These Vintage Ads Prove We Had No Idea What The Future Would Actually Look Like

These Vintage Ads Prove We Had No Idea What The Future Would Actually Look Like
The Jetson family wave as they fly past buildings in space in their spaceship in a still from the animated television series, 'The Jetsons,' circa 1962. (Photo by Warner Bros./Courtesy of Getty Images)
The Jetson family wave as they fly past buildings in space in their spaceship in a still from the animated television series, 'The Jetsons,' circa 1962. (Photo by Warner Bros./Courtesy of Getty Images)

If you thought "The Jetsons" was far-fetched, think again. While you may laugh at the idea of every household having a robot, flying cars, and supercomputers, it was the beginning of the Space Age in the 1950s and 1960s, and futurism was all the rage. And if these vintage ads and images are anything to go by... it's exactly what people wanted to see.

They were right on about some things... but the design could use a little work.

These days, we have a word for "a phone that talks back": voicemail.

vintage future

Air-conditioned public transport seems to be doing the trick for us.

air conditioning

Automatic sliding doors turned out to be a much easier solution.

vintage future

We're till working on this one... although Amazon drones could be on the way.

Your Personal

This actually looks a little dangerous...

Bubble Top Future Cars

This looks familiar... self check-in anyone?

Trip-a-matic 1960?

You can now get practically everything delivered to you ... from late-night cookies to your favorite sweet and sour chicken.

Detail from advertisement for New Departure Ball Bearings 1958

They were right. Food trucks are simply delightful.

Bake-O-Mat 1960?

Good God... please let us see these in our lifetime.

Automatic Home Laundry - 1965?
Valet-mat 1960?

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