Fordlandia: Henry Ford's Biggest Failure

[@keybyss98]

This man literally said “We’re going to Brazil” with no fear.

[@InitiateDee]

He's the only man that feels no fear when confronted with the phrase "You're going to Brazil"

[@Arthurzeiro]

@@InitiateDee At the end of the day Henry Ford himself never did.

[@eclipse9304]

More like "You're going to Brazil" really.

[@thetechfromheaven]

Thanks to that we have the Figo, the EcoSport and the Fiesta

[@jasons7070]

@@InitiateDee I went to Brazil alone in January 2020. No Fear. 💪

[@dubdaze68]

I was immediately like "YES. A new RCR story". Thanks, Roman. The 20th century is littered with social and economic projects like this, where leaders tried to impose their will and weird lifestyles on their employees and followers. Walt Disney and the original EPCOT comes to mind.

[@Endmass]

"Seeing like a state" covers a lot, and is an interesting read.

[@OnTwiggysTerms]

Check out “The Dollup” podcast on Pullman

[@lynp9996]

Corporate bosses are authoritarian.

[@XAMENOKOPMI]

But why can't mr Regular read it? Roman's voice hurts my ears and although I really want to hear what he has to say, I simply can't. :(

[@MaxxVelo]

Defunctland's episode on Epcot was insane. The image and intent of EPCOT was cool but its execution would've been disastrous. As with most over ambitious Utopias.

[@Sweet-mz7ol]

I never learned about the dark side of Henry Ford until I was older. As a Detroit area native, his name carries weight around here and many people (especially if they or their relatives work for Ford) get very defensive and uneasy whenever the more nefarious details about his life are brought up. Another awesome story Roman! Keep up the great work!

[@loona_mew]

@@colin-nekritz no, actually he supported Hitler for his anti semetism He wanted the us to stay out of the war

[@johnbacon4997]

I'm pretty sure Henry Ford didn't like the Jews too mucj

[@madbbqer4343]

What I learned: Resentment is a well dressed businessman doing a flying kick. This has been burned into my brain.

[@sirsplintfastthepungent1373]

How else are you supposed to quit your job?

[@Full_Throttle_no_Brakes]

Suggestion: Put Brazil on the title and description and you will see that you'll get way more views. Plus add subtitles in Portuguese. Brazilians like myself will love to hear the story and get to know your channel. Cheers!

[@gamesloko5817]

Verdade mano

[@OFDCTeo]

sim

[@ra_32]

Yeah, I'd love to recommend RCR to my friends, but either they aren't into cars, either they don't speak english, and some of them might be frightened of Mr Regular's in-between "skits". Quite some barriers to cross that subtitles can help skip

[@H34D5H07]

Wow, the Bioshock reference is prefect, if there was anyone to create Rapture IRL that would be Henry Ford.

[@jaffo7018]

"Is a man not entitled to the sweat of his brow?"

[@TheRazePlayz]

Elon Musk is currently trying to make a Mars based sequel.

[@H34D5H07]

@@TheRazePlayz just like Iron Sky :D

[@lazermaster1243]

Nice calm voice and well structured storytelling. If Roman made an audiobook I would buy it yesterday.

[@MrDmitriRavenoff]

There are far worse orators making a living reading books. Roman should look into actually getting narrator gigs.

[@lobsterboyx]

I love that the writing style of these stories aren't dumbed down "WhAtS uP YoUtUbE?!" english, the references are all higher level, the sources are clearly noted and the pace is perfect. It makes me feel good to be able to listen to things like this in relation to the history of cars. I've known about Fordlandia, but never in such depth - this also comes from the same era as other corporations like Dole were also on exploratory-imperialism based "missions" that I'd love to know more about.

[@logicerrormusic]

Can't wait for the Saab story. That's a company that surely deserved better

[@86twin]

Saab story could be a pun for sob story.

[@wormswiggleinn]

Top gear did it

[@thetechfromheaven]

FoMoCo has nice programs nowadays, like the Ford Racing program

[@markmiller3279]

Saab had a few interesting ideas, but they weren't the kind of ideas your average car buyer cares about. Their eventual failure was unsurprising.

[@86twin]

@@markmiller3279 GM getting involved with them didn’t help

[@DeinonychusCowboy]

Ford reminds me a lot of Disney in being weirdly obsessed with his own personal nostalgia when designing cities.

[@markmiller3279]

Good point. There was a generation of Midwesterners who felt that way, and I suspect many were like my grandparents and grandparents, raised on the tales of their immigrant ancestors who really did find the Midwest a miracle after the places in Poland, Germany, Ireland, and wherever else they had come from.

[@yeoldeseawitch]

not to mention that both henry and walt were both anti-semeiotic

[@bigstyx]

Ford and Disney were nothing alike. Disney drank and smoked plus Disney loved food and especially steak and potatoes guy. There was vary little in common with each other. It’s also a myth that Disney was anti Semitic all you need to do is research it on line to see for yourself.

[@bigstyx]

@@yeoldeseawitch this is a myth he wasn’t anti Semitic all you have to do is research on line to see for yourself. It was made up mostly by the family guy show that fabricated it. Their is zero evidence of this so please don’t spread lies.

[@POINDXTRMUSIC]

This filled my void until the next “Well there’s your problem” episode comes out. Thank you reg car guy :)

[@Mikey-xz4vn]

Im *still* waiting for the WTYP/RCR crossover episode - let alone the existing Pennsylvania connection

[@spamviking]

Pennsylvania, the podcasting state.

[@gmosphere]

@@Mikey-xz4vn an rcr/wtyp/ cartoonist Kayfabe crossover of Pennsylvania podcasting purportions

[@gadget73]

I knew a little about Fordlandia but didn't realize just how truly bizzare it all was. Thanks Roman, always love these RCR stories.

[@MrDmitriRavenoff]

You guys are regular historians when it comes to these deep dives. I've heard far less eloquent episodes from major networks. Keep up the good work. You guys rock.

[@nitehawk86]

KZbin algorithm and small-brain people whining its an hour long. But you can't tell something as nuanced as RCR stories in 10 minutes.

[@markmiller3279]

@@nitehawk86 I so agree. An hour felt just right.

[@Skull35]

Roman's RCR Stories fill me with the same wholesome "Hell yeah! Time to learn!" joy when I see a new Dark Souls lore video from VaatiVidya or Destiny lore video from MyNameIsByf- the longer the video, the better it is.

[@valcatt1100]

I keep pausing an looking into little facets of this then continue watching until the next detail makes me digress into internet rabbit hole of history.

[@Skull35]

@@valcatt1100 I'm glad I'm not the only one who does that with these!

[@nitehawk86]

And then the first picture is Henry Ford, and its more like a slightly less wholesome "Oh dear, time to learn." But history ain't always pretty, and if we don't learn this shit it gets forgotten.

[@Arthurzeiro]

Well, you just sold me a Greg Grandin book, I've always known about Fordlândia but only the big picture, as in "Ford Motor Company built a city in the amazon rain forest but cheap synthetic rubber ruined his aspirations". As a native with relatively close ties with people in the state of Pará I'm now much more interested to dive deep in the lore, I might even book a trip to the place come my next vacation. As a side note, 31:25 has to be the greatest stock image ever created.

[@nathanchildress5596]

The Roman’s voice is made for telling tragedies; it sounds breathy and sincerely mournful. It suits this story and the bleak weather perfectly. Great work as always

[@SHO220Z]

Dude, these stories are so good they almost deserve to stand on their own.

[@Estagon]

Yes Roman! This is the RCR story I’ve been waiting for!

[@johnrobdoyle]

Henry Ford's first venture abroad was to build a factory in Cork Ireland, his Parent's home town/County, clearly he was trying to impress the relatives in the old country. Coincidentally Ford's Mother came from a place called Fair Lane in Cork City.

[@luxurreview]

RCR Stories is like nothing else on the internet, hopefully it grows to be huge.

[@a2d]

Roman, these videos are among my favorites on the channel. Keep up the great work!

[@gabrielmalta1962]

Holy shit your pronunciation of words in Portuguese is excellent. We often see American content creators absolutely butchering the language

[@themeapster5974]

If I recall correctly, Roman knows some Spanish. Pronunciation is similar.

[@estebanvasquez2307]

Yep, thing is, Roman is Puerto Rican, and if I too recall correctly, while he hasn't spoken serious spanish for a time now, he hasn't forgotten the pronunciation nor how to make sentences.

[@themeapster5974]

@@estebanvasquez2307 hahahah I knew it! That happens a lot. My cousins don’t speak it but they know the language.

[@OFDCTeo]

@@themeapster5974 it isn't similar

[@OFDCTeo]

+- meu parceiro, o boa vista salvo

[@ImperatorZor]

The History of Rubber is just so fucked up

[@eyeamstrongest]

the history of all these giant industries we take for granted are all kinds of fucked up

[@rte3y838]

@@eyeamstrongest even the ford pinto story

[@doubledpizza1413]

Arguably the best documentary and summary of Fordlandia on KZbin.

[@joaopedrolonghi6612]

Is it just me that imagine Mr. Regular Man sitting with his legs crossed like a kid, quietly listening to Roman narrative and drinking a lemonade or whatever kids drink while doing so?

[@NewSparky97]

A juicy juice with a triangular hole you punched with a can opener?

[@ajvark]

Every time Roman says "end quote," I feel that. Each time hits harder than the last.

[@charlesbickford5167]

Your best work yet, Roman; didactic but hugely insightful! Thank you.

[@imbuzzkillington]

The Amazon rubber boom sounds like it would end with court cases and child support

[@AllonKirtchik]

“They loved each other passionately, but the rubber (…) had come between them”

[@theodorbutters141]

​@@AllonKirtchik "With every thrust the rubber stretched more and more. "Oh yes!" she said as he spanked her latex-covered bottom. He wanted to feel a different kind of rubber every once in a while, for there is only so much your imagination can stretch. As they say down in Cumtown : "You need to get strapped or you're gonna get clapped"

[@forzavale5303]

RCR Stories are the best automotive stories on KZbin!

[@sc0tt11]

I get the impression Ford was a man who genuinely thought he knew what was right in all things, who wanted to be good and righteous and a leading light in the world, but was far too flawed as a human being to ever live up to his aspirations. Sad that a man could start out with so many professed good intentions and warp over time into some sort of despot.

[@elengstrom]

This is brilliant in terms of a major overview of history of Henry Ford and “Fordlandia.” Time to do a comparative analysis of Henry Ford and Elon Musk.

[@adamelliott2302]

Another great auto story. Muscle Shoals did wind up playing host to a Ford Casting Plant decades later. I've got a number of relatives whom worked there until it closed in the early 80's. That very same Wilson Dam brought my dad's family into the area when Reynolds Aluminum came down from Virginia to build and aluminium plant in the post war years. My Grandfather, a mechanical engineer, drafted most of the production machinery for the plant. Thanks for adding additional context to my life!

[@Schumanized]

This is why i love this channel!!🙌🏾

[@cb-bz1wy]

This was a terrific listen! Thanks Roman

[@lucianoafp]

i missed hearing rcr stories for so long thanks to the uni, and when i catch a breath, is involving brazil. delightful documentary, roman

[@markarnold5593]

Mr Roman, I have enjoyed, without exception ALL of your RCR stories, factual histories, documentaries, call them what you will..... I am commenting to say, as of this moment, YOU are the standard to which I judge all other materials.... Many thanks once again.

[@burkezillar]

I think it's safe to say that Henry Food wasn't great fun at parties.

[@boston1111111]

"Dream of the 20s is still alive in fordland"!

[@branemadder]

Amongst all the many documentaries and opinions I've encountered regarding this place; thank you Roman, for a fair view of what Fordlandia was and now is.

[@georgedantz3617]

Love this documentary! Super well researched and packed with illuminating information, on a subject that shines not only a light on the beginnings of the American auto industry, but, shows how one person's separate or more to the point, insular vision can cause, many times, more bad than good.

[@theman.6396]

Those were different times. I get that. But there's right and wrong I don't care what time it is. Right and wrong are simple things if you aren't an idiot and have the ability to think about it. Thanks for this, I probably never would have known otherwise. To the people liking others comments thank you for reading them I know most are long like mine. It's hard these days to get people to read others "paragraphs" and actually make a decision about them. A video like this deserves everyone's opinion to be heard and hated or liked no matter how long. Thank you RCR I appreciate your work.

[@jaydenminnis2752]

Man Henry Ford sounds like a crotchety old man that got a hold of cities skylines

[@LuisEPGomes]

I'm amazed that there's no other Brazilians around here I was expecting to see some comments saying "Brazil is in America, America is a continent, not a country" lol Great video, thank you for sharing our story

[@gharkun]

good on you nick, this was really interesting. i'm quite pleased i'm a patreon supporter.

[@rcfp2006]

Still waiting for the Vector episode

[@yohann2768]

31:40 The LS-swapped reindeer just made my day :-D

[@HVAC_Sean]

This reminded me, funny enough, of The Outer Worlds, which was criticized with its vapid and shallow depiction of capitalistic ambition and imprinting of executive values on the populace that was brought in to make everything work. And I agree to a degree. Now that I've seen this, The Outer Worlds is pretty much just Sci-Fi Fordlandia, and yes, I'm taking some liberties and stretches. Not entirely analogous, but I thought it to be a funny resemblance nonetheless.

[@kentalanlee]

Perhaps the greatest irony of the Fordlandia debacle, is that the whole of Joseph Conrad's literary output was current at the time of Ford's ill-fated decision to attempt it. Had Henry Ford simply read Heart of Darkness, which was published in 1899, perhaps he might have avoided his egotistic neocolonial impulses, and the subsequent deaths of so many people, pointlessly, via this Quixotic quest. An amazing tale. Just the sort of thing I would expect from RCR. You guys are masters at long form. I remain a huge fan.

[@herbstwerk]

Oh... TIL. And since I never heard of this place, or forgot all about it, this also finally gives me context to one of my favorite albums of the 2010s, Jóhann Jóhannssons Fordlandia, which was thematically influenced by it. So thank you for this.

[@rustytoyota]

This was REALLY good. I learned a lot I would have never known. This will be great trivia at parties.

[@chrisgill7824]

I also live about 3/4 of a mile from Wilson Dam and I can hear the water going through the spillways when it's running wide open. I drive over it on my daily commute (when it's open).

[@waltermerrill6152]

I love your essays. I love your research and your insight into the subjects and how you make me and everybody else as excited to learn about it as you were. Here is another hit. My personal favorite is the life and death of AMC. I have subscribe to your channel, and we'll watch anything that you put out. Your enthusiasm is infectious and your calm voice and demeanor is very easy on the ears. Thank you for another good one.

[@oldskoolbmw]

thank you for making this as people nutswing on his legacy

[@MrDmitriRavenoff]

I think many people loved Ford, and just as man people hated his guts. He had some great ideas, and some absolutely repugnant beliefs along side them.

[@markmiller3279]

@@MrDmitriRavenoff People who knew him in his later years largely disliked him. Earlier his enthusiasm and ideals might have made him likeable, but by middle-age he was a difficult man to get along with.

[@roberthandzus4066]

I'm this many years old when I learned that NATURAL rubber was a thing.

[@TV-8-301]

TIL latex is a plant product not an oil product too

[@rileycannon6789]

Oh God please look into the history of the congo and king Leopold

[@danielseelye6005]

@@rileycannon6789 Oh yeah, _there's_ a clusterfuck if ever there was one.

[@markmiller3279]

We had a rubber tree in our front yard when I was little and I always found the idea that rubbercame from that milky sap fascinating.

[@RootedInReality]

Not sure if this will get as many views as the reviews, but I love this shit!

[@tylermelton2467]

It’s crazy, I was just talking to my buddy about this yesterday!

[@panfluteskeleton]

This is some great storytelling Roman. Enjoyed this alot 😀

[@12yearssober]

Great way to start my day!!!!

[@beezlebub3955]

How’s the Bahamas treatin ya!!

[@SheriLynNut]

Impressive script writing, great storytelling. First class documentary.

[@KnitGnosis]

Gonna be hard for Roman to do normal car reviews when he's trying to hold another Journalism award, one in both hands.

[@nightadder6]

Thank you Roman! RCR Car Stories are one of my favorites.

[@JM-bb8xi]

The root systems intermingling actually help the trees! Some really cool studies in forestry have revealed trees share nutrients via parasitic fungi. If a tree is sick or dying it can even identify its own offspring and send its remaining nutrients to them to prevent them from succumbing to whatever is working through the forest. Radiolab podcast did a report on it, in "From tree to shining tree" i think.

[@Endmass]

mycorrhizal fungi networks. Its not parasitic, its a mutual bond between fungi and plants.

[@JM-bb8xi]

@@Endmass it feeds off the sugars of the trees root system is my point. Im not a botanist, i just like podcasts! Which is how I got here!

[@Endmass]

@@JM-bb8xi yes, but it doesn't just feed endlessly off of the plant. It helps ensure communication between plants.

[@JM-bb8xi]

@@Endmass yep, huge networks of fungal tubes! Its really mind blowing to think about!

[@AlienLivesMatter]

Some trees

[@GeekyFast]

A fascinating dive into a subject worthy of a close examination. Thanks, Roman. Great work as always!

[@quillmaurer6563]

31:50 Neeeerd! Somehow I could totally see him swing dancing, he's the sort that I see a lot doing it - as am I.

[@gorderumsi6424]

I was gonna comment about that, I love that image lol

[@OnixFilms]

Hearing how Henry Ford was I am reminded of my first job and my boss. A good man, a terrible boss.

[@Schumanized]

Ford: Let's make this brazilian land american!! Brazil: Hold my cashaça!!

[@tankedjackish7592]

Love a long video to listen to while I’m driving my semi 🙌

[@rileycannon6789]

Careful of that voice though there are some podcasts that I had to give up cause their voices were just too damn smooth and on those long days I would really be struggling on those curves

[@pozzanivideos]

Abraços do brasil =)

[@1Rolinha]

Awesome job Mr. Roman! Keep’em coming! Have you thought of doing one on Ferdinand Porsche? Or Enzo Ferrari?

[@jakekaywell5972]

Both of those figures and their stories are fairly well-known in the automotive world. I'd like to hear more about Raymond Loewy, Assar Gabrielsson, or the Studebaker family.

[@markmiller3279]

@@jakekaywell5972 I agree. Loewy would interest me greatly.

[@markmiller3279]

@@jakekaywell5972 And Studebaker is a great story, especially as it was the very rare auto company that wasn't brand new. How they went from horse-drawn conveyance to motor vehicles would be a very interesting story.

[@1Rolinha]

@@jakekaywell5972 agreed, both well covered figures in automotive history. I want to see Roman cover them.

[@michaelmoskovitz5680]

Thank you Roman.

[@scuffndings]

Phenomenal! You are an incredible story teller, Roman!

[@ilistentoshoegazeandimdead8014]

As a brazillian, makes me happy to see my Country in this Channel.

[@adrienperie6119]

This is what happens when you try to control everything instead of giving it an opportunity to grow organically. How about bars whith alcohol in limited amounts, pharmacies with soda machines, grocery shops with lots of healthy options as well as meats for those who want them. This could have been such a cool town, instead this became a perfect demonstration of what happens when you don’t accept the fact you cannot and should’t try to change others, you can only propose them a different way of doing things.

[@Anthony_underscore]

Great work as always, Mr. Roman!

[@jayyydizzzle]

Thanks Roman!

[@sorbicsagor5080]

That one author really swung for the fences with things like pretending a snakes default is to bite. When clearing land most snakes will outpace the area humans are currently clearing and when stumbled upon won't usually bite.

[@factorybear5264]

Henry Ford was right! 100%

[@ClaudioBastosturbo]

Yes. RCR has Brazilian subscribers and i feel bad for cant share your videos with my friends we lose so much over the language barrier.

[@miahconnell23]

🤔 Gostaria de saber se a maioria das traduções sao feita por meio de software de traduzindo de voz hoje. meu nível de português não tá o melhor neste momento, mas eu adoro aprender. Eu me pergunto se eu poderia ser pagado pelo traduzindo itens como este documentário. eu adoro o idioma portuguesa: o som de brasileira falando é muito musical pro meus ouvidos, e brasilienses sendo amigáveis faz uma pessoa querer se comunicar com vocês mais 🇺🇸↔️🇧🇷🙌

[@tghidsgn]

Love these! Thanks, Roman :D

[@dalepeacock5323]

The title caught my eye, it reminded me of Jóhann Jóhannsson's album Fordlandia in 2008. Thank you for covering this .

[@johngregory5580]

Say what you will about KZbin but without it we would not get excellent pieces like this. Absolutely fascinating. Thank you.

[@GroundRat214]

This was fantastic. Keep it up guys!

[@nismofreak33]

i listened to this whilst wiring up a fuse box in friends racecar. thanks Roman!

[@lucitribal]

Excellent work, Roman

[@PershingDragoon]

Great Car Stories episode. Very enlightening. Thanks :D

[@ChatterboxFM]

Excellent RCR Story Roman! I legit did not know about Fordlandia.. I know this should be reversed, but the parallels between Ford and Musk/Bezos is way too eerie.

[@sharagan]

Thank you for this, Roman is the best storyteller...ever!

[@joey86bu1]

If you understood the composition of the Bolshevik revolution leadership and the penchant of certain peoples towards rebellion, then you would understand why Ford had some of the views that he had.

[@HarborLockRoad]

Amen bro, amen....

[@bobkern2]

Very nice Doc. The narration is smooth and perfectly paced- at least for an old guy like me. Is your narrator the actor Richard Thomas? Sounds a lot like him. So many narrators seem to rush through the script like they've been up snorting cocaine all night. And forget about those automated/text to voice narrations!

[@Mogipbob]

Violet left Henry since he didn't have a rubber ;) Jokes aside, awesome video!

[@Deschain-um7jz]

This is coming out in a very timely manner, considering the growing labor movement across the states right now.

[@eatingsteakisfun]

More like movement to unemployment.

[@Feasco]

@@eatingsteakisfun Better than the employer stealing what you earn

[@JohnSmith-wx9wj]

Oh yay, communism.

[@ileutur6863]

@@JohnSmith-wx9wj typical American. Calling basuc worker rights communism

[@JohnSmith-wx9wj]

@@ileutur6863 No, calling wage labor theft is communism. What rights should workers have over other people?

[@colinbrassington3192]

Thoroughly enjoyed this. I’d say please note of this sort of video...but the amount of time these stories must take to produce must be crazy.

[@kellydoolittle9595]

My husband and I just returned from Fordlandia. We both speak Portuguese so we were able to understand the town from the Brazilian perspective. Today there are around 1,700 people that live there. Unfortunately the land belongs to the Brazilian government even though the people buy and sell the houses there, though technically the government still owns them and the land. This is not an abandoned town but a historical town and actually in a beautiful location on the Tajajos River. The people there are friendly and welcomed us with open arms.

[@gregsoucie]

That was really well done. Learned a lot. Thanks for that.

[@paulocunhamartins]

This is very good content guys!

[@thestarlightalchemist7333]

Ladies and gentlemen: the real life Brave New World.

[@DV-uz2sh]

Solid quality content as always, never disappoints

[@northhankspin]

Another great documentary Roman.

[@waynevictory5208]

Ford paid the worker $5 and 8 hour work day . He was paying them way more for South American. And we still have wells in rural America. So they had housing, fresh water , septic tank and paid well. The thing is this was a harsh place. We had the same problem when we built the canal in Panama . He should have did the push and burn to get in . That what they do today. It much saver and gets the job done quickly.

[@badATchaos]

great video! Keep the docs coming!