The following is an odd assortment of FREE videos from the past which dared to imagine the future of style, technology and even philosophy. Some are amazingly relevant, while others totally missed it. Either way, it's fun to see what they were thinking.
Online Retro Videos
Things to Come - 1936
This H.G. Wells story comes to life and spans the years 1936 to 2036. Wars, technological progress and more are explored and parallels to actual events are striking.
Frontiers of the Future - 1937
This film made during the Great Depression was an attempt to calm fears of the future by presenting how scientists are hard at work trying to solve the problems of the universe.
Non Stop to New York - 1937
A stowaway rides a futuristic airliner with all the perks including an observation deck. If only this dream had come true.
Buck Rogers - 1939
Buck Rogers is awakened in the 25th century only to find a new, technology-based society fighting intergalactic evil.
Leave it to Roll-Oh - 1940
Household tasks are a lot easier if your personal robot can do the chores. Even better - small appliances can help liberate the life of the housewife.
New Horizons - 1940
Efficient farming, bubble cars riding on massive interstate highways, and more are a few of the visions of 1960s America as
displayed in the Futurama exhibit at the 1940 World's Fair.
Superman - The Mechanical Monsters - 1941
Created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster in the late 1930s, the very popular Superman comic became a radio show and by the early 1940s, a successful animated movie serial - the future of Hollywood-style superheros.
Radar Makes Round Trip to the Moon - 1946
Army engineers send radar signal to the moon. The possibilities could even mean sending ships to the moon one day.
Our Shrinking World - 1946
A recap and analysis of how technology and communications are breaking down barriers and improving our lives. We also find out what's in store for the future.
Destination Moon - 1950
The helmets may look funny, but this was actually a pretty serious attempt at what a trip to the moon might have been like as imagined almost 20 years before the actual event.
Dream Hospital - 1953
This dream hospital was actually built. However, some of the innovations did not make it into other future hospitals. Check out the baby drawer.
George Orwell's 1984 - 1954
Orwell's classic novel comes to life in this BBC production starring Peter Cushing (Tarkin in Star Wars).
Be careful what you say. Big Brother is watching.
Popeye's Future - 1954
Olive Oyle has a dream that after she and Popeye are married, they have a pair of children they can't handle.
Design for Dreaming - 1956
This promotional film from General Motors uses a dream sequence to show off the new cars of 1956. These "state-of-the-art" cars are presented with futuristic cars and a vision into the future of the household kitchen.
American Look Pt 1 - 1958
Produced by Chevrolet, American Look is a tribute to designers and engineers and a car commercial wrapped up in one. Part 1 concentrates mostly on household items such as furniture, applicances and packaging.
American Look Pt 2 - 1958
Produced by Chevrolet, American Look is a tribute to designers and engineers and a car commercial wrapped up in one. Part 2 gives us a look at the newest in architectural design / outdoor and recreational items.
American Look Pt 3 - 1958
Produced by Chevrolet, American Look is a tribute to designers and engineers and a car commercial wrapped up in one. Part 3 takes into Gm for each step of the design process. It even highlight a few futuristic automobiles.
Out of this World - 1964
A tour of the GM Pavillion at the 1964 World's Fair, complete with scenes of underwater farms, sets the tone to show off new Fridgidaire appliances.
Interview with Isaac Asimov
This is an interview with science-fiction author Isaac Asimov. Asimov is one of the most prolific and best-known writers in this genre. Among his many works, recent movie adaptations include Bicentenial Man and I, Robot.
Related Products:
