westytoploader
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I can't believe it...does Houston REALLY need another damn strip center?? The shopping mall and sports arena ideas I can live with. Everything else, forget it.
Roller coasters, vintage amusment rides
- Thread starter jasonl
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Jasonl:The "Knoebels" sounds like a good place for band organ fans.There is a person I know in the Wash DC area that has a collection of band organs and juke boxes-sold many of them off years ago-went thru his warehouse-asked him if some of his organs played-didn't say a thing-just turned it on and started it up-MUSIC.He also owned the carousel on the Mall in Wash DC-the one across from the Smithsonian.The programs are "loaded" into the organs-In American models such as Wurlitzer-they are on rolls much like a player piano.They play by vacuum.European instruments use a perforated "folding music book"-or card system reed like feelers sense the holes in the book card and then sound the corresponding instrument.-just like the Jacquard weaving loom.the cards for those are still used by some weaving companies today.Very durable and relaible system.Remember the harsh outdoor conditions band organs may be asked to operate in-damp or dry outdoors.also the book organs may use a "pressure" system-opposite of the USA organ or piano "Vacuum" system-a puff of air goes thru the book hole-causing an instrument to play.A pinch roller holds the book against the tracker bar.At Glen Echo-the organ operator there told me he got most of the 165 rolls from a local yard sale-the rolls were marked "Misc Piano" rolls-they were a roll library for a 165 organ-he bought them on sight-paid something like $10 for them.He also cuts rolls himself-he has "arranged" some interesting songs-like the "Candy Man".Once you know the tracker system of the organ and musically inclined-you can play the organ by "programming" it with your own cut rolls.Its a tedious process.He cuts them by hand.Roll makers cut them by machines.The machine may be programmed by a computer-Apple ones work good for the process."QRS" roll company still makes rolls for pianos and organs.The instrument you saw and heard that was a piano with percussion is an " Orchestron"Yes they were the precurser to the jukebox.They had either a piano or an organ as the foundation instrument.Many companies built them before the jukebox took over.There are many folks who collect and restore these devices.Still interesting today. In fact many young people when they seee and hear a band organ ask-"Where can I get one of these?Is this something new?"You then explain to them that the instrument playing could be almost 100 years old.
Versatronic
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Rolling Green and Knoebels
I grew up about 50 miles north of Harrisburg PA and we had an Amusement Park within walking distance of our house and I spent a lot of time there. It was call Rolling Green Park. It wasn't a huge park, but big enough. It had all the classic rides, a rickety wooden roller coaster and a smaller metal one (that I think may be at Knoebels now). The place had a lake that you could take paddle boats on and a community swimming pool. It really was a great place. They also had a large roller skating rink that doubled for dance hall on the weekend evenings. Some legendary bands played there. Since the dance hall was on top of a hill we could hear the music very clearly from our house. We could hear the music they played during the day for the roller skaters as well. My favorite ride was the Devil's Den, their haunted house/roller coaster. Parts of the Devil's Den are now in the Knoebels Grove Haunted House. A developer bought the land the amusement park was on and tore down the amusement part and built a housing development. The street names are all park-related and that's the only clue that an amusement park ever stood there.
But only 20 minutes up the road was Knoebels Grove and I spent a lot of time there in my youth as well. Knoebels still has a band shell and in the summer time, rock bands would play and that was the place to be in the late '70s on a Friday or Saturday night. Knoebels is very much like it was 30 years ago. They have expanded a bit, added some more rides, but it's essentially the same place. I love going there. I went there a couple times this year. The last time I was there, I rode all the rides I wanted to ride, ate all I wanted to eat, went swimming and bought a pair of shoes. Price tag: 25 bucks. It's a beautiful place and I hope it never changes.
Currently, I live 10 minutes from Hershey Park and I despise the place. You have to fork out at least 35 bucks for parking and admission before you even get through the gates. And what do you get for that 35 bucks? You get the privilege to stand in line with hundreds of others for 45 minutes to get on a 60 second ride and pay 4 dollars for a coke. It's horrible. I hate the place.
At Knoebels, there is no parking fee. There is no admission fee. The rides can be pay as you go if you're not a big ride rider. You can get a hand stamp to ride all the rides if you chose to, but you have that choice. The food is awesome and the prices are totally reasonable if not ridiculously cheap. The place is never too crowded. It's a very leisurely, relaxing experience. And it's always comforting to see the same classic rides that were there 30, 40, and 50 years ago. I always thought of the place as being a secret retreat, so I was very surprised to see it mentioned here in this thread.
I grew up about 50 miles north of Harrisburg PA and we had an Amusement Park within walking distance of our house and I spent a lot of time there. It was call Rolling Green Park. It wasn't a huge park, but big enough. It had all the classic rides, a rickety wooden roller coaster and a smaller metal one (that I think may be at Knoebels now). The place had a lake that you could take paddle boats on and a community swimming pool. It really was a great place. They also had a large roller skating rink that doubled for dance hall on the weekend evenings. Some legendary bands played there. Since the dance hall was on top of a hill we could hear the music very clearly from our house. We could hear the music they played during the day for the roller skaters as well. My favorite ride was the Devil's Den, their haunted house/roller coaster. Parts of the Devil's Den are now in the Knoebels Grove Haunted House. A developer bought the land the amusement park was on and tore down the amusement part and built a housing development. The street names are all park-related and that's the only clue that an amusement park ever stood there.
But only 20 minutes up the road was Knoebels Grove and I spent a lot of time there in my youth as well. Knoebels still has a band shell and in the summer time, rock bands would play and that was the place to be in the late '70s on a Friday or Saturday night. Knoebels is very much like it was 30 years ago. They have expanded a bit, added some more rides, but it's essentially the same place. I love going there. I went there a couple times this year. The last time I was there, I rode all the rides I wanted to ride, ate all I wanted to eat, went swimming and bought a pair of shoes. Price tag: 25 bucks. It's a beautiful place and I hope it never changes.
Currently, I live 10 minutes from Hershey Park and I despise the place. You have to fork out at least 35 bucks for parking and admission before you even get through the gates. And what do you get for that 35 bucks? You get the privilege to stand in line with hundreds of others for 45 minutes to get on a 60 second ride and pay 4 dollars for a coke. It's horrible. I hate the place.
At Knoebels, there is no parking fee. There is no admission fee. The rides can be pay as you go if you're not a big ride rider. You can get a hand stamp to ride all the rides if you chose to, but you have that choice. The food is awesome and the prices are totally reasonable if not ridiculously cheap. The place is never too crowded. It's a very leisurely, relaxing experience. And it's always comforting to see the same classic rides that were there 30, 40, and 50 years ago. I always thought of the place as being a secret retreat, so I was very surprised to see it mentioned here in this thread.
mayken4now
Well-known member
Oh so sorry to hear that Austin. I did not realize that once a real nice place such as Astroworld turned ghetto. The Texas Cyclone was a ride you would not forget. I rode it when I was about 22, the last time and now at 43, I can still remember the thrill and coming out of my seat.
Steve
Steve
Versatronic
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The Old Sled Works
On a related note, not far from Harrisburg is a little town called Duncannon. In this sleepy little town was a factory that built all the Lightning Guider sleds. When I was growing up me and every other kid had our own Lightning Guiders but I always processed the name as "Lightning Glider" for some reason. That factory is defunct now but a guy named Jimmy bought the place and turned it into a Antiques co-op called the Old Sled Works. Years ago I could find some great stuff there but now it's pretty much crap and not worth the bother to even look through. And a large chunk of it has been turned into a "Crafts" co-op which is this perennial style that the women of central PA can not crawl out from under. It's hideous and if your home isn't decorated in Craft style, you are an outcast in this area.
Anyway, Jimmy retains a section of this old factory building for himself and runs an authentic old style soda fountain and vintage arcade. And as the co-op sinks deeper and deeper into irrelevance, his soda fountain/vintage arcade just gets better and better. The sofa fountain is an authentic soda fountain removed from a drug store or a Woolworth's or something, I forget. But it's fully functioning and authentic in every way.
He also is a vintage television collector and has just about every Predicta model ever made on display and working all over the place with a constant stream of Three Stooges shorts piped to all the TVs simultaneously. I stopped in yesterday and he added a vintage silver Jetstream travel trailer to the place and you can go up into it to eat your meal. It's absolutely wonderful. I was opening all the closets in the Jetstream and inspecting every inch of it while a family was eating at the table inside.
As I said, it's a working vintage arcade as well, with classic pinball machines, skeet-ball machine, you name it, it's there and ready for you to play. He even has some peep show machines that you can View vintage pin-up girls on. The one machine has pictures of the girls that you can hope to see when you plunk in your quarter and Bettie Page is one of the girls shown on the machine.
Aside from the vintage games, there is all kind of amusement park and carnival type memorabilia displayed about the place. Big Clown heads from fun houses, for instance. It really is a wonderful place and just gets better all the time. So, if you are in the area, it's a great place to stop by and wonder around it. Last year Jimmy sponsored a Vintage Game expo in Hershey. It was mostly vintage pinball machines and jukeboxes, but there were all kinds of things for you vintage basement playroom. That's where I purchased my Preditca barber pole television. The expo was so successful, that he is holding this year in the old Hershey arena so there's more space for stuff and space for more vendors.
Oh, and I forgot. There is a section of the Old Sled Works building that is a Lightning Guider museum of sorts that is great too with many vintage sleds on display and pictures of the old factory, etc.
On a related note, not far from Harrisburg is a little town called Duncannon. In this sleepy little town was a factory that built all the Lightning Guider sleds. When I was growing up me and every other kid had our own Lightning Guiders but I always processed the name as "Lightning Glider" for some reason. That factory is defunct now but a guy named Jimmy bought the place and turned it into a Antiques co-op called the Old Sled Works. Years ago I could find some great stuff there but now it's pretty much crap and not worth the bother to even look through. And a large chunk of it has been turned into a "Crafts" co-op which is this perennial style that the women of central PA can not crawl out from under. It's hideous and if your home isn't decorated in Craft style, you are an outcast in this area.
Anyway, Jimmy retains a section of this old factory building for himself and runs an authentic old style soda fountain and vintage arcade. And as the co-op sinks deeper and deeper into irrelevance, his soda fountain/vintage arcade just gets better and better. The sofa fountain is an authentic soda fountain removed from a drug store or a Woolworth's or something, I forget. But it's fully functioning and authentic in every way.
He also is a vintage television collector and has just about every Predicta model ever made on display and working all over the place with a constant stream of Three Stooges shorts piped to all the TVs simultaneously. I stopped in yesterday and he added a vintage silver Jetstream travel trailer to the place and you can go up into it to eat your meal. It's absolutely wonderful. I was opening all the closets in the Jetstream and inspecting every inch of it while a family was eating at the table inside.
As I said, it's a working vintage arcade as well, with classic pinball machines, skeet-ball machine, you name it, it's there and ready for you to play. He even has some peep show machines that you can View vintage pin-up girls on. The one machine has pictures of the girls that you can hope to see when you plunk in your quarter and Bettie Page is one of the girls shown on the machine.
Aside from the vintage games, there is all kind of amusement park and carnival type memorabilia displayed about the place. Big Clown heads from fun houses, for instance. It really is a wonderful place and just gets better all the time. So, if you are in the area, it's a great place to stop by and wonder around it. Last year Jimmy sponsored a Vintage Game expo in Hershey. It was mostly vintage pinball machines and jukeboxes, but there were all kinds of things for you vintage basement playroom. That's where I purchased my Preditca barber pole television. The expo was so successful, that he is holding this year in the old Hershey arena so there's more space for stuff and space for more vendors.
Oh, and I forgot. There is a section of the Old Sled Works building that is a Lightning Guider museum of sorts that is great too with many vintage sleds on display and pictures of the old factory, etc.
Versatronic
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Sorry
Sorry for the mini-rant on craft-style decorating, but as a straight man with a gay style gene, it just offends my sensibilities. I can't help it.
Sorry for the mini-rant on craft-style decorating, but as a straight man with a gay style gene, it just offends my sensibilities. I can't help it.
Versatronic
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Link to old Sledworks
Here's a link to the old sledworks web page. If you go through the site thoroughly, you'll see pictures of the soda fountain, the vintage games and even the Jetstream that I was talking about.
Here's a link to the old sledworks web page. If you go through the site thoroughly, you'll see pictures of the soda fountain, the vintage games and even the Jetstream that I was talking about.
Peony Park
There was a great old amusement park in Omaha called Peony Park. There weren't that many rides, but the ones they had were pretty fun. They also had a gorgeous (and massive) Art Deco Ballroom, an outdoor dance floor with cool Art Deco bandshell, and a huge outdoor swimming pool with a sandy beach. It's a supermarket or something now. This was not too far from the last surviving round Super-Cinerama theatre in the world, (the Indian Hills) which is now a parking garage.
Here in Seattle, we have the "Fun Forest" at the Seattle Center (formerly known as "The Gayway", but changed for some reason ;-) It's not much, especially after they tore down a lot of it for the somewhat lame "Experience Music Project" (which I think is becoming a science fiction museum?) but it is right downtown, so it's convenient.
There was a great old amusement park in Omaha called Peony Park. There weren't that many rides, but the ones they had were pretty fun. They also had a gorgeous (and massive) Art Deco Ballroom, an outdoor dance floor with cool Art Deco bandshell, and a huge outdoor swimming pool with a sandy beach. It's a supermarket or something now. This was not too far from the last surviving round Super-Cinerama theatre in the world, (the Indian Hills) which is now a parking garage.
Here in Seattle, we have the "Fun Forest" at the Seattle Center (formerly known as "The Gayway", but changed for some reason ;-) It's not much, especially after they tore down a lot of it for the somewhat lame "Experience Music Project" (which I think is becoming a science fiction museum?) but it is right downtown, so it's convenient.
mathewhebailey0
Well-known member
anyone familiar with the Seeburg organs,pianos & orchestrions?
or the Wurlitzer organ at Organ Stop Pizza? (website has audio samples)
or the Wurlitzer organ at Organ Stop Pizza? (website has audio samples)
Yes,I know about Seeburg automatic pianos,orchestrons,and organs.They and Wurlitzer were the largest builders of those instruments.Then--onto jukeboxes.It was sort of sad when the jukebox came about-some orchestron owners BURNED their old instruments to celebrate the arrival of their new jukeboxes.Others were dissasembled for scrap.After all-that iron piano string frame is worth something-esp in those old days.and not to mention the lead from the organ pipes and the lead air and vacuum tubing in the instrument.In restorations-the lead air pipes are removed and replaced with plastic ones.The old organ pipes are kept though.I have a book at home that outlines the history,builders and types of mechanical musical instruments that were made in the era before radios,record players,tape recorders and jukeboxes.I like jukeboxes too-they are fascinating devices.Just haven't gotten around to buy one.A collegue at work out here repairs and restores them along with older radios.The "sledworks" link is very interesting-sounds like a really good place to visit.
