#giant leap

[cure-your-delusions]

[jana-hallford]

Love and Rockets: Mid-Century Space Theme Valentines

I am a “Space Age” child, born after the launch of Sputnik, the first artificial earth satellite. On October 4, 1957 the Soviet Union sent Sputnik into an elliptical low orbit, beginning the “Space Race,” with the USA and the USSR competing for milestones in space exploration. This was at the height of the Cold War, and tensions ran high. Some of my teachers recalled being officially reprimanded by the government for failing to provide sufficient science education, thus allowing Russia to get ahead. But there was also tremendous interest and support for our space program, and a sense of optimism and pride. While science fiction films from the 1950s such as “Forbidden Planet”(1956) presented a vision of a space-faring future, Sputnik kickstarted the real-world race to the first stop: Earth’s own moon. 

Here is a collection of children’s Valentines from that era, all with a Space Age theme. They are fun and fanciful. Many of them draw heavily from popular serialized space fantasies, such as the 1950 - 1955 television series, “Tom Corbett: Space Cadet.” Even when actual astronauts began going to space, using functional helmets and space suits, Valentines generally continued to mirror the earlier models for a long time.

Mid-Century Valentines with space images and themes. From my personal collection.

Mid-20th Century space theme Valentine made to hold a lollipop, from my personal collection. The  five-digit zip code would date it 1963 or later, although the art is very 1950s. It was already a bit dated looking by my school days, yet a much younger pinner on Pinterest remembered it from the 1980s. I have since seen Valentines with this image with and without the lollipop information, so it was used a lot. This proves my point that Valentine art tends to get reprinted for years. 

No helmets or space suits here -- just a 1950s girl and boy and a rocket.

Vintage Valentine with a female astronaut, right out of the old space serials. 

A cute teddy bear rides a 1950s rocket on this vintage Valentine.

Vintage broadcast-theme Valentine with a little girl astronaut in a space-opera inspired helmet.

Vintage Gibson Valentine from my personal collection, with a sweet astronaut bunny in a bubble helmet.

A ray gun seems to replace Cupid’s arrow in this vintage space-theme mechanical Valentine scene. The boy’s upper body moves, presumably from the ray gun blast.

Vintage Valentine with a planet pun, bubble-helmeted astronaut, and rockets.

Vintage (1960s) “Out of this world” Valentine with an astronaut duckling. From my personal collection.

Another vintage Valentine of our space duckling from my personal collection, this one with a quintessential Mid-Century atomic symbol. What’s not to love?

Vintage Valentine with girl astronaut and “blast off” and “orbit” references.

An astronaut boy, girl, and dog “on top of the world” in this vintage Valentine illustration.

Vintage Valentine with astronaut boy brandishing a huge ice cream cone. That bubble helmet is sure to get in the way.

Vintage “Space in my heart” Valentine with an astronaut girl. From my personal collection.

The proverbial “little green man” or space alien pilots a flying saucer in this vintage Valentine scene from my personal collection. Space exploration opened up the idea of life on other planets for much of society. Sightings of UFOs (unidentified flying objects) and even reports of alien encounters flourished during this time.

1960s Gibson Valentine from my personal collection, with a female space traveler carrying tickets to her destinations. She’s bringing her hat box and her cat. (The same package of school Valentines included a similar image of a male in a space helmet, hitchhiking with his dog!) The art style is very typical of greeting cards I remember from my childhood.

An astronaut boy says “Hello!” on this vintage Hallmark Valentine. He and his dog both wear bubble or fish-bowl type space helmets. The art style is 1960s or slightly later. 

By the late 1960s and early 1970s, some Valentine illustrations of helmets and space suits started to look more like those actually in use. The “giant leap” reference clearly dates this one after the historic Apollo 11 moon landing on July 20, 1969, when Neil Armstrong became came the first man to set foot on the lunar surface.

Vintage “set phaser to stunning” Valentine, showing the influence of “Star Trek.” Until the original “Star Trek” television series (1966 - 1969), such a weapon would have been referred to as a “ray gun,” “blaster”, or “laser gun.” Although the original series had refences to phasers set to stun, Captain Kirk never gave the command “set phasers to stun” until the second season of Star Trek: the Animated Series (1973 to 1974). The order was heard often in later series. Star Trek provided an important, positive vision of the future. Nichelle Nichols, famous for portraying Lt. Uhura in the original series, later worked for NASA, recruiting women and “minorities” for the space program.

Two dozen vintage space-theme Valentines from my personal collection. I grew up in an era of dramatic developments in space exploration. But there was also still a definite male bias when it came to all aspects of science. I remember being a little self conscious checking out library books about science with titles like “The Boys Book of Space.” Yet girls in these space images are very well-represented, presumably because these sets were designed and sold for school Valentine exchanges, with an equal number of boys and girls. Happily, later the ranks of real-life astronauts  became much more diverse, both in terms of gender and ethnicity.

Valentines shown here range from the early 1950s to the early to mid-1970s. This was a golden age of space exploration. I hope we can get back on course. Humans need big and lofty goals. Besides, a bold, visionary space program IS an economic stimulus package!

[giantmonster]

[colonizemars]

Mankind eyes Mars as next 'giant leap' | The Japan Times

Humankind has cast an eye toward another "giant leap" forward nearly half a century after the United States' Apollo 11 spacecraft delivered humans to the m

[coldgoldlazarus]

[linuxgamenews]

Explore the World of Dream of the Star Haven for Free

Dream of the Star Haven s Free to explore in this giant leap platformer game for Linux, Mac, and Windows PC. Developed by the imaginative team at Orchid of Redemption, this is a testament to their creative prowess. Available on Steam Early Access for Free. Today I'm diving into Dream of the Star Haven, the latest offering from Orchid of Redemption, and its Free. This title follows their hit Joon Shining while taking a refreshing giant leap into the world of a first-person platformer. Available now on Linux, it's a download that invites players into a co-creative community. Since your feedback and ideas can help shape its evolution. Let's get into what makes this adventure unique. This launches you into an alluring odyssey across sky-high islands. It's not just about jumping from one point to another; it's an enchanting journey with a twist. The unique leap mechanic coupled with gravity defying elements brings a new flavor to platforming. So you're not just moving through the Dream of the Star Haven world; you're free to bend it to your will. The leap ability is more than just a jump – it's a ballet in the air, giving you the grace to explore these awe-inspiring landscapes. As you progress, the game ups the ante, allowing you to manipulate gravity itself. Imagine turning the world upside down – literally. That's what we're talking about!

Dream of the Star Haven - Trailer, Early Access for Free

There's also a magical scanner to aid in your quest. It's a crucial tool for uncovering hidden stars and secrets scattered across the islands. Each island holds remnants of a celestial era, and it's up to you to uncover them. The scanner is your key to unlocking these mysteries. While you are free to explore Dream of the Star Haven, its excels in blending exploration, platforming, and a serene atmosphere. It's a feast for the senses, offering breathtaking views and a sense of serentiy. This adventure is a peaceful escape from the chaos of more intense titles. It's perfect for when you need to take time out but still crave an engaging experience. The giant leap platformer game is designed with a gentle progression, offering a mix of exploration, light puzzling, and minimal combat. It's also about savoring the journey, not rushing through it. The focus here is on relaxation and enjoyment, perfect for relaxing after a long day. Dream of the Star Haven is a breath of fresh air in the platforming genre, that's Free. It's a game that invites you to leap gracefully among the stars, turning the world on its head, and uncovering secrets in a dreamy, serene world. For those looking for a tranquil yet captivating adventure, this is a must-try. So dive in, explore via Steam Early Access. Available on Linux, Mac, and Windows PC.

[belwoodmusic]

Top Tracks: Joe Devine - Giant Leap

Top Tracks: Joe Devine – Giant Leap

It’s all too easy to get caught up in the worst of humanity and forget to take a step back and appreciate the good; like our uncanny ability to create, to make something seemingly out of nothing. How words on a page can change history, how paint on a canvas can inspire generations, and how a few plucked wires on a piece of wood can make beautiful music. With ‘Giant Leap’ guitarist Joe Devine…

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[maxhaering]

Max Haering: A Giant Leap ... ... for Holger, and a tiny little loss for the earth (Ein gewaltiger Sprung von Holger, und ein winzig kleiner Verlust für die Erde.)