Century 21 Calling...

Ah yes, the days of being young in the early 60's. Where the world's fair actually had things that were impressive and where are many sites to behold. Unfortunately, all the energy this short musters in the first couple of minutes is dashed when the two energetic idiots make their to a phone pavilion. They are then shown the many marvels that phones are and will be capable of in the future. Though they did not foresee getting onto a huge social entity known as the internet back then, or if they had perhaps they knew the people of the time would not be able to comprehend such marvels. They may have been very wise to assume this as a lot of older people still can not comprehend the phones of today, I work selling cell phones so I know of what I speak. Well this short may of held and amazed someone from the 1960's, unfortunately now all it does is make one laugh as the many devices of the 'future' are revealed. The short ends with the couple still going strong running here and there and to the space needle as a song is played about the amazing device the telephone. That is the problem with most shorts, they deal with things only relevant in the time period they are made and are most certainly not timeless.

Hailing from Seattle and seeing the Seattle Center as it is today, seeing it back when it opened in 1962 is incredibly fascinating to me. I am a sucker for vintage stuff so I really enjoy stuff like this, especially when MST3K makes fun of it! Take a look at how the "future" was perceived in 1962! It is very fascinating!

Yeah, what to say. Two teens, who look like members of the Hitler youth, explore the Seattle world's fair, grope an Asiatic woman, tour the "Bell Atlantic Phone Pavillion", and basically run around like a couple of perky, obnoxious airheads. Very humorous, if not just for the stunning accuracy of the predictions in future phone technology (PUSH BUTTON PHONING). One of the best bits is where a tour guide proudly shows off the "Electronic Bellboy": essentially a GIGANTIC, OBTRUSIVE pager. Very elaborate systems of phone use are discussed, one of which is the ability to turn off the oven or air condition from a phone. The climax and song on the Space Needle is not to be missed. This short is available on the episode of MST3K with the film "Space Children" which is also bad.

A very interesting look into the future, back in the 1965 Worlds Fair in Seattle, with phone features we now take for granted today being first introduced, like Call forwarding, Call answer, three way calling. Nearly every one of these features we now have. I say nearly, as we haven't quite perfected the phone to turn on the oven for us.

Having gotten THAT out of our way, this film features simply one of the most obnoxious couples EVER. While it's certainly fun to see 1964 Seattle, I was constantly distracted by the hammy acting of the couple (especially the girl, who almost shrieks in excitement when she sees... an atom display). The FUNNIEST moments (and they are lots of them) is their sheer RUDENESS. They run run run from one exhibit to another, shoving other people out of the way. People recoil at the site of them charging (these are not actors recoiling, but actual visitors of the fair). In one scene, an older woman is SO startled by the couples' charging into the front of the crowd to watch the music she makes SUCH a rude face. This is a TOTAL must see!

This is a pretty typical "Behold, the Wonders of Tomorrow!" instructional short of the early 1960's, a period in which this sort of film was already becoming outdated. In this film two wholesome, clean cut blonde kids visit the World's Fair in Seattle, where they are amazed well beyond the point of stupefaction by the telephone exhibit. Many of the futuristic wonders featured herein have long since become commonplace (e.g., speed dialing, call waiting, conference calling, pagers, etc.), but it's interesting to note that I still can't turn on my oven or air conditioner by phone. (Then again, I'm almost the last person in North America not to have a wireless phone, but never mind...)

One other interesting thing I noticed - the two kids look as though they're supposed to be teenaged sweethearts. But the girl looks as though she's at least ten years too old for her role, while the boy looks as if he's about five years too young for his.