Episode Details

Feliks Banel's guest on this BONUS EPISODE of CASCADE OF HISTORY is Ray Poletti, a Seattle man who's financing an effort - and leading a skilled team - to build a full-scale replica of the "Bubbleator." The Bubbleator was a spherical plexiglas elevator first created for the 1962 World's Fair for the World of Tomorrow exhibit in what's now Climate Pledge Arena, and which was later moved across the Seattle Center campus to the Food Circus (nowadays called The Armory). The original Bubbleator is privately owned and attached to a home near Des Moines, Washington. The new Bubbleator replica will go on display in Seattle at a yet-to-be-disclosed location during the summer of 2026. CASCADE OF HISTORY spoke with Ray Poletti on Tuesday, May 26, 2026. Seattle Channel short feature on the history of the Bubbleator produced in 2022 by Feliks Banel: https://youtu.be/t6rRa52vDJc Links to more information as well as images related to most topics discussed on the show are often available at the CASCADE OF HISTORY Facebook page: www.facebook.com/groups/cascadeofhistory CASCADE OF HISTORY is broadcast LIVE most Sunday nights at 8pm Pacific Time via flagship station SPACE 101.1 FM in Seattle and gallantly streams everywhere via www.space101fm.org. The radio station broadcasts from studios at historic Magnuson Park – located in the former Master-at-Arms’ quarters in the old Sand Point Naval Air Station - on the shores of Lake Washington in Seattle. Subscribe to the CASCADE OF HISTORY podcast via most podcast platforms and never miss regular weekly episodes of Sunday night broadcasts as well as frequent bonus episodes. "LIKE" the Cascade of History Facebook page and get updates and other stories throughout the week, and advance notice of live remote broadcasts taking place in your part of the Old Oregon Country.