Friday, June 15, 2007

Closer Than We Think! Fish Bowl Swimming Pool (1958)

More often than not, Arthur Radebaugh's brilliant series Closer Than We Think! makes practical sense. However, this image which ran in the July 13, 1958 Chicago Tribune, threw me for a loop (cringe-inducing pun intended).


Today's spectators can see beneath the surface of a swimming pool only through windows or portholes below the water line. But tomorrow's vacationers will be able to do far better. Pools in transparent structures above the ground will enable observers to relax alongside and have the fun watching underwater aquatic frolicking at the same time.

This in-the-air pool for swimming in the future is shaped like a cocktail glass or the bottom half of a fish bowl. It is reached by a circular ramp leading to platforms and diving boards - a highly decorative addition to the grounds of tomorrow's pleasure resorts.

See also:
Closer Than We Think! (1958-1963)
Closer Than We Think! Monoline Express
Closer Than We Think! Lunar Mailbag (1960)
Closer Than We Think! Polar City (1959)

7 comments:

Unknown said...

Oh wow I want one. I wonder if materials science is up to this kind of thing yet.

Anonymous said...

Obviously the real reason is to keep anyone from engaging in a little hanky-panky in the pool.

On the other hand, it'll be easier to nail the kid who shits in the water.

Unknown said...

It's just an impractically-scaled-up version of the martini-glass bathtubs that I think you can still find in some cheesy Poconos honeymoon suites. They were a fad for a while, maybe starting around then.

Anonymous said...

When I win the lottery, I am soooo getting a champagne-glass pool! It looks like this is the first logical technological step to the domed cities mentioned earlier.

Scott Haley said...

The hotel staff would hate this thing, since it would really show whether they'd been diligent about cleaning it. Your eyes would sting from the heavy chlorination if you swam in it.

Anonymous said...

But we DO have aquarium toilets...!

Anonymous said...

I always thought one of these would be fun. Or an inflatable pool with helium instead of air.