Yesterday’s Tomorrows
Legs of Tomorrow
In 1939, ice skater Erna Anderson was declared to have the "Legs of Tomorrow" on the theory that "the woman of tomorrow will be more athletic."Arguably this prediction came true. At least, it's common now for women to go to gyms, whereas it wasn't in the 1930s.
Minneapolis Star - June 2, 1939
Erna Anderson. Source: New York Public Library
Posted By: Alex - Mon May 09, 2022 -
Comments (7)
Category: Awards, Prizes, Competitions and Contests, Exercise and Fitness, 1930s, Legs, Yesterday’s Tomorrows
Happy Soylent Green New Year!
Welcome to 2022, the year of Soylent Green.From wikipedia:
Abilene Reporter News - Jan 17, 1973
Posted By: Alex - Sat Jan 01, 2022 -
Comments (3)
Category: Movies, 2020s, Yesterday’s Tomorrows
The Scarecrow of Tomorrow
Miss Penelope Shoo. A scarecrow with style. On display by the Wonder Bakery exhibit at the 1939 New York World's Fair.
Pittsburgh Press - July 2, 1939
source: The 1939-1940 New York World's Fair, by Bill Cotter
Posted By: Alex - Sat Oct 30, 2021 -
Comments (1)
Category: Fashion, 1930s, Halloween, Yesterday’s Tomorrows
The Girl of the Far Future
This dress wouldn't have been out of place at an awards show in the '80s, or even today. So I'll give Ralph Moni credit for an accurate prediction.
New York Daily News - Mar 10, 1939
Ralph Moni, noted dress designer, made this gown for Helen Meyer to show his idea of the girl of the far future at the Midwest Beauty Trades Show. Charles Book then did his stuff. . . he's a New York hairdress expert. . . and capped Helen with the "futuristic" coiffure.
Posted By: Alex - Mon Oct 25, 2021 -
Comments (1)
Category: Fashion, 1930s, Yesterday’s Tomorrows
American Look
Your head will be spinning with Midcentury Modern designs by the end of this film. A Utopia that never was.
Posted By: Paul - Wed Feb 03, 2021 -
Comments (1)
Category: Business, Design and Designers, Recreation, Interior Decorating, 1950s, Cars, Yesterday’s Tomorrows
Moon Zero Two
Welcome to 2021, the year in which the 1969 movie Moon Zero Two was set. It was promoted as "the first Moon western". From Wikipedia:For some reason the trailer for the movie inexplicably identified the year as 2028, even though in the movie itself the date was clearly shown as 2021.
You can watch the entire movie for free on YouTube:
Posted By: Alex - Fri Jan 01, 2021 -
Comments (3)
Category: Movies, Science Fiction, 1960s, Yesterday’s Tomorrows
Home Monitor of the Future
This 1964 ad envisioned a hand-held device that would allow people to run their home by remote control:Someday, you may be able to run your all-electric home and keep an eye on your youngsters by fingertip control
As far as we know, the amazing device you see above hasn't been developed as yet.
But it wouldn't be surprising if something like it were in the works. In this modern age of ours, only a short step separates the dreams of the moment from the realities of tomorrow.
Newsweek - July 1964
For once, the future actually delivered, since a smartphone can do everything imagined in this ad, and more.
Interesting that the gadget has controls for 'lawn care,' 'food prep,' etc., but not for turning the lights on.
Posted By: Alex - Tue Nov 17, 2020 -
Comments (5)
Category: 1960s, Yesterday’s Tomorrows
Laboratory Land
At a 1932 meeting of the British Association, scientist Miles Walker proposed the creation of a colony, initially to consist of 100,000 people, that would be entirely "under the auspices of engineers, scientists and economists." He suggested that it might be located somewhere in North America, or perhaps France. And he figured that the colony would be so successful that it could eventually be expanded to include the entire world.Walker didn't offer a name for his new colony, but the media dubbed it "Laboratory Land." More details from New Scientist (Aug 25, 1983):
Santa Cruz Evening News - Apr 1, 1933 (click to enlarge)
The key to the success of the colony, he believed, would be its efficiency and elimination of waste. Interestingly, one of the things he had in mind that would allow this efficiency was electric cars:
Almost 100 years later, and we're slowly working our way toward Walker's vision. At least, we are here in California where, by 2035, all new cars will have to be emission-free.
Posted By: Alex - Tue Oct 20, 2020 -
Comments (6)
Category: Utopias and Dystopias, 1930s, Yesterday’s Tomorrows
1969 Design Proposals for NYC
A 200-MPH transit system, a dome over Times Square, and other daydreams.Source.
Posted By: Paul - Wed Aug 26, 2020 -
Comments (3)
Category: Motor Vehicles, Urban Life, 1960s, Yesterday’s Tomorrows
The Fashion Predictions of B.H. Myerson
If he had said the 1980s instead of the 50s, he wouldn't have been that far off.
Akron Beacon Journal - Jan 27, 1931
Saint Joseph Herald-Press - Feb 2, 1931
Posted By: Alex - Wed Jul 15, 2020 -
Comments (6)
Category: Fashion, 1930s, Yesterday’s Tomorrows
| Who We Are |
|---|
| Alex Boese Alex is the creator and curator of the Museum of Hoaxes. He's also the author of various weird, non-fiction, science-themed books such as Elephants on Acid and Psychedelic Apes. Paul Di Filippo Paul has been paid to put weird ideas into fictional form for over thirty years, in his career as a noted science fiction writer. He has recently begun blogging on many curious topics with three fellow writers at The Inferior 4+1. Contact Us |