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Retro Future from Motorola

Advertising July 17th 2009 by Christopher via Paleofuture | Thanks to Fhardyfan

I always found the Motorola TV ads from Taschen’s book All-American Ads of the 60s very unique. They feel so retro but still very futuristic at the same time and I love the way they portray the future in such a optimistic and bright way that was only possible in the mid 20th century.

The illustrations were drawn by Charles Schridde and the advertisements were often seen in Life Magazine and The Saturday Evening Post among other places in the early 1960s.

Sadly the first edition of the Taschen book is out of print and no longer available through their website. But you can surely get it through Amazon and other online shops.

About the author

Christopher founded Ultra Swank in 2005. Has a crush on mid-century graphic design, defunct airlines, Disneyland and the Century 21 Exposition. Is a collector of easy listening music from the 60s and 70s and a Swedish expat living in Barcelona, Spain. Read more articles by me

Comments for this article

  • buzz

    I love these ads, too, but it’s interesting how they came “close but no cigar” re predicting life in the early 21st century (none of the TV sets are in color, f’r instance). I find #4 to be interesting; the image on the screen is clearly a pasted on photo. Judging from the rapt attention of the parents, I don’t think the original image on the set was supposed to be some hokey vaudevillian.

  • Bim Bom

    Very cool pictures. The only retro-looking things end up being the TVs themselves.

  • http://totalrod2.blogspot.com Bryan Lord

    Are you kidding? The whole thing is SO mid-century. I love it! Thanks Chris.

  • http://coolnessistimeless.blogspot.com Keith

    These are fantastic. I love them. Thanks for sharing those with us. Have a cool weekend. Cheers!

  • Stephen

    I would live there in a heartbeat.

  • Pete Gardiner

    I love how the TV is still a small black and white. Underwater family room, yes. 50-inch colour TV, that’s crazy.

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