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SINCLAIR DINOLAND

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New York World's Fair - 1964/65

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Sinclair Dinoland at 1964/65 New York World's Fair. Photo courtesy of Thomas Weakley - assistant manager of Dinoland Pavilion - 1964/65.

Last update - July 20, 1997

The Jonas Studios
by Ed Lathrop

When Sinclair Oil Refining Company heard in the early 60’s that there was going to be a World’s Fair in New York, they wanted to have an exhibit. Sinclair has always had great public relations with its many customers and wanted an entertaining as well as educational exhibit to further promote those relations. Sinclair had previously had a life-size dinosaur display, and wanted a new up-to-date version of this style of attraction. They recruited Louis Paul Jonas Studios to create their dream. Life-size dinosaur statues were also a dream of Jonas and his close friend, artist Charles Knight. Having worked on similar projects at New York’s museum of Natural History as well as other institutions. Jonas was one of the best in the business.

The dinosaur models had to be built five times. A 1/10 scale version of each figure was sculpted. Next, a second 1/10 model was constructed and sliced like bread so that each section could be precisely measured. Then came the full size mock-ups built on a framework and finished in number 2 plasticine from Italy. Then molds were made in sections from each dinosaur. The final step was to finish each piece in fiberglass. The larger figures were strengthened with interior framework for additional support. Originally Jonas had a two year time period to complete the project but Sinclair later cut the time to 18 months. This meant that the studio employees had to work overtime and weekends. The estimated cost of $250,OOO soon soared to $400,000 (modest by today’s standards.

Two dinosaur experts were recruited to help design the dinosaurs at the Jonas Studio. Professor John Ostrum of the Peabody Museum at Yale University pioneered many present day theories like dinosaur warm bloodedness and activity and also Barnum Brown who discovered Corythosaurus and T-rex. Actual fossilized skeletons were measured for the accuracy of the Jonas models. The huge Brontosaurus was based on the Peabody skeleton. The model measured 70 feet in length and the head towered 20 feet above the ground. The finished model sported a moving head and neck and weighed a mere 5 tons. The other figures included a 20 foot tall T-rex with moving jaw and a Triceratops with moving head. Also included were a Stegosaurus Ungulanus, a Trachodon a Corythosaurus with duckbills (the Corythosaurus was featured in an ankle deep pool with a water fall), a Ankylosaurus (that was created and extensively worked on by Paul Jonas), and a 14 foot Struthiomimus and Ornitholestes. A smaller version of the Bronto was at the entrance and there was also several basketball size eggs and baby Brontos at the exhibit.

Jonas’ large staff included two unique artist. His daughter Zella Jonas Merritt and his son Paul Jonas. They helped their father with the business and later took the reins after his death. Zella was a painter and her brother was a sculptor

When the Sinclair dinosaur models were finished they were out on display locally. They were then loaded onto a barge and made their way down the Hudson River to the 1964/65 New York World’s Fair. When they arrived in New York Harbor "Dinosaur Day" was acclaimed by the city. The models made their way to the fairgrounds via flatbed truck with Triceratops arriving by helicopter.

Robert Moses built the 64/65 New York World’s Fair which scanned one square mile in Flushing Meadows. President Johnson opened the Fair in April 1964 where it ran for six months and then reopened the next spring. Of all the exhibits, Sinclair’s Dinoland was one to the most popular. Located in the Transportation Area, Dinoland had some ten million visitors.

The Ornitholestes was stolen from the attraction but was recovered undamaged on a nearby beach. The Smithsonian turned down Sinclair’s offer of the dinosaurs after the Fair. After the Fair the figures went on tour on the back of a flat bed truck and later took up residence at several different locations. The T-Rex and Brontos now reside at a dinosaur park in Glen Rose, Texas. The Triceratops is in Lousiville, Ky. The Stegosaurus’ domicile is at the entrance to Dinosaur National Monument in Utah. Corythosaurus was displayed in Independence, KS. The Ankylosaurus went to the Cleveland Zoo. The Struthiomimus enjoys a comfortable living at the Milwaukee Museum today. The location of the Ornitholestes is a mystery.

The Jonas Studios still produce dinosaur models with the 1/10 scale versions being quite popular. The Boston Museum has a huge T-Rex on permanent display from the Jonas Studio. The Cleveland Museum of Natural History has a copy of the Stegosaurus and many other figures are on display in Canadian museums. The Smithsonian has a Jonas Triceratops out front for kids to climb on.

From the "Official Guidebook" - Life as it existed 165 million years ago is authentically re-created in "Dinoland," a large paleontological display bounded by a decorative wall and a partly concealed L-shaped exhibit building. Life-sized dinosaur replicas were created by the distinguished animal sculptor, Louis Paul Jonas. Admission: free.

For more information on the Jonas Studios you can email them at dmerritt@jonasstudios.com

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