Photo of the Week

[gasmspiritblue]

^ Is that house further down the street past exit 16? I thought it was this one, but its another over run down house on 537.

 

[29yrswithaGApass]

Year 3 - Photo #23 - December 14, 2014:

 

February 1984

 

Starting in the 1980's Six Flags Corporation began purchasing rides that could easily be constructed and enjoyed at one park for several seasons
and then dismantled and reintroduced at another park as a brand new attraction. Great Adventure's Sarajevo Bobsled was one of two identical
coasters added with such intentions (the other was added to Magic Mountain in the same year). The Intamin designed ride operated from 1984 to 1988
at Great Adventure, was relocated to Great America as Rolling Thunder from 1989 to 1995, and was then added to Great Escape in 1997 where it still
can be experienced today.

[29yrswithaGApass]

Year 3 - Photo #24 - December 22, 2014:

January 1987

 

Snow blankets Great Adventure almost every winter just like in this photo of the Ultra Twister from 1987. But soon the short winter days
will welcome the sunshine and warmth of spring and Great Adventure will once again reopen for another season of fun.

 

Here is wishing everyone at GreatAdventureHistory.com a very Merry Christmas and Wonderful 2015!

[29yrswithaGApass]

Year 3 - Photo #25 - December 29, 2014:

June 1976

 

Originally introduced as the Pretty Monster in 1974, this colorful octopus style ride was relocated in 1976 next to the Yum Yum Palace
and reinstalled at ground level leaving behind its metal platform and themed perimeter fencing. Repainted and renamed the Dream Street Dazzler,
the ride continued to operate until the end of the 1977 season when it was replaced with a more modern version known as the Monster Spin.

[Daved Thomson]

Very interesting that the tent in the background appears to be the orange tent when we all know that this would, in fact, be the blue tent. Just shows how much photography has improved since 1976 (or the photo deteriorated).

[29yrswithaGApass]

I think the tent may have been in the process of being repainted (see additional photo below). You can see the fringe around the edge is still blue put a primer-like coat has been applied to the main stripes.

 

[Daved Thomson]

I think the tent may have been in the process of being repainted (see additional photo below). You can see the fringe around the edge is still blue put a primer-like coat has been applied to the main stripes.

 

Is that what they actually do with the tents when the colors fade is simply repaint them? Do you happen to know if any of the actual tent has been replaced on any of the four?

[29yrswithaGApass]

I believe all four tents are still the original canvas materials. When the colors change or are "refreshed" it is simply the tarps being repainted. They seem to do that every ten years or so when power-washing no longer does the trick.

[GAcoaster]

I know I have seen them repaint them several times. I may even have some pictures somewhere...

[29yrswithaGApass]

Year 3 - Photo #26 - January 13, 2015:

June 1976

 

Although the Carousel had to withstand harsh weather conditions for almost 100 years when it was part of the traveling fair circuits in England, a glamorours
structure was built at Great Adventure to protect the ride. Twelve candy cane columns support an oversized roof that generously covers the rides circular
plot. During initial construction, oddly, the Carousel itself was erected first and then the canopy assembled above the precarious ride

[29yrswithaGApass]

Year 3 - Photo #27 - January 21, 2015:

August 1974

 

Warner LeRoy designed Great Adventure as not only a fun and exciting place for families to enjoy all his headline rides and attractions, but also an escape
from the hectic and noisy cities. One important feature of his park layout was the seemingly random placement of park benches under the tall trees of the
Enchanted Forest theme park. For many, being able to take a break and just sit and relax was as welcomed as riding the Giant Wheel or taking a spin
on the Flying Wave.

[29yrswithaGApass]

Year 3 - Photo #28 - January 29, 2015:

October 1980

 

The premiere Oktober Fest celebration in the autumn of 1980 was an extensively themed event which brought the best of Bavaria to
Six Flags Great Adventure. To make the festival as authentic as possible, the park imported a Festhaus as well as several traveling
beer and food stands from Germany which added old world charm to the event. Great Adventure even went so far as to set up a
Deutsche Schule or German School to teach the locals how to properly order their beer and pretzels in true Oktober Fest style.

[29yrswithaGApass]

Year 3 - Photo #29 - February 6, 2015:

July 1983

 

The shows at the Americana Music Hall (now Showcase Theatre) always proved to be big hits with park guests. While many of the productions included singers
and dancers performing golden oldies or current hits, 1983's Errol Manoff's Fantasy Factory Show presented a larger than life ensemble cast of puppet stars from

stage and screen. One of the acts included Dolly Parton (pictured above) complete with her legendary physique - at least until the two cactus characters hug her.

[29yrswithaGApass]

Year 3 - Photo #30 - February 15, 2015:

May 1984

 

The Shirt Tales Theatre was added to the park in 1984 along with a completely rethemed and expanded children's area called Shirt Tales Land.

The troop of cuddly characters introduced by Hallmark Cards last only one season and were quickly replaced in 1985 by the Looney Tunes

characters who joined the Six Flags family through a licensing agreement which was part of the acquisition of Six Flags Great America in

Gurnee, IL. The theater was removed after the 2004 season to make way for Balin's Jungle Land and the rest of the Golden Kingdom.

[29yrswithaGApass]

Year 3 - Photo #31 - February 20, 2015:

June 1994

 

Taking a page from Disney's playbook, in 1994 Six Flags Great Adventure (while under ownership of TimeWarner) copied the practice of having a
major attraction "exit through the gift shop". Adventurous test pilots that just completed their mission on The Right Stuff Mach 1 Adventure simulator
ride passed through the Flight Deck Gifts and Apparel shop which offered air and space related merchandise including aviator jackets and Ray-Ban
sunglasses.

[29yrswithaGApass]

Year 3 - Photo #32 - February 28, 2015:

August 1981

 

Unlike a flume ride that subjects all its riders to the same basic risks of getting sprayed or splashed, the odds of getting wet on a rapids ride is often
a game a chance with some riders getting soaked while others exit totally dry. When Roaring Rapids debuted in 1981, the likelihood of getting soaked
was pretty high with just a slight chance of dodging the raging waters and escaping the pounding deluge of the waterfalls. As the photo above
illustrates, sometimes riders were almost completely submerged while shooting the white water. Roaring Rapids lived up to its motto
"Ride hard and come out wet."

 

[29yrswithaGApass]

^ I find this photo amazing especially since it is authentic taken before the days of Photoshop and digital enhancements. Those two riders will be nearly underwater in seconds!

[29yrswithaGApass]

Year 3 - Photo #33 - March 7, 2015:

July 1974

 

Building a structure as unique as the Super Tee Pee created several design and installation issues. Under the supervision of Warner LeRoy,
the perfect logs needed to be trucked from the Yukon Territory to the park which involved four changes in suppliers. Even though the proper
length logs were found, the color and texture was incorrect necessitating sand blasting and re-staining. Once erected, the installation of the
huge chandelier required extensive staging and two cranes working for one week in tight areas causing cost overruns.

[29yrswithaGApass]

Year 3 - Photo #34 - March 15, 2015:

April 1990

 

Bugs Bunny and all his Looney Tunes friends were given a new home in 1988 when the Looney Tunes section of the park was remodeled
into Bugs Bunny Land. The revamped five acre children's area scaled to the park's youngest guests 54" and under received a $1.5 million

upgrade including a dome-covered soft playground featuring fun elements and educational hands-on attractions.

[29yrswithaGApass]

Year 3 - Photo #35 - March 25, 2015:

August 1999

 

The Looney Tunes characters have called Six Flags Great Adventure home since 1985 after Six Flags Corporation acquired the gang
along with the Great America theme park in Gurnee, IL in 1984. Although rarely seen all at once in a group photo, the family reunion
pictured above shows just how big this loveable cast of costumed characters is at the park.

[joeyc98]

I feel like having all the costumes out at once in a kid's section would be nice for families/parents with little kids.

[Csogi]

We had an employee party while the Fun Olympics were set up in the Arena. One of the other clowns and I were responsible for getting some of the outfits washed for the next day. Nothing like going to a Laundromat at 2:30 in the morning in Browns Mills. Good times!

[29yrswithaGApass]

Year 3 - Photo #36 - April 5, 2015:

August 1977

 

The Great Train Ride was a very popular attraction that operated at Great Adventure from 1974 to 1980. From a small open air station located just opposite of the Sky Ride,
guest departed for a round trip journey through the woods in any area which is now home to Safari Kids, Looney Tunes Seaport, and Congo Rapids. The train ride closed
when construction of the rapids ride began with all its track removed and the trains relocated to backstage storage. The station itself remained one additional season sitting
vacant and void of any hints of the miniature train ride that once amused so many guests.

[Daved Thomson]

August 1977

 

The Great Train Ride was a very popular attraction that operated at Great Adventure from 1974 to 1980. From a small open air station located just opposite of the Sky Ride,

guest departed for a round trip journey through the woods in any area which is now home to Safari Kids, Looney Tunes Seaport, and Congo Rapids. The train ride closed

when construction of the rapids ride began with all its track removed and the trains relocated to backstage storage. The station itself remained one additional season sitting

vacant and void of any hints of the miniature train ride that once amused so many guests.

 

Great picture of the station... I always loved the fact that the tree went right through the roof. The date of this picture, however, can not be correct. The ride ops hosts/hostesses in the picture are wearing uniforms that were not introduced until 1980 and they clearly have name tags with the SFGA rainbow on them. Ride ops in 1977 had the blue pants and white shirts with the stylized GREAT ADVENTURE perpendicular to the rainbow stripes.

[29yrswithaGApass]

I saw that too and wondered about the date written on the slide. What complicates things further is the train is the orange stack/dark green one which didn't operate beyond 1979.

 

Something interesting to note- you can see the cupola located on the roof of the Junction Inn food stand in the back. Originally the train station was going to have this feature on its roots complete with a station bell. Instead of the bell they opted to install the oversized signal.