Regarding most any project pursued, Walt Disney (knowing his audience) once said: “We have always tried to be guided by the basic idea that, in the discovery of knowledge, there is great entertainment as, conversely, in all good entertainment there is always some grain of wisdom, humanity, or enlightenment to be gained.” Many contemporary DISNEYLAND© Park adventures, attractions, experiences, or shows seem to focus on joy and inspiration, but don’t seem to embody the spirit of true-life discovery, wisdom, humanity, and enlightenment. However the story was far different during earlier formative years of DISNEYLAND©.

At Disneyland there is a “story behind the story” of every attraction and every attraction’s story is a living experience for the guest. Disneyland ride-through attractions or adventures have officially been defined as an “individual show, ride, or exhibit designed to produce an entertaining Guest experience. Disney attractions stir the imagination, enliven the senses, and provide the participants with positive, innovative entertainment, which is the essence of the DISNEYLAND Show.” For the Attraction Host, it is important to review the story of the attraction, tell the story, explain it, and create interest.

And so we present the story of Monsanto’s Adventure Thru Inner Space.

“Master Planning ‘A Science Feature from Tomorrowland’”

Early thumbnail sketches and other concept artwork for Disneyland seemed to be unencumbered by restrictions of budget, schedule or the laws of nature and physics. Guided by Walt, his artists engaged in “free-thinking,” as if implementing the modern “Blue Sky” Imagineering process to generate potential ideas. A fantastic example is the page of Herb Ryman’s “Blue Sky” notes and concept art for Tomorrowland, which alluded to the world of “Microcosmos.” While these notes were “voided,” Disneyland opened and the MONSANTO-sponsored Hall of Chemistry, gave Disneyland Guests a view of the building blocks around us.

“Concept Development”

Perhaps you have heard the following thoughts of Walt’s (as if they were “suspended in the timelessness of Inner Space”): “Disneyland is like a piece of clay : if there is something I don’t like, I’m not stuck with it. I can reshape and revamp.”Soon, a brand new adventure was being developed that offered guests a glimpse into the world of “our friend the atom” and beyond! According to the Disneyland Merchant's Association Meeting minutes (recorded January 25, 1956): “General Dynamics Board of Directors is meeting this week and we feel sure that they are going to approve the plan for a Mall of Science in Tomorrowland. This should be ready by next November.”

Not long after, a 1957 episode of the Disneyland anthology television series entitled “Our Friend the Atom” elucidated the benefits of nuclear power, starring notable physicist Heinz Haber. Not long after (as early as 1957), the Disneyland Executive Policy and Planning Committee and Walt’s team of artists were already hard at work recommending and planning the next big Monsanto-sponsored adventure. “The concept… was the result of a collaboration between Walt Disney and Dr. Charles Allen Thomas, of Monsanto. It was created and designed by the staff at WED Enterprises, Inc.,” according to “Information on Disneyland’s New Tomorrowland - A World On The Move” (a press release document released Summer of 1967).

One Associated Press article “Plan Trip Into Drop of Water, Liberty Square for Disneyland” (by Bob Thomas, published April 20, 1957) even briefly divulged “Big projects coming to Tomorrowland, including a protozoa ride that would take patrons into a drop of water as seen through a microscope.” A few months later, the Disneyland Report to Anaheim and Orange County (prepared before August of 1957) mentioned a future development called Science Land, planned for 1960. By the following month on September 28, 1958, Disneyland, Inc. job number 4063-508 (for a new Overall Master Plot Plan of Disneyland detailing general new area development) was in progress, a financial asset valued at $15,625. This Master Plot Plan included the next adventure to be presented by Monsanto.

Viable project Concepts (as seen above), were supported by a well-developed business case and built expectation. Some artwork created during 1958 exhibited the General Motors name above the Adventures in Science pavilion building, as the industrial brand met to discuss potential relationship with Disneyland as a Participant sponsor. A year later (by 1959), “Adventures in Science”… was seemingly “still in the ‘dreaming’ stages,” according to illustrations published within Walt Disney’s Guide to Disneyland [published for 1959]. The description was vague, only stating : “While actual dates of their installation cannot be promised, some of them may be here for you and your family to enjoy on your next visit to Disneyland.”

“Schematics and Design Development”

Plans progressed during the next few years. Eventually by 1966, WED Enterprises, Inc. had opened related projects (No. 0054) the “Magic Microscope” exhibit for Monsanto and (No. 0055) the Disney-designed OmniMover vehicle systems. The “Magic Microscope” exhibit project involved designing and constructing tracks and cars (adaptation of the “Omnimover Transportation System”) and a Preshow reception area & product display exit area.

“Feasibility”

By May 5, 1966, the WED Enterprises, Inc. Board had approved an allowance of $100,000.00 (withstanding a $115,000 write-off; approved by October of 1966) for project #0054 - the Monsanto Exhibit in Tomorrowland. According to the Summary of Project History, the scope of this was a “To design and construct an exhibit for the Monsanto Chemical Company. ‘Magic Microscope’ Adventure. ‘Tracks and Cars - adaptation of the Omnimover; Preshow reception area & product display exit area.” Construction was to be completed on June 6, 1967.

By May 25, 1966, a Total Cost Allowance of $100,000 was allocated to the Magic Microscope project (No. 0054). By October 1, 1966, a Total Cost Write Off of $115,000 (Facility, $12,000; Show $103,000) had been approved for the Magic Microscope. It was estimated that the “Magic Microscope” exhibit would be completed by June 1, 1967. The “Omnimover” Transportation System (No. 0055) was also being developed at WED. By July 14, 1966, a Total Cost Allowance of the Ride was allocated, at $125,000. On October 6, 1966, $83,000 and $81,000 was allocated toward the budget cost.

Internal materials described the “Monsanto Exhibit - A dark ride exhibit that will be both exciting and educational to the guest.”

During this time Walt visited the Park. “55er” Joyce Belanger recalled seeing Walt “just before he went to the hospital for the last time. He was standing, watching the attractions… almost like he knew he'd never see them again.”

“Design and Implementation - Without Walt Disney”

Facility Design & Engineering had begun.

Internal materials published in 1966 mentioned: “With four major new attractions nearing completion for summer, 1966, openings at Disneyland, Walt and his staff af WED are looking toward 1967 - 1968.“ However, the unexpected happened a few months later. Many Disney personnel who were present, remember the tragedy that occurred on Thursday, December 15, 1966, at 9:35 a.m., when their brother, their friend, and leader, Walt Disney died. Soon after, Roy O. Disney, President and Chairman of the Board of Walt Disney Productions addressed the staff with an official statement, in which it was conveyed:

“Walt Disney spent his entire life and almost every waking hour in the creative planning of…Disneyland… and the other diversified activities that have carried his name through the years. Around him Walt Disney gathered the kind of creative people who understood his ways were always unique and he built a unique organization. A team of creative people that he was justifiably proud of… Many have been with us for over thirty years. They take great pride in the organization which we helped to build. Only through the talent, labor ad dedication of this staff could any Disney project get off the ground…

Much of Walt Disney’s energies had been directed to preparing for this day. It was Walt’s wish that when the time came he would have built an organization with the creative talents to carry on as he established and directed it through the years. Today this organization has been built and we will carry out this wish.

Walt Disney’s preparation for the future has a solid, creative foundation. All of the plans for the future that Walt had begun… the expansion of Disneyland… will continue to move ahead.”

And so not even a week after the passing of a friend and leader, Walt Disney, the WED Enterprises, Inc. Board of Directors met for a special meeting agenda on December 19, 1966. There, the fourth subject involved advising “the Board on the status of the… Monsanto contracts.”

“You Are About To Explore The Realm of The Molecule And The Atom’”

Soon after, “men with dreams (both X. Atencio and George McGinnis) were furthering what nature” (and Walt) first began, designing and visually developing what would become a focal point of the show - a giant microscope (attributed to George)! Disneyland schematics (e.g. the c.1967 WED Imagineering Plot Plan, pictured below) came to officially label the would-be 21,733-square foot attraction as Monsanto’s Magic Microscope. However, the official working name of the attraction would become “Adventure Thru Inner Space.” The idea was, after passengers boarded Atomobiles, they would steadily shrink, en route for a thrilling journey through the dark reaches of the Mighty Microscope!

Dimensional Design and models have always played an important role in development. It’s much easier for people to visualize a concept in three dimensions. A model maker is probably the first to take a concept and make it real. Models are also used in presentations, to sell the idea of the attraction. A model is a time-saver because construction problems can be worked out ahead of time. A finished model is also a useful reference at the construction site.

During 1966, Ray Aragon and Xavier Atencio created show scene concepts for the staging, or the basically presenting the scenes, or actions.

“The OmniMover Ride System”

Obviously, the fastest way to move people over the extended areas of Disneyland is with moving vehicles. Today, Walt Disney Imagineering designs and fabricates ride tracks and guide systems, electronic ride control system, and ride vehicles like cars, cages, boats, locomotives, gondolas, and clam shell pods. This design and fabrication process includes related sculpting, tooling, and plastics.

In Adventure Thru InnerSpace, guests would be transported through the use of the technologically innovative OmniMover Ride System! The Omnimover was a vehicle whose seat could be turned to direct the passenger's attention while continuously moving through an attraction. This was not the first mention (or, use) of the OmniMover at Disneyland Park, as you may recollect that early descriptions of Tomorrowland (published within what has been labelled as “the Disneyland Prospectus”) mentioned moving sidewalks as part of this vision of the future of 1987. Disneyland audiences would only need to wait a few years (until 1957) to see this realization in the Stephens Adamson Speedramp OmniMover System at the Tomorrowland Monorail Station. That particular OmniMover was then utilized to transport Guests to the elevated Tomorrowland Monorail Platform.

And so by October of 1966, WED Enterprises, Inc. had opened Project Number 0055-003 for the “Omnimover transportation system.” The ride had an allowance of $125,000. By that time, the design, equipment, and general requirements of the project were calculated at a Total Actual Cost of $182,016, and after write-offs of $83,399 and $80,799, a Cost of $17,838. Now (two years before the doors of the Haunted Mansion would creak open, and 15 years before Spaceship Earth began to send time travelers on a 40,000 year journey), Adventure Thru Inner Space would become the first attraction to employ the efficient Omnimover Ride System (a WEDway Transportation System) to move guests for 6 minutes and 6 seconds, atop the 681-foot-long guideway through its very own show scenes!

“Load/Unload Guest Conveyance”

Today at Walt Disney Imagineering, “Load/Unload Guest Conveyance” encompasses the design and production of pneumatic tube systems, conveyors, elevators, moving stairs/ramps/ walks, etc. used for guest load/unload associated with a specific ride.

In the development of Adventure Thru InnerSpace, each of the individual 123 Atomobile units (with a two-and-one-half passenger capacity) were “pre-programmed to rotate up to 360 degrees to point the vehicle in various directions, thereby drawing attention to special points of interest in the show. Atomobiles move through the attraction without stopping, at a capacity of up to 3,275 guests per hour. Guests step from a turntable platform which revolves in sync with the smoothly moving cars,” according to “Information on Disneyland’s New Tomorrowland - A World On The Move” (a press release document released Summer of 1967). The Turntable System relied on two pairs of 8.5 horsepower General Electric motors to achieve this 51 second total rotation, from both the Load Area and Unload Area.

During the first six months of 1967, the Atomobile transportation system was still being continuously developed, fabricated, and tested. This was quite a task, as (aforementioned) there were a total of 123 Atomobiles, according to “Monsanto Trivia Pages.”

“Audio-Animatronics, Animation, and Special Effects”

Walt Disney once commented about how “the animated cartoon can set forth anything from world in evolution to the whirl of electrons invisible to human eyes.” Proving this was the visual nature of the ride (and each backdrop color and every bit of styling) which owed itself to Studio artists. Notable among these were Legendary set designer and background artist Claude Coats, as well as master WED Inc. visual effects artist Yale Gracey, and also Francis Xavier Atencio in some capacity.

While there were no Animated or Non-Animated Figures, the adventure featured numerous animated props brought to life with Audio-Animatronics® - the Disney-designed system that combines sound, mechanics and electronics for three-dimensional animation. All of this aforementioned artistry was being accomplished by the electrical mechanical technicians of MAPO, Inc. (a subsidiary division of WED Enterprises, Inc.), then located at 1432 Grand Avenue in Glendale, California.

During the first six months of 1967, the show’s animated and non-animated props and other special effects, devices, and illusions were still being “illusioneered.”

“Air Conditioning”

Where attractions are not air-conditioned in “nature's own design” (which can get a bit uncomfortable), Disneyland air-conditions them to make them more comfortable. On a hot day, the guest may extend his stay, since he has many places to get in and cool off. It was also important that Show Areas were dust-free. Air-conditioning controlled dust, and a practical mechanical application of the technology was essential in the attraction where projection equipment and film was used.

“Audio Production”

According to “THE DISNEY THEME SHOW - an introduction to the art of Disney outdoor entertainment”: “Important are the sounds which permeate the scene, for without them, the theme show is a silent movie . . . but with them it is a symphony of music, effects, and natural sounds that the finest stereo system in the world can't duplicate.” And so Walt Disney Imagineers began composing, recording, editing and producing voice and music media.

Music, as a basic ingredient of showman-ship, covers the Park. On May 31, 1967, WED Musical Director Buddy Baker (along with 45 musicians) recorded about 47 pieces of music. As a sidelight, the work of Buddy Baker was known for his method of composition based on a five scale theory rather than traditional major and minor scales. Previously (for 28 years) Buddy Baker had contributed to 28 films and 150 television features.

The Sherman Brothers created an original show song that would be heard throughout the Pre-Show and Post-Show Loading Areas, entitled Miracles from Molecules.

Narration voice-over by Paul Frees was recorded in addition to some minor “Traffic Control” spiel voice-over work by Pete Renaday. This was piped through the 3 speakers installed on each of the individual 123 Atomobile units (for a total of 369 speakers).

Next, Imagineers technically developed and produced tapes, records, disks, etc. for audio systems. These systems included audio hardware that was designed, fabricated and installed - amplifiers, speakers, tape decks, etc. for the show audio systems.

“Grand Opening”

American company Monsanto had been a headliner with the Disneyland show since opening day, July 17, 1955. Guests of the friendly stage of Disneyland would thrill to Monsanto's Hall of Chemistry and Monsanto's House of the Future.

Monsanto’s Adventure Thru Inner Space opened August 5th, 1967, one of eight new attractions which supported the Disneyland Show and carried total Park investment to $95 million. “At the time of New Tomorrowland’s opening, John Gillis, Vice President of Monsanto, said that Disneyland had become an important part of an overall identity program to augment Monsanto’s worldwide image,” according to “A Report To Disneyland Lessees, Summer ‘68.” “Perhaps the entire halo that surrounds the whole world of Walt Disney is what appealed to us,” Gillis said. “We like people to think of us as being first rate in every sense, and we think that the association with Disney is a good showplace for us. We attract people here from all over the world. This operation has a practical value to us in becoming able to entertain our important customers, suppliers, friends and their families when they come here, and all of them seem to come sooner or later.”

Monsanto’s Adventures thru Inner Space (housed inside) was one of the first Tomorrowland attractions to greet guests along the southern side of the entrance! Beyond the (40-foot-high and 44 foot-long) sculptured metallic surfaces “symbolizing the world of tomorrow”, was “a new 21,733-square foot building at the entrance to the all-new Tomorrowland area”.

The PeopleMovers headed thru the Monsanto’s Adventure Thru Inner Space Show Building, granting passengers a view of the “Mighty Microscope”, as well as the miniaturization and magnification processes that occurred.

Before we head inside, we must make an honorable mention about the designer of the Show Building’s Architectural Facade.

"From fairytale castles to extraordinary buildings", the settings and stages of Disneyland and Disney Parks are brought to life in part, due to their "architecture with a plot", as expressed by Beth Dunlop, Author of "Building a Dream: The Art of Disney Architecture".

“Disneyland is unique in that some of the world's foremost creative artists and architects control all design at Disneyland.“ At least one early concept drawing (once in possession of Stan Jolley) created for Tomorrowland, was perhaps inspiration for Mitsuo’s Sculptured Murals more-than-a-decade later. The elevation featured details describing a “Metallic Screen Mural” extending “approximately 16” out from” one exhibit hall wall, consisting of “fused colored plastic applied detail.” Another WED, Inc. publication “Information on Disneyland’s New Tomorrowland - A World on the Move” elaborates: “On either side of the entrance to Tomorrowland are two sculptured reflective surfaces that face guests entering this new land in the Magic Kingdom. For two major pavilions, metallic facades, in the form of sculptured murals symbolize the world of tomorrow in an abstract design. Each mural is 40 feet high by 44 feet long.”

One source describes the inspiration behind Tomorrowland’s most iconic fountains of the late 1960’s. “Forefront of each reflective mural [which ‘symbolizes the world of tomorrow’] is a water fountain composed of several seemingly suspended abstract forms that symbolize inner and outer space (15 feet at highest points),” according to “Information On Disneyland’s New Tomorrowland - A World On The Move” (a “New Tomorrowland” press release document, released 1967). You too may have paused “for reflection” (and a quick photograph), upon seeing these “Sparkling Water Fountains” at the Entrance to Tomorrowland!

Once realized, Tomorrowland’s landscape has often been accentuated by its water features (like the Guest-activated faucets and valves of the “fun” Crane Plumbing Company’s Bathroom of Tomorrow exhibit, the serene Alpine Gardens in the shadow of the Mighty Matterhorn’s cascading waterfalls and Glacial Pools, or the Cosmic Waves of the massive churning six-ton Kugel Fountain)! During the late 1970s, another unique type of futuristic fountain marked the exhibits and attractions at Tomorrowland’s Entryway (including the facade of Adventure Thru Innerspace)!

Though these fountains are highly recognizable and memorable, what is often not mentioned, is the name of the brilliant Japanese-American artist that created these fountains - Mitsuo Natsume! Before this timeless Disneyland contribution, Mitsuo made many contributions to other memorable projects. Mitsuo worked on the Ford Magic Skyway model for the Ford Pavilion of the 1964 New York World's Fair. As for the New Tomorrowland of 1967, Mitsuo also prepared a concept model of the exterior of Space Mountain,as well as a model of Flight to the Moon.

But perhaps his greatest artistic contributions toward the Park, were the facades, WEDway PeopleMover support structure, and “bench design that doubled as a raised planter bed”. This would effect a wide, clear, and uncluttered feel to Tomorrowland’s entryway and paths!

According to his son, “One of the last projects he worked on at WED was Thunder Mesa. The ride had a runaway train as its theme. The idea was later re-born as Big Thunder Mountain. Unlike Mits' Thunder Mesa model, a copy of the Big Thunder Mountain model exists in the Frontier Tower Lobby at the Disneyland Hotel.” You can read more about Mitsuo HERE.

The Mitsuo facade and fountain served as planters during another era. The works were still popular background elements for Guest’s commemorative photos in Tomorrowland.

“Pre-Show”

Disneyland queue lines (or “Audience Waiting Areas”) are designed as part of the attraction to make the guests' time in line as comfortable as possible. As we enter the Pre-Show and move through the queue in the lobby, we note the impressive 12 foot-high and 37 foot-long Mighty Microscope, through which 40 miniature Automobile cars make their way through the aperture, and into Inner Space. Much like the “wienie” beyond the Central Plaza Hub at the end of Main Street, the giant microscope has been described as “the marquee or primary focal point inside the Monsanto pavilion in Disneyland.”

According to one “Monsanto’s Magic Microscope” prospectus (revised September 15, 1966): “Strategically located display pods will show the molecular structure of various Monsanto man-made fabrics in the room. Each display pod will be a reminder to the visitors that they are about to be shrunk beyond the size of a molecule.”

“Act 1 - The Journey Into A Snowflake”

“Welcome to an Adventure Thru Inner Space…Molecule, Atom, Nucleus, Electron - building blocks of our daily lives. Welcome to the world of inner space! You are about to explore the realm of the molecule of the atom…you will see that all ‘solid’ matter is really porous - - even the ice crystal…You will see that the ice crystals in a snowflake are composed of millions of water molecules…You will enter the microcosmic ‘solar system’ - an atom through a shower of electrons…Imagine that you are shrinking beyond the smallness of an atom - the smallest building block of matter.”

“An unusual experience begins in the pre-show area at the moment Disneyland's guests enter the Monsanto Pavilion. To the strains of the Monsanto theme song, ‘Miracles from Molecules,’ guests will proceed toward a Mighty Microscope, the primary focal point of the attraction… On a walk-way of Monsanto product they move past a huge electronically annotated control board that will track their progress through various phases on their journey into the vastness of inner space found within a tiny fragment of a snowflake. Monsanto's guests will board one in an endless chain of ATOMOBILES from a platform that rotates at the exact speed as the approaching vehicles and proceed into the eye-piece of the mighty microscope.“

According to one prospectus: “To the people waiting to board, it appears that the atomobiles are actually becoming smaller as they proceed along a translucent section of the tube. A beam of light from the 'objective-lens' end of the giant microscope pierces a transparèt sphere containg a swirling snow storm, creating the illusion the the Atomobiles have actually been reduced to the size of a snow flake.” Another publication describes how the “entrance to Monsanto’s adventure is the Mighty Microscope - 37 feet long, 12 feet high - which ‘miniaturizes’ guests. Those waiting to board the line of Atomobiles which will carry them into the microscope can see inner space travelers apparently shrinking as they move through a translucent section of the microscope. As guests approach the boarding area, their trip is plotted on a massive, 33-foot long by 16-foot high electronic tracking board in a snowflake pattern, which covers an entire wall in front of the microscope. The snowflake, one of nature’s most beautiful and scientific creations, was chosen as the subject for examination of the world of molecules and atoms,” according to “Information on Disneyland’s New Tomorrowland - A World On The Move” (a press release document released Summer of 1967).

No Flash Photography was allowed inside the attraction.

“A secondary marquee, a huge electrically annotated control chart will show the tracking of the Atomobiles through each phase of their journey into the vastness of inner space. Here the off-stage volces of the tracking crew will be heard, speaking in their typical technical jargon.”

The voices of Traffic Control are heard “as they establish contact with Atomobiles penetrating into the vastness of inner space”: “All phases lower resolvable separation as Atomobiles proceed through through crystalline stage”…”Compensate shrinking factor”…”Phase yellow : hue angle increased to 85 degrees, approaching practical limit”… “Phase yellow, hold with 90 degrees and stand by to convert to immersion fluids.”

“To the people waiting to board, it appears that the Atomobiles are actually becoming smaller as they proceed along a translucent section of the tube.”

“A pulsing beam of light from the ‘objective-lens’ end of the Mighty Microscope pierces a transparent sphere containing a swirling snow storm, creating the illusion that the Atomobiles have actually been reduced to the scale of a snowflake.”

“Act 2 - The Universe of the Molecule”

The thought waves of the first traveller resonate from speakers behind us :

“You will see that all solid matter is really porous - even the ice crystal.”

“From this tiny viewpoint, I can see that nothing is solid, no matter how it appears. And still, I continue to shrink.”

“You will see that the ice crystals in a snowflake are composed of millions of water molecules.”

Soon “The towering walls of solid ice take on a porous character and the ATOMOBILES proceed into an enormous, shimmering, almost forbidding labyrinth.” Beyond, “the ATOMOBILES proceed into total darkness. A certain rotation of the vehicles and an undulation of the track would simulate a floating sensation.”

“Imagine that you are shrinking beyond the smallness of an atom - the smallest building block of matter.” Here, the Nucleus “resembles a sun.”

“Act 3 - The Vastness of Inner Space”

The continuous line of Atomobiles moves through “A world of Inner Space without an end.”

“Guests Return to the ‘Bigger World’…”

“The reverberated voices of the tracking crew interrupt the narrative with a note of urgency. Tracking Crew (reverberated): ‘Snow Flake melting - stand by for re-entry.’ The shadowy form of a huge Instrument can be seen through the bubble and water effects. As the ATOMOBILES pass beneath it they see a huge animated eye looking down at them.”

“Act 4 - The Return to Normal”

Adventure Through Inner Space involved Guests in a story-one in which they could participate.

For about the first five years of operation (by the summer of 1972), Adventure Thru Inner Space presented by Monsanto operated as a Free Shows and Exhibits at Disneyland! Sometime in late 1972, the attraction began to enter the tiered coupon system - at a “C” coupon status.

Count Worksheets were printed forms used to record turnstile readings and courtesy admissions. During 1972, that Monsanto (and their representative Monsanto Exhibit Manager Carolyn Olsen) welcomed and greeted the honored 25 millionth visitor (9-year-old Heather and the Lorne Walsh Family) aboard the Adventure Thru Inner Space!

“Post Show”

“Now men with dreams are furthering, what nature first began, making modern miracles, from molecules, for man.” Much like the small displays of Monsanto’s Hall of Chemistry, this fact was elaborated on through the spectacular spectacular “Fountain of Fashion” (and the Glycerin Fountain’s 720 strands total ; pictured right) and 24 small glass-encased dioramas featured in alcoves in the walls of the lobby! These displays featured just a few of the more than 2,000 Monsanto-manufactured products, and were originally rotated “continuously to create a Rainbow of Products”, according to “Information on Disneyland’s New Tomorrowland - A World On The Move” (a press release document released Summer of 1967).

Adventure Thru Inner Space had a post show - an area passed through by exiting guests that provides information in addition to the main show. One 1967 “New Tomorrowland” Press Release document described this room as “a handsome room displaying Monsanto products, and some products of its many customers.”

“Five animated cartoon posters show situations representing five of the major markets Monsanto serves - agriculture, home furnishings, apparel, transportation, and construction”, according to “Information on Disneyland’s New Tomorrowland - A World On The Move” (a press release document released Summer of 1967).

“Visitors of the attraction hear a catchy new tune composed especially for the show. It is entitled Miracles From Molecules, and is heard interspersed with the voices of the invisible tracking crew detailing the trip, and again in the post-show area”, according to “Information on Disneyland’s New Tomorrowland - A World On The Move” (a press release document released Summer of 1967).

Pictured Above : Monsanto World Clock Post Card

And where were some of these wonders dreamt up and created? Monsanto’s World Clock (not to be confused with the antiquated Timex Clock of the World, in the old Tomorrowland entryway hub), was “an unusual and quick way to check the time around the world” and view “Monsanto’s worldwide locations”. This display was very similar in nature, to one found in the old Monsanto Hall of Chemistry (which impressed upon Guests, the corporate sponsor’s growth during the early-to-mid-1960s). Now, the “12-foot-high world-wide clock…shows locations of 90 Monsanto facilities around the globe. The illuminated instrument depicts the world in an extended North Polar view and shows the time of day for any given point on the world map,” according to “Information on Disneyland’s New Tomorrowland - A World On The Move” (a press release document released Summer of 1967).

Monsanto was “on the move,” and in addition to all this, by 1969, the Monsanto Corp. had “signed a development contract for an exhibit in Tomorrowland of Disney World Magic Kingdom,” according to one prospectus (published by Sales Meetings/Bill Publications, c. July, 1969).

Who doesn’t love a bit of Disneyland-related trivia? The facts and figures contained in “Monsanto Trivia Pages” may have been less fascinating to contemporary Disneyland audiences, but especially useful to Disneyland Maintenance Staff.

“Custodial Maintained the Magic”

As the end of the day drew near, the Guest control lines grew progressively smaller. The lines were then maintained as they would “go down” and were thoroughly swept when empty. In many cases, this required special equipment which would be issued by the Lead. Many attractions required a walk-through after closing for the removal of debris. At this time any defects were noted.

In maintaining the magic after the Park closes, the staff take over with brooms, mops and dustcloths. Special attention was given to marred walls, posts and furniture. Items with marks that didn’t wash off were replaced or repainted. The Floors were waxed and buffed to preserve their beauty and protect them from the thousands of feet that scuffle over them each day.

“Maintenance”

If it weren't for “Maintenance, the beautiful magic of Disneyland would soon be lost. Disneyland's fresh, unique beauty would suffer. To maintain any show played on 70 acres is a big task. But to maintain a unique WED-created one-of-a-kind show requires a bit of magic in order to maintain the magic.”

Refurbishment work has much impact on the Guest experience. If the sound and animation on an attraction was not working right...or are not coordinated...the show was not up to Disney standards. The guest was being shortchanged. Refurbishment work has much impact on the Guest experience.

Maintenance of equipment was the responsibility of the Maintenance Division, and the working foreman was responsible for regularly checking to make certain everything was working O.K. The foreman would notify the supervisor and indicate any problems on the Daily Maintenance Report. Disneyland was the only place in the world where Academy Award winning designers checked every detail of every foot of its huge stage. The working foreman would find out how the stage settings were designed. Then, it was part of his duty to check to make sure that they remain that way.

“Rehabilitation”

Since the beginning, the Four Keys of the DISNEYLAND Show (operating priorities in presenting the DISNEYLAND Show) have been present - Courtesy, Safety, Show, and Efficiency. Walt Disney Imagineers are always seeking out new magical opportunities to increase the efficiency, safety, and show quality of Disneyland adventures! In the present, the “WED word” occasionally used to refer to this process is “rehab” - the maintenance rehabilitation or overhaul of an existing attraction.

Knowledge of lesser-known and forgotten “rehabs” (repairs and refurbishments) to the Tomorrowland South Exhibit Hall have been preserved through publications like Disneyland LINE Employee Newsletter or Disneyland Backstage magazine. These sorts of repairs would occur frequently, but downtimes during holidays and special events were avoided.

Safety is a major concern of Engineering. Every year they would make a complete test and inspection of all structural parts of Disneyland. And since Guests would look to Disneyland for their safety the department team was continuously designing new guest and personnel safety devices.

“I Have An Idea Program”

Further participation in the Disneyland Show was encouraged through our version of the ‘employee suggestion’ concept known as the ‘I Have An Idea’ program. Through this system, Cast Members invited to become an ‘Imagineer’ at Disneyland... to put their creative thinking and imagination to work... helping them to improve the Disneyland show. No one knows their role or how to improve the show better than Cast Members and the "I Have An Idea” program was established to help bring the cast’s suggestions to the appropriate people for consideration, involving individual recognition and incentives.

Many ingenious ideas pertaining to Adventure Thru Inner Space were developed through the staff of Disneyland Shops (The Maintenance Division at Disneyland), like the Cycle Shop. For instance, Leigh Van Driessche proposed the idea to “install a U-shaped clamp over each wheel and through the track of the Omnimover Systems” (for both the Adventure Thru Inner Space and Haunted Mansion attractions).

Then there were the six sliding glass doors that would occasionally jump off their tracks (if you pushed them into the storage area), and members of the Mill’s Carpenter Crew were often called to remedy the situation. However, the solution to this problem would not occur until a suggestion was made by Hans Bekerthy (of the Disneyland Mill) through Disneyland’s Creative Idea Program, more than a decade after Monsanto’s Hall of Chemistry was replaced by Monsanto’s Adventure Thru Innerspace.

In July of 1969 “Preview of Disney World” announced: “Monsanto Corp. which has the ‘Adventure Thru Inner Space’ attraction at Disneyland, has signed a development contract for an exhibit in Tomorrowland of Disney World Magic Kingdom.”

By July 16th, 1973, Monsanto had welcomed its 30 millionth visitor. Four years later (in 1977), Terry King (Monsanto’s Adventure Thru Inner Space “Working Leader”) and Mickey Mouse welcomed the attraction’s 100-millionth guest - Anders Frederiksson of Sweden, “who was on his first trip to Disneyland,” according to Disneyland LINE (published for July 28, 1977). After this momentous event (and after 22 years), Disneyland Participant Affairs and Participant Monsanto could not negotiate a cooperative agreement to sustain their ongoing relationship. So that year, the relationship between the Monsanto Company textile firm and Disneyland ceased, and their status as a Participant sponsor of Disneyland attractions and free shows ended on Friday, September 30th, 1977. The corporation had sponsored three separate attractions since 1955, but it was now the end of an era for Disneyland and Monsanto.

A final luncheon at Club 33 was held in honor of the members of the Disneyland Participant. Disneyland LINE magazine (published September 29, 1977) even preserved sentiments of “Monsanto’s Resident Manager Carolyn Olsen, who’s been at the park for 10 1/2 years, [and] says that ‘It’s been a wonderful experience in Disneyland, mixed with pixie dust and warm and friendly people. There’s no place like it, and that’s too bad. The outer world could use some of the atmosphere we find here in Disneyland.” Though the Monsanto Corporation was departing from Disneyland, it still continued a Participant at Walt Disney World in Florida, where it sponsored the Circle Vision attraction “America the Beautiful.” ’Monsanto also began to develop new materials that would be “introduced and employed in the Contemporary and Polynesian resorts,” according to the “Preview Edition of Walt Disney World - ‘The Vacation Kingdom of the World.’”

The Adventure Through Inner Space remained for a time at Disneyland Park, as part of Tomorrowland. However, related corporate visual elements (like Monsanto logos) were removed and the Monsanto Mighty Microscope’s logo was replaced with a sign that simply read “The Mighty Microscope.” The gift shop, Post Show displays, and posters reflected these changes. Lastly, the figures wearing Monsanto synthetic-fiber clothing inside the Fountain of Fashion were replaced with a giant snowflake.

A few years later (and after the last Atomobile was de-miniaturized) in 1985, the miraculous world of Innerspace was removed for new Tomorrowland developments. Let’s take one last look back!

The former Walt Disney Imagineering Principal Creative Executive Marty Sklar believed that the small details like these make the story appealing. An example of such details were those forty Atomobiles (with their miniature passengers) traveling through Monsanto’s Mighty Microscope. Perhaps you will recall seeing other Atomobiles, frozen within the Monsanto “Display Pods” along the queue. Before all of those were produced, mock-up models of the vehicle’s exterior (and “seating bucks” of the vehicle’s interior) were Imagineered. These were designed and fabricated by processes of Sculpting, Tooling and Plastics.

Each of the full-scale Atomobiles could comfortably seat “two-and-one-half passengers”, according to “Information on Disneyland’s New Tomorrowland - A World On The Move” (a press release document released Summer of 1967).

This was Monsanto! Rather, those empty colorful alcoves previously showcased Monsanto products in miniature animated vignettes.

After every last vestige of the microscopic adventure was removed, the attraction building was stripped down to the foundation before work could begin on a new thrilling experience.

The omnimover would feed Atomobiles into their adventure through the Mighty Microscope!

This foreman is standing where guests used to file through the queue, for their opportunity to board an Atomobile!

“A World of Inner Space Without an End”

You may recall the voice of the narrator acknowledging that “these tiny bits of snowflake crystal tower above me – like an enormous wall of ice.” The Mighty Microscope once offered a view of the “fragile” towering snowflake, on a screen, even before miniaturization! Now, we take a final look at that Snowflake on the 33-foot long and 16-foot high electronic Tracking Board, before demolition in 1985.

While the new magical opportunity of an “out of this world” experience would land in this Show Building, “a never-ending search is on” for remnants of the unforgettable adventure. For instance, a few elements of the Mighty Microscope would be retained within the Star Tours Show Building. According to Dave Smith (previous Chief Archivist Emeritus of the Walt Disney Archives), “the Mighty Microscope from Adventure Through Inner Space [can be seen] in the Star Tours Pre-Show film.” [Disney Facts Revealed by Dave Smith, 2016] Before exiting the Death Star in Star Tours : The Adventures Continue, the Mighty Microscope makes a cameo appearance.

At Disneyland, signs were themed to support the stories with respectful graphics, colors, fonts, terminology, the overall design of sign, materials (wood, metal, banners, etc.), and verbiage used on the signage. Though the realm of darting electrons has disappeared from the “Tomorrowland-scape,” one local shop pays homage to the one-time adventure in its own “little” way.

Please direct even one of your giant eyes in the direction of Tomorrow Landing, where you’ll observe this colorful group of molecules atop one merchandise display!

Now, this doesn’t appear to be a “hydrogen atom bonded to a single oxygen atom” or “the nucleus of the atom.” However, this display is an ever-present reminder of those “men (and women) who dare and plan, making modern miracles from molecules.” I am (of course) referring to those Walt Disney Imagineers who continue to dream up “miracles from molecules around us everywhere” at Disneyland!

It’s been said that the "little things" can make a big impression! Doubly impressing this fact - about 420 miles away, “The journey into a snowflake” has been “suspended in timelessness” within Gallery Nine of the Walt Disney family Museum in San Francisco.