MST3K Shorts: Series Season 2 Episode 24 MST3K Shorts: Century 21 Calling...
- June 13, 1998
- 13 min
The show MST3K Shorts: Series season 2 episode 24 features the short film Century 21 Calling. This black and white short documentary takes a look at the wonders of technological advancements in the late 1950s. Century 21 Calling showcases how human beings can live in a world filled with technology and how it can make everything easier and more efficient. The short documentary is a promotional piece for the 1962 Seattle World's Fair where visitors can expect to see what the future would look like and how technology would transform it.
Throughout the short film, viewers are taken on a tour of the Bell Systems pavilion. Inside the pavilion, visitors can see the latest advancements in technological inventions ranging from telecommunication to transportation. The documentary aims to showcase how many people will benefit from these advancements in the future as an increasing number of people are exposed to them, leading to more ideas that will be developed and evolved in time.
The documentary presents the future world as an automated place where all aspects of daily life are made easier with machines. Everything from cooking to cleaning would be done with the help of gadgets and gizmos. The film also showcases how communication would evolve from traditional telephones to futuristic video conferencing, and how transportation would shift from cars to monorails.
Century 21 Calling takes a look at how technology could impact the workforce as well. The film showcases several jobs in factories and offices, where the employees are learning new skills necessary to operate the new machines being introduced to their workplaces. The video shows no apprehension towards the idea that humans could be replaced by technology in the future, but instead shows the opportunities that these new inventions may provide.
The documentary features interviews with people who were involved in the design and creation of the technological inventions that were being showcased at the fair. The individuals were excited about the projects and how they could help improve daily life for millions of people worldwide.
Throughout the short film, viewers are introduced to various demonstration models of robots, televisions, and phones. The film showcases the technology needed to establish a video network, which could connect cities worldwide and make communication possible over vast distances. The demonstration culminates in a demonstration of a home of the future. The futuristic home is fully automated and showcases the possibilities of technology in daily life.
MST3K Shorts: Century 21 Calling is a fascinating look into the future, particularly due to the knowledge we now have on how much of these predictions became a reality. The documentary is filled with optimism and the idea that technology will be capable of making the world a better place by reducing human labor and providing people with more free time. The film stands as an ideal example of how technological advancements change the course of history and prove how technology is ever-evolving.
In conclusion, MST3K Shorts: Century 21 Calling is a short film that provides a unique glimpse into the world of tomorrow. Viewers can witness how revolutionizing technological advancements in the late 1950s can influence activities in modern society. The documentary has gone on to become widely acclaimed and is held in high regard as a benchmark for technological progress for its era.