunyan's birthday cake	1962
1/5	64	Visitors lining up for the food stands in Food Circus	1962
		Retail
Box/Folder	item
1/6	65	Morley Studios Camera Shop	1962
1/6	66	House of Flowers and employees standing in the stall	1962
1/6	67	Mohan's Hong Kong Custom Tailors	1962
1/6	68	Mohan's Hong Kong Custom Tailors with mannequin in the front of the shop	1962
1/6	69	Visitors walking past the Budget Rent-A-Car stand	1962
1/6	70	Cathay Arts Co. Hong Kong Furniture and Handicrafts	1962
1/6	71	Side of the Philippine Handicraft Industries building	1962
1/6	72	Front of the Philippine Handicraft Industries building	1962
		Seattle First National Bank
Box/Folder	item
1/7	73	Seattle-First National Bank and the Space Needle	1962
1/7	74-75	Seattle-First National Bank	1962
1/7	76	Seattle-First National Bank interior of teller windows and desks	1962
1/7	77	Seattle-First National Bank interior of teller windows	1962
		U.S. Science Pavilion
Box/Folder	item
1/7	78	Arches and reflecting pool at night	1962
1/7	79	Arches, reflecting pool and Space Needle	1962
1/7	80	Science Pavilion buildings, arches, fountains, and reflecting pool	1962
1/7	81	Arches, Century 21 visitors lining up to enter the Science Pavilion	1962
		Washington State Pavilion
Box/Folder	item
1/7	82	Century 21 visitors viewing Washington State exhibit	1962
		Commercial and Industry Pavilion
Box/Folder	item
1/7	83	Douglas Fir Plywood house and the Space Needle	1962
		Bell and Telephone Pavilion
Box/Folder	item
1/7	84	Communications building exterior	1962
1/7	85	Century 21 visitors viewing Hydro building exhibit	1962
		Electric Power Pavilion
Box/Folder	item
1/8	86	Visitors outside the Electric Power Pavilion at the foot of the Space Needle	1962
1/8	87	Circular steps leading into the Electric Power Pavilion	1962
		World Exhibit Buildings
Box/Folder	item
1/8	88	Republic of Korea pavilion	1962
1/8	89	Exterior of Japan pavilion	1962
1/8	90	Visitors outside Denmark pavilion	1962
1/8	91	Exterior of Mexico pavilion	1962
1/8	92	Sign of the Mexico Pavilion	1962
1/8	93	Exterior of Canada pavilion	1962
1/8	94	Visitors outside the Philippines pavilion	1962

Film of Seattle World's Fair, 1962Return to Top

Container(s)		Description	Dates
viewcopy	item
VC565	1	Seattle World's Fair Tour of the Seattle World's Fair produced by Morley Studios. Original1 reel (200 feet) : silent, color ; 16mm	1962

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

Exhibitions--Washington (State)--Seattle
Space Needle (Seattle, Wash.)--Photographs

Corporate Names

Century 21 Exposition (1962 : Seattle, Wash.)--Photographs

Geographical Names

Seattle (Wash.)--Photographs

Form or Genre Terms

Motion pictures
Photographs

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

Visual Materials Collections (University of Washington)

Personal Names

Baschet, Bernard--Photographs
Baschet, François, 1920---Photographs
Lasry, Jacques--Photographs
Lasry, Yvonne--Photographs

Corporate Names

Baschet Brothers--Photographs

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