The 1964-1965 World’s Fair in New York holds many fond memories for those who were able to visit it. For Whitestone residents Eddie and Anita Mantione, it holds special meaning as the destination of their second date.
The two met in September of 1965 and, the following day, went to the Cloisters in Manhattan as their first date. Eddie was living in Brooklyn and Anita in Queens just a short distance away from the fair grounds.
“It was really very exciting,” Anita said of watching the fair being built, adding that it was a big thing at the time.
After that first date, Eddie and Anita decided to go to the World’s Fair for their second date. Anita had been to it a few times before with friends, and Eddie had gone previously by himself.
“The most wonderful part of it was that we were there together,” Eddie said. “I never really had much to say about it until the day she was there.”
That day of their date also happened to be the day that Pope Paul VI came, which marked the first time in history that a pope had visited the United States. Michelangelo’s sculpture, Pieta, was on display in the Vatican Pavilion. As the pope was in a car making his way to the pavilion, he was just a few feet away from the Mantiones.
“I saw his eyes and till today I can still see his eyes. They seemed to see right through me,” Eddie said. “It’s amazing that something that simple could last the rest of your life.”
The couple, who now reside in the Whitestone cooperative LeHavre, has many happy memories of the fair. Among other things, Eddie bought a scarf for Anita and barrette for himself at the French Pavilion to help them deal with the cold during that date. To this day, they still have those two items. They also eventually purchased a small replica of the Pieta to remind them of the experience.
Eddie said that the date to the World’s Fair was significant because they had only met two days before and fell in love immediately. Just a couple months later they were engaged.
“The influence of the fair was important because it was my first date sharing the fair, which I loved,” he said.
Even after the fair closed, Eddie and Anita went to the park years later with their children and still see the Unisphere as they drive by on the highway. Eddie said that driving by and seeing it is always a reminder of that date back in 1965.
But as memories begin to fade, preservation and keeping the history alive are still an issue.
