Arthur Radebaugh (1906-74) was a prolific midcentury illustrator, perhaps best known for his “Can You Imagine” and “Closer Than We Think” series, which were syndicated in newspapers across the United States in the years after World War II. The usually one-panel comics predicted various future scenarios, some of which, like remote working and electronic home libraries, came true!
![Hospitals in the Sky comic](https://neverwasmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Hospitals-in-the-Sky-comic-738x332.jpg)
![One-World Job Market comic](https://neverwasmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/One-World-Job-Market-comic-738x332.jpg)
![Electronic Home Library comic](https://neverwasmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Electronic-Home-Library-comic-738x332.jpg)
![Highway to Russia comic](https://neverwasmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Highway-to-Russia-comic-1-738x332.jpg)
![Space Laboratory comic](https://neverwasmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Space-Laboratory-comic-738x492.jpg)
![Speedy Styling comic](https://neverwasmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Speedy-Styling-comic-738x492.jpg)
![Trans-Jungle Skyways comic](https://neverwasmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Trans-Jungle-Skyways-comic-738x492.jpg)
![Instant Cookers comic](https://neverwasmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Instant-Cookers-comic-738x492.jpg)
Radebaugh had started his career in advertising, doing work for Bohn Aluminum, Coca-Cola, National Motor Bearing, Studebaker and United Air Lines, among many companies. He illustrated the train menu of the Burlington Zephyr, brochures for Chrysler and covers of Esquire, Fortune, Life and other magazines.
![MoToR Magazine cover](https://neverwasmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/MoToR-Magazine-cover-351x492.jpg)
![National Motor Bearing advertisement](https://neverwasmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/National-Motor-Bearing-advertisement-403x492.jpg)
![National Motor Bearing advertisement](https://neverwasmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/National-Motor-Bearing-advertisement-1-403x492.jpg)
![Hercules advertisement](https://neverwasmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Hercules-advertisement-394x492.jpg)
![Seagram advertisement](https://neverwasmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Seagram-advertisement-388x492.jpg)
![Chase and Company advertisement](https://neverwasmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Chase-and-Company-advertisement-369x492.jpg)
![Bohn Aluminum advertisement](https://neverwasmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Bohn-Aluminum-advertisement-1-574x492.jpg)
![Bohn Aluminum advertisement](https://neverwasmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Bohn-Aluminum-advertisement-492x492.jpg)
![Bohn Aluminum advertisement](https://neverwasmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Bohn-Aluminum-advertisement-4-375x492.jpg)
![Bohn Aluminum advertisement](https://neverwasmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Bohn-Aluminum-advertisement-3-394x492.jpg)
![Bohn Aluminum advertisement](https://neverwasmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Bohn-Aluminum-advertisement-422x492.jpg)
![Bohn Aluminum advertisement](https://neverwasmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Bohn-Aluminum-advertisement-2-369x492.jpg)
Thanks to James Vaughn for many of these images.