Matt Hinrichs of Scrubbles has a short review of a 1955 industrial movie on the Prelinger Archives called “Design for Dreaming.” What a find!
In it, a woman dreams that a masked stranger floats her to an auto show to see the gleaming General Motors product line for 1956. Lovely! For some reason, she’s then transported a space-age kitchen to make a cake. Then she performs a rhythmic “dance to the future” which I’m sure had Bob Fosse quaking in his boots.
Reader comment: Mike Sizemore says: “As an update to the Boing Boing post on that Design for Dreaming
movie, you may want to add that it’s a favourite of David Lynch too.
“Back around the time that Blue Velvet was released the BBC did an
ARENA special on Lynch and Blue Velvet. Most of the doc featured Lynch
in a cinema talking about his influences and Design for Dreaming was
one of the movies featured. Lynch also ‘played’ the projectionist who
would have to spring into action whenever his doppelganger in the
seats shouted ‘roll it.’
“Maybe one of the Boing Boingers has a copy of the documentary? I’d
love to see it again…” (email Mike if you have the documentary and want to loan it to him.)
Update: A bunch of people have emailed me to let me know that “Design for Dreaming” was adulterated by one of my least favorite TV shows, Mystery Science Theater 3000. That’s a shame.