Friday, January 18, 2008

Souvenir Friday-Monsanta House of the Future Brochure 1961

On one of the Disney discussion boards there was a recent posting regarding how Disneyland had lost its edutainment component. That all the attractions and rides that not only entertained but also educated visitors had been lost. I totally agree with this assessment. Now with the redo of California Adventure, the attractions that were there for education and history are also being replaced. The House of the Future was one attraction in Disneyland showing the promise of the future. This brochure is from 1961 and features some nice interior views and discussion about the home and it's futuristic features.

The blog will be updated on Monday with more images from the photo album.

10 comments:

Major Pepperidge said...

This is one of only a couple of "House of the Future" items that were ever made...I sure wish there were more!

Disneyland Hippo said...

Nice brochure.

Anonymous said...

Hey there, Matterhorn1959! I found your blog through a link Major Pepperidge's, and I must say I'm very pleased! As I told Major, I'm a Disney fanatic and a young one at that (19) so these are really fun for me to see! Wonderful blog, I'll be checking your updates as well :)

Now as to the house of the future...I've also found it interesting that it was removed because it was outdated, but nowadays the design of it seems a little futuristic again. Not the items featured inside, really, but the house itself. You don't see too many of those around!

jedblau said...

A great brochure...one of the best.

Anonymous said...

Great post Matterhorn! Having been a total Tomorrowland geek as a kid (first visit to the Park was Sept. '55, age 7), I remember the HOF well.

BTW, as someone who only recently discovered your and major pepperidge's blogs, I must say kudos to you both. IMO the work you guys are doing, along with the historical information added by your readers, is not only fun and entertaining, it's also an important historical window on an era of American culture.

Anonymous said...

Hey Matterhorn...If you were reading the reimagineering blog, that was most definately my post to the current situation at Disney Parks. I think your blog is tops, and have followed it for a very long time. I'll pop in twice a month or so, just to see what neat things you have posted. Keep up the good work, and hopefully some Disney execs will see your pages that represents Walts original Vision for the parks direction and maybe get a clue!

Anonymous said...

Thanks for posting this important and interesting flyer on the Monsanto House.

I'm sorry to say the reason the educational and optimistic elements are missing from Disneyland today is because those outlooks are now considered as passe as the Donna Reed Show, and they will not return until society changes.

Katella Gate

Jackson said...

I really wish more had been done to catalog Disney's House of the Future, and that someone had bought & preserved the structure instead of allowing such a magnificent specimen of modernist architecture to be destroyed.

I wonder if Monsanto or someone else still has the original floor plans. With some moderate updating it seems like the basic structure would still make a marvelously functional small dwelling.

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frederick said...

I remember seeing this house back in the 60's at Disneyland. Although the interior spaces reminded me of a trailer house; the amazing thing was it sat on a round center which held the mechanicals. The house itself was about 10 feet off the ground and surrounded with plantings and a pond. I've often thought about over the years and thanks for posting the brochure