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.

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.

I love documentaries like this, and of this era, with positive forward looking energy.

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.

Love to hear Jim French's narration. What a talent his is.

When he said"hanging on to nothing" my palms got sweaty. My grampa had a big hand installing the plumbing. Nice video. Thanks!

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!!

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!

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.

5:35 u arrive for duty at the 500 ft level, if your knees a little shaky u keep it to yourself Health and Safety procedures 1962 :D

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.

At 10:50 Its D.B. Cooper.

Awesome documentary. Thanks for sharing!

It looks even better now, since it was redone in glass last year!

The footage of the high altitude crew is first rate , courageous highly skilled workers from a different era that no longer exists.

That was really cool. Thanks for sharing it.

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

Just watched this on a retro Panasonic TV at the top of the Space Needle last night. Very cool!

thanks for posting this. I had seen snippets but never the entire film.

just great!!

cool.beautiful film

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 love the old

THE HISTORY CHANNEL MODERN MARVELS NEEDS TO MAKE A FILM ON THE SPACE NEEDLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This makes me want to go back in time

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😂

I use to take all my dates there back in the day for dinner/ desert :)

OSHA has a heart attack every time they watch this.

Now you've got the suicide barrier all around the outside deck.

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.

The good old days.

Awesome

Amazing

We watched get built from my grandmother's living room.

Those guys don't even tie off to anything😬. OSHA would have a hay day now.

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.

Awesome!!!...Made it up there in 1999, what a rush!!!

awsommmme

I always thought the space needle was a gift to us from another country , I guess I need a quick brief on my Seattle culture.

Inspired by the Jetson's

sigh. If only the symbol was the tallest tower in the modern world. Space Needle some day you will get there. In my imagination, it is always.

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.

Is that amusement park at the bottom of the needle ever open?

Now the viewing area is covered with 10in. Plexy glass because modern day people are F'n crazy! Lol

Hi was wondering where i could buy a copy of this or could I pay you to burn me a copy of this. Thanks

Maybe I would sound stupid but did anyone die then?

Is there really a room to stay in?

I wonder how many workers got killed there...

Ain’t a Lake Como…

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.

did you the needle was 200 miles so a major earhquake would not know it down

#subhash_ka_fanda