Secret remains of the House of the Future at Disneyland - Randomland!
Hiding in plain sight is an abandoned remnant of the one and only Disneyland House of the Future! Designed by MIT and Built by Monsanto in the 1950s it offered Disneyland guests a view into the futuristic home life of 1986.
Most people are familiar with the legendary story of wrecking balls bouncing off of the exterior of the House of the Future until it had to be sawed apart, but few realize that there are some left over secrets to tell the tale and mark the location of the House of the Future.
Let's go from the future, to the past, to check out the future OF the past! Disneyland!
Our show switched channels years ago! Visit http://youtube.com/JustinScarred for NEW Adventures
and http://store.randomland.com for NEW MERCH!
Special thanks to Daveland for the use of vintage photographs. Check out the Daveland website for TONS of photos of the House of the Future. You can order prints of vintage Disneyland photos as well! http://davelandweb.com
And follow this link to see more of the House of the Future, including vintage photos, 3-D renderings, and exclusive photos from the designers themselves!: http://davelandweb.com/hof/
And this one for a Monsanto promotional film inside the house http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DoCCO3GKqWY
Our show switched channels years ago! Visit http://youtube.com/JustinScarred for NEW Adventures
and http://store.randomland.com for NEW MERCH!
Transcript
0:12
We're back at Disneyland.
0:12
We're back at Disneyland. [Music]
0:25
In case you couldn't tell from all the
0:25
In case you couldn't tell from all the merchandise stamp of 1955, Disneyland
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merchandise stamp of 1955, Disneyland
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merchandise stamp of 1955, Disneyland was born in the 1950s, the heyday of
0:31
was born in the 1950s, the heyday of
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was born in the 1950s, the heyday of futurism. Wartime innovation had brought
0:33
futurism. Wartime innovation had brought
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futurism. Wartime innovation had brought prosperity to industry in the United
0:35
prosperity to industry in the United
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prosperity to industry in the United States. And the baby boom was just
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States. And the baby boom was just
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States. And the baby boom was just kicking off. New technologies brought
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kicking off. New technologies brought
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kicking off. New technologies brought new jobs. And the baby boom brought new
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new jobs. And the baby boom brought new
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new jobs. And the baby boom brought new babies. And when you combine new babies
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babies. And when you combine new babies
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babies. And when you combine new babies and new jobs together, you need new
0:45
and new jobs together, you need new
0:46
and new jobs together, you need new houses. And thus, the suburban age was
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houses. And thus, the suburban age was
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houses. And thus, the suburban age was born. Science, chemistry, and technology
0:50
born. Science, chemistry, and technology
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born. Science, chemistry, and technology were making huge leaps forward. And one
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were making huge leaps forward. And one
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were making huge leaps forward. And one of the biggest innovators in the field
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of the biggest innovators in the field
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of the biggest innovators in the field was the giant corporation Monsanto. In
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was the giant corporation Monsanto. In
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was the giant corporation Monsanto. In fact, one of the original attractions of
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fact, one of the original attractions of
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fact, one of the original attractions of Tomorrowland was Monsanto's Hall of
1:00
Tomorrowland was Monsanto's Hall of
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Tomorrowland was Monsanto's Hall of Chemistry right here where Star Wars is
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Chemistry right here where Star Wars is
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Chemistry right here where Star Wars is now. One of the technologies making huge
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now. One of the technologies making huge
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now. One of the technologies making huge strides were plastics. Plastics? Yes,
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strides were plastics. Plastics? Yes,
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strides were plastics. Plastics? Yes, plastic. This stuff kind of the chemical
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plastic. This stuff kind of the chemical
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plastic. This stuff kind of the chemical giant Monsanto realized that 15% of all
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giant Monsanto realized that 15% of all
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giant Monsanto realized that 15% of all plastics produced were going into home
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plastics produced were going into home
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plastics produced were going into home applications. And like any good mega
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applications. And like any good mega
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applications. And like any good mega corporation, they were looking to expand
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corporation, they were looking to expand
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corporation, they were looking to expand their market share. So they invested
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their market share. So they invested
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their market share. So they invested some of their Monsanto millions at
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some of their Monsanto millions at
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some of their Monsanto millions at research. Funded by Monsanto. MIT
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research. Funded by Monsanto. MIT
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research. Funded by Monsanto. MIT started a new study looking at all kinds
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started a new study looking at all kinds
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started a new study looking at all kinds of new ways to use plastics in home
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of new ways to use plastics in home
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of new ways to use plastics in home construction and consumer goods. This
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construction and consumer goods. This
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construction and consumer goods. This guy knows about
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guy knows about
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guy knows about plastic. One idea was to create lowcost
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plastic. One idea was to create lowcost
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plastic. One idea was to create lowcost prefabricated housing made out of
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prefabricated housing made out of
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prefabricated housing made out of plastic. And so MIT's Marvin Goody and
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plastic. And so MIT's Marvin Goody and
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plastic. And so MIT's Marvin Goody and Richard Hamilton spent 2 years designing
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Richard Hamilton spent 2 years designing
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Richard Hamilton spent 2 years designing the house of the future. Monsanto loved
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the house of the future. Monsanto loved
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the house of the future. Monsanto loved the design of the house so much that in
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the design of the house so much that in
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the design of the house so much that in 1956 they commissioned a full-scale
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1956 they commissioned a full-scale
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1956 they commissioned a full-scale prototype. Meanwhile, Monsanto was
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prototype. Meanwhile, Monsanto was
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prototype. Meanwhile, Monsanto was operating the Hall of Chemistry here at
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operating the Hall of Chemistry here at
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operating the Hall of Chemistry here at Disneyland. Perhaps through this
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Disneyland. Perhaps through this
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Disneyland. Perhaps through this connection with Monsanto, Walt Disney
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connection with Monsanto, Walt Disney
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connection with Monsanto, Walt Disney heard about the proposed house of the
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heard about the proposed house of the
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heard about the proposed house of the future and offered them some prime real
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future and offered them some prime real
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future and offered them some prime real estate just off the hub for Monsanto's
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estate just off the hub for Monsanto's
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estate just off the hub for Monsanto's new creation. Right here between the
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new creation. Right here between the
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new creation. Right here between the pathway to the Matterhorn and the
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pathway to the Matterhorn and the
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pathway to the Matterhorn and the entrance to Tomorrowland, 16
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entrance to Tomorrowland, 16
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entrance to Tomorrowland, 16 prefabricated sections of the House of
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prefabricated sections of the House of
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prefabricated sections of the House of the Future were put together, offering
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the Future were put together, offering
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the Future were put together, offering 1,280 square ft of futuristic goodness.
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1,280 square ft of futuristic goodness.
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1,280 square ft of futuristic goodness. The Atomic Age design of the House of
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The Atomic Age design of the House of
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The Atomic Age design of the House of the Future was so unique that when the
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the Future was so unique that when the
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the Future was so unique that when the pre-fabricated section showed up,
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pre-fabricated section showed up,
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pre-fabricated section showed up, Disneyland cast members thought they
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Disneyland cast members thought they
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Disneyland cast members thought they were boats. Boats because the house was
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were boats. Boats because the house was
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were boats. Boats because the house was a showpiece for Monsanto, there was a
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a showpiece for Monsanto, there was a
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a showpiece for Monsanto, there was a decided emphasis on plastics. Barbie.
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decided emphasis on plastics. Barbie.
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decided emphasis on plastics. Barbie. The walls, appliances, the piping, the
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The walls, appliances, the piping, the
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The walls, appliances, the piping, the lighting, the dishes, the flooring, the
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lighting, the dishes, the flooring, the
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lighting, the dishes, the flooring, the paints, and even the fabrics for the
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paints, and even the fabrics for the
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paints, and even the fabrics for the furniture were all made out of over 25
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furniture were all made out of over 25
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furniture were all made out of over 25 different kinds of plastic. Wow. People
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different kinds of plastic. Wow. People
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different kinds of plastic. Wow. People lined up around the block to get a
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lined up around the block to get a
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lined up around the block to get a glimpse of the house of the future.
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glimpse of the house of the future.
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glimpse of the house of the future. Futuristic appliances and amenities
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Futuristic appliances and amenities
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Futuristic appliances and amenities dotted the landscape of the house of the
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dotted the landscape of the house of the
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dotted the landscape of the house of the future. Things like a microwave,
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future. Things like a microwave,
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future. Things like a microwave, adjustable lighting, and a futuristic
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adjustable lighting, and a futuristic
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adjustable lighting, and a futuristic flat screen television. Other things
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flat screen television. Other things
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flat screen television. Other things like easy to clean flooring and
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like easy to clean flooring and
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like easy to clean flooring and futuristic paint were also featured, but
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futuristic paint were also featured, but
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futuristic paint were also featured, but not as interesting. Unfortunately, by
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not as interesting. Unfortunately, by
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not as interesting. Unfortunately, by 1960, many of these futuristic plastics
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1960, many of these futuristic plastics
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1960, many of these futuristic plastics and appliances were being used in homes
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and appliances were being used in homes
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and appliances were being used in homes of the present, which rendered the house
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of the present, which rendered the house
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of the present, which rendered the house of the future a little bit obsolete,
3:18
of the future a little bit obsolete,
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of the future a little bit obsolete, which meant the house of the future
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which meant the house of the future
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which meant the house of the future wasn't so futuristic anymore. Wow.
3:22
wasn't so futuristic anymore. Wow.
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wasn't so futuristic anymore. Wow. Quickly, the team at Monsanto went into
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Quickly, the team at Monsanto went into
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Quickly, the team at Monsanto went into action. They repainted it with new, even
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action. They repainted it with new, even
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action. They repainted it with new, even more futuristic paints that nobody cared
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more futuristic paints that nobody cared
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more futuristic paints that nobody cared about, redid the floors, and updated the
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about, redid the floors, and updated the
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about, redid the floors, and updated the decor of the House of the Future. For
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decor of the House of the Future. For
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decor of the House of the Future. For seven more years, the House of the
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seven more years, the House of the
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seven more years, the House of the Future stayed open here at Disneyland,
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Future stayed open here at Disneyland,
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Future stayed open here at Disneyland, drawing 40 to 60,000 visitors a week. In
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drawing 40 to 60,000 visitors a week. In
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drawing 40 to 60,000 visitors a week. In 1967, for the opening of New
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1967, for the opening of New
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1967, for the opening of New Tomorrowland, Monsanto debuted their new
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Tomorrowland, Monsanto debuted their new
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Tomorrowland, Monsanto debuted their new attraction, Adventures through Inner
3:45
attraction, Adventures through Inner
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attraction, Adventures through Inner Space, right here in the same building
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Space, right here in the same building
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Space, right here in the same building they have the holo chemistry in. Built
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they have the holo chemistry in. Built
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they have the holo chemistry in. Built with the latest in dark ride technology,
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with the latest in dark ride technology,
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with the latest in dark ride technology, Monsanto decided that this new
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Monsanto decided that this new
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Monsanto decided that this new attraction was a better representation
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attraction was a better representation
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attraction was a better representation of their company than the already dated
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of their company than the already dated
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of their company than the already dated House of the Future. And so sadly, they
3:57
House of the Future. And so sadly, they
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House of the Future. And so sadly, they let their lease expire. She remembers.
3:59
let their lease expire. She remembers.
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let their lease expire. She remembers. She remembers. According to legend, the
4:02
She remembers. According to legend, the
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She remembers. According to legend, the planned one-day demolition of the House
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planned one-day demolition of the House
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planned one-day demolition of the House of the Future turned into a debacle when
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of the Future turned into a debacle when
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of the Future turned into a debacle when the wrecking ball showed up and simply
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the wrecking ball showed up and simply
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the wrecking ball showed up and simply bounced off the plastic exterior.
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bounced off the plastic exterior.
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bounced off the plastic exterior. Depending on which version of the legend
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Depending on which version of the legend
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Depending on which version of the legend you believe, they tried everything from
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you believe, they tried everything from
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you believe, they tried everything from sledgehammers to torches to get this bad
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sledgehammers to torches to get this bad
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sledgehammers to torches to get this bad boy to come apart and eventually had to
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boy to come apart and eventually had to
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boy to come apart and eventually had to either use chainsaws or hacksaws to cut
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either use chainsaws or hacksaws to cut
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either use chainsaws or hacksaws to cut that bad boy up into small enough pieces
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that bad boy up into small enough pieces
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that bad boy up into small enough pieces that they could throw away in a
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that they could throw away in a
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that they could throw away in a dumpster. Why would you put our home in
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dumpster. Why would you put our home in
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dumpster. Why would you put our home in a dumpster? Thus, the house of the
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a dumpster? Thus, the house of the
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a dumpster? Thus, the house of the future became a thing of the past here
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future became a thing of the past here
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future became a thing of the past here at Disneyland. Given its lovely view of
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at Disneyland. Given its lovely view of
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at Disneyland. Given its lovely view of the Matter Horn, a new souvenir stand
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the Matter Horn, a new souvenir stand
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the Matter Horn, a new souvenir stand was placed on the old house of the
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was placed on the old house of the
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was placed on the old house of the future foundation and the area became
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future foundation and the area became
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future foundation and the area became rethemed as the Alpine Gardens. They
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rethemed as the Alpine Gardens. They
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rethemed as the Alpine Gardens. They actually survived even further in the
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actually survived even further in the
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actually survived even further in the future when it was transformed in 1996
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future when it was transformed in 1996
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future when it was transformed in 1996 to Triton's garden. Complete with a
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to Triton's garden. Complete with a
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to Triton's garden. Complete with a giant bronze statue of a half- naked
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giant bronze statue of a half- naked
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giant bronze statue of a half- naked merman. As we all know, King Triton is
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merman. As we all know, King Triton is
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merman. As we all know, King Triton is the father of the Little Mermaid
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the father of the Little Mermaid
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the father of the Little Mermaid herself. And visitors could meet Ariel
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herself. And visitors could meet Ariel
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herself. And visitors could meet Ariel inside of a huge clamshell they set up
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inside of a huge clamshell they set up
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inside of a huge clamshell they set up right here. In 2008, the area was due
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right here. In 2008, the area was due
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right here. In 2008, the area was due for yet another upgrade and became Pixie
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for yet another upgrade and became Pixie
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for yet another upgrade and became Pixie Hollow, where you can now meet
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Hollow, where you can now meet
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Hollow, where you can now meet Tinkerbell and her other less notorious
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Tinkerbell and her other less notorious
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Tinkerbell and her other less notorious Pixie friends. But one of the things
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Pixie friends. But one of the things
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Pixie friends. But one of the things that 99% of guests don't realize is that
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that 99% of guests don't realize is that
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that 99% of guests don't realize is that when they pass the entrance to Pixie
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when they pass the entrance to Pixie
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when they pass the entrance to Pixie Hollow, they are passing right by an
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Hollow, they are passing right by an
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Hollow, they are passing right by an abandoned remnant of the House of the
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abandoned remnant of the House of the
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abandoned remnant of the House of the Future. Long after the House of the
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Future. Long after the House of the
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Future. Long after the House of the Future was removed, the square
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Future was removed, the square
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Future was removed, the square foundation was hollowed out and turned
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foundation was hollowed out and turned
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foundation was hollowed out and turned into a planter. And one corner of the
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into a planter. And one corner of the
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into a planter. And one corner of the planter is still visible to guests
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planter is still visible to guests
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planter is still visible to guests today. Painted green and sometimes
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today. Painted green and sometimes
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today. Painted green and sometimes covered with green camouflage material.
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covered with green camouflage material.
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covered with green camouflage material. It's hard to spot, but once you see it,
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It's hard to spot, but once you see it,
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It's hard to spot, but once you see it, you'll be as excited as I
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you'll be as excited as I
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you'll be as excited as I am.
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Here it is. The house of the future. I'm
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Here it is. The house of the future. I'm touching the future. If you stick your
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touching the future. If you stick your
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touching the future. If you stick your head right into this bush, you too can
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head right into this bush, you too can
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head right into this bush, you too can touch the house of the
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future. Futurey. Coincidentally, also in
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future. Futurey. Coincidentally, also in 2008, the house of the future made its
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2008, the house of the future made its
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2008, the house of the future made its symbolic return to Disneyland in the
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symbolic return to Disneyland in the
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symbolic return to Disneyland in the form of the inventions dream home.
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form of the inventions dream home.
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form of the inventions dream home. Constructed inside of here with more
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Constructed inside of here with more
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Constructed inside of here with more millions of dollars, it's meant to
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millions of dollars, it's meant to
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millions of dollars, it's meant to represent again the home of the future.
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represent again the home of the future.
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represent again the home of the future. But of course, that was in 2008. This is
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But of course, that was in 2008. This is
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But of course, that was in 2008. This is 2014. So, it's already rapidly becoming
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2014. So, it's already rapidly becoming
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2014. So, it's already rapidly becoming the house of the present. My mom
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the house of the present. My mom
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the house of the present. My mom wouldn't even let us watch TV while we
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wouldn't even let us watch TV while we
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wouldn't even let us watch TV while we ate. Now, you have to
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ate. Now, you have to
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ate. Now, you have to [Music]
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[Music]
6:21
[Music] Well, that was cool, I guess. Mighty
6:23
Well, that was cool, I guess. Mighty
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Well, that was cool, I guess. Mighty ducks. Thank you for joining me on this
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ducks. Thank you for joining me on this
6:25
ducks. Thank you for joining me on this journey from the future to the past
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journey from the future to the past
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journey from the future to the past future or the the future of the past in
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future or the the future of the past in
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future or the the future of the past in the future. Anyway, thank you for
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the future. Anyway, thank you for
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the future. Anyway, thank you for joining me. We'll see you next time.
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joining me. We'll see you next time.
6:36
joining me. We'll see you next time. Make sure you subscribe and I'll see you
6:37
Make sure you subscribe and I'll see you
6:38
Make sure you subscribe and I'll see you later. Bye-bye.
6:39
later. Bye-bye.
6:39
later. Bye-bye. [Music]