Back in the days before Google was a verb and all of your friends were chatting online, there was a phenomenon that drew global gatherings to explore the world, learn about different cultures, and -- particularly during the Forties, Fifties, and Sixties – ponder futuristic fantasies of flying cars, automated machines, and the kinds of Jetsons-esque inventions you’d expect to be commonplace by now.

The World’s Fair was originally dreamed up by England’s Prince Albert (whose name goes down in body-piercing infamy). The concept enchanted director Vincente Minnelli, so he cast his future wife, the one and only Judy Garland, to star in Meet Me in St. Louis. The 1944 musical is set at the 1904 World’s Fair, and besides offering insight into pre-Depression-era Americana, it gave the world the timeless carol “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.” Author Lawrence R. Samuel also finds the fair fascinating – so much so he’s written a book, The End of the Innocence: The 1964-1965 New York World’s Fair. He’ll share the rich history of the internationally riveting events with a slide show and discussion before the screening tonight at 8:30 at the Miami Beach Cinematheque.
Fri., Nov. 9, 8:30 p.m., 2007