The era had hope for the future (the rocket and space travel) and the newsreel show a people who had to face the beginning of the cold war and the everyday challenge of providing for their family in a recession era. The emerging technology gave hope, but it was the people in the newsreel that had to live through the development of those technologies. The bomb shelter ads, the "duck and cover" drills in school and the feeling that we may not have a future were realities faced each day.
The Ralston Rocket was a positive symbol of the future that suggested we would conquer space, live in peace and see the vision of space travel in our lifetime. It was also a lot of FUN!!!! Being a kid, you were allowed to dream and what better dream could there be ....????.... but to ride the Ralston Rocket to the stars!!!
The first series of pictures bring the Rocket to Ricky. Even the local stores were capitalizing on Ricky's good fortune. The arrival announcements of the Ralston Rocket were coupled with local stores having "...out of this world values" and sales. Storefront signs were the banner headlines for many small towns. Note the contrast of Ricky's coat to the uniform of the Space Patroller who helped him into the rocket. The fishbowl space helmet seems a little out of place with a multiple patch winter jacket. But we never saw the contrast, we enjoyed the vision.
More pages will be added as Bob and Chris can clean up the early film. So stay tuned and reflect on some of our "Future Past "experiences.
