Daved Thomson

I came across the following in the "Out of Chaos (and $45 Million...)" article that appeared in the New York Times following GA's opening in 1974. Given what was written by the reporter, it does sound as if it was operated by steam at least for a short period of time. In fact, apparently, LeRoy brought someone over from England specifically to operate it. Here's the line from the Times article... "We came to the 1903 English Carousel, his particular pride, steam generated and with carved wooden horses, but it was not working. A girl attendant standing in front of it said: "This morning the engine was running and I smelled something burning and I turned it right off." LeRoy shook his head: "We brought a guy from England to operate this thing and he broke his leg riding a motorcycle.""

How about... THE MOST EXCITING AND SAFEST RIDING MACHINE PATRINA WILLIAMS STUD OF STEAM DRIVEN GALLOPING HORSES

Harry... Give me your e-mail address and I will send you a 1976 Asbury Park Press article that talks about all the changes at the park for the 1976 season. Musik Express, Super Sidewinder, and the Alpen Blitz were all added that season and it specifically states that both Super Sidewinder and the Alpen Blitz were rides completely new to the United States. That certainly would leave open the possibility that Musik Express was sourced somewhat closer to home.

I couldn't agree more... Although I can't stand this building (which doesn't come close to being even slightly appropriate for the area), I never liked the large floral planting/shrubs that were originally placed there at (I believe) the beginning of the 1978 season either. The flow of the park and the excitement of Dream Street really was destroyed with the placement of something "in your way" that forced you into a games area in a very obvious attempt to get more money out of you. Quite frankly, even if that was its primary purpose back then, management should recognize that it is NOT needed today.

As always, I appreciate your attention to detail and, quite frankly, remain completely baffled as to how I missed those Glide-A-Ride trams. Also, I did not mean to imply that the tram shown in the 1974 tour was using the blue color scheme that I referred to. I distinctly remember seeing the tractor trams during a 1977 visit (in the blue and white color scheme) because we actually road on one. Then, later that day (which did nothing but rain) we were eating over in the picnic area outside the theme park and I remember "discovering" (looking behind a wooden fence) that they used the area behind the picnic area (which was still very heavily wooded) for their tram storage area. There were four of the tractor type trams parked in that area at the time. I remember finding it strange because there did not seem to be any roads to get back to that area at the time. Administration, wardrobe, operations, etc. were over at Gate 1 and even employees used the guest entrance road and guest parking areas. I don't think the road that now exists as the employee/service entrance road, existed back then. Interestingly enough, Six Flags operated the tractor type trams at each of their original three parks and GA (at least for some time), while AstroWorld operated those of another manufacturer. Also, you'll notice that the 1975 map depicts the trams as the tractor type. But I would love to see the aerial shot you are referring to showing the trams in the parking lot... And I will continue to remain baffled as to how I missed them! THANKS so much!

You are certain that these trams operated that long? And, I don't mean to be a PITA about this, but I really am baffled by seeing pictures of this type of tram at GA because they are totally what I had always thought the park should have and NEVER saw or heard even a mention of any other type of tram other than those you mentioned that were sponsored by Firestone beginning in 1978. Those trams (the tractor type), however, were operating at GA before 1978. They were white with blue for the wheel coverings I know as late as 1977. In 1978, they were painted in the white with red trim color scheme which included Firestone logos on the roofs of the trams. If I'm not mistaken, I think you guys even have a photo of these tractor trams in your 1974 park visit topic. I'm just going crazy here thinking that I missed those Glide-a-Ride trams!

I am somewhat puzzled by the picture of the tram that is shown taking visitors to the park entrance. Isn't this the same brand/manufacturer of trams that can be found at HersheyPark? Or, at least that was my impression prior to seeing your "Glide-a-Ride" photos... Any idea which season these trams were dropped? I have never seen them before at GA. And, while only a guess, I don't think they could have made it very long at Great Adventure given that GA's parking lot is not close to being flat. These trams have very little ground clearance and I have to imagine would have been torn up pretty quickly by portions of the lot. The only trams I can recall ever seeing at Great Adventure in those early years were those towed by (what I associate with) baggage tractors similar to those used at many U.S. airports even to this day. The trams I am thinking of had passengers seated facing out toward the side of the tram while it moved forward. The picture here is of a tram that, to me, looks visually similar to the Hershey (and, less so, the WDW) trams. I am guessing that they were also of a much higher capacity than the "airport tractor trams" and certainly had to have been safer than the airport trams which people often jumped on and off of while the trams were actually in motion. And a simple thing like getting on a tram really did make it an even more magical experience as you went deeper into that forest. I always felt that Great Adventure's entrance road (prior to Hurricane Harbor) also made you feel like you were really going into a magical place as it curved through the woods and then opened up to the parking lot with nothing visible inside the park other than the Giant Wheel and Skyride.

As crazy as this may be, I am amazed by the picture of the tram that is shown taking visitors to the park entrance. Isn't this the same brand/manufacturer of trams that can be found at HersheyPark? Any idea which season these trams were dropped? The only trams I can recall ever seeing at Great Adventure in those early years were those towed by (what I associate with) baggage tractors similar to those used at many U.S. airports even to this day. The trams I am thinking of had passengers seated facing out toward the side of the tram while it moved forward. The picture here is of a tram that, to me, looks visually similar to the Hershey (and, less so, the WDW) trams. I am guessing that they were also of a much higher capacity than the "airport tractor trams" and certainly had to have been safer than the airport trams which people often jumped on and off of while the trams were actually in motion. And a simple thing like getting on a tram really did make it an even more magical experience as you went deeper into that forest. I always felt that Great Adventure's entrance road (prior to Hurricane Harbor) also made you feel like you were really going into a magical place as it curved through the woods and then opened up to the parking lot with nothing visible inside the park other than the Giant Wheel and Skyride.

Okay, this is totally a guess, because I don't really remember how the line is configured for it... Do you have to choose which side of the Buccaneer you will be sitting on when you enter the line? Also, you're not counting the Haunted Castle as a ride, because I believe that had dual lines as well (I know it had two sides, just don't actually recall how the line was configured).

1. Big Wheel 2. Moon Flume 3. Lightnin' Loops 4. Panorama Wheel 5. Dream Street Cables 6. Western Cables

If I'm not mistaken, alcohol sales stopped following the 1977 season after Six Flags acquired the park. At the time, Six Flags had a policy prohibiting the sale of alcohol at their parks.

Just wanted to check with you, are you sure of some of the publication dates on the postcard sets. I noticed that the 1976 set has the Six Flags Great Adventure rainbow on it and Six Flags didn't purchase the park until 1977. I believe these dates are simply the copyright dates (or date that the photo was originally taken) rather than the date that the postcard set was sold in the park, especially since many of the same photos appeared during multiple seasons.

The late eighties were not good image years for the park and, thus, not good attendance years for the park either. But, at that time, the bad image was created by deaths at the park (Lightnin' Loops/Haunted Castle, etc.) rather than the park itself not having a pleasant atmosphere in which families/friends could enjoy spending time together. The bottom line is that Great Adventure has got to place more emphasis on the park as a whole, rather than rollercoasters (or just rides, in general). A theme park is a complete, packaged experience composed of rides, shows, attractions, and unique experiences that you usually can not find in other places.

I'd like to come to the defense of Robert David largely because my thoughts on what has happened to Great Adventure are very much in-line with his. And, to correct you on exactly what Great Adventure is "supposed" to be. First, GA is a theme park which means it should have well developed themes that make you feel as if you have escaped to another world. In the case of GA, that overriding theme has always been a good level of fantasy and a big part of that feeling of escape was created by the heavily wooded park. If all you want in your park is rides, I suggest you go to an amusement park, not a theme park. Great Adventure, at present, has a lot of open, unused ride pads that really detract from what used to be a very nice "park like" atmosphere. Simply throwing new rides on those pads, I don't think, fixes the problem. Some real thought as to the appropriateness of a ride's theme and the area of the park in which it is placed is something that has to be considered moving forward. Personally, the addition of all the new flats during the "war on lines" really destroyed much of what used to be one of the most beautiful theme parks in the country. Believe it or not, back in the eighties, Great Adventure was easily the most beautiful park in the Six Flags system (with Six Flags over Georgia running a close second to GA) and often ran neck-in-neck with Busch Gardens Williamsburg for its beauty. And, just to remind everyone here, Great Adventure's attendance in the '80s was well over 3 million each year compared to an average of about 2.6 million over the past ten years. I really wish management at GA and Six Flags would look back in history and realize that some of the changes that have been made physically to the park over the years, have really detracted from the park's ability to draw a good balance of visitors.

Lightnin' Loops and Batman The Ride would be one and El Toro and Viper would be the other.

It was Red, White, Balloon and it was located just inside the main gates on the right hand side near the restrooms.

I totally missed that in the press release when I have read it in the past... And of all beers "Schaefer!"

Okay, I didn't even know they served liquor from the very beginning! Considering Warner LeRoy's political and financial influence in NY and NJ at the time, did he possibly get some sort of approval to transfer a license from Maxwell's Plum? Doubt it would be possible, but that would be the first guess. My other guess... was it transferred from "The Millstone Pub?"

I'd also go with "True" on this one.

Too easy... Bandstand on the Lake

Is it the waterfall for Roaring Rapids back in 1981?

It's not a coincidence that this commercial is so similar to GA's Magic 'til Midnight. Both SFGAd and SFMM had the same advertising agency at the time... Della Femina Travisano & Partners.

Quite frankly, something like poison ivy growing into a ride's line is nothing but pure neglect and should not require a ride to be "rehabbed" in order to be addressed. Unfortunately, so many of Great Adventure's infrastructure problems are really nothing more than neglect over time. Building massively expensive rollercoasters year after year has meant sacrificing basic park upkeep and it is a real shame.

If you're talking about differences between the physical structure of the new 1976 ticket booths and the ticket booths that are currently at the front gate, the only real difference in those structures today versus 1976 would be the color that the buildings were painted back then and the color that they are painted today.

Just to add my two cents on opinions of this... I would say that the picture was taken at Great Adventure. As you said the lamp posts and area look very similar. As for the structure in the upper left picture, it looks to me like it could be the back of the Swabinchin ride which would have been on the left as you walked past the entrance to Garden of Eating with the Alpen Blitz being on the right just before the entrance.