paleofuture.tv [apocalypse]

The shiny happy futurism of the 1950s gave way to much darker predictions for humanity in the 1970s. With energy crises, fears of terrorism and skyrocketing unemployment, it's really no wonder that Americans of the 1970s were often pessimistic about the future. 

Out of this dread, the apocsploitation film was born. 

Movies like Future Shock and The Late Great Planet Earth served up apocalyptic visions of the American future, both secular and religious. The second episode of paleofuture.tv looks at the doomsday documentary films of this era, which strangely enough all seemed to be hosted by Orson Welles. The production values in this episode still leave much to be desired, but I hope you enjoy it!

Previously on Paleo-Future:

• paleofuture.tv [food]
• Future Shock (1972)
• The Late Great Planet Earth (1976)
• Doomsday 1999 A.D. (1981)
• Nuclear Holocaust Before 1999
• The 1980s: Countdown to Armageddon
• The Prophetic Year 2000 (1968)
• Future Shock - Babytorium (1972)
• Future Shock - Electrical Stimulation (1972)
• Future Shock - Skin Color (1972)
• The Population Bomb: Scenario 1 (1970)
• The Population Bomb: Scenario 2 (1970)
• The Population Bomb: Scenario 3 (1970)

Comments

[Retro Hound]

I realize you're talking about paleofuture.tv, but both Future Shock and Late Great Planet Earth were books first.

[AMike]

Love these! Please keep 'em coming! The wait between food and this one was too long!

[Derek]

Another cool episode. Trying to figure out who you remind me of... kind of a mixture of Hal Sparks and Danny Gokey....

[Scatman Dan]

Fantastic work! It's obvious that a lot of thought and effort goes into paleofuture TV: just wanted to let you know that it's appreciated.

[Joel]

Love the video, man! Can't get enough!

[billsimmon]

I'm pretty sure that clip with Orson Welles talking about the planetary alignment in 1982 is from the 1981 documentary, The Man Who Saw Tomorrow, about Nostradamus' "predictions" about the future. I remember being scared to death by it on HBO when I was 11 years old. In retrospect, it was pretty ballsy of the filmmakers to forecast such calamity just one year away.

[TheFuturist]

It wasnt just people in the 70s who were afraid of nuclear annihilation. People in the 50s and 60s were too. The Fallout games come to mind thinking about that.

[Ghostwriter]

Growing up in the 70's and 80's I remember many of these doomsday predictions and I'm happy to report we're still here. Russia and China did not destroy the planet, Apes do not rule Earth and the Statue of Liberty is still standing. If nothing else, these predictions have made some great contributions to art and literature and helped shape our society. End of Earth scenarios will never go away, they will evolve as our world changes and continue to terrify millions and influence generations to come. Personally I enjoy reading, watching and imagining what life would be like if society collapsed, not that I wish for it to happen, I just think it has great entertainment value.