For all the world to see: anesthesia at the 1939 New York World's Fair

The 1939 New York World's Fair presented a unique opportunity for the newly recognized specialty of anesthesiology to be presented to the general public. With funding supplied by the Winthrop Chemical Company of New York City and careful planning, a committee of physician-anesthetists was able to design a display that illustrated all aspects of the physician-anesthetist's role in health care: general "gas" anesthesia, regional techniques, pain management, resuscitation, and oxygen therapy. Further information was offered concerning training of physicians in the specialty, and speculation involving the future mission of anesthesiology was presented. Surprisingly, issues and discussions concerning the fashion in which anesthesia was to be presented at this exhibit remain germane to current presentations of the specialty to the general public. Although no record remains of the public's response to the exhibit, the World's Fair was an international showcase and an important opportunity for public recognition of anesthesiology.