My Dad helped build the Space Needle. He was a lead Welder and Burner. He worked for Pacific Car and Foundry. He told me when they were building it they were never tied down to any thing due to the welding leads. He also said when they were almost finished one day they dropped a bolt down from the top. It went down and right threw a car that was parked below. The bolt went threw the car and into the cement foundation. My Dad past away in 1998 but I always have the Space Needle to remember him by. I am very proud of my Dad.
My dad, Jim Torrey, was the signalman on the Space Needle project. That means that he "talked" every piece into place by talking to the crane operator via a very antiquated mic and head set, with over 700 feet of electrical cord. Dad is in 4.07 minutes, directing one of the legs into place. at 6.00 minutes at the far left with the head gear on, telling the crane operator what to do. The man in the plaid shirt is Jack Edwards. Dad's also at 7.04 minutes. So nice to see dad again and Jack Edwards, truly in their element, being their true, authentic selves.
That is a great story i just seen it now your comment your dad like the connectors and crane operator make the whole job go hats off to them you must be proud i am a recently retired union structural ironworker out of Local 25 Detroit be well and safe
Your DAD and Jack Edwards were two bad asses the signal man and a connector i am a retired union structural Ironworker a connector out of Local 25 Detroit and the Space Needle is a wicked project just beautiful i would love to know more about your dad Jim and Jack be well and safe
I remember that Seattle! I saw the Space Needle being built...two things that always meant "home" to me: the Space Needle and Mt. Rainier. Thanks for posting this.
You are so lucky. Im just kid born in Seattle in the future year 2001. I live in Montana now for family reasons. But that Space Needle will always remind me of my childhood golden days of home.
Went to Latona Elementary on north side Lake Union while space needle was being built. You could see it growing every month or so from several classrooms.
Simply beautiful! I proposed to my lovely bride there. The staff was amazing.... lots of folks on dates or anniversaries that night. There were notes written on sugar packets left on the window sills to various diners.... "my date's prettier than yours" or "I love my girlfriend".... a memorable evening on Seattle's most iconic structure. Nothing like Seattle. Nothing.
My fiance works at the Space Needle and he never seen this video. Sadly there isn't much history of the building on display there, but he said this video was really awesome to watch thanks for posting this!
Whew! Did anyone else notice the glory of the 60's with almost no safety gear required of the workers? It would likely be a bit different now. I remember when they built the St. Louis arch and it was about the same situation. Thanks for the video. This is history!!
Yes it is a piece of history. My Dad never was tied to anything and would walk all over the place up there. Now I'm not afraid of heights but I have to say doing what my Dad did took a lot of guts.
I wish these documentaries were made for more towers, I really wanna know how SO many buildings were made. This is such a quality documentary into how it happened.
I went to Seattle last October (2022) and looked up at the Needle from the ground (have a severe fear of heights which prevented me from going to the top). It was impressive and I can only imagine what it would have been like to see it for the first time at the Fair
Thanks for the video! It is interesting to see that back then they had horrible intrusive terrible music just as we so often do today! We Americans never will be able to make dignified videos such as those made by the Brits.
I knew there used to be a rotating restaurant. Last time I was at the Space Needle was 1976... Back to Seattle in 92 with the military but we didn't have a lot of time. Was lucky to go see the thieving cats at the Pike Street Fish Market a couple of times. I hope to go back just for a visit - hopefully take the Amtrak from Mississippi. I also seem to remember that at the bottom of the Space Needle, or some place close by, they had a food court of various foods from around the world. Was only there for 6 days and the relatives took us everywhere...Mt Rainier, Point Defiance Park & Zoo, Olympia... so I might have mixed something up... and there was someplace in the "desert" that had "Sylvester" the mummy ?
I've been up it once. I wonder if it meets modern seismic standards or has been upgraded. The construction workers didn't seem to be wearing safety harnesses. One strong gust of wind, and they wouldn't be around for the grand opening.
Nope my Dad didn't wear a harness with welding and burning there leads would have gotten tangled and cause more harm than anything so nothing while working up there. They were brave.
It's reminds me of an Ashera pole, like in Astoria. They dedicate these to the wife of Yahweh all around the world. About 38 years ago I went throughout the underground. So many things have changed about Seattle since then. My favorite jeans starting at around 4yo was Seattle Blues 😂
Ahh, yeah, back when it was okay to be openly racist, homophobic and misogynistic, when black people weren't allowed to vote, and white males had all of the power instead of just most of it. Great times!
Awesome day back then! No global warming existed and cars never needed air conditioning, just open windows with fresh American air. Then the immigrants came and took all that air. Make America Great Again!!!
@@MuffDiver408 idk what your talking about, i live just outside Seattle and my air is fine, maybe the "fresh American air" just didn't want your racist ass breathing it
I guess it's impressive for not having actual engineering, hvac, plumbing, electrical or mechanical plans to speak of. I do wonder how all the suppliers figured out lengths, thickness, curve, radius, live/dead load, thread, bolt, nut, coupling, finish, floor, ceiling, outer skin, inner skin, truss, cantilever, spin, bearing, axle, shaft, foundation, rebar, windshear, glass, elevator, cable, motor, pump, hinge, and about ten thousand other things one needs in blueprint and materials engineering scope, detail and approvals. But hey, at least we have elevation plans, we'll take it from here and have it on site next week😂
This music is all about "We can do it!" Who wrote this music? It's perfect. Whoa! Look how LOW that hand rail is on the outside observation deck! Not like that anymore, that's for sure.
Disc jockey Bobby Wooten of country music station KAYO-AM lived in an apartment built adjacent to the Space Needle's broadcast studio for six months in 1974, which required a permit variance from the city government.
As far as I know you really can't own the video unless they release the video to the public. All ya do is google the making of the Space Needle and videos should come up.
stitch16261 sadly it had to be removed due to constant repairs to the rides. They have turned the areas into parks and a glass gallery called Chihuly Garden and Glass. I used to work at the Space Needle for about 4 years. It was sad to see them go but the replacements are beautiful at least.
The Seattle center complex where the worlds fair was in 1962 is today a very interesting aspect of the city. At night it's a bleak somewhat depressing place. And now that the amusement park is gone it just seems like a rusting hulk waiting to be turned into upper class apartment buildings.