io9: booze cruise

Lady Astronaut or Lady Alien? Either Way, She's Got Vodka For You

Lynn Peril — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 13:00:00 PDT

Ahh, Friday. Time for a cocktail—or two. Who better to serve up your afternoon Moscow Mule than a female alien masquerading as an astronaut (which just goes to show they can be both)? This 1965 ad for Smirnoff vodka also proves that back in the first flush of America's now-curdled romance with the space program, they really would use outer-space iconography to sell anything—even if the connection didn't make a whole lot of sense. Click through for the whole picture.

Futuristic Custom Car with a Built-In Cocktail Bar — It Made Perfect Sense in 1962

Lynn Peril — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 13:30:00 PDT

Built on a 1953 Lincoln Capri hardtop by King of the Kustomizers, George Barris, the Golden Sahara II was a luxe vision of the automotive future. In 1962, the car appeared on the “I’ve Got a Secret” game show, where owner Jim Street explained the its interior features and electronics to host Gary Moore. The Golden Sahara II ran on remote control, via steering wheel or push buttons, or voice activation. Its glass wheels lit up, and there was a sonically determined automatic braking system. Plus it looked snazzy as all get out, with its pearlized finish and gold interior. Funny how nobody mentions anything about fuel economy.

The Hazards of Cocktails in Space, 1955

Lynn Peril — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 13:41:00 PDT

In 1952, Major Alexander P. de Seversky described a luxury cruise to Mars that included full bar service. Artificial gravity kept both booze and imbibers in place on that trip, but what if the equipment failed? This clip, from Walt Disney's television show three years later, answers the question. The episode, "Man in Space," explored the both the history and future of rocketry and the space race — and more importantly addressed the effect of weightlessness on cocktail hour. Hey, what good is manned spaceflight without a Manhattan or two?