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Feverish fads come and go, but few fascinations have taken hold of the American psyche with greater fervour than The Atomic Age ... surpassed perhaps only by The Space Age.
The Atomic Age, ushered in with unprecedented optimism and enthusiasm for all things atomic, eventually found itself on uneasy ground clouded by a preoccupation with the possibility of nuclear armageddon.
Enter The Space Age. What a timely and perfect distraction from The Fall-Out Shelter, fear of atomic annihilation and the imminent "Red Scare". How much more attractive an option ... to check out of this earthly doom and imagine riding a rocket into Outer Space.
On October 4, 1956, Sputnik successfully orbited the earth in 98.1 minutes. This momentous event ushered in what came to be known as The Space Age.
The lovely little Sputnik weighs in at 83 kg
On October 7, 1959 the Soviet spacecraft Luna 3 took the first photograph of "The Far Side of the Moon".
The United States was beaten to the punch by the Soviets and President Kennedy hit the accelerator full throttle. As U.S. policy had demonstrated time and again, the notion that "The Other Side" could possess something desired by America - set off all-American alarm bells. The Space Race was on. Once again, the Soviets won first place when Yuri Gagarin became the first Cosmonaut to travel in Outer Space. Oh, those Russians.
Yuri Gagarin orbits the earth on April 20, 1961
First Spaceship "Vostok" returns to Earth
Kennedy set the gears full throttle to advance America's space technology and to instil confidence in the public that the U.S. would lead the Space Race. A much-needed diversion from the Duck and Cover syndrome - the U.S. both stimulated and exploited the new enthusiasm for space travel.
And The Space Craze was born.
You name it - Outer Space revealed itself in all things earthly - Interior Design, Architecture, Fashion, Typography, Automobile Design, Television, Toys, Entertainment, Film, Cartoons, Advertising. The cosmic possibilities endless.
Get Ready for Lift-Off
Space Age Motifs
Characterized by all things Outer Space - domes, parabolas, satellites, rockets, comets and, of course, the moon.
Rocket Ship Bedtime
Modular Living
The Age of The Automobile
Come Fly Away ...
Half-Rocket ... Half-Car
STYLE that was OUT OF THIS WORLD
Ground Control to ........
Iconic Galactic Jane
Home Away From Home
Space Age Fashion Meets Op-Art (another blog)
Which came first? The Mini or The Space Age
And then came "Twister"
Space Travel Sells - Advertising
"The Moon - A cleaner place to live"
Robot Rage
I, Robot and I, Creepy Kid
From Pencil to Missile
TELEVISION
Fascination with Space Travel took television by storm. The Jetsons, Lost in Space, Raumpatrouille Orion (Germany), Life in Outer Space, Rocket Ship 7 and Commander Tom. And the infusion of melodrama in Space TV virtually normalized the notion that these people were floating around in Space.
The Shape of Things to Come
Honourable Mention - The Picture Phone
(way ahead of its time)
TELEVISION GOES INTO ORBIT
Fascination with Space Travel took television by storm. The Jetsons, Lost in Space, German show, Life in Outer Space became virtually normalized in drama in shows like
You Silly Robot
Outer Galactic Oz ?
Rocket Ship 7
Commander Tom
Outer Space is Serious Stuff
In Germany - Raumpatrouille Orion with Eva Pflug
"I just gotta get outta this place."
Even Tin Tin Goes To the Moon
"Meet George Jetson ... his wife, Jane ..."
Spirit In The Sky
WARNING - Don't Get Lost
In America - all fascinations can become frightening.
Land of the Giants 1968-1970 (Set in Future Year 1983)
The Time Tunnel 1966-67
Space Age Decor
Lunar Inspiration
Lunar Eclipse
Maurice Ascalon Ashtray
Today the Moon. Tomorrow The Rings of Saturn
Extraordinarily Orbital Lighting
BACK IN THE USSR
Soviet Matchbox Design
A Night out at the Movies
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Zsa Zsa - From Hungary to Outer Space via Hollywood |
Hello Down There - The Spaceship in the Sea
America Scares Itself Silly
Because let's face it, if WE can find them ... THEY can find us.
It seems it was all fun and lunar lunacy until it dawned on the U.S. that The Unknown hold a surprise or two for we mere Earthlings. Duck and Cover is replaced by Martian Hysteria.
Science Fiction - Double Feature
So this is what the Mounties were up to ...
Music To Our Ears
Claus Visits the Cosmos
No worries. Santa's back and bearing gifts.
Goodbye Space Age Sixties. Enter the Hippy.
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