What Was The Real Futurama?

When people talk about rides at the World’s Fair, they usually think about the big ones. The first Ferris Wheel. It’s a small world. The Carousel of Progress. Yet one that is often overlooked but equally impressive was the General Motors attraction for the 1939 World’s Fair. Its name was Futurama.
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Additional Sources
“View Tomorrow’s Highways”, The Brooklyn Citizen, 15 Apr 1939
“Auto Notes”, New York Daily News, 16 Apr 1939, p79
“General Motors Futurama At World’s Fair Leaves 800 Guests Spellbound”, The Brooklyn Citizen, 19 Apr 1939, p2
“Unveil U.S. of 1960 For Fair Exhibition”, New York Daily News, 20 Apr 1939, p12
“1960 Autos Srt for 1940 Fair”, The Journal (Meriden, Connecticut), 02 Apr 1940, p7
“Future Dubious For ‘Futurama’”, The Journal Herald (Dayton, Ohio), 06 Oct 1940, p16
“Smash Hit of the World’s Fair”, New York Daily News, 18 Jun 1939, pC19
“The Futurama to Stay”, Brooklyn Daily Eagle, 17 Oct 1939, p10
“Magic Motorways” by Norman Bel Geddes, 1940

[@zorin79]

Haha love the horizons flashback

[@JasonRBeing]

P.H.S.D.

[@AverytheCubanAmerican]

*Look at that, will ya? A few years ago this was all barren desert. No crops, no irrigation, quite a transformation*

[@brianstabile165]

*invest in highways today!*

[@IzzoCello]

The horizons montage cracked me up. A lot of times I just listen while I work. But you always put something in there to make me stop, back it up, and see what I missed. Thanks.

[@iBeauty96]

4:05 Rise of the Resistance kind of does this at the end of the ride! It gives me chills every time!

[@freekeefox]

Seeing people in the 30s marvel at the idea of a national highway system reminds me of when I was a kid in the late 80s and being really impressed by the idea of a "Information Superhighway" that became the Internet. Now I couldn't imagine a world without the Internet just like I couldn't imagine it without highways.

[@JackKendall]

LOVED THE HORIZONS cinematic flashback sequence!!! That was a touch of brilliance!

[@christalbot210]

As an 11 year old, my dad went to the 1939 World's Fair every chance he got (he lived in Queens, I believe) and he rode the Futurama ride almost as often. He really enjoyed going on that ride. When I get my time-machine, I'm making that one of my destinations. I realize it may seem a bit lame nowadays, but, as the ride said, "Yep, it's always fun looking back at tomorrow." I think my parents went to the 1964 World's Fair, too, but I was just a baby then. I don't recall them saying too much about that World's Fair except in terms of the Disney rides (which we ended up riding in WDW anyway). It is fun seeing certain concepts making their way to future rides (e.g. the dinosaur fight between the Stegosaurus and the Tyrannosaurus Rex from the Ford pavilion showing up in the Energy pavilion in EPCOT...and wasn't it in _Fantasia_ before then?). Still, I'd love to see this fair in my time-travels, too. 😁

[@JeffFrmJoisey]

I rode GM's Futurama as an 8 year old in 1965. The attraction's futuristic spaceship/airplane architecture was what was highlighted in ads.

[@bobcheapek4334]

Instead of demolition, what they should've done with the buildings at Flushing Meadows is do what the Soviets did: create a park that showcased the country's or state's achievements (Exhibition of Achievements of National Economy in Moscow). The Soviets didn't use World's Fair buildings (for the most part, they did use a building from Expo 67 that was disassembled and built again in Moscow when the expo in Montreal was over) but the fact the place still exists today says something. All the republics within the USSR had pavilions, now it showcases only Russia after the USSR collapse. It was a smooth transition

[@donovandelaney3171]

We need to bring it back. Bring her back!!

[@47barolo]

I was 9 when the Fair opened about a mile from my house in Flushing. We went a lot, a group of kids usually sneaking in through a hole in the fence! Futurama was definitely the hit ride of the Fair, at least for this kid!

[@jeremykalef7662]

Great video as always! I'd say Rise of the Resistance at Hollywood Studios comes the closest to this idea: Seeing something play out in miniature (i.e. our tv's and movie screens) and then stepping outside (literally) and into a full scale version of what we saw.

[@FireBlastStudios]

so Disney owns the Futurama TV show now... I think the way for this to come full circle is a Dark ride based on the TV show that pays homage to/parodies the World's Fair attraction.

[@kodyeldridge5847]

Ge in 1939: 14 lane high ways FDOT planning the expansion of I-4 in 2021: 8 lanes...tbd

[@Shadow77999]

South America: We'll give you 2 and dont complain

[@GCubedProductions]

The picture boxing at 6:47 leading into the Horizon’s PTSD scene was very well done. Nice attention to detail

[@Jaybird248]

I loved the 64-65 Futurama and would get off the ride and go right back on line to do it again and again.

[@evropaheart]

man that's some incredible stuff. It's so easy to underestimate man's ingenuity. People have been building incredible things for a long time. The end of the ride is especially neat.

[@danjbro]

That part where you were deep in thought was classic! Great work! 👍🏼

[@neitherdreaming]

Love when you cover World's Fair stuff! Great video, Rob!

[@Shrike58]

Good video. I just finished reading the catalog of a major exhibit on Bel Geddes; it appears that architect Eero Saarinen did most of the heavy lifting on the facade of the pavilion. See "Norman Bel Geddes Designs America."

[@richardperhai8292]

I remember standing in line for hours at Futurama II It was very popular.

[@TrainerCTZ]

This was amazing. The 3 step zoom in-reality ending was ingenius. Horizons had a few similar zoom scenes but obviously didn't end in a real, interactive backdrop of prior scene.

[@DuchessRococoPuff]

I never knew this, how cool! Great video as always!

[@mikesciales9768]

Well done piece! I visited 1964 Futurama, it was pretty awe-inspiring to an 11 year old. A lot of those things have come true -- collision avoidance technology, adaptive cruise control, lane centering, with much more on the way. Maybe people aren't as easily fascinated today, but those who were got us here.

[@figment34786]

This is outstanding information!! I never knew about Futurama, Or Norman Bel Geddes work before this. I'm gunna research this further... Maybe see if I can get my hands on a copy of the books he wrote. Apparently his 1932 book on streamlining industrial design was literally called "Horizons." Thanks for sparking in me a new interest!

[@briannakadlecik1903]

This is so interesting! I love learning about the different World's Fair attractions. The World's Fair was so unique to that time period and seems so strange in our modern, global society. I loved the Horizons reference too.

[@theiconicjack]

HII! love your videos!! thank you so much for making your videos! I have learned so much Disney history thanks to you! Keep making them! c:

[@gmccomiskey]

The neighborhood where my parents live was build on groundfill from the rubble of this World's Fair. I'll have to look for some Futurama the next time I'm spending six hours digging a post hole for a fence. (Seriously, the bricks, rebar and glass are a nightmare.)

[@craigconn7424]

I so love your channel it is amazing and I Always learn so much. I know you put in a lot of work to do these videos and it shows. They are so well done thank you for all your hard work. Take care

[@PriestsandParamedics]

Dude, I love retrofuturism and Worlds Fair optimism! How cool! I had no idea this existed. Would love to see more Worlds Fair related videos. Proud to be a Patron Rob!

[@twixieshores]

I saw an automobile once when I was a kid. But, now they're everywhere.

[@abrandenburg10]

The world went and got itself in a big damn hurry

[@Taydar]

Interesting. Definite inspiration in future attractions.

[@howardgreenman2908]

I commend you on an excellent and informative video. However, i must take exception to your depiction of the 1964 Futurama as a second rate attraction. Quite the contrary, it was the hit of the fair and by far the most attended exhibit. I was 12 years old in 1964. My family lived about 15 minutes from Flushing Meadow and we visited the fair many times over the two years. I rode the Futurama ride about ten times and we never waited less than two hours to get on the lines were so long. Disney’s exhibits were certainly popular, but the Futurama of 1964-5 was number one.

[@michaeltaylor1603]

Plus it further influenced Disney's later concepts. The irony is Walt didn't attend th3 39-49 NYWF. Also as a souvenir at the end of the ride, guests were given a button that said "I have SEEN the future!" Yep! That would have been great to have preserved that model.

[@Larry]

London tried the elevated walkways during its rebuild after the second World War. People were afraid to use them as they were a bottleneck for muggings, robberies as there was no escape for the victim. They're still partially around, but most lead to dead ends now.

[@theresa7744]

This was so fascinating! You have absolutely spotlighted “Futurama”....something I never knew about at all (from the Worlds Fair). Congratulations on your amazing editing and ability to tell a story in the most unique way ever!! You truly have BIG talents Rob. Theresa xo

[@MrDanJB85]

So a version of Futurama with uncannily similar themes to Horizons debuts at the same worlds fare as Carousel of Progress, the ride Horizons was a sort-of sequel to; is that coincidence? Might we see possible links explored in a future video? Thanks Rob, a delight as always.

[@Brandis13]

Actually, Futurama came before, this was at the 1939 World's Fair, Carousel of Progress was at 1964 World's Fair. In 1939, Walt Disney was still firmly in the movie business :-)

[@MrDanJB85]

@@Brandis13 I was referring to the second Futurama for the '64 World's Fair that is mentionedat 6:17, and triggers Rob's spectacular flashback sequence to Horizons. I could certainly have been clearer, although I feel GM should be in the dock with me on this for having produced two attractions with the same name :-)

[@Brandis13]

@@MrDanJB85 Ah sorry. Hadn't finished the video by then. BTW, I've had a book since I was very young with lots of pictures from the models of the second Futurama.

[@UmmYeahOk]

Ah... ...so now we know the REAL reason for Horizons demise. ...a certain sponsor in the pavilion next door water it gone =)

[@katherinealvarez9216]

7:35 aka possibly one of greatest animated series ever. I mean, this show was great back when I was a kid and it’s great now.

[@NillKitty]

2:54 .... but .. my car **is** automatically spaced from others on the highway using radio signals. It's called radar adaptive cruise control and it's standard in a lot of cars now.

[@afluker6757]

Brilliant! The Horizons throwback! 😍

[@boredmillionaire9914]

seriously mind blown. loved this video.

[@TheFourFoot]

If only the Seaboard Railroad had shelled out $10 million, we might have some decent trains in this country...

[@GeekFilter]

That was my reaction when we went through Horizons! I tried to explain to my stepdad that it was just like The Futurama of the NYWF and I just got a blank stare followed by "You're a weird kid" (you can see why we did not get along)

[@emmanuelcodigoni9142]

Futurama was clearly a succesful social programming project that went pretty well = )

[@loraleistandish]

This was such an interesting video! The end of that attraction is incredibly unique and inspired! I’d love to see something like that idea implemented at Disney or Universal someday!

[@lwilton]

It used to be at Epcot. Horizons, originally sponsored by GE. That whole pavilion got torn down about 10 years after Epcot opened, and was replaced by some useless stuff that most people don't even know is there now.

[@loraleistandish]

@@lwilton Yes I’m sad I’m too young to have ever seen Horizons - but as we learned in this video, ideas often come back in different forms in the future

[@adrianpetyt9167]

There are neighbourhoods in Hong Kong with elevated walkways over concrete canyons for cars and a lot of them look pretty horrible!

[@trevorrandom]

Very interesting I love anything about the World's Fair

[@memethyst]

i was gonna say the horizontal omnimover type system reminded me of horizons but then you mentioned what was featured in the second version.... HMMMMMMMMM

[@roelofjanboer4631]

Cars spaced by radio signals -> Radar Spot on, the automatic cruise control does just that

[@richardg1426]

How about the insane traffic jams ? looks like everything is moving well in these cities of the future.

[@thaisgregorio2734]

Hahahahahaha the horizons flashback was perfect

[@paulbeale5812]

It looks way ahead of its time.

[@Vipersnake21]

Futurama 1939 is pure dystopia

[@davidwhitney1171]

They also missed the mark quite a bit as to cars would actually look like in 1960: not streamlined teardrops, but rather tail- finned, chrome-laden giants- and let's not forget the Edsel (put out of its misery by Ford in 1960)...

[@JustMiaMakingStuff]

The futurama we had before 1999

[@1983horizons1]

I understood that reference. 😆

[@rmannayr2129]

TO THE FUTURE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@DoswarePictures]

Where’s Bender?

[@jonleibow3604]

Good news, everyone!

[@slimcourage901]

Good news, everyone! Rob has uploaded a new video!

[@Kodachrome40]

Did the Carousel of Progress at the '64 World's Fair include the city of the future at the end or was that added to the ride when it opened at Disneyland?

[@scottrousseau496]

Excellent as always.

[@jips.3884]

we should bring world fairs back. It made so much cool stuff, why did we stop?

[@MidwaytoMainStreet]

They technically still happen (they’re referred to as World Expos now), but the US hasn’t hosted since 1984. The next World Expo is Expo 2025 in Japan.

[@hebablo]

Great content and name

[@gotalive]

Excellent video!!

[@gordonwilliamson4234]

Another great video!

[@petrholusa5855]

After all of those decades we still don't have teleport. :D The Earth is just one big traffic highway. :(

[@docz2010]

GREAT videos!

[@undrscrH]

we could've avoided this situation if we built conventional rail

[@Clay3613]

So Disney built Horizons based off the GM exhibit for GE. Disney had a partnership with GM for World Of Motion and Test Track, plus they now on 20th Century Fox. By that extension, they own two different Futuramas!

[@give_me_my_nick_back]

yeah cuz adding new lanes fixes anything if you don't have the overtaking on the right and max speed fixed out spoiler it does not and german highways are still the best despite of having only 2 lanes, 3 max.

[@jordynburton6056]

This was awesome

[@csxguy3002]

Suddenly the theme park that named after the TV show from the creator of the simpsons

[@joshatkinson1945]

I love this

[@trickycrayon]

So awesome.

[@cheersgxp2466]

Blue background. Like it better Good thing you got out of Disney went you did. It appears the whole secondary market including travel agents are out of here. Basically what parks? Can I sign you up for Disney + or better Disney ++ for a little more

[@Joker22593]

"Cars would be spaced out by radio signals". Give it a few more years.

[@rmannayr2129]

LOOK IT'S HORIZONS!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@jenniferthomas3875]

They should have not destroyed everything and re-assembled it at Disney World. They have plenty of empty space to fill there. There are also plenty of GMs concept cars stored at the GM design center that nobody ever sees. They could put in a recreated Motorama in another part of the building.

[@lwilton]

There was an awful lot of predicting going on in the 1939 NYWF that actually came to pass. Futurama is the flashiest, but there was all kinds of stuff around. For instance over in the Electric Farm exhibit (showing how much nicer life on the farm will be once electricity not only comes to town but then goes out in the country to the farm) there was the Rotolactator. This was a carousel for cows while they were being milked. You only needed a hand to get the cows to step into their milking stalls one at a time, a hand to connect the milking machine, and a hand to get the cows to leave the stall as each had had its turn around the milker. That was opposed to how cows were really milked in 1939, which was a HUGE amount of work and drudgery. We have had milking carousels exactly like that for at least 20 years now.

[@nobo1682]

predict or influenced...... after all so many people saw it in that time period and how many of this people came into position of power

[@Marylandbrony]

So by the year 3000 we should have robots with shinny metal asses?

[@mongul305]

Sooo space mountain is a homage to futurama???

[@Newhorizons4u]

HORIZONS!!!

[@nestoons4539]

Welcome to the world of tomorrow!

[@DoswarePictures]

Why do you always have to say it that way?

[@kurtszabo2355]

So, do we know if Disney and or future imagineers went to the earlier fair?

[@massivespeedy5]

Did this channel have its name changed?

[@MidwaytoMainStreet]

Yup!

[@ViQRoy89]

Right.. I wanna ride thaat

[@americanv8ss]

Increase volume please

[@hristinatrajkovskatrajkovs74]

Only 8 months for building all of that??????

[@universeofopulence]

This was before lyder

[@chloewilson1240]

Why did you quit MCMagic?

[@MidwaytoMainStreet]

Generally just lost interest in Minecraft altogether, and as the videos evolved to use more real-life b-roll, there wasn’t a reason any longer to use Minecraft Disney footage as a backdrop of the history.

[@bmiles2546]

0/10 no zoidberg

[@shefchenko111]

Shut up, baby! I know it!

[@dogeman0526]

Not the tv show folks

[@nh79nh79cj7]

Do a reupload on the magical Express and its baggage services and how many people use it and are going to be disappointed.

[@chrisbroemel5508]

Horizons was my favorite ride of all time!

[@Clay3613]

Mine too! I can't remember if I rode it or not, I was there twice when it was operation before seeing it demolished and not know what it was at the time.

[@heidihobear]

So are we saying horizons is the futurama ride from the 60s?

[@Clay3613]

From GM to GE.

[@lwilton]

Futurama I: 1940 predicting 1960. Futurama II: 1965 predicting, what, 1980 or so? Horizons: 1980 predicting around 2000.

[@mindstorming799]

hello

[@merlano1]

roads