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Resources

Handy (Jam) OrganizationOlds Minute Movies [Futuramic 1948] (1948)

Theater advertisements for the first all-new automobile to be placed on the market after World War II, the Oldsmobile Futuramic.


This movie is part of the collection: Prelinger Archives

Producer: Handy (Jam) Organization
Sponsor: Oldsmobile Division, General Motors Corporation
Audio/Visual: Sd, B&W
Keywords: Advertising: Screen ads; Automobiles: Advertising; Design

Creative Commons license: Public Domain

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Reviewer: jafran - - September 15, 2005
Subject: Good for their time
The Olds Minute Movies were effective for their time. In a short time, the commercial showed the advantages of the car, using slick terms and comparisons.

Reviewer: Marysz - - April 17, 2004
Subject: Not your prewar Oldsmobile
Ads for the 1948 ÂFuturamic Oldsmobile that stress its Âmodern, postwar design. The car features the Âhydromatic drive, i.e., an automatic transmission. The emphasis on the carÂs Âpostwar design shows Americans' desire to put the Depression and World War II behind them. The film has shots of new homesÂthe veterans had a little money in their pockets and were buying newly built homes in the suburbs, courtesy of the G.I. Bill. The Âhydromatic drive must have seemed magicalÂthe film even has a cameraman perch on the back of a convertible filming a woman driving, so we can see that she keeps both hands on the wheel. America was the Futuramic place to be.

Reviewer: trafalgar - - March 14, 2004
Subject: Futuriffic!
Even back then, marketing departments were inventing new words...today we're over-run by them. This one was pretty prescient, though, considering the next decade's obsession with Futurism in everything.
The ads are fairly convincing, and you've got to admit, this car has everything. And what a breakthrough automatic must have been! So-so ads, great looking car.

Reviewer: Spuzz - - December 2, 2003
Subject: Get in the back!
It's interesting how many new features that we take for granted were being introduced in this car. Automatic clutch, automatic windows and adjustable seats. And dig the styling of the back seat!

Reviewer: Archiveman - - September 18, 2003
Subject: what is futuramic
I was just wonder what is futuramic. I mean we dont say that any more do we? Im 16 and i have know clue what that means.

Reviewer: Wilford B. Wolf - - May 20, 2003
Subject: FUTURAMIC!
These four short films for the 1948 Oldsmobile are nothing particularly unusual. However, this set is noteworthy primarily because this car is one of the first US production cars to feature an automatic transmission.

Otherwise, it is filled with silly marketing speech, and some great shots of the 1948 Olds.

Shotlist

OLDSMOBILE ADVERTISING COMMERCIALS MINUTE MOVIES AUTOMOBILES TRANSPORTATION ADOLESCENTS TEENAGERS ROMANCE WOMEN DRIVING RUNNING SHOTS STUDENTS Oldsmobile Motor Company (sponsor) Oldsmobile Motor Company Automobiles (Oldsmobile) Advertising Television commercials Theatrical advertisements Minute movies Automobiles (driving) Automobiles (running shots) Cranbrook Academy, Bloomfield Hills, Mich. Students Couples Boys and girls Driving Drivers (female) Architecture Houses and homes (Michigan, upper-class) Houses and homes (architect-designed)