the fact that someone got a really shitty cut of their robbery money, so they turned in themselves and their friends out of spite is actually the funniest thing to come of this
Happens more than you think. I've seen YT videos where professional criminals say something along the lines of "the smaller the team, the better. The more people, the more likely it is someone is dissatisfied with anything and will sell you out."
3:02 wait... Walt Disney had partners working with him named Woody, a cowboy from texas and Buzz, a veteran mechanics engineer. I wonder why this sounds so familiar
True story: during WW2 when German saboteurs were trying to infiltrate American lines in US army uniforms, the American sentries would ask them to "recite the third verse of the American national anthem". If they got it RIGHT, the sentries knew they must be German spies, because almost no actual Americans know the third verse.
AdmiralBonetoPick I know the third verse of the anthem. And I can sing it. (Or at least I’m sure this is the right one) I think the line is “by the dawn’s early light” Edit: I’m wrong. It’s “Who’s broad stripes and bright stars, thru the perilous fight!” Or is it “O’er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming?” (I had the google the lines) Also today I learned that I’ve gotten most of the lyrics wrong my entire life.
@@ravenpotter3 That's the third LINE. The third verse goes: And where is that band who so vauntingly swore That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion, A home and a country, should leave us no more? Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps' pollution. No refuge could save the hireling and slave From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave: And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave, O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave. And, as an American, I've literally never heard this spoken. I looked this shit up on Wikipedia.
Patriotism is not a fault. And it isn't exceptionslism, either. It's possible to be a patriotic Costa Rican, a patriotic French person, a patriotic Algerian... anyone can be patriotic.
@@Leatherargento But this isn't patriotism this is exceptionalism. Patriotism is loving your country, while trying to make it even better. Exceptionalism is blindly proclaiming your country is perfect despite the evidence. I never even implied that people other then Americans cannot be patriots. They can even be national exceptionalists. It has no impact on my actual post.
@@Leatherargentowhen did anyone say patriotism is a fault? Where did you get any of what you said? Your whole comment is out of place here. All they did was point out the irony of having a patriotic theme park where the rides are based on local tragedies.
This guy bluffed his way into making several multimillion dollar theme parks, while I can't even talk my way out of a ticket that legitimately was issued by mistake. Life is unfair.
It reminds me of the guy who bluffed his way into buying/being sold the New York Islanders. It's astonishing what some people are able to manage with bravado and the benefit of assumptions.
It was the times honestly you could of of gotten away with so much back then. My grandpa would tell me stories of loosing the cops on car chases back in the 40s
A lot of these trivia channels just pull up a wikipedia article and read it off verbatim while pretending they're clever & interesting. The little (and big) touches like this really set Defunctland apart in a class of it's own, production and authenticity-wise.
@@Deady.p I don't know if you're joking, but workers demanding fairer wages and working conditions should not be called communists by their monopoly owning founder and ceo
"Freedomland was the bedroom where Uncle Sam and Lady Liberty made Yankee Doodle Dandy." Is my favorite line from this one. I love your writing and presentation style.
To be fair, forcibly moving the Indian section and blaming the Irish for the Chicago Fire is the most authentic American experience you could possibly hope to emulate.
Never have I felt more insulted by a statement I completely agree with. (For the record, I am an American who was literally born on the fourth of July).
When people talk about how easy it was to get a job back in the day its because you could talk and lie your way into a job and there was no easy way to check.
@@RikoJAmado The thing is - privilege is on a scale, not an on/off switch. If your profile picture is you and you live in the US you are a white American - that makes you privileged. Even then, almost anyone who is an American is privileged over people in third world countries. Furthermore - you think, from what Incan tell, that it is easy to be born into high class status, but it is not. People in the 1% can’t live a normal life and pursue their dreams, love who they want, talk about their feelings, or be themselves. They often end up depressed and on prescription drugs that are just as bad, if not worse, than black market drugs. This isn’t an effort to shame you but an effort to ask you to realize that people from most walks of life suffer greatly for just having been born into true circumstances. It’s not fair, or logical, to take the rare exceptions of successful people and argue that they represent a large demographic of humans.
@@ProjectFlashlight612 It takes quite a while for people to find a job these days for various logical reasons; like the fact that big businesses have shut down so many of the small businesses that used to hire workers en masse because they were separated by the industry they were selling in. Hate to say it, but aside from being a jerk you’re also being illogical, which is worse. Try to have some sense and education. It’s a good start.
I don't know how familiar the rest of your audience is with Texas Hold 'Em, but I immediately recognized a bluff in the opening. Sure enough: it's foreshadowing the content of the episode. Nice touch.
"It's up for debate which is more embarrassing, that these people would ruin the reputation and life of an innocent woman to sell a few papers, or that it took three people to fabricate a story in which a cow kicks over a lantern." - Kevin Perjurer
The funny thing is that it has been speculated that the fire was started by meteors that blew up near the ground that also started a forest fire to the south that same day.
I grew up in The Bronx and used to sneak in to Freedomland with my future wife. The fencing by the Hutchinson River wasn't real good and we could get through it. They had really good entertainment. I remember hearing Louis Armstrong and Gerry Mulligan (separately). After the park went out of business we went in and stole lighting fixtures. I don't remember why. We were bad kids.
"Ok, hear me out here...911...it was horrible but could be entertaining." "....the hell is wrong with you?..." "...haha...I...uhh...I guess you don't wanna hear my Hitler Death Car Bumper cars?"
@@nathanaelrico3891 "They never have these problems at Apartheid Land down the road do they?" "Um, actually, yes they do." "It's not the government though is it?" "No, that's more of an international issue."
"God damn you! This is my circus!" Is something I thought I would never hear walt disney say also being my favorite and funniest quote from him it made me laugh so much I cried tears of joy
Oh _that’s nothing._ When the company was building _The Haunted Mansion,_ one of the head imagineers Rolly Crump was tasked with sending Walt concept art for the characters and portraits, etc. and the next morning Walt told him (I’m paraphrasing a little) “You son-of-a-bitch. I didn’t get one wink of sleep.”
“Guests would enter Freedomland as millions had: through New York” LOL this script is so amazing. Never knew I would laugh out loud so much while learning
“The Indian Village, originally in Old Chicago, was eventually moved to this area as well.” I was not expecting FreedomlandUSA to commit to that level of realism when it came to race relations.
Out of all this, I’m actually most surprised I have 4 subscriber. What the heck are they subscribed to?! I was verified by friends who worked for Google. I had no hand in the process and can’t help anyone else get verified.
I and my parents were among the first residents of Co-op City in early 1969. I'd heard for years that it was "built on the site of some sort of amusement park called 'Freedomland'"...but I was never able to find any information about it. I moved away from there in 1992...and it took almost 30 years for me to *finally* learn the story. Better late than never, I guess.
My Godmother, who lived in The Bronx took me to Freedomland at least 3 times. I still have fond memories of the Chicago fire attraction, the Wild West themed area and the stagecoach ride. Oh! And the cable car. I was a little scared at first, since I was only in first grade when Freedomland closed, but it became great fun.
"In fact, visitors could literally point the finger at O'Leary and her cow, as both were featured as walk around characters in the park" Dry wit and irony, Keven Perjurers' specialty. Also note how Freedomland seems to have a mild hard on for the great disasters of American History
If it had somehow lasted into the modern era, it would probably have a 9/11 Experience. And another decade from now, it might have the COVID Pandemic dark ride.
Most of the attractions were dated far enough back that the majority of people who remembered them first-hand wouldn't be going to theme parks. 9/11 is recent enough that some children and most of their parents would be taken aback. Vietnam might be a better parallel for something to be covered today, recent enough to be easily recognized but old enough that you could doctor it to be more palatable
@@KingHalbatorix I was only being tongue-in-cheek with those comments (Freedomland obviously didn't have a "Spanish Flu Experience"), but even so, 1906 was only 54 years before the park opened. Parents with young kids in the early '60s obviously wouldn't have had firsthand memories of the SF earthquake, but their parents and/or grandparents might have. (For instance, my mom's mom was born in 1923, so her parents would've had memories of life in 1906.) Likewise, the Vietnam War may be fading into the mists of time now, but there still seems to be enough disgruntled vets out there that a "doctored to make it palatable" Vietnam War dark ride would probably generate some backlash.
My dad told me he visited this place as a kid and when I learned of this episode, I watched it with him. He was pointing out all the attractions, reminiscing and telling me about the time he lost his mom in the park and he and his dad couldn't find her hours. It was a lot of fun hearing those stories, so thanks for the video!
@@manospondylus According to him, they had gotten to the gondola that ferries people from one end of the park to the other. Grandma had gotten on first, but it was only after she did that they all realized the ride was one way. So she, being prone to panicking, started walking back after she got off, not knowing that my dad and grandpa had gotten on the next car to meet up with her at the end. And it being a time before cellphones, it took a while for everyone to find each other.
"Freedomland was the bedroom where Uncle Sam and Lady Liberty made Yankee Doodle Dandy" made me burst out laughing for five minutes. If you're not proud of that line, you ought to be.
Ah, I've heard about this place. The failed Disneyland of the East. Freedomland USA, very American name. A salute to all theme parks but mostly Freedomland USA. The Bronx no longer has this but they bring the crowds in with the popular and famous Bronx Zoo. And the Joker stairs
Playing Infinite is actually the one of the reasons why I got so invested in Native American history - specifically Wounded Knee and the Battle of Little Bighorn. If anyone is interested in both sides of Little Bighorn (and subsequently Wounded Knee) I’d highly recommend the book _A Terrible Glory_ by James Donovan. It’s such a phenomenal read.
My dad worked at Freedom Land! He once told me an anecdote about all his friends who worked on the ferry or boat, all of whom bought and conspicuously displayed a paperback book popular that summer called "Ship of Fools." From what he said, everyone who worked there thought it was doomed from Day One.
Maybe if someone does decide to revive the project we may see what will happen. Also I do admit that another RUclipsr did say that the park could practically be built anywhere. Got any ideas on where.
I love how a joke among college students is that "We don't really need to graduate, employers don't actually ask for a copy of your diploma!" And CV Wood is the epitome of that.
And why write down past experiences when they never call and ask, and if they did they probably wouldn't get any response. The entire resume hiring system was archaic in paper form and even more stupid and difficult in the modern electronic world.
"The great Chicago fire was a disaster... today, it's spectacular entertainment!" Wonder what kind of stage show those ghouls would have created after Sept. 11.
@Flekk Bone Gnawer these people don't think that far out. Here and recent "now" is all there will ever be. As fucked as that sounds, more than a hundred years from now... The future generations won't have much of a connection. Just look at how some millennials and zoomers treat things just a few decades ago.
One of my earliest memories is of going to Freedomland. I never knew where it had been until seeing this video . Thank you. I was only 4 years old so the memories are just bits and pieces. I remember having a great time but the only ride I remember was terrifying (for a 4 year old). It was some sort of a fun house ride where walls would seem to fall down just as your funcar would pass. I am guessing it was the earthquake ride in the San Francisco section.
Yeah, that was the SF earthquake ride. I was a similar age, maybe 1-2 years older, buy my memories are still pretty sharp. My Godmother took me several times, and she lived in The Bronx. I always got a kick out of the Chicago fire, but I was scared to death of that cable car (but rode anyway). I discovered very early that I wasn't a Thrill Ride Guy.
Hey! I’m not sure if you remember me, but I emailed you ~two years ago asking for advice on a research paper about Disneyland’s effects on Anaheim’s economy/ infrastructure. You directed me towards looking through archives/ newspapers and that really helped kick my paper into the right direction; ended up getting a 98% on the final piece. I’m never early to your uploads, and seeing you made me realize that I never updated you on how it turned out. Anyways, loved your stuff back then and will continue to do so. It’s really exciting to see the production value increase for your work over time. And of course, thanks for helping me out!
@@axelpatrickb.pingol3228 Rapid urbanization and turning a rural town into one of the biggest vacation destinations in the world. However, that success eventually created conflict on whether what's good for Disneyland is actually good for Anaheim's residents.
@@nightflyer3242 My friends and I were talking about how residents currently have a reprieve from the fireworks, and how any residents moving there at this time might not grasp just how loud it will be once the park reopens.
"indian fighting days" you know someone's going to be sensitive, unbiased, and historically accurate when they define a period of time by what race of people you're supposed to imagine yourself physically attacking
Born and raised for over half my life in Queens and I’ve NEVER heard of Freedomland until today. This is one of the craziest rides your channel has taken me on.
I grew up in Jamaica, Queens in the 70s and 80s. lived out in far Rockaway before that when I was still in diapers. Never heard of Freedomland. Of course I know where a Co-op City is. But holy crap! I had no idea what it once was.
Grew up in Astoria in 50s/60s. Visited Freedomland once, was probably about 8 years old. Only thing I remember is Casa Loco. Later went to Lehman College where about half the student body lived in co-op city.
Robert Moses was the man who built the highways of New York City including the Belt Parkway, Cross Island Parkway, Long Island Expressway, Van Wyck Expressway, Grand Central Parkway, Brooklyn Queens Expressway, Gowanus Expressway, Cross Bronx Expressway, Major Deegan Expressway and more. He was a villain. He also ran the Triborough Bridge & Tunnel Authority, part of MTA.
He's more of a real-life villain than Eisner could ever hope to be-although depending on what comes of that new lawsuit against Disney alleging that they helped cover up Harvey Weinstein's crimes, Eisner's time in the hot seat might not be over.
Your editing and storytelling are so top notch. Feels like I’m watching professional Hollywood documentaries when I watch your channel. The way you set up the stories, introduce the characters, use metaphors, absolutely brilliant. Amazing work. You’re one of the best content creators on this platform
I vaguely remember my mom mentioning Freedomland, and I was confused at how they managed to fit a huge ass amusement park in the Bronx. Of course, I forget that the Bronx was a different place in the 60s. The fact that this park was so close to where I live is fascinating. Edit: The attractions in this park are wild. The fact that it failed so spectacularly seems almost like karma. Edit 2: My mom went to both the ‘64 Worlds Fair and Freedomland. But she remembers more about the Worlds Fair if that’s any indication of how interesting Freedomland was.
John Cantatore That’s a good point. I sometimes forget that fact because I grew up near the part that’s densely built up. So it was a good idea, but bad execution.
I also went to both. Actually liked Freedomland a bit better, because you didn't have to wait on long lines forever to get in to the best rides. And you got to do more, whereas at the Fair you mostly just looked at stuff. Although the "Small World" ride at the Fair was kinda great. I'm laughing at what people think of the Freedomland rides. They were really more like the way people go to haunted houses and stuff today. Most of us young kids didn't know there was a Chicago Fire or a San Francisco earthquake, and couldn't relate to it even if we did.
I remember going with my Dad when he transported the stage coaches on his flatbed truck. I was six years old. The place was all mud and lumber at the time.
I thought I was the only person who remembered Freedomland. I was there opening day, working for a radio station at the time. I remember that many attractions were not yet finished. Your footage makes it look a lot more interesting than in my memory. I do remember the 1964 Worlds Fair much better--- Same radio station, we had season passes! It was spectacular. It was like I saw many years later, when I finally got to Epcot.
As a Co-op City resident, this was great to watch. I grew up here and my mother always talked about visiting Freedomland when she was young before we moved here; sadly she's passed and her perspective is gone but has provided me with a lot of information that I'm glad to have.
This is fascinating! I wonder what would have happened if Michael Eisner ever researched the rise and fall of this Freedomland in preparation for Disney's America. Amazing video as always Defunctland team! Thank you for being the same great quality during this pandemic
"We have a limited operating season, so we need to get as many people through the gates-" "We'll only open on weekends." "But-" "WEEKENDS. ONLY." Galaxy-brain managing right there.
Me, a sheltered Brit: "Wow, I'd never heard of any of this stuff, it's fascinating... WAIT, he was the guy who bought London Bridge???" Hearing about that man shaped my idea of The American Way for a good chunk of my childhood. Amazing to get to hear more of his story.
@@mitchellschoenbrun I feel like tower bridge is more famous NOWADAYS, but certainly in the past, London Bridge was incredibly famous in its own right. It had tons of houses and shops on it, thousands of people lived and worked on it, so it was pretty much its own town, its own neighbourhood and community. But yeah these days, a lot of people (even fellow brits) get confused and think tower bridge is London Bridge.
@@duffman18 You are confusing eras here. London Bridge had houses and communities centuries ago in the 1600s. The London Bridge of the 20th century was basically an average bridge with a road and small pedestrian walkways on either side. Tower Bridge(which was basically opened at the start of 20th century) was already a famous landmark at that point.
@@FeedScrn They both good. They both bad. I like them both. My personal hero of life, mister D.N.A.'s - Dirk Gently's holistic detective agency was well made indeed. My favorite Netflix series. Umbrella academy pwns too. RUclips is youtube. It's great.
This is like a parody amusement park that would be in a Fallout game. Reminds me of the Familyland episode of American Dad. Excellent work as always from Big Kev.
Grew up in the Bronx and live here now. I was today days old when I learned about Freedomland USA, which once existed where Co-op City is today. Thanks for another excellent episode!
A USA shaped theme park with different sections that are themed based off states and regions actually sounds incredible. Would be cool to have something like that today.
Fun fact, my Grandfather worked at Freedomland as a performer. Pretty sure the Chicago Fire was one of the shows he performed in as one of the firemen. Sadly he is no longer with us, but my Dad has told me stories about him and Freedomland. Freedomland is such an obscure part of theme park history, so I am very thankful that you made an episode about it!
what i say: i like to learn about history on RUclips what i mean: i only care about the history of theme parks/rides that no longer exist and only from Defunctland
I went to Freedomland many times as a kid. My father was a musician working for CBS in New York and did a weekly Dixieland Jazz show broadcast for a time at Freedomland. I do remember the San Francisco Earthquake ride and Casa Loca, the tilted Mexican style house. My brothers and I loved Freedomland.
g baker Yeah! That’s a great idea they could wear them at the Democratic National Convention. And at the Republican Convention they can wear T shirts that say: Not my circus, Not my Monkeys.
"After a grueling journey on the 6 train I have finally reached it. Freedomland USA. And what a sight it truly is. The parking lot alone stretches out far to the horizon in all directions like the vast plains of the heartland. I can only hope that within these grounds I will be able to find my heart's greatest yearning, the promise of America herself: that these goddamn kids might shut up and let me sit on a bench in peace for just five fucking minutes." - Johnny Freedom, 1961
Man these are some of the best produced videos on RUclips. From the personalized intros, to the in depth information and well written script filled with clever little jokes, I always love the videos. So glad I stumbled upon this channel.
Production value or not you're an amazing storyteller. That opening line about them playing poker followed by the card sequence was genius. Getting your introduction out of the way while setting the scene and preparing us for the kind of story this was. Beautiful, creative and just fun. You do some amazing work.
My mother lived in the Bronx as a child. She remembers her family getting dressed up and heading out to Freedomland, but strangely remembers nothing about the park itself. However, she has vivid memories of the World's Fair. We joke that Walt used his TV show to hypnotize people into forgetting Freedomland. :D
I'm so happy to see someone digging deeper into Freedomland!!! As a proud Bronxite (hence my name), and lifelong patron of Bay Plaza (former cite of Freedomland), I'm excited to find that this story is being told. I've always heard of this place. This was where my father first saw the Boy Wonder perform. He would later be known as the legend, and national treasure, Stevie Wonder. In my childhood, the parking lot for K-Mart was sometimes the stage for carnivals and fairs. They haven't had any of those in nearly 20 years (at least to my knowledge). There are times I wish the Bronx could see something like this again, but alas Co-op City ain't going nowhere. Nevertheless, thank you for this!!
wait i'm sorry when you say bay plaza do you mean where the mall and amc theater are? omg??? edit: oh my god i just got to the part of the video IT'S CO-OP CITY?!?!
I grew up about 40 miles away, and remember fondly visits to Freedomland: mom and dad, even a school field trip. My favorites were the Chicago fire and the SF earthquake.
@@julietterodriguez6078 yup! Bay Plaza is the shopping center, and then there's The Mall at Bay Plaza, which is the indoor mall kinda at the end of Bay Plaza.
Given that we know Michael Eisner was present at the 1964 world's fair I'm now extremely curious if he was one of the folks who also went to Freedomland and this would later become an inspiration for Disney's America
@@nateman10 June 19th aka Juneteenth is a day when "something" was abolished (removed, destroyed), so, the irony is the opening date of the park already foreshadowed the closing of it
Yup. Amos and Andy were a problem and had to be erased. But a walkaround character of an Irish immigrant who actually did nothing wrong is fine. When any of us white people are defamed in some way, we're just meant to take it in the pooper.
@@UltimateThanos Your comment is utterly bizarre, as if Freedomland's designers weren't white, or as if anti-Irish sentiment was fueled by "anti-white" persons rather than WASPs.
@@UltimateThanos Your pfp, name, and comment are a perfect storm of social awkwardness and ignorant, misdirected, racial anger. It was WHITE people who came together to make the park a reality in the first place!
I have a brochure and ticket for Freedom land in my scrapbook. I grew up in north Jersey and visited the park a couple of times with school and church groups. I remember the space ship ride and helping to pump water to put out the Chicago fire. Good stuff for a 10 year old. That was a great time and place to grow up in - Freedom Land, Palisades Park, the World's Fair, the Jersey shore attractions, and watching the Mets learn how to play baseball.
“It was the bedroom where Uncle Sam and Lady Liberty made Yankee Doodle Dandy.” It may not contain anything explicit, but congrats Kevin - that’s the most graphic sentence in the history of Defunctland!
I live near where Freedomland used to be, my grandma used to tell me stories about how you could see it from our building its so weird to think that its all just projects and little outdoor malls now. Theres still a little memorial there that has some old equipment used by the park
Yesterday my wife, a Filipina, showed me pictures of people in the Philippines standing on the ceiling. It was some kind of upside-down house where people get their pictures taken, and it reminded me of a crazy house I had been to as a kid, and when I looked it up, it was Casa Loca at Freedomland. We went there once, and all I remembered was the Chicago fire, until the video brought back memories of Elsie, the ore buckets, Little Old New York. and more. Thanks for this amazingly well-done video.
Freedomland USA sounds like what a parody of Disneyland would be in an unsubtle political indie movie about how patriotism is like a religion. Nobody tell Randy Moore, please.
@@meowtherainbowx4163 He made a bad movie called "Escape From Tomorrow" which was notable for being filmed in actual Disney parks and it was critical of Disney, but mainly in really stupid ways that made no sense, while also having some other major problems, such as perpetuating dumb myths (like the turkey legs actually being from emus because they're so big) and having a bunch of creepy sex shit, some of which had some very unsubtle symbolism behind them. Jenny Nicholson made a great video going over it called "Escape from Tommorow is a dumb exercise in misery".
I’m just so astonished how much effort is put into these videos, this channel is how I have gotten into amusement park trivia, thanks for getting me an A on my writing paper on the subject :)
Rewatching this, is it possible that a contributing factor to attendance failure may also have been a lack of rail access to the park? Plenty in NYC lacked cars, and if they wanted to get to amusements, they’d probably opt for Coney Island, which they could access by rail.
Funny, there was a supposed to be a northern extension of the Pelham Line (the northern portion of the 6 service) to Co-op City planned in part of the 1968 Program for Action. If Freedomland had held on just a little bit longer, we would have seen millions of passengers using the 6 train to Freedomland.
Growing up in the NY metro area in the early to mid 60s, I was fortunate enough to have visited Freedomland. Now I can’t wait for an episode on the NY 64-65 Worlds Fair.
I still live here in Co-op and would love a defunctland deep dive-style video of our city’s history. I know this is outside your purview but I was thoroughly entertained and appreciated of this little slice of history from this video. I’ve lived in Co-op city from birth (90s baby) and I still reside here till this day. And I remember vaguely hearing the name Freedomland about 5 years ago or so, which prompted me to click on this video since the name sounded familiar. Up until now it felt like a neat little fun fact that I happened to hear but now it feels like a fully fleshed out, historical archive of a place I’ve called home my whole life. Thank you for the research that you do and creating documentaries of obscure, seemingly trivial, topics that end up being fully immersive/informative. Just subbed 👍🏾
I lived a couple of miles from Freedomland from long before it was built. My older brothers flew model airplanes on that land, we called it the dump. It was big flat piece of land with glass and trash in the soil. It borders on Eastchester Creek and we swam in the creek many times, even after Freedomland was built. Me and my future wife once saw Cousin Brucie and the 4 Seasons in that flying saucer. We once spent the night on the rock across the creek. We called that rock Ferry Point. I remember that music played all damn night from the park. Once, after the park closed for the season we were walking across the parking lot and some guards tried to chase us off. This was in October. We ran from the guards toward the river and the guards took their time trying to catch us because they figured we were trapped by the river. We got down in the gully by the river, took off our clothes, rolled them into a ball and swam across the river holding our clothes above our heads. I still remember the look on the guards faces. So, there you have it, some of my Freedomland memories.
Lawyer: "Please state your name and occupation for the jury." "Kevin, creator of the 'Defunctland' web series." Lawyer: "Please state you FULL name." "You don't want me to do that."
I love the fact that the park was exactly as ignorantly tasteless as what you would think when you hear about an American park named "Freedomland!" I will admit that it was an interesting park theme though, and pretty well thought out.
It's because of both of those things that I think a modern "freedomland" might honestly be really cool if we actually make it not so tasteless. Like, especially in this world we live in where the American ideal has been deconstructed to such a degree (and a well warranted one at that), I think something that can somehow address all of that while simultaneously recapturing the glory the ideal once had, and in fact perhaps even superseding it, would do wonders. Something that both educates on america's issues, old and new, perhaps even satirizes them, and remains steadfastly patriotic in spite of those things. Or perhaps even BECAUSE of those things, in a sense. It'd be a hard balance to walk for sure, but one that's well worth it in my eyes. That aside, I also just like the idea of a gimmicky microcosm of the US of goddamn A just in general. That just sounds like it could be super fun and wacky.
Pretty much the same opinion that I have. It was tasteless and gross, definitely, but (in contrast to most places on this channel) it was exactly what it set out to be. It was huge, its rides were apparently enjoyable, and guests often came away with a positive impression. It seems like boring, practical issues doomed this one, rather than anything too dramatic.
@@Somerandomjingleberry It is possible, I'm not from the US but there was this one time in school we had to make a whole theater act on our classrooms about the history of Guatemala it went from the act of independence until current day even mentioning the genocide and the population that live in the local dumpyard. Even with those topics it still had an air of patriotism because of the tone in which we spoke our lines
@@Somerandomjingleberry The thing about theme parks is, they are arts and entertainment, not education. Trying to sell this park as education and referring to specific tragedies was a poor decision. There is no reason you can't theme a park after a nation's culture. Look at World Showcase at EPCOT. The problem with America is it has such a strange relationship with culture and history. As a country the US focuses it's culture on divisive social and historical aspects and tries to glorify them, rather than just avoiding them altogether and generating a true national culture based on the things it has to offer (nature, films, music and for god's sake, can't 250 million people develop some better culinary offerings?). It's like if a Spanish themed park had a load of bullfighting lands or a German park based in the first half of the 20th Century. The American ideal is exactly what's wrong with America - it's this self-perception that as a country it is more glorious or entitled than other places. If it was just reeled in a bit it wouldn't be so tasteless or offensive.
the fact that someone got a really shitty cut of their robbery money, so they turned in themselves and their friends out of spite is actually the funniest thing to come of this
In the 60s, robbers were honest.
@@MrWolfSnack Professionals have standards.
@@MrWolfSnack
If they were honest, everyone would have gotten his fair share and all of them most likely wouldn‘t have gotten caught.
Happens more than you think. I've seen YT videos where professional criminals say something along the lines of "the smaller the team, the better. The more people, the more likely it is someone is dissatisfied with anything and will sell you out."
I busted
Walt Disney’s anger outbursts being put on construction wall signs as quotes is my favourite defunctland running gag
We need a compilation of them to be printed out and used as inspirational wall hangings
JSD324 that would be some good ass merch
Walt: Disneyland is a place for all to enjoy.
Also Walt: "Damn you! This is my circus!"
@@verostation I would 100% buy a "This is my circus!" sign if it were written in that cheesy 2020 script font. You know the one.
@@KaijaSchmauss the ok boomer font?
"The cow, who died oblivious at an unreported date" is another out of context Defunctland quote for the books, I think
@@olivia_rcr That would be awesome!
3:02 wait... Walt Disney had partners working with him named Woody, a cowboy from texas
and Buzz, a veteran mechanics engineer.
I wonder why this sounds so familiar
I’m surprised he didn’t stop and comment.
it’s crazy this is the first time i’ve heard about this- i don’t do my disney research though so it’s no surprise
Wasn’t Buzz Lightyear named after Buzz Aldrin though?
And Woody’s named after the material he’s made of (or was originally supposed to be, anyway)
Toy story was made by Pixar then bought from Disney in 2004 so no they were never named off of each other just coincidence
"Freedomland was the bedroom where Uncle Sam and Lady Liberty made yankee doodle dandy."
Only Kevin can say that with a straight face.
He was probably grinning and desperately making sure it didn’t show in his voice.
@Simple Weirdo It probably exists somewhere deep in the dark web
This is literally the best line in the entire video.
@@ThisPoorGuy1 Right? I had to pause it because I was laughing so hard.
Only on this channel can I hear such wonderful quotes.
These rides!! Lol. Imagine a ride at Disney called “Hurricane Katrina” “California Wildfires” or “The great Coronavirus”
The popularity of disaster porn just shifted from thrill rides to film and video games.
Ride one will be at New Orleans Square at DL, Ride two will be at Grizzly Peak at DCA, and ride three will be at Epcot’s China pavilion.
"September 11th: The Experience!"
“The Very Realistic Sinking of the Titanic”
9/11 Drop Tower ride
Soviet agent infiltrating america: My name is Johnny Freedom.
True story: during WW2 when German saboteurs were trying to infiltrate American lines in US army uniforms, the American sentries would ask them to "recite the third verse of the American national anthem". If they got it RIGHT, the sentries knew they must be German spies, because almost no actual Americans know the third verse.
The fact that he had BLONDE hair and BLUE eyes.. Oh goodness..
@@kyraheron6088 The most Arya- uh, American you can get!
AdmiralBonetoPick I know the third verse of the anthem. And I can sing it. (Or at least I’m sure this is the right one) I think the line is “by the dawn’s early light”
Edit: I’m wrong. It’s “Who’s broad stripes and bright stars, thru the perilous fight!” Or is it “O’er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming?” (I had the google the lines)
Also today I learned that I’ve gotten most of the lyrics wrong my entire life.
@@ravenpotter3 That's the third LINE. The third verse goes:
And where is that band who so vauntingly swore
That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion,
A home and a country, should leave us no more?
Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps' pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave:
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave,
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.
And, as an American, I've literally never heard this spoken. I looked this shit up on Wikipedia.
I like the juxtaposition of a themepark based on American exceptionalism where half the attractions are based on disasters.
Patriotism is not a fault. And it isn't exceptionslism, either. It's possible to be a patriotic Costa Rican, a patriotic French person, a patriotic Algerian... anyone can be patriotic.
@@Leatherargento But this isn't patriotism this is exceptionalism. Patriotism is loving your country, while trying to make it even better. Exceptionalism is blindly proclaiming your country is perfect despite the evidence.
I never even implied that people other then Americans cannot be patriots. They can even be national exceptionalists. It has no impact on my actual post.
@FakeSchrodingersCat where did you hear them say anything like "my country is perfect?"
@@Leatherargento I didn't. I also never accused you of being an American Exceptionalist.
We are talking about Freedomland U.S.A. here, not you.
@@Leatherargentowhen did anyone say patriotism is a fault? Where did you get any of what you said? Your whole comment is out of place here. All they did was point out the irony of having a patriotic theme park where the rides are based on local tragedies.
This guy bluffed his way into making several multimillion dollar theme parks, while I can't even talk my way out of a ticket that legitimately was issued by mistake.
Life is unfair.
You have to play the game before the game plays you
The law is unforgiving. Even to the innocent.
It reminds me of the guy who bluffed his way into buying/being sold the New York Islanders. It's astonishing what some people are able to manage with bravado and the benefit of assumptions.
Helps if you were alive in the early 60s...and people like this made it hard to get out of stuff today
It was the times honestly you could of of gotten away with so much back then. My grandpa would tell me stories of loosing the cops on car chases back in the 40s
That guy who turned himself in out of spite because his partners cheated him out of his take is great.
Absolute legend
A true mad lad
True. But I’d hide the five thousand bucks so I’d have it when I got out
Reminds me of the movie Masterminds.
I only got 5k? Fuck these guys take me to jail lol
The fact that you do a personalized intro for every single video just surprises. This one was just spectacular
every defunctland video is personalized
They're the little surprise prize in the box that I'm always looking forward to when I open up a new one!
i always love the intros but this one was especially cool and satisfying
Ma cocks spectular. 👁👄👁
A lot of these trivia channels just pull up a wikipedia article and read it off verbatim while pretending they're clever & interesting. The little (and big) touches like this really set Defunctland apart in a class of it's own, production and authenticity-wise.
I'm glad someone had the guts to include the underrated, misunderstood, and ultimately forgotten founding father of our country, Danny the dragon.
One of 6 people to show up to Thomas Paine's funeral
That ending was like learning that it was the butler the entire time.
Or like learning that the victim's spouse did the deed for the life insurance.
I know, right! Like a "fuck you" from Walt, lol! He got the last laugh.
“God damn you, this is my circus!” is probably the best thing Walt Disney has ever said.
AND THEY FRAMED IT lhahah
No. It was when he shouted at his workers, who were on strike " oh, you commie sons of b***hes!"
Should have been my senior quote tbh
@@Deady.p I don't know if you're joking, but workers demanding fairer wages and working conditions should not be called communists by their monopoly owning founder and ceo
@@verdantmischief7092 Reich-wing media disagrees
"Freedomland was the bedroom where Uncle Sam and Lady Liberty made Yankee Doodle Dandy." Is my favorite line from this one. I love your writing and presentation style.
There is not nearly enough praise for this ✨golden✨ moment in the writing. It’s so funny but also so cringy and gross
If Yankee Doodle Dandy is, per the song lyrics, the nephew of his Uncle Sam, this means that Uncle Sam fucked his sister
@@sunsun5005 Agreed! it cringy and a bit nasty but also hilarious. Just perfection *chefs kiss* 😂
I had to pause & re-listen to this phrase three times. Then I laughed until I cried. Perfect.
I came to the comments section to see who else caught that line. Oh my good god. Wonderful 16:53
To be fair, forcibly moving the Indian section and blaming the Irish for the Chicago Fire is the most authentic American experience you could possibly hope to emulate.
lmao
Ikr?
Never have I felt more insulted by a statement I completely agree with.
(For the record, I am an American who was literally born on the fourth of July).
@@andysee6996 That's rough pal
Don't forget leaving put black Americans entirely. Very accurate
When people talk about how easy it was to get a job back in the day its because you could talk and lie your way into a job and there was no easy way to check.
Oh make no mistake. The Privilege is still real. The rest of us still have to show that piece of paper.
Unless you, you know, looked.
@@RikoJAmado boomer privilege
@@RikoJAmado The thing is - privilege is on a scale, not an on/off switch.
If your profile picture is you and you live in the US you are a white American - that makes you privileged. Even then, almost anyone who is an American is privileged over people in third world countries.
Furthermore - you think, from what Incan tell, that it is easy to be born into high class status, but it is not. People in the 1% can’t live a normal life and pursue their dreams, love who they want, talk about their feelings, or be themselves. They often end up depressed and on prescription drugs that are just as bad, if not worse, than black market drugs.
This isn’t an effort to shame you but an effort to ask you to realize that people from most walks of life suffer greatly for just having been born into true circumstances.
It’s not fair, or logical, to take the rare exceptions of successful people and argue that they represent a large demographic of humans.
@@ProjectFlashlight612 It takes quite a while for people to find a job these days for various logical reasons; like the fact that big businesses have shut down so many of the small businesses that used to hire workers en masse because they were separated by the industry they were selling in. Hate to say it, but aside from being a jerk you’re also being illogical, which is worse. Try to have some sense and education. It’s a good start.
I don't know how familiar the rest of your audience is with Texas Hold 'Em, but I immediately recognized a bluff in the opening. Sure enough: it's foreshadowing the content of the episode. Nice touch.
Oh thank god someone noticed
@@Defunctland You really went all in with that one!
Taps nose with index finger.
I wondered why someone would bet with a 3, 5 off suit with that flop and you segued It beautifully into Woodys bluffing in life
You've got to know when to hold 'em
Know when to fold 'em
Know when to walk away
And know when to run
This feels like something made in the pre-war fallout universe, but like, real.
Hm...it does kinda feel like that
watch fallout 5 have fucking freedomland
Nukaworld
@@iwakeupandboomimarat did you not play Nuka world dlc?
@@themoshpit8341 i did i just. forgot about it
I still can't get over how casually you mentioned that he went on to open the first six flags park
I grew up going to Six Flags Over Texas! I love that place!
I think C.V. Wood was off the project by the time it opened but one of his former employees did see it through.
"It's up for debate which is more embarrassing, that these people would ruin the reputation and life of an innocent woman to sell a few papers, or that it took three people to fabricate a story in which a cow kicks over a lantern."
- Kevin Perjurer
My fav was they had to burn banks for a fire brake
"the cow died likely oblivious at an unspecified date"
Some things never change.
The funny thing is that it has been speculated that the fire was started by meteors that blew up near the ground that also started a forest fire to the south that same day.
@@drakeilt5776 That sounds far more newsworthy
I grew up in The Bronx and used to sneak in to Freedomland with my future wife. The fencing by the Hutchinson River wasn't real good and we could get through it. They had really good entertainment. I remember hearing Louis Armstrong and Gerry Mulligan (separately). After the park went out of business we went in and stole lighting fixtures. I don't remember why. We were bad kids.
I was there as a kid. Thanks for the post!
All I remember now is that blue fence.
Iconic tbh
Honestly this park did NOT deserve your money so I'm glad you and your girl finessed you way in! 😂
Out of everything you could have stolen. You stole light fixtures-
Freedomland U.S.A is the most American name I’ve ever heard
🇺🇲🇺🇸
Right next to Cheeseburger Freedom Man.
Look up the video “who named the United States” by history matters and you’ll find something more patriotic.
Ginja Ninjaaa
Is that supposed to be sarcasm. I can’t tell on text.
And "Johnny Freedom!"
"Ok, hear me out here...911...it was horrible but could be entertaining."
"....the hell is wrong with you?..."
"...haha...I...uhh...I guess you don't wanna hear my Hitler Death Car Bumper cars?"
So I guess the Stalin Gulag Adventure ride is a no go too
"It's sponsored by Volkswagen..."
@@nathanaelrico3891 "They never have these problems at Apartheid Land down the road do they?"
"Um, actually, yes they do."
"It's not the government though is it?"
"No, that's more of an international issue."
yeah Nagasaki Dark Ride doesn't sound good
I guess The Fall of Saigon and Evacuation re-enactment is out the window.
Woody and Buzz? Sound like the plot of a Toy Story movie.
Pixar is quite clever.
exactly what i thought
As soon as he said Buzz I had to stop the video and rewind. That's hilariously clever.
I also reminds me of the story the Woody's character in Toy Story had to be rewritten because he was an ass in the first draft.
No wonder the original draft of Woody in Toy Story was such a jerk.
"God damn you! This is my circus!" Is something I thought I would never hear walt disney say also being my favorite and funniest quote from him it made me laugh so much I cried tears of joy
Mine is "you commie sons of bitches!"
Oh _that’s nothing._ When the company was building _The Haunted Mansion,_ one of the head imagineers Rolly Crump was tasked with sending Walt concept art for the characters and portraits, etc. and the next morning Walt told him (I’m paraphrasing a little) “You son-of-a-bitch. I didn’t get one wink of sleep.”
Too bad "Polio, the Interactive Stage Experience" never got greenlit.
Or "The Great Depression Experience." That would've been a real draw.
@@thegoodmudkip3652 a dark ride through prohibition and the Great Depression seems about right I’d say
The WHAT
Or Bonnie and Clyde's last ride wasn't popular only lasted one day I wonder why
“Guests would enter Freedomland as millions had: through New York” LOL this script is so amazing. Never knew I would laugh out loud so much while learning
“The Indian Village, originally in Old Chicago, was eventually moved to this area as well.”
I was not expecting FreedomlandUSA to commit to that level of realism when it came to race relations.
Oh lordy.
Yeah how in the heck are you verified. No offense
Lol 😂 I didn’t catch that
Please explain the check
Out of all this, I’m actually most surprised I have 4 subscriber. What the heck are they subscribed to?!
I was verified by friends who worked for Google. I had no hand in the process and can’t help anyone else get verified.
I and my parents were among the first residents of Co-op City in early 1969. I'd heard for years that it was "built on the site of some sort of amusement park called 'Freedomland'"...but I was never able to find any information about it. I moved away from there in 1992...and it took almost 30 years for me to *finally* learn the story.
Better late than never, I guess.
My Godmother, who lived in The Bronx took me to Freedomland at least 3 times. I still have fond memories of the Chicago fire attraction, the Wild West themed area and the stagecoach ride. Oh! And the cable car. I was a little scared at first, since I was only in first grade when Freedomland closed, but it became great fun.
It was at the end of the six train
Yes I went there as a child. Remembering the river paddle boats in water. Years later moving to coop city , uncanny
@@georgebrown2175 yes that’s it. I remember watching the paddle boats from a train. The train went further then. Thanks for info.
I still live in co-op city and only vaguely heard of freedomland. So happy to have found this piece of history
"In fact, visitors could literally point the finger at O'Leary and her cow, as both were featured as walk around characters in the park" Dry wit and irony, Keven Perjurers' specialty. Also note how Freedomland seems to have a mild hard on for the great disasters of American History
If it had somehow lasted into the modern era, it would probably have a 9/11 Experience. And another decade from now, it might have the COVID Pandemic dark ride.
I’d say raging rather than mild tbh
I’m surprised the Spanish flue pandemic wasn’t in there somewhere
Most of the attractions were dated far enough back that the majority of people who remembered them first-hand wouldn't be going to theme parks. 9/11 is recent enough that some children and most of their parents would be taken aback. Vietnam might be a better parallel for something to be covered today, recent enough to be easily recognized but old enough that you could doctor it to be more palatable
@@KingHalbatorix I was only being tongue-in-cheek with those comments (Freedomland obviously didn't have a "Spanish Flu Experience"), but even so, 1906 was only 54 years before the park opened. Parents with young kids in the early '60s obviously wouldn't have had firsthand memories of the SF earthquake, but their parents and/or grandparents might have. (For instance, my mom's mom was born in 1923, so her parents would've had memories of life in 1906.)
Likewise, the Vietnam War may be fading into the mists of time now, but there still seems to be enough disgruntled vets out there that a "doctored to make it palatable" Vietnam War dark ride would probably generate some backlash.
My dad told me he visited this place as a kid and when I learned of this episode, I watched it with him. He was pointing out all the attractions, reminiscing and telling me about the time he lost his mom in the park and he and his dad couldn't find her hours.
It was a lot of fun hearing those stories, so thanks for the video!
No reply’s? Let me fix that.
@@aiilex6430
Tight
Where did the mom go?
@@manospondylus
According to him, they had gotten to the gondola that ferries people from one end of the park to the other. Grandma had gotten on first, but it was only after she did that they all realized the ride was one way. So she, being prone to panicking, started walking back after she got off, not knowing that my dad and grandpa had gotten on the next car to meet up with her at the end. And it being a time before cellphones, it took a while for everyone to find each other.
@@manospondylusI'm curious as well. 🤔
"God Damn you, this is MY Circus!" is now my favorite Walt Disney quote.
@@GeneralPatton88 God damn you
"Freedomland was the bedroom where Uncle Sam and Lady Liberty made Yankee Doodle Dandy" made me burst out laughing for five minutes. If you're not proud of that line, you ought to be.
Really?
@@eloisecole3579 Welll, slight exaggeration on how long it lasted. Still, felt like 5 minutes
Disneyland is now known for kidnapping and pedophilia, time to become aware
@@binyahman5233 Yeah we know Binyah
@@binyahman5233 Yeah, we know and we don't care
"C.V. Wood was a hustler at best, and a conman at worst"
Sold.
Seriously somebody needs to make a movie based on this, it would be SO good.
@@MarioMario-mu5tp I had read a book about this called 3 years in wonderland
"and the Cow, who died likely oblivious at an unreported date" this line is comedy gold to me
Ah, I've heard about this place. The failed Disneyland of the East. Freedomland USA, very American name. A salute to all theme parks but mostly Freedomland USA. The Bronx no longer has this but they bring the crowds in with the popular and famous Bronx Zoo. And the Joker stairs
This park is surreal. It's like a real life version of the Wounded Knee attraction in Bioshock Infinite. Guess it wasn't so far fetched afterall.
I just want my free sample of Shock Jockey goddammit.
@@FrahdChikun Let me die a soldier's death Tin Man!
Bioshock Infinite pretty much was inspired by such parks.
Booker - Catch!
Playing Infinite is actually the one of the reasons why I got so invested in Native American history - specifically Wounded Knee and the Battle of Little Bighorn.
If anyone is interested in both sides of Little Bighorn (and subsequently Wounded Knee) I’d highly recommend the book _A Terrible Glory_ by James Donovan. It’s such a phenomenal read.
“When You Wish Upon a Star.”
“Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah.”
“God damn you! This is my circus!”
Truly some of the most classic phrases when you think of Disney.
One of these things is not like the others. One of these things just doesn’t belong.
My dad worked at Freedom Land! He once told me an anecdote about all his friends who worked on the ferry or boat, all of whom bought and conspicuously displayed a paperback book popular that summer called "Ship of Fools." From what he said, everyone who worked there thought it was doomed from Day One.
Yep, and amazing how much of this country's development is actually based on hucksters, grifters and other 'salesmen'.
"The Weapons of Mass Destruction" - a ride that everyone advertises but nobody can find
Okay, I love triggering wannabe-Texans and Bible Belters too, but... damn!
Spoiler alert: It was a chemical weapons plant painted to look like a chocolate chip factory.
Funny how many everyday chemicals can be used as weopons if in the right proportions
But they'll sell tons of yellow cake.
@@floydlooney6837 Yellow cake...with special CIA napkins. And aluminum tubes (you know what damage you can do with aluminum tubes?).
It's crazy how all this theme park history intertwines. I had no idea Freedomland, Disneyland, and Six Flags were all so closely linked
The more of these "attractions" I'm seeing in this park, the more it feels like exactly what people were afraid Disney's America would be
Maybe if someone does decide to revive the project we may see what will happen. Also I do admit that another RUclipsr did say that the park could practically be built anywhere. Got any ideas on where.
If this charlatan was still alive then California would make him governor.
@@krikeydial3430 did you read my response.
*gets a Walt Disney World 50th Anniversary Resort in Florida ad after video ends*
@@disneyboy3030 I hope minnesota, we would love a disney park
I love how a joke among college students is that "We don't really need to graduate, employers don't actually ask for a copy of your diploma!" And CV Wood is the epitome of that.
And why write down past experiences when they never call and ask, and if they did they probably wouldn't get any response. The entire resume hiring system was archaic in paper form and even more stupid and difficult in the modern electronic world.
With a name like Freedom Land USA I would've thought it was based in Texas
It would also have the biggest baddest and fastest rides in the wilderness
For all of the historical and metaphorical reasons!😂
We have Six Flags for our own historical fetishism.
Why it would seem more logical to put it in Pennsylvania.
"The great Chicago fire was a disaster... today, it's spectacular entertainment!"
Wonder what kind of stage show those ghouls would have created after Sept. 11.
@Flekk Bone Gnawer these people don't think that far out. Here and recent "now" is all there will ever be. As fucked as that sounds, more than a hundred years from now... The future generations won't have much of a connection. Just look at how some millennials and zoomers treat things just a few decades ago.
Flekk Bone Gnawer hell, next week! Imagine all the publicity! “See lifelike people jump to their doom!
By then, the controlled demolitions of that horrible day will be a faint memory. #Building7
@That Flippin Guy...
I kind of side with "yesterday's" (ahem) "older generation", lol.
@That Flippin Guy...
I kind of side with "yesterday's" (ahem) "older generation", lol.
“ Freedomland is the bedroom where Uncle Sam and Lady Liberty made Yankee Doodle dandy” I choked on my drink
One of my earliest memories is of going to Freedomland. I never knew where it had been until seeing this video . Thank you. I was only 4 years old so the memories are just bits and pieces. I remember having a great time but the only ride I remember was terrifying (for a 4 year old). It was some sort of a fun house ride where walls would seem to fall down just as your funcar would pass. I am guessing it was the earthquake ride in the San Francisco section.
I was there at least once.
Yeah, that was the SF earthquake ride. I was a similar age, maybe 1-2 years older, buy my memories are still pretty sharp. My Godmother took me several times, and she lived in The Bronx. I always got a kick out of the Chicago fire, but I was scared to death of that cable car (but rode anyway). I discovered very early that I wasn't a Thrill Ride Guy.
I don't remember much, but I do recall helping to pump water for the Chicago fire.
Hey! I’m not sure if you remember me, but I emailed you ~two years ago asking for advice on a research paper about Disneyland’s effects on Anaheim’s economy/ infrastructure. You directed me towards looking through archives/ newspapers and that really helped kick my paper into the right direction; ended up getting a 98% on the final piece.
I’m never early to your uploads, and seeing you made me realize that I never updated you on how it turned out. Anyways, loved your stuff back then and will continue to do so. It’s really exciting to see the production value increase for your work over time.
And of course, thanks for helping me out!
That’s amazing! Glad I could help!
Question: In a nutshell, what was the effect of Disneyland on Anaheim...
@@axelpatrickb.pingol3228 Answer: Before it was orange groves. Now it's a city.
@@axelpatrickb.pingol3228 Rapid urbanization and turning a rural town into one of the biggest vacation destinations in the world. However, that success eventually created conflict on whether what's good for Disneyland is actually good for Anaheim's residents.
@@nightflyer3242 My friends and I were talking about how residents currently have a reprieve from the fireworks, and how any residents moving there at this time might not grasp just how loud it will be once the park reopens.
"indian fighting days" you know someone's going to be sensitive, unbiased, and historically accurate when they define a period of time by what race of people you're supposed to imagine yourself physically attacking
I presume you are being sarcastic
@@aquapenguin9697 yes, thank you
@@sydney1706 no problem
@J are those tears for the estimated 20 million victims of the native american genocide my friend??
@J sorry i mistook you for a human with a brain
Born and raised for over half my life in Queens and I’ve NEVER heard of Freedomland until today. This is one of the craziest rides your channel has taken me on.
I lived in Bayside as a young kid, and we visited Freedomland several times (yes, I'm that old). It closed down the year we moved out to L.I.
Historian212 I’m from Bayside too!
I grew up in Jamaica, Queens in the 70s and 80s. lived out in far Rockaway before that when I was still in diapers. Never heard of Freedomland. Of course I know where a Co-op City is. But holy crap! I had no idea what it once was.
Grew up in Astoria in 50s/60s. Visited Freedomland once, was probably about 8 years old. Only thing I remember is Casa Loco. Later went to Lehman College where about half the student body lived in co-op city.
I absolutely love this sequence of Freedomland to the 1964 World's Fair to EPCOT. Its incredible how these are all connected with each other.
Step aside Michael Eisner, Robert Moses is the new villain of Defunctland!
God I hate Robert Moses with a raging passion !He wanted to destroy Coney Island and make it anti unqiue
Robert Moses was the man who built the highways of New York City including the Belt Parkway, Cross Island Parkway, Long Island Expressway, Van Wyck Expressway, Grand Central Parkway, Brooklyn Queens Expressway, Gowanus Expressway, Cross Bronx Expressway, Major Deegan Expressway and more. He was a villain. He also ran the Triborough Bridge & Tunnel Authority, part of MTA.
Robert Moses was a racist who used municipal projects to keep poor black people as far away from whites as he could.
He's more of a real-life villain than Eisner could ever hope to be-although depending on what comes of that new lawsuit against Disney alleging that they helped cover up Harvey Weinstein's crimes, Eisner's time in the hot seat might not be over.
He's the real world equivalent of the villain in Roger Rabbit, except based on the east coast.
Your editing and storytelling are so top notch. Feels like I’m watching professional Hollywood documentaries when I watch your channel. The way you set up the stories, introduce the characters, use metaphors, absolutely brilliant. Amazing work. You’re one of the best content creators on this platform
Your production value is absolutely stunning and inspiring.
The intros 🥵
Yes great quality for both of you guya
Ah hay! Didn’t expect to see you here
Love both your content
A RUclips show about theme parks has no right to look this good.
_goated_
"Was thought of as Freedomland's fantasy land." Based on the history on display, it's pretty clear all of Freedomland was it's fantasy land.
Even more white than Disney's Tommorowland.
I vaguely remember my mom mentioning Freedomland, and I was confused at how they managed to fit a huge ass amusement park in the Bronx. Of course, I forget that the Bronx was a different place in the 60s. The fact that this park was so close to where I live is fascinating.
Edit: The attractions in this park are wild. The fact that it failed so spectacularly seems almost like karma.
Edit 2: My mom went to both the ‘64 Worlds Fair and Freedomland. But she remembers more about the Worlds Fair if that’s any indication of how interesting Freedomland was.
I mean the bronx has the most parkland of any borough so if there was a place in nyc that would have space it would be the bronx or queens imo
John Cantatore That’s a good point. I sometimes forget that fact because I grew up near the part that’s densely built up. So it was a good idea, but bad execution.
From this video, Freedomland is fascinating. I wish I could go there today.
Wow that's an amazing edit! Love the info. Some great comments on this video
I also went to both. Actually liked Freedomland a bit better, because you didn't have to wait on long lines forever to get in to the best rides. And you got to do more, whereas at the Fair you mostly just looked at stuff. Although the "Small World" ride at the Fair was kinda great.
I'm laughing at what people think of the Freedomland rides. They were really more like the way people go to haunted houses and stuff today. Most of us young kids didn't know there was a Chicago Fire or a San Francisco earthquake, and couldn't relate to it even if we did.
My family went to Freedomland when I was a child. I remember "Casa Loca", the Chicago Fire, and riding on top of the stagecoach!
I remember a couple of those rides that got sold to Cedar Point. They might still be there. "Earthquake" and the pirate ship.
I remember going with my Dad when he transported the stage coaches on his flatbed truck. I was six years old. The place was all mud and lumber at the time.
@@TomDaly943 I remember seeing the 3 stoogies, Moe, Larry and Joe Besser there.
@@gc2916 like this? ruclips.net/video/AdJbO6DN-ZE/видео.html
I thought I was the only person who remembered Freedomland. I was there opening day, working for a radio station at the time. I remember that many attractions were not yet finished. Your footage makes it look a lot more interesting than in my memory. I do remember the 1964 Worlds Fair much better--- Same radio station, we had season passes! It was spectacular. It was like I saw many years later, when I finally got to Epcot.
What station?Your name sounds familiar.
@@georgebrown2175 WINS it was when it was still rock and roll before it went all news. Murray the K, Jack Lacy etc
@@larrygrimaldi1400 I don’t remember that. Sorrow
@@larrygrimaldi1400 I listened to the ‘Good Guys who came on after the New York Nets game along with WABC and WWRL.
As a Co-op City resident, this was great to watch. I grew up here and my mother always talked about visiting Freedomland when she was young before we moved here; sadly she's passed and her perspective is gone but has provided me with a lot of information that I'm glad to have.
These videos always have the quality of something that should be part of a TV series. Very impressive
This is fascinating! I wonder what would have happened if Michael Eisner ever researched the rise and fall of this Freedomland in preparation for Disney's America. Amazing video as always Defunctland team! Thank you for being the same great quality during this pandemic
I believe it would have yielded little useful information given its rise and fall was done by factors totally separate from what Disney encountered...
Eisner should have researched Freedomland before going all in on Euro Disney
"We have a limited operating season, so we need to get as many people through the gates-"
"We'll only open on weekends."
"But-"
"WEEKENDS. ONLY."
Galaxy-brain managing right there.
25¢ tour on dark days!
They’re hemorrhaging money and probably couldn’t afford to keep them open on week days
@@joshpaul1569 Yeah, a lot of people don't seem to understand the concept of operating costs.
Well then the employees are part time, and that alone is a large savings
As stated, it was built to fail.
Me, a sheltered Brit: "Wow, I'd never heard of any of this stuff, it's fascinating... WAIT, he was the guy who bought London Bridge???"
Hearing about that man shaped my idea of The American Way for a good chunk of my childhood. Amazing to get to hear more of his story.
I once heard that the bridge purchase was a mistake. He thought it was the iconic Tower Bridge. I have no idea if this was true or not.
@@mitchellschoenbrun I like to think so
@@mitchellschoenbrun I feel like tower bridge is more famous NOWADAYS, but certainly in the past, London Bridge was incredibly famous in its own right. It had tons of houses and shops on it, thousands of people lived and worked on it, so it was pretty much its own town, its own neighbourhood and community. But yeah these days, a lot of people (even fellow brits) get confused and think tower bridge is London Bridge.
@@duffman18 You are confusing eras here. London Bridge had houses and communities centuries ago in the 1600s. The London Bridge of the 20th century was basically an average bridge with a road and small pedestrian walkways on either side. Tower Bridge(which was basically opened at the start of 20th century) was already a famous landmark at that point.
I think, that's where the "I have a Bridge to sell you" -saying comes from.
Oh my god you need a Netflix show. This series is so high quality it’s above RUclips.
Or maybe the rest of youtube need to up its game to better match this kind of content.
Netflix would ruin it.
Eric Chandler yeah he’d have more money but less creative control
RUclips is better than Netflix.... obviously.
@@FeedScrn They both good.
They both bad.
I like them both.
My personal hero of life, mister D.N.A.'s - Dirk Gently's holistic detective agency was well made indeed. My favorite Netflix series.
Umbrella academy pwns too.
RUclips is youtube. It's great.
This is like a parody amusement park that would be in a Fallout game. Reminds me of the Familyland episode of American Dad.
Excellent work as always from Big Kev.
This is a place where Lady Liberty and Uncle Sam make Yankee Doodle Dandy. But war. War never changes.
Grew up in the Bronx and live here now. I was today days old when I learned about Freedomland USA, which once existed where Co-op City is today. Thanks for another excellent episode!
A USA shaped theme park with different sections that are themed based off states and regions actually sounds incredible. Would be cool to have something like that today.
It’s just like having a California-themed amusement park in California.
To represent Oregon, they could have a Portland " summer of freedom " and " mostly peaceful protests"
Fun fact, my Grandfather worked at Freedomland as a performer. Pretty sure the Chicago Fire was one of the shows he performed in as one of the firemen. Sadly he is no longer with us, but my Dad has told me stories about him and Freedomland. Freedomland is such an obscure part of theme park history, so I am very thankful that you made an episode about it!
I remember being there as a kid.
If I ever start a business, the "God damn you! This is my circus!" quote is getting framed and put on the wall.
what i say: i like to learn about history on RUclips
what i mean: i only care about the history of theme parks/rides that no longer exist and only from Defunctland
I went to Freedomland many times as a kid. My father was a musician working for CBS in New York and did a weekly Dixieland Jazz show broadcast for a time at Freedomland. I do remember the San Francisco Earthquake ride and Casa Loca, the tilted Mexican style house. My brothers and I loved Freedomland.
“God damn it! This is my circus” needs to be a tshirt
fibromaniacnm More PROJECTION from the brainwashed far left 😉👍🏽
Have ol sleepy joe look in the mirror. You don’t even realize he’s just their puppet 🙄
g baker Yeah! That’s a great idea they could wear them at the Democratic National Convention.
And at the Republican Convention they can wear T shirts that say:
Not my circus, Not my Monkeys.
Honestly, you are giving Ken Burns a run for his money in the documentary dept. Superb as always!👊
"After a grueling journey on the 6 train I have finally reached it. Freedomland USA. And what a sight it truly is. The parking lot alone stretches out far to the horizon in all directions like the vast plains of the heartland. I can only hope that within these grounds I will be able to find my heart's greatest yearning, the promise of America herself: that these goddamn kids might shut up and let me sit on a bench in peace for just five fucking minutes." - Johnny Freedom, 1961
Belgand 😂 😂 Well done! And I imagined it being read in Sam Waterston's voice.👊
Man these are some of the best produced videos on RUclips. From the personalized intros, to the in depth information and well written script filled with clever little jokes, I always love the videos. So glad I stumbled upon this channel.
Production value or not you're an amazing storyteller. That opening line about them playing poker followed by the card sequence was genius. Getting your introduction out of the way while setting the scene and preparing us for the kind of story this was.
Beautiful, creative and just fun. You do some amazing work.
My mother lived in the Bronx as a child. She remembers her family getting dressed up and heading out to Freedomland, but strangely remembers nothing about the park itself. However, she has vivid memories of the World's Fair. We joke that Walt used his TV show to hypnotize people into forgetting Freedomland. :D
I knew the London Bridge story already, so that was a hell of a twist to learn it was the same friggin guy
I'm so happy to see someone digging deeper into Freedomland!!! As a proud Bronxite (hence my name), and lifelong patron of Bay Plaza (former cite of Freedomland), I'm excited to find that this story is being told. I've always heard of this place. This was where my father first saw the Boy Wonder perform. He would later be known as the legend, and national treasure, Stevie Wonder. In my childhood, the parking lot for K-Mart was sometimes the stage for carnivals and fairs. They haven't had any of those in nearly 20 years (at least to my knowledge). There are times I wish the Bronx could see something like this again, but alas Co-op City ain't going nowhere. Nevertheless, thank you for this!!
wait i'm sorry when you say bay plaza do you mean where the mall and amc theater are? omg???
edit: oh my god i just got to the part of the video IT'S CO-OP CITY?!?!
I grew up about 40 miles away, and remember fondly visits to Freedomland: mom and dad, even a school field trip. My favorites were the Chicago fire and the SF earthquake.
@@julietterodriguez6078 It's even more surreal when you currently LIVE in co-op city (like myself). haha I live on top of landfill and history.
@@julietterodriguez6078 yup! Bay Plaza is the shopping center, and then there's The Mall at Bay Plaza, which is the indoor mall kinda at the end of Bay Plaza.
@@shpeale That's super cool!
Given that we know Michael Eisner was present at the 1964 world's fair I'm now extremely curious if he was one of the folks who also went to Freedomland and this would later become an inspiration for Disney's America
Too bad that never happened.
@@disneyboy3030no, probably a good thing
This park is kinda like:
“Let’s use tragic stories of how people died in U.S.A for entertainment!”
So... Isolationist Disneyland?
Hence, our morbid fascination with murder, all things violence.
Television and Movies.
Entertainment = to invite in.
We are not well.
John 14:6
Don't lie: you'd go.
Unprofessional Professor I won’t- I know my brother would tho XD
Now introducing, 9/11 the ride! It will be just near Pearl Harbour coaster
Freedomland day on June 19th
The irony is strong in this one
@ElyC West june 19th aka juneteenth is a day of celebration commemorating the last state to abolish slavery
How is that irony? Thats poetic
@@TickleMyResearch well..... its defunct.
@@mags_119 oh I i misread the original woops
@@nateman10 June 19th aka Juneteenth is a day when "something" was abolished (removed, destroyed), so, the irony is the opening date of the park already foreshadowed the closing of it
“Mrs O’Leary and her cow were both walkaround characters.”
...Say what.
I was friends with Mrs. O'Leary.
...wait.
It's no fun without blame.
Yup. Amos and Andy were a problem and had to be erased. But a walkaround character of an Irish immigrant who actually did nothing wrong is fine. When any of us white people are defamed in some way, we're just meant to take it in the pooper.
@@UltimateThanos Your comment is utterly bizarre, as if Freedomland's designers weren't white, or as if anti-Irish sentiment was fueled by "anti-white" persons rather than WASPs.
@@UltimateThanos Your pfp, name, and comment are a perfect storm of social awkwardness and ignorant, misdirected, racial anger. It was WHITE people who came together to make the park a reality in the first place!
I have a brochure and ticket for Freedom land in my scrapbook. I grew up in north Jersey and visited the park a couple of times with school and church groups. I remember the space ship ride and helping to pump water to put out the Chicago fire. Good stuff for a 10 year old. That was a great time and place to grow up in - Freedom Land, Palisades Park, the World's Fair, the Jersey shore attractions, and watching the Mets learn how to play baseball.
These are the highlight of my day when they are uploaded
“It was the bedroom where Uncle Sam and Lady Liberty made Yankee Doodle Dandy.”
It may not contain anything explicit, but congrats Kevin - that’s the most graphic sentence in the history of Defunctland!
I live near where Freedomland used to be, my grandma used to tell me stories about how you could see it from our building its so weird to think that its all just projects and little outdoor malls now. Theres still a little memorial there that has some old equipment used by the park
Yesterday my wife, a Filipina, showed me pictures of people in the Philippines standing on the ceiling. It was some kind of upside-down house where people get their pictures taken, and it reminded me of a crazy house I had been to as a kid, and when I looked it up, it was Casa Loca at Freedomland. We went there once, and all I remembered was the Chicago fire, until the video brought back memories of Elsie, the ore buckets, Little Old New York. and more. Thanks for this amazingly well-done video.
5:52 - I love Walt quotes like this 😄
I cant wait till he gets unfrozen and looks on horrified at what the 21st century is like then goes to Refreeze himself.
@@grumpyguy112 i know u r joking right that not right lol.
@@grumpyguy112 A lot of myths sprung up about Walt after his death. In reality, after he died he was cremated, not frozen.
Well good i hate Walt and dont want him coming back in 2045.
@Davy Crocketeer I hate him because he was a racist, homophobic, selfish, vindictive asshole who would step on anyone EG. MgM. to get ahead.
Freedomland USA sounds like what a parody of Disneyland would be in an unsubtle political indie movie about how patriotism is like a religion.
Nobody tell Randy Moore, please.
Or Michael Moore or Kevin Smith
I was about to make a comment about randy moore lmao
Who’s Randy Moore? I looked him up, but lost of the results I got were porn.
BioShock infinite?
@@meowtherainbowx4163 He made a bad movie called "Escape From Tomorrow" which was notable for being filmed in actual Disney parks and it was critical of Disney, but mainly in really stupid ways that made no sense, while also having some other major problems, such as perpetuating dumb myths (like the turkey legs actually being from emus because they're so big) and having a bunch of creepy sex shit, some of which had some very unsubtle symbolism behind them. Jenny Nicholson made a great video going over it called "Escape from Tommorow is a dumb exercise in misery".
I’m just so astonished how much effort is put into these videos, this channel is how I have gotten into amusement park trivia, thanks for getting me an A on my writing paper on the subject :)
An educational institution is charging you money to take a course on amusement parks? Oh dear, you have my sympathy. You're being swindled.
AdmiralBonetoPick lol no, in English I was able to write a paper on whatever I wanted and I chose amusement parks haha
Rewatching this, is it possible that a contributing factor to attendance failure may also have been a lack of rail access to the park? Plenty in NYC lacked cars, and if they wanted to get to amusements, they’d probably opt for Coney Island, which they could access by rail.
I think it mentioned they could get their by rail. Not sure
the old-timey add mentioned it was close to a subway stop
Funny, there was a supposed to be a northern extension of the Pelham Line (the northern portion of the 6 service) to Co-op City planned in part of the 1968 Program for Action. If Freedomland had held on just a little bit longer, we would have seen millions of passengers using the 6 train to Freedomland.
So close to a libertyland episode. Ah well, this video is still as amazing as ever.
Growing up in the NY metro area in the early to mid 60s, I was fortunate enough to have visited Freedomland. Now I can’t wait for an episode on the NY 64-65 Worlds Fair.
As a twelve-year-old kid from Brooklyn, I also had a trip through Freedomland. I had a great time, and never noticed its flaws
Despite being a 21st century person, I’ve been waiting a while for the 1964 NY World’s Fair, first expecting it after the Tomorrowland 1955 video.
“O’Leary died heartbroken and the cow who died oblivious.” 😂 And the rides at Freedomland are so dark omg. That ending, though!
I still live here in Co-op and would love a defunctland deep dive-style video of our city’s history. I know this is outside your purview but I was thoroughly entertained and appreciated of this little slice of history from this video. I’ve lived in Co-op city from birth (90s baby) and I still reside here till this day. And I remember vaguely hearing the name Freedomland about 5 years ago or so, which prompted me to click on this video since the name sounded familiar. Up until now it felt like a neat little fun fact that I happened to hear but now it feels like a fully fleshed out, historical archive of a place I’ve called home my whole life. Thank you for the research that you do and creating documentaries of obscure, seemingly trivial, topics that end up being fully immersive/informative. Just subbed 👍🏾
I lived a couple of miles from Freedomland from long before it was built. My older brothers flew model airplanes on that land, we called it the dump. It was big flat piece of land with glass and trash in the soil. It borders on Eastchester Creek and we swam in the creek many times, even after Freedomland was built. Me and my future wife once saw Cousin Brucie and the 4 Seasons in that flying saucer. We once spent the night on the rock across the creek. We called that rock Ferry Point. I remember that music played all damn night from the park. Once, after the park closed for the season we were walking across the parking lot and some guards tried to chase us off. This was in October. We ran from the guards toward the river and the guards took their time trying to catch us because they figured we were trapped by the river. We got down in the gully by the river, took off our clothes, rolled them into a ball and swam across the river holding our clothes above our heads. I still remember the look on the guards faces. So, there you have it, some of my Freedomland memories.
wow, that's incredible
"The bedroom where Uncle Sam and Lady Liberty made yankie doodle dandie" KEVIN NO I WAS EATING
Lawyer: "Please state your name and occupation for the jury."
"Kevin, creator of the 'Defunctland' web series."
Lawyer: "Please state you FULL name."
"You don't want me to do that."
Kevin P-fer-nuthin'.
I love the fact that the park was exactly as ignorantly tasteless as what you would think when you hear about an American park named "Freedomland!"
I will admit that it was an interesting park theme though, and pretty well thought out.
It's because of both of those things that I think a modern "freedomland" might honestly be really cool if we actually make it not so tasteless. Like, especially in this world we live in where the American ideal has been deconstructed to such a degree (and a well warranted one at that), I think something that can somehow address all of that while simultaneously recapturing the glory the ideal once had, and in fact perhaps even superseding it, would do wonders. Something that both educates on america's issues, old and new, perhaps even satirizes them, and remains steadfastly patriotic in spite of those things. Or perhaps even BECAUSE of those things, in a sense. It'd be a hard balance to walk for sure, but one that's well worth it in my eyes.
That aside, I also just like the idea of a gimmicky microcosm of the US of goddamn A just in general. That just sounds like it could be super fun and wacky.
Pretty much the same opinion that I have. It was tasteless and gross, definitely, but (in contrast to most places on this channel) it was exactly what it set out to be. It was huge, its rides were apparently enjoyable, and guests often came away with a positive impression.
It seems like boring, practical issues doomed this one, rather than anything too dramatic.
@@Somerandomjingleberry It is possible, I'm not from the US but there was this one time in school we had to make a whole theater act on our classrooms about the history of Guatemala it went from the act of independence until current day even mentioning the genocide and the population that live in the local dumpyard. Even with those topics it still had an air of patriotism because of the tone in which we spoke our lines
I felt the same way. While grossly offensive by today’s standards, it actually looks like a pretty fun theme park.
@@Somerandomjingleberry The thing about theme parks is, they are arts and entertainment, not education. Trying to sell this park as education and referring to specific tragedies was a poor decision. There is no reason you can't theme a park after a nation's culture. Look at World Showcase at EPCOT. The problem with America is it has such a strange relationship with culture and history. As a country the US focuses it's culture on divisive social and historical aspects and tries to glorify them, rather than just avoiding them altogether and generating a true national culture based on the things it has to offer (nature, films, music and for god's sake, can't 250 million people develop some better culinary offerings?). It's like if a Spanish themed park had a load of bullfighting lands or a German park based in the first half of the 20th Century. The American ideal is exactly what's wrong with America - it's this self-perception that as a country it is more glorious or entitled than other places. If it was just reeled in a bit it wouldn't be so tasteless or offensive.