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Forum: HemisFair '68

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HemisFair '68 was 50 years ago

Created on: 12/29/17 07:37 AM Views: 2307 Replies: 4
HemisFair '68 was 50 years ago
Posted Friday, December 29, 2017 07:37 AM

HemisFair '68 was 50 years ago--April 6, 1968 through October 6, 1968. It opened in the Spring of our junior year at Mac.  I happened to be there on Opening Day as part of a state-wide student council convention. That was the most spectacular event that I had seen up to that point and my first exposure to multiple "world cultures" in one setting. Another of my memories about HemisFair was that San Antonio Savings (where I deposited my minimum wage paychecks) would give out 2 FREE HemisFair tickets for every $50 deposit. Because of that, I was able to go multiple times during the course of the event. What do you remember about HemisFair?

 
Edited 12/29/17 08:48 AM
HemisFair '68 was 50 years ago
Posted Friday, December 29, 2017 01:33 PM

Here is my memory regarding Hemisfair. I took Spanish all through Garner and Mac in preparation for Hemisfair. My parents had told me if I was bilingual by the time Hemisfair was hiring I could work there. However, they changed their minds once they realized I would have to park and walk to my location. Sigh **** I do remember going there many times. I actually have a photo of you, Ken, myself and Gary Caswell at Hemisfair! I will have to look for it!

Kathy

 
Edited 12/29/17 02:00 PM
HemisFair '68 was 50 years ago
Posted Tuesday, January 9, 2018 09:28 PM

So here goes nothing as I don't remember too much about HemisFair . . . kind of a bummer because I now realize just how significant an event it was to the City of San Antonio, backed by many Texas politicians the likes of U.S. Congressman Henry B. Gonzalez, Governor John Connally, and President LBJ.  Other members of my family could recollect something about it.  My younger sister, Lori, went to a HemisFair dance/ballet performance with my mom.  Before it had even opened, my parents happened to buy our house in Northwood in 1965 from a HemisFair architectural/design engineer.  In my then teenage opinion I remembered HemisFair as becoming only the 4th travel destination in downtown S.A.; the other three of course being The Alamo, Casa del Rio, and Joske's.  In other words I was pretty much clueless to "world cultures" (unless living 4 years earlier in Laredo, Tx counted).  My teen brain had just not grown up yet.  Most of my buddies, and perhaps a gal or two could attest to that.  Did we get a day off for Fair Day?  

Bren Sidereas

 
Edited 01/09/18 10:12 PM
RE: HemisFair '68 was 50 years ago
Posted Saturday, January 20, 2018 07:31 PM

2018 marks the 300th anniversary of the founding of San Antonio. In 1968, San Antonio marked its 250th anniversary with HemisFair. Here's a link to the first in a series of nine YouTube videos concerning HemisFair. Each is about 10 mins. long, more or less. Fascinating history of SA, HemisFair and the times.

 
RE: HemisFair '68 was 50 years ago
Posted Thursday, April 5, 2018 07:05 PM

Nancy Fletcher and I worked in the Coke Pavillion and wore these cute little pink outfits. It was a blast! I think we made $0.25 an hour. Wish I had a pic (probably do somewhere) but found an old paycheck stubb!