Opening Up, Part I

The Excitement of an Airport Opening: LaGuardia Airport

The opening of an airport is a big deal today, but it was an even bigger deal in the late 1930s.  LaGuardia Airport was formally dedicated on a sunny, crisp day in mid-October, 1939.  Construction had begun in 1937, so by the time October 15 came along, New Yorkers were ready and waiting.  The excitement was palpable. 

This is a picture of the crowds who gathered at the airport for the dedication of the airport in an article published on the front page of the Long Island Daily Press on October 16, 1939.
Photo: fultonhistory.com

According to a front page article in the Long Island Daily Press published in the following day's paper, “approximately 200,000 persons jammed the half-mile concrete apron in front of the administration buildings and hangars” in order to witness the event.  Visitors paid a dime to enter and watched the planes take off and land over the course of the day.  

Newspapers perpetuated the hype by releasing sketches of what the future airport was going to look like.  In the case of North Beach, air travel was not only the latest craze, but the structure itself also represented “the latest ideas in airport architecture.”[1] 

This is an article from the September 1938 edition of Mechanix Illustrated, which releases sketches of what the airport was expected to look like.  
Photo: blog.modernmechanix.com

However, back then the airport wasn’t known as LaGuardia; it was officially named New York Municipal Airport, but was more commonly known as North Beach after the private airfield which the 1939 airport replaced as well as the former amusement park and beer gardens which had inhabited the spot before the space was used for air travel.  

This is a photo from the 1920s of the Gala Amusement Park -- the fairground which was originally located on airport grounds.  
Photo: Port Authority of NY & NJ

LaGuardia was the name of the Mayor who spearheaded the campaign to bring an airport to New York City, so intense was his outrage at having to land in New Jersey that on one occasion he refused to exit the plane until he was safely in New York.  Fittingly, Fiorello LaGuardia was among the speakers who addressed the crowd for the airport's dedication and his presence in particular added to the day’s overall appeal. 

NYC Mayor LaGuardia addresses a rapt audience for the dedication of the airport. 
Photo: Port Authority of NY & NJ

The airport did not formally open until December 2^nd, 1939 and in 1947 when the Port Authority took over control of the airport, it was renamed LaGuardia Airport.   However, the excitement was far from over for LaGuardia; a new Central Terminal Building was finished construction in 1964, which local residents continued to fawn over.  Further extensions were also completed in 1967 and again in 1992. 

The importance of a well functioning airport is not lost on governments of today, which is why Dubai is in the process of constructing a newer, bigger commercial airport, which welcomed its first commercial flight earlier this week.  The airport is expected to open with five runways in 2025 (not a huge change from LaGuardia’s original four runways!), which will enable passenger traffic to rise to a whopping 160 million per year.  Although the airport has yet to officially open, people are already anxiously awaiting the unveiling of what is sure to be a fantastic airport. 

Although sketches of Dubai's new Al Maktuom Airport hardly resemble those of the 1930s, they function in precisely the same way -- a mechanism with which  to engage the public in infrastructure.  
Photo: DailyMail.co.uk

New York has not lost sight of the value of new airport infrastructure either – JFK is home to several new and modern terminal buildings, as is Newark.  More importantly, LaGuardia is embarking on an exciting project; the construction of a new Central Terminal Building, which will increase their capacity and allow them to effectively introduce the next generation of airport technology and amenities.  

So, although some of the mystery and intrigue of air travel may have evaporated over the years, we’re pleased to find that new airports are proving to be just as exciting and important now as they were over 70 years ago. 

Also, keep an eye out for posts on the opening of JFK and Newark airports – they're soon to follow as well! 

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[1] “New York Builds Big Airport for Land and Sea Plane Service,” Mechanix Illustrated September 1938, accessed via http://blog.modernmechanix.com. 

Observing Change

The Observation Deck Phenomenon

When airports first opened in the US, flying was glamorous.  Locals flocked to the airports to witness the miracle of flight, and with less stringent security, just about anyone could show up and do just that.  Thus, the observation deck became a staple of the twentieth-century airport, and airports were as much an attraction as they were a transit zone. 

According to a New York Times article, back when JFK airport was still known as Idlewild and photos were still taken in black and white, roughly 3,500 youngsters would gather each week to watch the take off and landings from this elevated vantage point.  

Spectators line up along JFK's observation deck on Nov. 21, 1948. Photo: The New York Times

However, the viewing platform at LaGuardia was perhaps even more popular, especially given that it opened nearly a decade before that of JFK.  North Beach Airport, as LaGuardia was often referred to, opened in 1939, making it one of New York City’s first commercial airports and quite the novelty.  

View of LaGuardia's popular observation deck, known as the SkyWalk. (Photo: Port Authority of NY & NJ)

Airport officials installed turnstiles and charged each visitor a ¢5 entry fee to enter its SkyWalk, turning the deck into a source of profit.  Furthermore, this viewing platform was also equipped with a stand selling drinks and refreshments to visitors, known as SkyBar.  So as you can probably imagine, this outdoor area turned into quite the social scene attracting many a New Yorker.  

A lady places an order at LaGuardia's SkyBar, located on its SkyWalk. Photo: The Port Authority of NY & NJ

Although it developed as a commercial airport later, Newark Liberty was also home to an observation deck, where spectators were welcome to sit and watch the action taking place on the runways before them.  This viewing station ran for 500 feet along the mezzanine deck in the old North Terminal.  

The Observation Deck at Newark's old North Terminal located above the ticket booths. Photo: Aviation Hall of Fame of New Jersey

Unlike the decks at the other airports, this one was not outside in the open-air.  However, the gallery was unique in that it was located above the ticket booths and as such, provided visitors with an elevated, sprawling view of the airport and its runways.  

The Observation Deck at Newark Airport. Photo: The Pie Shops Collection

Over time, however, the air of mystery surrounding air travel began to wear off and these observation decks saw fewer visitors.  People were no longer interested in standing around and watching planes.  So as the terminal buildings began to develop, the once-popular observation deck did not and they were ultimately shutdown as the phenomenon faded into obscurity and security concerns grew.   So while that may have worked back then, this kind of airport access was not going to survive the test of time on a practical level.

However, that is not to say that our airports are giving up entirely on providing passengers with some of the excitement and glamour associated with visiting observation decks in the 40s, 50s and 60s.  New York City’s airports modernization efforts appear to have these themes in mind, trying to maintain some of the old spirit while providing services that will appeal to the modern traveler.  For example, Delta installed its first open-air terrace at JFK this year.  It is a far cry from the LaGuardia’s old SkyBar, but a lot of travelers may prefer it.  This intimate setting has a comfortable seating area and a place to order drinks so that Delta’s frequent fliers can kick back in style while waiting in the airport.  This observation deck-revival harks back to this golden age when flying was exotic, suggesting that perhaps airports are still a place where people can enjoy themselves.  We hope it’s a sign that outdoor areas are making a comeback at NYC airports!

Delta's recently opened an outdoor seating area in their SkyLounge at JFK's Terminal 4. Photo: Chris Sloan for Airchive

Keep an eye out for our next post!

Time to launch: One Week

Get ready for our first post, which will go live on Thursday, October 24.  We're excited.