I agree - these are pretty accurate compared to many of the fifties ads of "the future." no flying cars, personal jet packs, etc. the oddest thing is probably the wing-shaped planes in each of them, and if you look at b-2's, they're not even too far off. they have glass tunnels for pedestrians and for train stations, so not a huge step for cars.
I also don't think they were too far off with the cityscape in the first one except for the aircraft so close to the skyscrapers. I guess they didn't take the noise and safety into account. They were also right about cars, trucks, and buses continuing to be around for a long time.
The one in the middle was futuristic for the time, but I think it looks antiquated now because of the cloverleaf. Although cloverleafs were popular in the past, their success depended upon courteous driving which is why they quickly fell out of favor. In other words, they fell victim to the "asshole effect." I know many older highways still have them, but I can't think of the last time I saw a cloverleaf incorporated into a new freeway and I do a fair amount of driving.
agreed, you don't see full clover leafs (leaves?) like that around much - it does require a lot of fast merging. but they are putting in a lot more overpasses (at least here) at the intersections of two busy streets, so they were on the right track.
Heh, that last ad with the giant tire reminds me of the cover of The Runaway Pancake. That was my little sister's favorite book and I must have read it to her about a bazillion times. :)
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2012-06-29 01:11 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-06-29 02:03 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-06-29 12:47 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-06-29 04:27 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-06-29 05:17 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-06-29 06:29 pm (UTC)The one in the middle was futuristic for the time, but I think it looks antiquated now because of the cloverleaf. Although cloverleafs were popular in the past, their success depended upon courteous driving which is why they quickly fell out of favor. In other words, they fell victim to the "asshole effect." I know many older highways still have them, but I can't think of the last time I saw a cloverleaf incorporated into a new freeway and I do a fair amount of driving.
no subject
Date: 2012-06-30 04:52 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-06-29 02:28 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-06-29 05:30 pm (UTC)