The Jetsons Turn 50!

[tardistraveler]

"The Jetsons" premiered in 1962, and only ran 24 episodes! Strange that it only lasted a year on TV - it seems such a part of our culture. Fifty years later, how much of the "future" they predicted has come to pass?

http://techland.time.com/2012/09/23/...y/?hpt=hp_bn16

[Hammerhead]

In one episode, George and Mr. Spacely go to the robot football game and the ticket-takers scan the tickets with an optical device like the bar code readers we now use.

[tardistraveler]

And we do video phone calls now, via things like Skype . . . perhaps one day there will be a market for those masks they used to hold in front of them when they were having bad hair days! lol

And there are robots now, manufacturing things, and even vacuuming our floors . . . Our cars talk to us. And we can put a package in the microwave and have dinner a minute or so later . . . not QUITE as sophisticated as Jane Jetson's kitchen, but moving in that direction.

I'm still waiting for personal flying transportation though . . .

[Sheerah]

I am shocked that it was only 24 episodes. It seems like I grew up with the Jetsons.

[1yesfan]

That was one cartoon I could never got into.

[1yesfan]

Flintstones, Bugs, Tom n Jerry - they rocked. ha ha ha

[Sheerah]

And we do video phone calls now, via things like Skype

I remember attending the 1964 World's Fair. There was an exhibit where you sat in these cars that took you along on a conveyor belt and you could sneak peeks into the future. I distinctly remember them doing something like video chatting.

Here are some cool photos I found from the fair.

[tardistraveler]

Very cool!

I remember seeing things about the fair on TV at the time, and wished I could go . . . you can still see the Unisphere there on the fair site today.

And yeah, it seemed a LOT more than just 24 episodes to me too . . . I grew up watching the prime-time cartoons - the Flintstones, Rocky & Bullwinkle, and yes, the Jetsons . . . they all aired originally in prime-time.

[Lonewolf]

They sure don't write theme songs or title sequences like they used to: (with a commercial!)

[tardistraveler]

That's true - many of the shows today just have a snippet of music . . . 10-15 seconds max!

[cinderella]

I didn't like them as much as the Flintstones, but I'm sure I've seen all the episodes.

I can't believe there were only 24 of them. Wow...50 years!

[Hammerhead]

Eep epp ork ah ah
And that means I love you.