Back to the future

Tue, 03/25/2008 - 20:57 - NLN

In this two-part video, the General Motors Futurama exhibit at the 1939 New York World's Fair is shown in all its glory. Designed by Norman Bel Geddes, the wildly popular exhibit attempted show the world 20 years into the future (1960), including automated highways and vast suburbs.

Compared to other "visions of the future," Bel Geddes' was rather achievable -- the most advanced technology posited was the automated highway system, of which GM did indeed build a working prototype by 1960.

The Futurama is widely held to have first introduced the general American public to the concept of a network of superhighways connecting the nation. Bel Geddes expounded upon his design in his book Magic Motorways.

It's fun to see what past generations imagined the future to be like, but alas, the future ain't what it used to be.

GM Futurama, Part 1