You aren't signed in     Sign In    Help

Your Personal "Flying Carpet"

no Robo-mower???
"Ready the photonic cannon Sara!!!"
"Ay, Ay Sir!!"
That's not a mower! Dad's polishing the artifical turf!
No drive-way here! Just a two saucer tarmac & attached dual-door hanger!
Ha Ha! dash mounted rearview mirror!
I didn't sign up for this.
Your Personal "Flying Carpet" by What Makes The Pie Shops Tick.
More power to you! Brought to you by America's Independent Electric Light and Power Companies.

The time isn't too far off, the experts say, when you'll wash your dishes without soap or water - ultrasonic waves will do the job. Your beds will be made at the touch of a button. The kids' homework will be made interesting when they are able to dial a library book, lecture or a classroom demonstration right into your home - with sound. (Some of this is happening already)

April 1959 Newsweek 
This photo has notes. Move your mouse over the photo to see them.

Comments

view profile

crabbed apple says:

i love love love "future is now" stuff. very cool.
Posted 14 months ago. ( permalink )

view profile

Sweet Benny says:

I want my damn flying car!

Get on that Detroit... that would solve your money woes.
Posted 14 months ago. ( permalink )

view profile

Lactoso says:

Dad looks like he's polishing the grass.
Posted 14 months ago. ( permalink )

view profile

Mad Science  Pro User  says:

"Jane, his wife..."

Love that the flying saucer has a steering wheel (?) of a size typical for non-power-steering equipped cars of the era.

If we've mastered the personal VTOL flying machine, you'd think we'd manage to eliminate the need for massive mechanical advantage over the steering.

Also: where are the one-piece jumpsuits? Everyone knows in the future we'll have one-piece jumpsuits.
Posted 14 months ago. ( permalink )

view profile

staramaze  Pro User  says:

In the year 2000!!!!
Posted 14 months ago. ( permalink )

view profile

RunzwithScissors  Pro User  says:

This is hilarious! Look how she has to strain her neck to see over the fat sides! Not very practical for vertical landing. We did believe it would be taking place sometime about 2000, tho! well, at least us kids.

Basset Hounds. the very popular dog of the 1950s, also.
Posted 14 months ago. ( permalink )

view profile

ceebee23  Pro User  says:

I love the rear view mirror on the dashboard!! wonderful stuff...
Posted 14 months ago. ( permalink )

view profile

txinkman  Pro User  says:

As a child growing up in the 50's I was promised this.
Posted 14 months ago. ( permalink )

view profile

Amy Mebberson  Pro User  says:

No seatbelts, of course.

Mom just has to make a sharp left and Daughter's going to bounce off that bubble dome like one of those bubble dice board games.

At least if you're lucky you can still own the house.
Posted 14 months ago. ( permalink )

view profile

Era: '51 says:

That dome's gotta be hotter'n hell.
And suicide doors! how stylish!
Posted 14 months ago. ( permalink )

view profile

flamenconut  Pro User  says:

They might go shopping in a spaceship,but the groceries are still in a paper bag!
Posted 13 months ago. ( permalink )

view profile

Sir Basil Birchbottom says:

Considering the number of people who can't even figure out turn lanes on the ground, have you ever wondered how many millions would die in the air (and on the ground from the falling debris) each month as a result of flying car accidents?
Posted 13 months ago. ( permalink )

view profile

50s Pam  Pro User  says:

Hi, I'm an admin for a group called Retro Renovation, and we'd love to have this added to the group!
Posted 12 months ago. ( permalink )

view profile

skipgoforth says:

I was a 50's kid too, and I fully expected all this to happen!
Posted 12 months ago. ( permalink )

view profile

StevenM_61  Pro User  says:

I'm disappointed that the flying cars such as this that experts promised by this time did not materialize. Must have been a conspiracy by the rubber tire companies, fearful that they'd be put out of business.
Posted 12 months ago. ( permalink )

view profile

kocojim  Pro User  says:

Great stuff!
Posted 12 months ago. ( permalink )

view profile

pastorfuture  Pro User  says:

And every house had 30 acres!
Posted 11 months ago. ( permalink )

view profile

Jello Kitty  Pro User  says:

Got themselves a personal UFO but no seatbelts.
Posted 8 months ago. ( permalink )

view profile

carleyware says:

I want one of these now! It's been 50 years since they printed this concept. ow much longer do we have to wait?
Posted 5 months ago. ( permalink )

view profile

Timberline1955  Pro User  says:

I agree with many comments. We were supposed to have these by now! On the other hand, when I think of the way people drive when they are on cell phones, having them in the air probably isn't wise.
Posted 4 months ago. ( permalink )

view profile

ganaimn says:

Did you ever notice in these world of tomorrow images that the future never seems to affect fashions? Or that gender roles never change? You'd think that flying cars might have an impact at least as large as cell phones or PDA's. And I'm speaking as a longtime science fiction fan.
Posted 2 months ago. ( permalink )

view profile

What Makes The Pie Shops Tick  Pro User  says:

Yes, visions of the future seem to be very, very rooted in the time in which they were created. Nothing about this screams the future. It screams 1959 with hints on the future.
Posted 2 months ago. ( permalink )

view profile

radio_3657 says:

Where is the flying cars we were promised?
Posted 4 weeks ago. ( permalink )

Would you like to comment?

Sign up for a free account, or sign in (if you're already a member).

[?]

What Makes The Pie Shops Tick's photostream

2,800
uploads

This photo also belongs to:

Some Personal Favorites (Set)

106
items

Advertising (Set)

591
items

Paleo-Future (Pool)

top-f [ 25+ faves ] (Pool)

Science Fiction Unleashed (Pool)

Fifty Faves (Pool)

Vintage Advertising (Pool)

mid-century illustrated (Pool)

1950s (Pool)

Scanned Nostalgia (Pool)

Those Good Old Days (Pool)

Vintage Illustration (Pool)

Ads Through the Ages (Pool)

Of a Bygone Age. (Retro Stuff) (Pool)

*atomic age* (Pool)

Fabulous Fifties Heaven (1950-59) (Pool)

Retro Renovation (Pool)

Advertising through the years (Pool)

Tags

Click this icon to see all public photos and videos tagged with Ads Ads

Additional Information

All rights reserved Anyone can see this photo

Add to your map