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Space Age Design
Midcentury Futuristic Atomic Googie Jet Age
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Airports
The 1950s and early 1960s were the Jet Age, a term used even back then. Airline travel took off and there was massive new and expanded airports. Some cities wanted their airports to be a show piece to impress visitors and were willing to spend extra on the architecture. Airport design changed with piers (nka terminals) coming off a center becoming common.
Metropolitan Oakland International Airport nka Oakland International. The first main terminal was built in 1962. The airport expanded by pushing in to the bay, filling in the water.
The Theme Building at the L.A. International Airport. Built in 1961 and still a local landmark. Labeled as a "new facility for the Jet-Age". As futuristic and Googie as it gets.
Atlanta Airport. This image dated 1962. This is the new terminal that opened in 1961. The airport is nka Hartsfield-Jackson is currently the world's busiest.
Robert Muller Municipal Airport of Austin, TX. This airport was replaced by Austin Bergstrom International in 1999.
Disney
Disneyland was built in 1955 in Anaheim, California. A significant amount of futuristic architecture, rides and exhibits were used, though much was also more traditional. Disneyland nka Disneyland Park has become the most visited amusement park in the world. Walt Disney was very interested in the future and Disneyland had a big exhibit called Tomorrowland.
These flying saucers in Tomorrowland operated on a cushion of air giving the guests actual flight.
Tomorrowland scene from Disneyland showing the "Clock of the World".
Inside the building to the right was the TWA Rocket Ride, Autopia cars travelling the Freeway of the Future, and speedboats of tomorrow.
Amusement Areas
Daytona Beach Florida boardwalk. Cars are parked on the beach. Lots to do just off the beach.
Boardwalk at Wildwood, NJ.
Titled "Space age playground". At Sterling Forest Gardens on NYS Route 210 near Tuxedo, NY. Yes it is Space Age, interesting they used that term back then.
Rest Stops
This was one of Florida's welcome centers. The postcard is date stamped 1963. Notice the free orange juice.
Rest stop on I-90 in Northern Indiana. Looks like the one at mile 56 which hasn't changed much on the outside. There was a Glass House restaurant, gift shop and terrace service. Today it is fast food.
Artists rendering of the Glass House Restaurant over the Will Rogers Turnpike at Vinita, OK. Built in 1957 and still there.
Office Buildings
I'm going to get on my soapbox here. Ludwig Mies van der Rohe set architecture back for 50 years. It wasn't necessarily his fault. He came up with these strikingly simple glass walled office towers that were revolutionary at the time. But then everyone copied him because they were cheaper to build due to simplicity. Today, our cities are filled with these plain cookie cutter buildings. There were many daring and futuristic office buildings in the Space Age, mostly smaller than the towers. A few are below.
Northwestern National Life Insurance Company home office on Nicollet Mall in Minneapolis, MN. Architect was Minoru Yamasaki. Still there.
The 300 East Building in St. Petersburg. Actual address not given but probably downtown.
Security Federal Savings & Loan also in St. Petersburg at 9th Street North and 26th Ave. Still there and looking unchanged. Now a general office building.
City Hall of Paducuh, KY. Built in 1963, Edward Durell Stone architect. Located at 300 S. 5th St. Still in its original use.
Famous Capitol Records building at Hollywood & Vine in Hiollywood, CA. Still there.
Colleges
Mabee Center at Oral Roberts University at 7777 S Lewis Ave., Tulsa, OK. This is a 10,575 seat coliseum for basketball and special events. The smaller building was a TV production area. Oral Roberts, named after its founder was founded in 1963 and much was built in a futuristic style. Still in use.
Monteith Library at 614 W Superior St, Alma College in Alma, MI. Built in 1964. Library still in use.
More Oral Roberts University. This is the Prayer Tower. There was an observation level used for prayer 24 hours. Architect Frank Wallace. Opened in 1967. Looks ready for take off to the heavens. Still in use but no longer 24 hour.
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Top O' The Ozarks Tower at Bull Mountain in Bull Shoafs, AK. There was an elevator inside. Still in operation.
The Singing Tower in Memorial Park Cemetery in Sioux City, IA. Cemetery still there but the tower appears to be gone. Was used for Sunday concerts.
Capitol Records office building at 1750 Vine St, Los Angeles, CA. Just north of Hollywood & Vine. Built in 1956, still a local landmark.
Warner-Motive Division of Borg Warner exhibit of $100,000 of machinery. Part of a traveling exhibit of machinery by Pratt & Whitney and aircraft parts maker. Early 1960s.
Paul Masson Champagne Cellars, Saratoga, Ca. The Rotunda, pool and fountain were meant to symbolize the effervescence of champagne. I don't believe this is there anymore. This postcard does not do it justice.
MLK
Guggenheim Museum at 1071 Fifth Ave., NYC, NY. Can a Frank Lloyd Wright designed building be considered futuristic? It certainly was earlier in his career. This building is a midcetury futuristic masterpiece.