Wednesday, September 06, 2006

Monsanto House of the Future, 1957


This boy and girl and their dad look like they just stepped out of their plastic House of the Future to pose for a photo before going back inside to do, I dunno, futuristic stuff. Like washing dishes with sonic waves or something. This Monsanto-sponsored attraction debuted the year this photo was taken, and lasted just over 10 years (closing just after the introduction of the "New Tomorrowland" of 1967.

Here's a silly fantasy: after winning the lottery and filling my mink-lined swimming pool with Faberge eggs, I would build an exact replica of the House of the Future on a hillside lot overlooking Los Angeles in order to enjoy the nighttime view. And I could live happily ever after in 1960's splendor! If the house seems too small, maybe there could be a second story added?? Like I said, silly...but fun!

5 comments:

Matterhorn1959 said...

Great view Major. I love the way Dad is posing, reminds me of my Dad. By the way, skip the ermine lined swimming pool and just head straight to the Monsanto House of the Future.

Adam Hazlett said...

Great Shot! Sad thing is, I have never seen the interior of the house. Were people allowed in the house, or did they just get to peek in the windows?

William Kelley said...

Both of the kids have been on their knees playing in the dirt, I suppose. And there was plenty of opportunity - look at the simple pathways and simple bushes - no little fences everywhere. Was the rest of the park like this or was this just what the landscaping around the house of the future would be like?

Major Pepperidge said...

tikimoose, people were allowed into the house. If you look around on the internet you can find the narration to the walk-thru tour (it's pretty dry). There are also a number of brochures and flyers (as well as one somewhat scarce postcard) that show photos of the interior.

mojave33, I'm sure that the landscaping was bare because the house had only been completed shortly before this photo was taken. I don't think that the little fences had gone up anywhere in the park in those early years. Later photos show fairly lush gardens around the house of the future.

Gary Green said...

I heard that because it was made out of plastic, the wrecking ball just bounced off it when they initially tried to tear it down - had to take a blowtorch to it!