Bubbleator
Encyclopedia
The Bubbleator was a large, bubble-shaped hydraulic elevator
with transparent acrylic glass
walls operated from an elevated chair built for the 1962 World's Fair in Seattle. These transparent walls gave the illusion of looking through an actual 'soap bubble' by refracting light to obtain a rainbow-like effect for the riders inside. It was originally part of the Washington State Coliseum (now a sports venue known as KeyArena
), where it lifted 100 passengers at a time up one floor through a structure of interlocking aluminum cubes to the "World of Tomorrow" exhibit. T. C. Howard of Synergetics, Inc. designed the Bubbleator and the exhibit. After the fair, the Bubbleator was relocated to the Center House at Seattle Center
. By 1984, it had been removed and put in storage to make way for the Seattle Children's Museum
. It was sold to a private owner in Des Moines, Washington
, who recycled the upper part of the dome into a greenhouse
. The control chair, which had also been in private hands, was donated to the Museum of History and Industry
in 2005.
While boarding the Bubbleator, passengers were commanded by an ethereal female voice to "Please move to the rear of the sphere", or the "Martian type" male elevator operator would say, "Step to the rear of the Sphere" in a creepy sci-fi type voice.
The soundtrack for the Bubbleator was conducted by Attilio Mineo and released as Man in Space with Sounds.
Note in overhead imagery, round object in front of house is greeenhouse/Bubbleator
Elevator
An elevator is a type of vertical transport equipment that efficiently moves people or goods between floors of a building, vessel or other structures...
with transparent acrylic glass
Acrylic glass
Poly is a transparent thermoplastic, often used as a light or shatter-resistant alternative to glass. It is sometimes called acrylic glass. Chemically, it is the synthetic polymer of methyl methacrylate...
walls operated from an elevated chair built for the 1962 World's Fair in Seattle. These transparent walls gave the illusion of looking through an actual 'soap bubble' by refracting light to obtain a rainbow-like effect for the riders inside. It was originally part of the Washington State Coliseum (now a sports venue known as KeyArena
KeyArena
KeyArena at Seattle Center , is a multipurpose arena, in Seattle, Washington. It is located north of downtown in the entertainment complex known as Seattle Center, the site of the 1962 World's Fair, the Century 21 Exposition...
), where it lifted 100 passengers at a time up one floor through a structure of interlocking aluminum cubes to the "World of Tomorrow" exhibit. T. C. Howard of Synergetics, Inc. designed the Bubbleator and the exhibit. After the fair, the Bubbleator was relocated to the Center House at Seattle Center
Seattle Center
Seattle Center is a park and arts and entertainment center in Seattle, Washington. The campus is the site used in 1962 by the Century 21 Exposition. It is located just north of Belltown in the Lower Queen Anne neighborhood.-Attractions:...
. By 1984, it had been removed and put in storage to make way for the Seattle Children's Museum
Seattle Children's Museum
The Children's Museum, Seattle in Seattle is located on the lowest floor of the Center House at Seattle Center. Visitors to the main floor of the Center House can look down into a large open space in the floor which is part of the museum; this was once the site of the bubbleator.The Museum is .The...
. It was sold to a private owner in Des Moines, Washington
Des Moines, Washington
Des Moines is a city in King County, Washington, United States. The population was 29,673 at the 2010 census. Property within the city has been the subject of land buyouts because of noise from aircraft landing or taking off from the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport two miles to the north of...
, who recycled the upper part of the dome into a greenhouse
Greenhouse
A greenhouse is a building in which plants are grown. These structures range in size from small sheds to very large buildings...
. The control chair, which had also been in private hands, was donated to the Museum of History and Industry
Museum of History and Industry
The Museum of History and Industry is a museum located in the Montlake neighborhood of Seattle, Washington, United States.Accredited by the American Association of Museums, MOHAI is "dedicated to enriching lives by preserving, sharing and teaching the diverse history of Seattle, the Puget Sound...
in 2005.
While boarding the Bubbleator, passengers were commanded by an ethereal female voice to "Please move to the rear of the sphere", or the "Martian type" male elevator operator would say, "Step to the rear of the Sphere" in a creepy sci-fi type voice.
The soundtrack for the Bubbleator was conducted by Attilio Mineo and released as Man in Space with Sounds.
External links
- Photos of the Bubbleator during the Fair, from the Museum of History & Industry
- Photo of the Bubbleator at the Center House, from the Seattle PI
- "What A Great Place!" – Seattle Center
- "Century 21 remnants found new homes" – Seattle PI
- "Fair Bubbleator chair takes seat of honor at MOHAI" – Seattle PI
Note in overhead imagery, round object in front of house is greeenhouse/Bubbleator