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Media Index

Credits and acknowledgements for images in the project.

Published onJun 04, 2021
Media Index
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Title Pages

Film Sources

Introductory Video: In My Merry Oldsmobile. Prod. Max Fleischer Studios. Oldsmobile Motor Company, 1932. Film. Prelinger Archives. URI.

Acknowledgements Video: To New Horizons. Prod. Handy (Jam) Organization. General Motors Corporation Department of Public Relations, 1940. Film. Prelinger Archives. URI.

Header Images

Home: Burgess, Helen J. “‘The loneliest road in America’: US Highway 50, NE, westbound from Eureka.” N.d. Photograph. Reproduced with permission of the author.

Read by Chapter: “Streets of the Future, Pedestrian traffic need never stop, Jan 7, 1948 [photo of Futurama city intersection].” Box 10a, folder 381.25. Norman Bel Geddes Theater and Industrial Design Papers. Harry Ransom Center, The University of Texas at Austin.

Read by Thread: Strache, Wolf. “An automobile on the sweeping curves of the Autobahn with view of the countryside.” c. 1936-1939. Photograph. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division. URI.

Acknowledgements: “Incidentally, it was found that when such things as door handles were designed to be better functionally—that is, so that they would not catch the coat sleeves—they became more attractive in appearance.” GM Styling Section, Modes and Motors. Department of Public Relations, General Motors Corporation, 1938. URI.

Bibliography: Strode, William. “Visual Pollution along Interstate 24.” Sept. 1972. Photograph. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency’s Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern, compiled 1972–1977. National Archives at College Park, College Park, MD. URI.

Media Index: Hall, William. “Division of Highways drawings of proposed Carquinez bridge. 6/2/1955. – Carquinez Bridge, Spanning Carquinez Strait at Interstate 80, Vallejo, Solano County, CA.” 2000. Photograph. Historic American Engineering Record. Library of Congress. URI.


Introduction: Highways of the Mind

Header Image

“Concept drawing showing lanes of traffic.” c. 1939. Box 10a, folder 381.21. Norman Bel Geddes Theater and Industrial Design Papers. Harry Ransom Center, University of Texas at Austin.

Images

Bednar, Bob. “Loop 1-North @ US Highway 183, Austin, TX, USA, July 2003.” 2003. Photograph. Reproduced with permission of the author.

“Tombs on the Appian Way.” Illustration. Breasted, James and James Robinson. The Outlines of European History Part I. Boston: Ginn & Co, 1914. p. 295. URI.

Parker, Douglas K. “View of Median from Gordon Highway Overpass, Looking West Showing Revolutionary War Monument 56/1 – Greene Street Historic District, Greene Street, Gordon Highway to Augusta Canal Bridge, Augusta, Richmond County, GA.” March 1979. Photograph. Historic American Buildings Survey. Library of Congress. URI.

Grogan, Brian. “Aerial View of Four-Level Interchange at Intersection of Arroyo Seco Parkway and Highway 101, Hollywood Freeway. Arroyo Seco Parkway on Lower Level at Center. Highway 101 at Bottom. Caesar Chavez Avenue at Center. Looking NE – Four Level Interchange, Intersection of Arroyo Seco Parkway & Harbor, Hollywood, & Santa Ana Freeways (milepost 23.69), Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, CA.” N.d. Photograph. Historic American Engineering Record. Library of Congress. URI.

“They’re on the way / Modern Freeways / for a Greater America / Portland Cement Association ad clipping.” c. 1939. os box 15, 936.3. Norman Bel Geddes Theater and Industrial Design Papers. Harry Ransom Center, University of Texas at Austin.

Whye, Mike. “View of the underside of the bridge from its southeast corner, toward north-northwest, showing arcaded supports. – Cloverleaf Interchange, Bridge No. 5820, Junction of Trunk Highways 52, 3, & 55, Inver Grove Heights, Dakota County, MN.” March 1994. Photograph. Historic American Engineering Record. Library of Congress. URI.

“1965 World’s Fair visitors on elevated ride.” To the Fair. 1965. Dir. Alexander Hammid and Wheaton Galentine. Prod. Association Films, Inc. for New York World’s Fair 1964-65 Corporation. Film still. Prelinger Archives. URI.

Athearn, Frederick J. “Feature 15, concrete post considered to be possible highway mile post to southwest – Victory Highway, One Mile Segment West of West Wendover and South of Interstate 80, West Wendover, Elko County, NV.” October 2006. Photograph. Historic American Engineering Record. Library of Congress. URI.

“Incidentally, it was found that when such things as door handles were designed to be better functionally—that is, so that they would not catch the coat sleeves—they became more attractive in appearance.” GM Styling Section, Modes and Motors. Department of Public Relations, General Motors Corporation, 1938. URI.


1.1: Riding on the Futurama

Header Image

Futurama. 1940. General Motors. Pamphlet. Building Technology Heritage Library. URI.

Film Sources

The Middleton Family at the New York World’s Fair. Dir. Robert R. Snody and William Steiner. Prod. Audio Productions, Inc. Perf. James Lydon, Marjorie Lord, Ruth Lee, and Harry Shannon. Westinghouse, 1939. Film. Prelinger Archives. URI.

Amateur Film: Medicus Collection: New York World’s Fair, 1939-40, Reel 4, Part II. Dir. Philip Medicus. 1939. Home Movie. Prelinger Archives Home Movies. URI.

Leave It to Roll-Oh. Prod. Handy (Jam) Organization. Chevrolet Division, General Motors Corporation, 1940. Film. Prelinger Archives. URI.

To New Horizons. Prod. Handy (Jam) Organization. General Motors Corporation Department of Public Relations, 1940. Film. Prelinger Archives. URI.

Wheels of Progress. Prod. United States Department of Agriculture Educational Film Service. Dir. Edward Kelly and A. C. Rose. Bureau of Public Roads, 1927. Film. Prelinger Archives. URI.

Conquering Roads. Prod. Handy (Jam) Organization. Chevrolet Motor Division, General Motors Sales Corporation, 1937. Film. Prelinger Archives. URI.

Images

“Concept drawing showing lanes of traffic.” c. 1939. Box 10a, folder 381.21. Norman Bel Geddes Theater and Industrial Design Papers. Harry Ransom Center, University of Texas at Austin.

“Lane transition points and wait-points.” c. 1939. Box 9, folder 381.4. Norman Bel Geddes Theater and Industrial Design Papers. Harry Ransom Center, University of Texas at Austin.

General Motors. “I HAVE SEEN THE FUTURE.” Lapel pin. c. 1939. Photograph. 2000. Private Collection, Morgantown, WV.

Futurama. 1940. General Motors. Pamphlet. Building Technology Heritage Library. URI.

Pleasure Car models, yellow and silver; GM logo taxi; miniature cars. c. 1939. Photographs. Norman Bel Geddes Theater and Industrial Design Papers. 2011. Harry Ransom Center, the University of Texas at Austin.

Amateur Film: Wathen collection: New York World’s Fair, 1939-40 (Part I). 1939-40. Dir. R.W. Wathen. Amateur film still. Prelinger Archives. URI.

Marginalia

Amateur Film: Medicus Collection: New York World’s Fair, 1939-40, Reel 4, Part II. Dir. Philip Medicus. 1939. Home Movie. Prelinger Archives Home Movies. URI.

Fairchild Aerial Camera Corporation. “The ‘valley of ashes’ made famous in the novel The Great Gatsby.” 1924. New York Bureau of Engineering. Photograph. NYPL Digital Gallery. Wikimedia Commons. URI.

Gottscho, Samuel H. “World’s Fair. Trylon & Perisphere II.” 1939. Photograph. Gottscho-Schleisner Collection, Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division. URI.

Williams, Thomas W. I. “Our Exhibits at Two Fairs 1: At the New York World’s Fair.” 1940. Bell Telephone Quarterly XIX (1): 65. Photographer unknown. Prelinger Library. URI.

The Middleton Family at the New York World’s Fair. Dir. Robert R. Snody and William Steiner. Prod. Audio Productions, Inc. Perf. James Lydon, Marjorie Lord, Ruth Lee, and Harry Shannon. Westinghouse, 1939. Film still. Prelinger Archives. URI.

Siegel, Arthur S. “Detroit, Michigan. Norman Bel Geddes and Nash-Kelvinator corporation officials inspecting a marked-up model of a new car.” 1939. Photograph. U.S. Farm Security Administration/Office of War Information. Library of Congress. URI.

“Now the visitor is seated in a traveling sound-chair.” Futurama. 1940. General Motors. Building Technology Heritage Library. URI.

“Twenty-Tons-of-Voice. This huge automaton, machined to a precision rivaling the world’s great telescopes, serves as a corps of 150 ‘private guides’ to visitors touring the General Motors’ ‘Highways and Horizons’ exhibit at the New York World’s Fair. In the machine, 150 equally spaced photoelectric cell devices scan a motion picture film at the same time throughout its length. Thus 150 different parts at the same story are told separately but at the same time. Moving cars, in the exhibit, carry spectators past a Model panorama of tomorrow’s highway system. Each of 600 cars, equipped with a loudspeaker of a special type gives visitors a perfectly synchronized description of the treats awaiting the motorist of the future.” GM Heritage Center.

“An engineer slides one of the 150 individual amplifiers into position in its shelf on the Polyrhetor – multi-voiced guide system which forms vital part of General Motors’ exhibit, ‘Highways and Horizons,’ at the World’s Fair in New York. All connections between the amplifier and sound mechanism are made by a bayonet type plug. An adjustment screw in front provides individual volume adjustment.” GM Heritage Center. 

“Streets of the Future, Pedestrian traffic need never stop, Jan 7, 1948 [photo of Futurama city intersection].” Box 10a, folder 381.25. Norman Bel Geddes Theater and Industrial Design Papers. Harry Ransom Center, The University of Texas at Austin.

General Motors. “Aerial view of the GM complex (artist’s rendering).” General Motors Highways and Horizons. 1939. Pamphlet. Open Library. URI.

Strache, Wolf. “Reichsautobahn mit Tankstelle” (The Autobahn with service station and view of the countryside). c. 1936-1939. Photograph. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division. URI.

“Diorama overpass.” To New Horizons. Prod. Handy (Jam) Organization. General Motors Corporation Department of Public Relations, 1940. Film still. Prelinger Archives. URI.

Title frame. Wheels of Progress. Prod. United States Department of Agriculture Educational Film Service. Dir. Edward Kelly and A. C. Rose. Bureau of Public Roads, 1927. Film still. Prelinger Archives. URI.

“Yellow Pleasure Car from the Futurama exhibit, c.1939.” 2011. Photograph. Norman Bel Geddes Theater and Industrial Design Papers.


1.2: Space and Time at the Fair

Header Image

To New Horizons. Prod. Handy (Jam) Organization. General Motors Corporation Department of Public Relations, 1940. Film. Prelinger Archives. URI.

Film Sources

To New Horizons. Prod. Handy (Jam) Organization. General Motors Corporation Department of Public Relations, 1940. Film. Prelinger Archives. URI.

The City. Dir. Ralph Steiner and Willard Van Dyke. Prod. Civic Films, Inc. American Institute of Planners, 1939. Film. Prelinger Archives. URI.

Conquering Roads. Prod. Handy (Jam) Organization. Chevrolet Motor Division, General Motors Sales Corporation, 1937. Film. Prelinger Archives. URI.

Images

General Motors Corp. “The uncrowded superhighway rolls through pastoral farmland.” General Motors Highways and Horizons. 1939. Pamphlet. Prelinger Library. URI.

General Motors Corp. “The Futurama carry-go-round.” Futurama. 1940. General Motors. Pamphlet. Building Technology Heritage Library. URI.

General Motors Corp. “Suburban housing development.” Futurama. 1940. General Motors. Pamphlet. Building Technology Heritage Library. URI.

Marginalia

“Publicity photo of Charlie Chaplin for the film Modern Times (1936).” 1936. United Artists, 1936. Photograph. Wikimedia Commons. URI.

The City. Dir. Ralph Steiner and Willard Van Dyke. Prod. Civic Films, Inc. American Institute of Planners, 1939. Film still. Prelinger Archives. URI.

“North Elkhorn Creek crossing along the Paris Pike.” Photographer unknown. Contributor: Seicer. Wikimedia Commons. CC-BY-2.5. URI.


1.3: Ghosts of Urban Architecture

Header Image

“Twenty-Tons-of-Voice. This huge automaton, machined to a precision rivaling the world’s great telescopes, serves as a corps of 150 ‘private guides’ to visitors touring the General Motors’ ‘Highways and Horizons’ exhibit at the New York World’s Fair. In the machine, 150 equally spaced photoelectric cell devices scan a motion picture film at the same time throughout its length. Thus 150 different parts at the same story are told separately but at the same time. Moving cars, in the exhibit, carry spectators past a Model panorama of tomorrow’s highway system. Each of 600 cars, equipped with a loudspeaker of a special type gives visitors a perfectly synchronized description of the treats awaiting the motorist of the future.” GM Heritage Center.

Film Sources

To New Horizons. Prod. Handy (Jam) Organization. General Motors Corporation Department of Public Relations, 1940. Film. Prelinger Archives. URI.

Images

“GM #F-62, workers on the Futurama sound machine.”  c. 1939. Photograph. Photo box 9, Folder 381.3. Norman Bel Geddes Theater and Industrial Design Papers. Harry Ransom Center, the University of Texas at Austin.

Boucher, Jack E. “3rd Avenue El Above Cross Bronx Expressway, View Is Northwest. – Interborough Rapid Transit Company, Third Avenue Elevated Line, Borough of the Bronx, New York, New York County, NY.” 1974. Photograph. Historic American Engineering Record. Library of Congress. URI.

Schaefer, Harry A. “Supports for Interstate 77 stand in space cleared by the Charleston Urban Renewal Authority. This section of I-77 passes close to the Capitol’s downtown area.” 1973. Photograph. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency’s Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern, compiled 1972-1977. National Archives at College Park, College Park, MD. URI.

Rudolph, Paul. “Lower Manhattan Expressway, New York City. Model, wide view with transit hub.” 1967-1972. Photograph. The Paul Rudolph Archive. Library of Congress. URI.

Infrogmation of New Orleans. “New Orleans: Plaque for the Treme district on Esplanade Avenue at Claiborne.” 2008. Photograph. Wikimedia Commons. CC-BY-SA 3.0. URI.

Abbott, Sammie. “White Man’s Road …thru Black Man’s Home!” ca. 1968. Poster. D.C. Community Archives. ECTC Collection. Washingtoniana Division. D.C. Public Library. URI.

Lyon, Danny. “Expressway pillar in Houston, Texas. This is one of a series of 21 black and white photographs. They document the environments remaining from the 19th century in terms of architecture, commerce and lifestyles. The pictures also compare the contemporary city showing displacement of the unique by the ordinary and noting current urban problems. The pictures show a region and its uniqueness in people and architecture in East Texas which is still a part of the South.” April 1973. Photograph. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency’s Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern, compiled 1972-1977. National Archives at College Park, College Park, MD. URI.

Booher, Andrea. “[Hurricane Katrina] New Orleans, LA, 9/19/2005 – Aerial view of damaged Interstate 10 following Hurricane Katrina. Interstate 10 connects Louisiana and Mississippi.” 2005. Photograph. Photographs Relating to Disasters and Emergency Management Programs, Activities, and Officials, compiled 1998-09/30/2008, documenting the period 1989-09/30/2008. National Archives at College Park, College Park, MD. URI.

Marginalia

“The Rotolactor.” White Ammunition. 1942. Prod. Blake (B.K.) Inc. for Borden’s Farm Products. Film still. Prelinger Archives. URI.

Stieglitz, C.M. “Sponsor of Battery Bridge.” 1939. Photograph. New York World-Telegram and the Sun Newspaper Photograph Collection, Library of Congress. URI.

SiefkinDR. “Model of the Plan Voisin for Paris by Le Corbusier displayed at the Nouveau Esprit Pavilion (1925).” 2016. Photograph. Wikimedia Commons. CC-BY-SA. URI.

Howard, Ebenezer. “The Three Magnets.” In Garden Cities of To-Morrow. Swan Sonnenschein & Co., Ltd., 1902. Illustration. Prelinger Archives. URI.

Stanziola, Phil. “Mrs. Jane Jacobs, chairman of the Comm. to save the West Village holds up documentary evidence at press conference at Lions Head Restaurant at Hudson & Charles Sts.” December 5, 1961. Photograph. Library of Congress. URI.

Boucher, Jack E. “Truss Structure at 3rd Avenue, Cross Bronx Expressway, View Northeast.” 1974. Photograph. Historic American Engineering Record. Library of Congress. URI.

Rudolph, Paul. “Lower Manhattan Expressway, New York City. Model. Long view.” ca. 1970. Photograph. Paul Rudolph Collection, Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, repr. LC-DIG-ppmsca-26450. URI.

“Octopus Eye View.” Prod. Louisiana Council for the Vieux Carré, Martha G. Robinson, President; artwork by “Darge” or “Parge.” ca. 1964-1969. Detail from protest flyer. Wikimedia Commons. URI.

“An Act to Amend and Supplement the Federal-Aid Road Act Approved July 11, 1916, to Authorize Appropriations for Continuing the Construction of Highways; to Amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 to Provide Additional Revenue from the Taxes on Motor Fuel, Tires, and Trucks and Buses; and Other Purposes, 06/29/1956.” Enrolled Acts and Resolutions of Congress, 1789-1996; General Records of the United States Government; Record Group 11; National Archives. URI.


1.4: Highway, Network, Machine

Header Image

“Highways and Horizons future city traffic plan rendering.” Box 19b, Folder 381.23. c. 1939. Drawing. Norman Bel Geddes Theater and Industrial Design Papers. Harry Ransom Center, University of Texas at Austin.

Film Sources

The City. Dir. Ralph Steiner and Willard Van Dyke. Prod. Civic Films, Inc. American Institute of Planners, 1939. Film. Prelinger Archives. URI.

Amateur Film: Medicus Collection: New York World’s Fair, 1939-40, Reel 4, Part II. Dir. Philip Medicus. 1939. Home Movie. Prelinger Archives Home Movies. URI.

To New Horizons. Prod. Handy (Jam) Organization. General Motors Corporation Department of Public Relations, 1940. Film. Prelinger Archives. URI.

Images

Nguyen, Marie-Lan. “Winged Nike of Samothrace. Parian marble, ca. 190 BC? Found in Samothrace in 1863.” 2007. Photograph. Wikimedia Commons. URI.

“Highways and Horizons future city traffic plan rendering.” Box 19b, Folder 381.23. c. 1939. Drawing. Norman Bel Geddes Theater and Industrial Design Papers. Harry Ransom Center, University of Texas at Austin.

Boucher, Jack. “Aerial View of South End Highway Bridge and Interstate 395 Looking Southeast. (Site of Original Cloverleaf Intersection) – George Washington Memorial Parkway, Along Potomac River from McLean to Mount Vernon, VA, Mount Vernon, Fairfax County, VA.” 1994. Photograph. Historic American Engineering Record. Library of Congress. URI.

“Marquam Bridge, Spanning Willamette River at Interstate Highway 5, Portland, Multnomah County, OR.” N.d. Photograph. Historic American Engineering Record. Library of Congress. URI.

O’Rear, Charles. “Imperial Valley. Interstate Highway (I-8) Slices Through green Croplands.” May 1972. Photograph. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency’s Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern, compiled 1972-1977. National Archives at College Park, College Park, MD. URI.

Hall, William. “View from Pier 4 looking south over the Crockett approach viaduct. - Carquinez Bridge, Spanning Carquinez Strait at Interstate 80, Vallejo, Solano County, CA.” 2000. Photograph. Historic American Engineering Record. Library of Congress. URI.

Hall, William. “Division of Highways drawings of proposed Carquinez bridge. 6/2/1955. – Carquinez Bridge, Spanning Carquinez Strait at Interstate 80, Vallejo, Solano County, CA.” 2000. Photograph. Historic American Engineering Record. Library of Congress. URI.

Marginalia

Sommariva, Emilio. “Italian poet Filippo Tommaso Marinetti.” 1914. Photograph. Wikimedia Commons. URI.

“Aldo Palazzeschi, Carlo Carrà, Giovanni Papini, Umberto Boccioni, and Filippo Tommaso Marinetti, 1914.” 1914. Photographer unknown. Wikimedia Commons. URI.

Strode, William. “Visual Pollution along Interstate 24.” Sept. 1972. Photograph. DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency’s Program to Photographically Document Subjects of Environmental Concern, compiled 1972–1977. National Archives at College Park, College Park, MD. URI.

Highsmith, Carol. “Abandoned Cars, Route 66, Arizona.” 2006. Photograph. Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, repr. LC-DIG-highsm-04078. URI.


2.1: The American Cornucopia

Header Image

Look at Pontiac for 1954! Prod. Jam Handy Organization. Pontiac Motor Division, General Motors Corporation, 1953. Film stills. Prelinger Archives. URI.

Film Sources

Your Permit to Drive. Prod. GM Photographic. Prod. General Motors Corp./National Educational Association, 1951. Film. Prelinger Archives. URI.

Key to Our Horizons. Prod.Handy (Jam) Organization. Chevrolet Division, General Motors Corp., 1952. Film. Prelinger Archives. URI.

Freedom of the American Road. Prod. MPO Productions, Inc. Perf. Henry Ford II, Westbrook Van Voorhis. Ford Motor Co., 1956. Film. Prelinger Archives. URI.

Highway Hearing. Dir. Jack Daniels and Larry Kostroff. Prod. Charles E. Skinner and Universal-International Pictures. Dow Chemical Company, 1956. Film. Prelinger Archives. URI.

Images

National Highways Users Conference. “Lady Liberty and her cornucopia of consumer goods.” Highway Transportation Re-Makes America. 1939. Prelinger Archives. URI.

Give Yourself the Green Light. Prod. Jam Handy Organization. General Motors Corporation Department of Public Relations, 1954. Film stills. Prelinger Archives. URI.

Marginalia

“Jam Handy.” “Profile: Jamison Handy (Part III).” WWJ-TV (Detroit), 26 Dec. 1961. Television still. Prelinger Archives. URI.

“Your Permit to Drive - driver’s license.” Your Permit to Drive. Prod. GM Photographic. Prod. General Motors Corp./National Educational Association, 1951. Film still. Prelinger Archives. URI.

“Key to Our Horizons - cars around the world.” Key to Our Horizons. Prod. Handy (Jam) Organization. Chevrolet Division, General Motors Corp., 1952. Film still. Prelinger Archives. URI.

“Give Yourself the Green Light title frame.” Give Yourself the Green Light. Prod. Handy (Jam) Organization. General Motors Corporation Department of Public Relations, 1954. Film still. Prelinger Archives. URI.

“Better Highways Awards Contest.” “Harlow H. Curtice left, president of General Motors, congratulates Robert Moses, New York City construction Coordinator and Commissioner of Parks, and presents him with a certificate and $25,000 check as the first national award in GM’s Better Highways Awards contest.” ca. 1953. News Clipping. U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration. URI.

“Freedom of the American Road title frame.” Freedom of the American Road. Prod. MPO Productions, Inc. Perf. Henry Ford II, Westbrook Van Voorhis. Ford Motor Co., 1956. Film still. Prelinger Archives. URI.

“Highway Hearing title frame.” Highway Hearing. Dir. Jack Daniels and Larry Kostroff. Prod. Charles E. Skinner and Universal-International Pictures. Dow Chemical Company, 1956. Film still. Prelinger Archives. URI.


2.2: Space and Time at Futurama II

Header Image

“Lunar Rover.” To the Fair. Prod. Association Films. Dir. Alexander Hammid and Wheaton Galentine. New York: New York World’s Fair 1964-65 Corp., 1965. Film still. The Prelinger Archives. URI.

Film Sources

To the Fair. Prod. Association Films. Dir. Alexander Hammid and Wheaton Galentine. New York: New York World’s Fair 1964-65 Corp., 1965. Film. The Prelinger Archives. URI.

Images

“The cast of characters.” To the Fair. Prod. Association Films. Dir. Alexander Hammid and Wheaton Galentine. New York: New York World’s Fair 1964-65 Corp., 1965. Film stills. The Prelinger Archives. URI.

“Lunar Rover.” To the Fair. Prod. Association Films. Dir. Alexander Hammid and Wheaton Galentine. New York: New York World’s Fair 1964-65 Corp., 1965. Film stills. The Prelinger Archives. URI.

Marginalia

“The Unisphere in Flushing Meadows - Corona Park, New York City, USA.” 2010. Contributor: Flapane. Wikimedia Commons. CC-BY-SA. URI.

“Ford Magic Skyway.” To the Fair. Prod. Association Films. Dir. Alexander Hammid and Wheaton Galentine. New York: New York World’s Fair 1964-65 Corp., 1965. Film stills. The Prelinger Archives. URI.

“Amphicar.” To the Fair. Prod. Association Films. Dir. Alexander Hammid and Wheaton Galentine. New York: New York World’s Fair 1964-65 Corp., 1965. Film stills. The Prelinger Archives. URI.

“Futurama II.” To the Fair. Prod. Association Films. Dir. Alexander Hammid and Wheaton Galentine. New York: New York World’s Fair 1964-65 Corp., 1965. Film stills. The Prelinger Archives. URI.


2.3: The Specters of Consumption

Header Image

“What a dreamy ride!” Design for Dreaming. Dir. William Beaudine. Prod. Victor D. Solow and MPO Productions, Inc. Perf. Thelma “Tad” Tadlock and Marc Breaux. General Motors Corporation, 1956. Film still. Prelinger Archives. URI.

Film Sources

Design for Dreaming. Dir. William Beaudine. Prod. Victor D. Solow and MPO Productions, Inc. Perf. Thelma “Tad” Tadlock and Marc Breaux. General Motors Corporation, 1956. Film. Prelinger Archives. URI.

In the Suburbs. Prod. On Film Inc. Perf. Designers Tracy Ward and Bert Spielvogel. Redbook Magazine, 1957. Film. Prelinger Archives. URI.

Images

Look at Pontiac for 1954! Prod. Jam Handy Organization. Pontiac Motor Division, General Motors Corporation, 1953. Film stills. Prelinger Archives. URI.

“The tail-fin.” American Look. Prod. (Jam) Handy Organization. Chevrolet Division, General Motors Corporation, 1958. Film still. Prelinger Archives. URI.

Marginalia

“The Motorama.” Design for Dreaming. Dir. William Beaudine. Prod. Victor D. Solow and MPO Productions, Inc. Perf. Thelma “Tad” Tadlock and Marc Breaux. General Motors Corporation, 1956. Film still. Prelinger Archives. URI.

“Design for Dreaming.” Design for Dreaming. Dir. William Beaudine. Prod. Victor D. Solow and MPO Productions, Inc. Perf. Thelma “Tad” Tadlock and Marc Breaux. General Motors Corporation, 1956. Film still. Prelinger Archives. URI.

“Populuxe.” American Look. Dir. W. F. Banes and John Thiele. By Sidney Knight. Prod. Handy (Jam) Organization. Chevrolet Division, General Motors Corporation, 1958. Film still. Prelinger Archives. URI.

“Googie style gas station in Beverly Hills, CA.” 2006. Photo by Googie Man. Wikimedia Commons. GFDL. URI.

A Touch of Magic title frame.” A Touch of Magic. Dir. William Beaudine. Prod. Victor Solow and MPO Productions. Perf. Thelma “Tad” Tadlock and James Mitchell. General Motors Corporation, 1961. Film still. Prelinger Archives. URI.

“GM Firebird II Concept Car.” 2007. Original photograph by user Karmann. Wikimedia Commons. GFDL. URI.


2.4: Highway as Death Machine

Header Image

Grogan, Brian. “Aerial View of Four-Level Interchange at Intersection of Arroyo Seco Parkway and Highway 101, Hollywood Freeway. Arroyo Seco Parkway on Lower Level From Lower Left to Upper Right. Looking North – Four Level Interchange, Intersection of Arroyo Seco Parkway & Harbor, Hollywood, & Santa Ana Freeways (milepost 23.69), Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, CA.” N.d. Photograph. Historic American Engineering Record. Library of Congress. URI.

Film Sources

Patty Learns to Stop, Look, and Listen. Dir. Emily Benton Frith. Perf. Patty Garman. Frith Films, 1947. Film. Prelinger Archives. URI.

Your Permit to Drive. Prod. GM Photographic. Prod. General Motors Corp./National Educational Association, 1951. Film. Prelinger Archives. URI.

Crash Test Footage: 1996 Dodge Grand Caravan into Deformable Flat Barrier, 34.8mph. National Highway Traffic Safety Association., n.d. Prelinger Archives. URI.

Images

Gallery: Patty learns about the machinery of life. Patty Learns to Stop, Look, and Listen. Dir. Emily Benton Frith. Perf. Patty Garman. Frith Films, 1947. Film stills. Prelinger Archives. URI.

Gallery: car crash images from from Signal 30. Prod. Highway Safety Films Inc. Dir. Richard Wayman. Cleveland, OH: Ohio State Highway Patrol, 1959. Film still. Prelinger Archives. URI.

Grogan, Brian. “Aerial View of Four-Level Interchange at Intersection of Arroyo Seco Parkway and Highway 101, Hollywood Freeway. Arroyo Seco Parkway on Lower Level From Lower Left to Upper Right. Looking North – Four Level Interchange, Intersection of Arroyo Seco Parkway & Harbor, Hollywood, & Santa Ana Freeways (milepost 23.69), Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, CA.” N.d. Photograph. Historic American Engineering Record. Library of Congress. URI.

Gallery: stills from Look at Pontiac for 1954! Prod. Jam Handy Organization. Pontiac Motor Division, General Motors Corporation, 1953. Film stills. The Prelinger Archives. URI.

Still from Anatomy of an Accident. Dir. Le Roy Prinz. Prod. Jerry Fairbanks Productions. Bell System, 1961. Film still. The Prelinger Archives. URI.

U.S. Department of Transportation/Volpe National Transportation Systems Center. “Hybrid III family of crash test dummies.” N.d. Wikimedia Commons. URI.

Marginalia

Still from Signal 30. Prod. Highway Safety Films Inc. Dir. Richard Wayman. Cleveland, OH: Ohio State Highway Patrol, 1959. Film still. Prelinger Archives. URI.


3.1: The Ruins of the Future

Header Image

Rogers, Hubert. “The Roads Must Roll.” Campbell, John (ed.), Astounding Science Fiction Magazine. Vol. 25, No. 4, June 1940. Atlas Publishing & Distributing, 1940. Cover Illustration. Reproduced with permission of the publisher.

Images

Athearn, Frederick J. “Overview of Highway and Setting to North One Mile into Study Area – Lincoln Highway, 3 mile segment south of Business I-80 & ALT 93 intersection, West Wendover, Elko County, NV.” 1998. Photograph. Historic American Engineering Record. Library of Congress. URI.

Rogers, Hubert. “The Roads Must Roll.” Campbell, John (ed.), Astounding Science Fiction Magazine. Vol. 25, No. 4, June 1940. Atlas Publishing & Distributing, 1940. Cover Illustration. Reproduced with permission of the publisher.


3.2: The Ruins of Space and Time

Header Image

Athearn, Frederick J. “Overview of Highway and Setting to North One Mile into Study Area – Lincoln Highway, 3 mile segment south of Business I-80 & ALT 93 intersection, West Wendover, Elko County, NV.” 1998. Photograph. Historic American Engineering Record. Library of Congress. URI.


3.3: Ghosts in the Ruins

Header Image

Jameson, Andrew. “Lincoln Plant Remains, NW section on Livernois, Detroit MI.” 31 December 2010. Wikimedia Commons. CC-BY-SA 3.0. URI.

Film Sources

Lost Landscapes of Detroit 2010. Dir. Rick Prelinger. Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit, 2010. Film. Prelinger Archives. CC BY-NC 3.0. URI.

Images

Paul, Frank R. “Islands in the Air.” Gernsback, Hugo (ed.), Air Wonder Stories. Continental Publications, July 1929. Cover Illustration. Wikimedia Commons. URI.

Paul, Frank R. “Berlin to New York in One Hour.” Gernsback, Hugo (ed.) Everyday Science and Mechanics, Vol. 2, No. 12. Gernsback Publications, 1931. Cover Illustration. Wikimedia Commons. URI.

Jameson, Andrew. “Lincoln Plant Remains, NW section on Livernois, Detroit MI.” 31 December 2010. Wikimedia Commons. CC-BY-SA 3.0. URI.

Senigo, Stephen. “Oil House, Interior, Pump Room Looking South - Ford Motor Company Edgewater Assembly Plant, 309 River Road, Edgewater, Bergen County, NJ.” October 1983. Photograph. Historic American Engineering Record. Library of Congress. URI.

Senigo, Stephen. “Boiler House, Interior, Looking West – Ford Motor Company Edgewater Assembly Plant, 309 River Road, Edgewater, Bergen County, NJ.” October 1983. Photograph. Historic American Engineering Record. Library of Congress. URI.

Senigo, Stephen. “Tank Pond and Water Tower, View East – Ford Motor Company Edgewater Assembly Plant, 309 River Road, Edgewater, Bergen County, NJ.” October 1983. Photograph. Historic American Engineering Record. Library of Congress. URI.

Senigo, Stephen. “Oil House, View North Showing South Elevation – Ford Motor Company Edgewater Assembly Plant, 309 River Road, Edgewater, Bergen County, NJ.” October 1983. Photograph. Historic American Engineering Record. Library of Congress. URI.


3.4: The Broken Machine

Header Image

Senigo, Stephen. “Tank Pond and Water Tower, View East – Ford Motor Company Edgewater Assembly Plant, 309 River Road, Edgewater, Bergen County, NJ.” October 1983. Photograph. Historic American Engineering Record. Library of Congress. URI.


Conclusion: Futurama, Autogeddon

Header Image

“Marquam Bridge, Spanning Willamette River at Interstate Highway 5, Portland, Multnomah County, OR.” N.d. Photograph. Historic American Engineering Record. Library of Congress. URI.

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