The Jetsons Season 1, Episode 4
"The Space Car"
Original Airdate: Oct. 14, 1962
Writer: Barry E. Blitzer
Directors: William Hanna, Joseph Barbera
Cast: George O'Hanlon, Penny Singleton, Daws Butler, Janet Waldo, Don Messick, Jean Vander Pyl, Mel Blanc
The concept of airborne automobiles is anything but new. From Moulton Taylor’s Aerocar to the “flying carpet” showcased in the April 1958 edition of Closer Than We Think, this petrol-free pipe-dream has lived rent-free within the societal subconscious for decades. Pointing to a future free of road rage and bumper-to-bumper commutes, flying cars were another plausible reality awaiting mankind in the gloriously optimistic world of tomorrow – and nowhere was this notion more flagrantly put on display than in a little ’60s sitcom called The Jetsons, which did a heck of a lot to convince us we’d all have a shiny saucer sitting in the garage by the early 2060s!
Airing on Oct. 14, 1962, “The Space Car” gives audiences an in-depth look at “the automobiles of the future” when George (George O’Hanlon) and Jane (Penny Singleton) decide it’s time to upgrade the family flyer. Meanwhile, recently escaped bank robber Knuckles Nuclear (Daws Butler), far from impressed with the performance of his getaway car, pops into the Skypad Apartments to swipe a speedier ride – just as George and Jane mistake his car for theirs and zip off on their errand.
En route to the dealership, George – who’s more than a little nervous with new driver Jane behind the wheel – soon finds himself pulled over for speeding. After being let off with a warning, local law enforcement receive an APB on Knuckles, who was last seen driving the same sort of saucer as George. This ridiculous bit of mistaken identity sets the episode’s chaos in motion and once again captures the show’s knack for turning small inconveniences into full-blown futuristic fun.
Eventually making their way to Molecular Motors, the Jetsons are treated to a film highlighting all of the different cars the dealership offers. For me, this is the highlight of the episode. From the compact Model 9 that can fold up and be tucked away inside a purse, to larger models complete with isolation pods perfect for drowning out a maundering mother-in-law, this segment plays out just like the classic Tex Avery cartoons of the early 1950s. It’s wonderfully creative and loaded with visual gags that are surprisingly smart given the show’s comedic nature.
Settling on the sporty Super Sonic Suburbanite, the Jetsons soon discover their trade-in isn’t exactly what it seems – especially given the large sack of money tucked away in the back. Hurrying home, George and Jane find their apartment surrounded by the police. Meanwhile, Knuckles has begun putting the squeeze on superintendent Henry Orbit, demanding to know the whereabouts of his car and the not-so-small sack of cash he stashed in the trunk. Coming to the rescue, George manages to hold up the villain with a “toy” ray gun just as Elroy and Judy (Janet Waldo) arrive with the police, who promptly haul Knuckles away.
Given my deep love of both cars and retrofuturism, “The Space Car” remains one of my favorite episodes of The Jetsons. The callback to those classic 1950s “...Of Tomorrow” cartoons are also a huge part of its charm. That said, there’s no denying the episode is very much a product of its time. George’s constant quips about Jane’s driving abilities – rooted in the dated gender stereotypes that were common at the time – haven’t aged particularly well. However, these are lighthearted, and the episode works best as a time capsule rather than something meant to be taken too seriously. The world was a very different place when The Jetsons first graced primetime, and while we’ve certainly come a long way since 1962, it’s never healthy to turn away and pretend the past never happened. Right?
Slight sexism aside, “The Space Car” is a wonderful early episode of The Jetsons, buoyed by the signature Hanna-Barbera brightness that has defined the show for over 60 years. I especially love the scene where Jane crashes their car into the offices of Capsule Car Insurance, forcing the company to raise its rates by an astronomical 200%. It’s clever, clean, and endlessly inventive – a snapshot of a future that never quite arrived, but one that’s still a joy to visit. Flying cars, instant traffic court, and detergent-sponsored judges included, “The Space Car” reminds us that sometimes the very best visions of tomorrow are the ones that give us something to hope for today – even if that happens to be a Super Sonic Suburbanite nestled neatly in the family garage.
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