L.A. Cancels The Future!

This futuristic-looking gas station in L.A. was supposed to be completed in June 2007, but the client became "indecisive." Did United Oil decide that an optimistic, future-looking design wasn't the right look for a gas station in this day and age? Or did they wake up and realize that "futuristic," in this case, means "retro" and "googie"? (Which isn't a bad thing at all, I hasten to add.) More pics and details below. More »

Coney Island's AstroLand Park Closing, A Victim Of The Real Future

For almost 50 years, AstroLand in Coney Island has been a symbol of our optimism about the Space Age and the conquest of the final frontier. But the park is closing this coming Sunday, a victim of a different vision of the future. Developers failed to reach an agreement with the park's owner, Carol Albert, over a new two-year lease of the property, presumably because Thor Equities saw a brighter future in condos or some other tower-block development. It's especially sad because AstroLand appears to be still popular — and wonderfully garish — judging from these AP photos. Click through to see pictures of the endangered alien monsters and spacecraft. More »