“Grim Grinning Ghosts” played on a huge church organ
There are just some songs that the organ was tailor-made for. “Grim Grinning Ghosts” – the famous theme heard throughout Disney’s Haunted Mansions – would most certainly be one of those songs.
Take a listen to this awesome video from YouTube user “Moller121” and their devilishly fun interpretation of the classic Buddy Baker theme.
Turn up the volume, crank the bass and prepare to be terrorized!
Six Flags Battles Patent Troll and Wins
Six Flags has hit the brakes on a patent infringement lawsuit from a company hoping to profit from a magnetic braking system used on some of their rides.
Photo by Wikipedia user, Sarion
The suit claimed that because Six Flags used magnetic brakes on some of their coasters, they were infringing on the patents the company held. Except, Six Flags bought the control system from a vendor. Turns out this sort of litigation is increasingly common, with the so-called “trolls” betting most large and small companies would rather settle out of court than absorb legal fees.
Six Flags was thankfully not one of those defendants.
Read the full article here: http://www.delawarelawweekly.com/id=1202724096465/Six-Flags-Wins-Summary-Judgment-in-Patent-Suit
Insane Carnival Ride
Or…”how to operate a Huss Top Spin at level 11.”
Fun fact: while most “Top Spin” models here in the United States are on a pre-determined “cycle” meaning all the ride operator does is push the button and a computer takes over.
However, most rides in Europe are run in the far more awesome “manual mode” meaning the operator has complete control over length of ride and intensity (as well as what music he or she plays during the ride).
By the way, note the lack of any safety gates at the end of the video. Good luck ever finding that here in the good ol’ USA anytime soon…
Roller Coaster Malfunctions Prompting Media Frenzies
Over the past few weeks, as seasonal parks begin to thaw out from winter and re-open for the season, we’ve seen a significant uptick in news coverage of what we in the amusement park industry know as “evacs” – taking people off a ride either via the lift or block brake.
But what I’ve noticed lately is the media making a far bigger deal out of these events than necessary. It really came to my attention when one of my co-workers in the newsroom (who knows I’m a big park and ride fan) asked me, “What’s up with all these ride breakdowns lately?”
FULL DISCLAIMER: I am a credentialed member of the media. I broadcast the news on a daily basis. My job is to inform and educate the public via the airwaves. In a strange way, I could be seen as part of the problem based solely on my position.
On the other hand, I can be a harbinger for truth and education.
Let’s take that previous example of a coaster stalled on the lift. Why then does a person who’s car has broken down on the side of the interstate not make news? (Outside a traffic report). Think about it – here’s a ride vehicle, who has stopped suddenly – and is now on a median designed specifically for breakdowns.
How is that different from a coaster that stops on the lift or brake run – where there is a platform (or two) that allows guests to safely disembark?
I am missing something?
So today, I am challenging my fellow media personnel to better educate themselves so as NOT to sensationalize the unsensational. Because a coaster that has a simple malfunction shouldn’t be click bait – when we have so many other stories worthy of telling, instead.
Five Ways to Have a Bad Day at an Amusement Park
1.) Forget to check about special events on park website:
Nothing will ruin your day faster at a park to find it overrun with cheerleaders for a regional competition or packed for a concert in their ampitheatre.
2.) Wear sandals:
They might seem like a good choice for hot weather, but their lack of support and ability to fly away on certain rides will leave you more miserable than you think.
3.) Dress incorrectly for the weather:
You can always bring a jacket to warm up, but you can’t take your pants off to cool down (it’s generally frowned upon). If the weather calls for rain, it’s probably best to re-schedule your trip to the park.
4.) Bring your iPad or tablet computer:
No one wants to be a Padhole. But, you’re risking damaging that $500 device every time you bring that dumb thing to a crowded place. Plus, it blocks our views during the show. Just bring a small point and shoot camera – it has better resolution, anyway.
5.) Visit on Memorial Day Weekend, 4th of July or Labor Day Weekend:
Traditionally the three worst times to visit any park. Although, actual Memorial Day and Labor Day tend to be less crowded than the weekends preceding them.
Got any suggestions to add to this list? Tell us on social media, or comment below!
Arrow Development documentary coming from Great American Thrills and American Coaster Enthusiasts
GOING HEAD OVER HEELS FOR SOUTH BAY HISTORY
Former ride manufacturer to be featured in new documentary from local filmmakers
MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA – Great American Thrills® and Totally Twisted Media are proud to announce a historic partnership with American Coaster Enthusiasts (ACE) Worldwide, Inc. to produce a documentary on the former Bay Area amusement park ride manufacturer, Arrow Development. The film is expected to premiere at the IAAPA industry trade show in Florida this November.
Several of the most prominent and respected names in the amusement industry have already signed on to participate in the documentary. These include: Cedar Point, Irvine Ondrey Engineering, Silverwood Theme Park, S&S Sansei and Six Flags Magic Mountain, among others.
The documentary is being produced by the all-volunteer team behind the award-winning “Lost Parks of Northern California” series, with filming beginning shortly. Nicholas Laschkewitsch and Kris Rowberry are leading the project:
“Everyone knows Silicon Valley is famous for technological innovations,” said Rowberry. “But very few people are aware that the valley that gave us Google and iPhones also spawned the world’s first log ride and tubular steel roller coaster, along with countless other ride innovations.”
Joining Rowberry as Executive Producer on the project is Nicholas Laschkewitsch, Video Promotions Coordinator for American Coaster Enthusiasts.
“Arrow Development and its mechanical marvels have always mesmerized me and held a special place in my heart,” said Laschkewitsch. “The sheer opportunity to be able to tell the story of Arrow to the masses is a dream come true.”
Fans can keep up with the latest happenings on the project by following American Coaster Enthusiasts on Facebook and Twitter or by using the #RideWithACE hashtag. To join ACE, visit: www.ACEonline.org
How You Can Be a Part of the Arrow Development Documentary
Many people have expressed interest in either helping out or participating in some way with our newly announced documentary on Arrow Development. So, here’s three quick ways you can be a part of history:
1.) Join ACE:
As a recognized 501(c)3 non-profit organization, the members of the American Coaster Enthusiasts are all about the preservation and enjoyment of amusement parks and roller coasters. By joining, you’ll help preserve our incredible amusement heritage, while becoming part of one of the largest and most respected roller coaster organizations in the world. Learn more at: www.aceonline.org
2.) Contribute photos or videos of Arrow rides, both past and present:
Do you have some “vintage footage” of older Arrow rides? Maybe a photo of you and your family next to a defunct Arrow coaster? Feel free to send them to: socialmedia@greatamericanthrills.net and we’ll do our best to get them in the documentary – with proper attribution, of course.
3.) Join us for a shoot!
We’ll be announcing exact dates and locations for shoots across the United States and Canada – so who knows – we just might be at your home park this summer! 
ONE WEEK to the big announcement from Great American Thrills!
We are exactly ONE WEEK away from our biggest announcement EVER!
Have you figured out all the clues? Tell us on social media what you think the big announcement will be and be sure to come here at 2:43pm on 3/14/15 to find out what all the fuss is about…
Celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the 1915 World’s Fair in San Francisco
What better way to celebrate the centennial of the 1915 Panama Pacific International Exposition – than with our award-winning episode of “Lost Parks of Northern California” – feel free to share with your friends, family, SF fans and local television stations!
It may have been a century ago – but pieces of the fair are still very much with us today! #PPIE100
Are fastpass systems creating economic inequality in our amusement parks?
The concept seems like a wonderful idea – get past the long lines at at your local amusement park, just pay a few extra bucks for your admission. But, is it really that great of an idea, or is it creating more problems than it solves?
Today, we’ll look at arguments both for and against the “fastpass” system – as well as historical background on the topic.
First, a quick history…of lines.
Lines have been with us for most of eternity. The Bible speaks of how the animals lined up, two by two to get into Noah’s Ark. Lines also developed during the Great Depression, waiting for food at the local soup kitchen. At the same time, the concept of legally jumping the line was born.
Let’s face it, those unicorns probably should have gotten a fastpass…
So, on one side of the argument, a paid fastpass-type system effectively “punishes” those who can’t wait, by charging them more for their day at the park.
Now, the flipside of the argument, is that much like traffic fines, those with more disposable income will simply pay the extra amount, as it really doesn’t mean much to them. But, does this mean there’s a “class system” developing in our amusement and theme parks?
I don’t think so.
Why? Because we’ve had a class system in our parks for decades – it’s just that so many people now have access to the “upper echelon.”
Hear me out – if you’ve ever been to an amusement or theme park when a celebrity is there, you know (or knew) that they wouldn’t ever stand in line. They would be shuttled up the exit by staff members to get on the ride with as little fanfare (and fan interaction) as possible.
True fans of Disneyland and California’s Great America should also know about the secret clubs that are in the park, designed for those with deep pockets – 33 and The Consulate, respectively.
While The Consulate is no longer used for it’s original purpose, the fact that it was set up for that purpose 40 years ago shows that the “class culture” has been with us for quite some time.
So is it class warfare in our parks? No. Does it suck to wait an extra few minutes – sure. Is it worth the extra cash to skip the line?
Maybe the better question is this: are you willing to give parks more of your money to feel richer?
Adventures in Auditioning for Travel Channel – Part Deux
Alslo known as: “How to really piss off your friends with a cliffhanger ending…”
Ok – I’m back in the Bay Area after a hellacious drive back from the Southland – but when is it not a nasty drive back?
When we left off…I was sitting next to the very beautiful and talented Tensia, who was helping us both calm our nerves about standing in front of the camera for the audition. The numbers were slowly rising that were being called and the tension in the room was palpable.
After a quick restroom break to ensure I wasn’t going to pee all over myself on film, I went back to the holding room to await my number (47) being called. When the numbers hit 43, I decided to start pacing in the room. I also took the opportunity to took up, and talk to Mom.
(For those of you who don’t know, she passed away back in 2004 from leukemia). I told her that I knew she’d be right in there with me, and that I would make her proud.
No pressure or anything…
Finally, the moment came – or so I thought. Turns out the coordinator went out of order somehow calling numbers, so when she called mine, I asked about #45, which she had skipped.
False alarm. So I went back to standing next to Tensia. (She was number 49). Now nither of us were talking. We had our game faces on. I even tried making small talk with the burly security guard just to keep my nerves down.
Finally, the moment came – just before 9:00opm – my number was called. It was time to go.
I was led back to yet another room that turned out to be a large soundstage, with two opposing camera setups. This way, they were able to do one audition after the other.
The setup was simple – single camera on a tripod, green screen behind you, two softboxes in front of you and a shotgun mic above. All standard stuff. I found the markand was told to hold up my name and number.
To my horror, a spot of food had fallen onto the paper while it was sitting near the catering. Someone must have dripped while I wasn’t looking. Most people would have just ignored it, but I saw the opportunity to break the tension with a joke (more for my own personal sanity).
As I held up the paper, I said, “This is NOT my food spillage. I didn’t do this! I am NOT a slob!” The cameraguy and coordinating producer snickered. I was in like Flynn.
The producer then said “Go ahead and start whenever you’re ready.” And so I did…
I must have spoken fast, because I ended up with just a little extra time in my two minute limit so thankfully I had a backup sentence that filled that void perfectly – and nestled right up to the 2 minute limit. It’s almost as if all those hours on the radio bumping up to the top / bottom of the hours actually came in HANDY (Who would have thought!)
About halfway through the audition, I noticed someone walking towards me in the bakground. It looked like the Executive Producer, or head honcho of some sort. He seemed really impressed or intrigued by what I was saying – if my body language analysis was correct.
After the 2 minutes was up, I collected my things from a chair that was just off camera. As I went by the crew, they all nodded and quietly said, “Nice job.” I was ready to jump for joy, but knew I was still “on stage” and didn’t want to let my emotions get the best of me. I was escorted past the other soundstage by yet another large, burly security guard back to the first room we began in at the front of the Tastemade building.
As I came out, another coordinating producer was already there – and that’s when eyebrows starting to get raised.
He asked me, “Hey can you hang out here for a few minutes?”
“Of course!” I said. They must want to wrap things up with us or maybe sign some more forms, etc. Then I watched as two other would-be auditioners walked directly out – they weren’t being asked to stay. Something was up.
Since there were no cameras around – I decided it was time for a few celebratory fistpumps. My adrenaline was pumping faster than any ride I had ever been on. It was a high that I suppose you could only get from some seriously nuts drugs (not like I’d KNOW what that was like…)
The camera lady who I had joked with earlier in the night then stepped in – and asked where I was from. They were both shocked to hear I had driven, “all the way down from the Bay Area just to do this.” I told them, “Nailing the audition like that, saying exactly what you wanted to and not screwing up – just made that long trip all worth it.”
Out of nowhere, comes Marianela Pereyra – the host of “America’s Best Beaches” – a web-only series for Travel Channel. I had no idea who she was, but they asked me to step into the light of the camera and give a “postgame interview” with her.
Hmm…
Standard stuff really – “how’d you feel, what was it like, was it worth it, etc.” My only concern was that I was staring at her boobs the whole time. No matter…
Tensia got done with her audition and asked me to walk her to her car. As a gentleman, I obliged. Turns out she parks right across from me on the street. We said our goodbyes, hugged it out and made plans to keep in touch.
After updating social media with the good news, I called Dad and gave him the scoop. Still high on adrenaline, I tried to find a nice restaurant that was still open. No luck. So I settled for the L.A. staple (and recommended to me by Tensia herself Roscoe’s House of Chicken and Waffles.
Today (Thursday) was far more sedate. Met up with Kurt of theCoasterGuy.com for lunch at a restaurant in Valencia. Then made the arduous trek over the San Andreas Fault through the Grapevine and back to the Bay Area.
So to recap:
1.) I am NOT the next Travel Channel Star – at least, not YET. The contest officially ends on April 15th – and if there’s a web vote portion, expect some social media blasts to help me out. But there are some signs I may have made a serious impression.
2.) I spent way too much at the Imagineering Store (Mickey’s of Glendale).
3.) Don’t ask me for my autograph – unless you have $20 on you…
As they say – STAY TUNED! 🙂
Adventures in Auditioning for Travel Channel
Alternative Title: “$111.00 in gas money, parking and fast food” (Sorry Sam, had to rip off your awesome blog title).
If you’re reading this post, congratulations – you got the password!
As you’re reading this, you should know I’m typing in my underwear (because I can), listening to the best of 2Unlimited (because I can) from my hotel room overlooking runways 25L and 25R at LAX. The soundproofing in here is divine. Then again, so are the mini glasses of wine I picked up at the Ralph’s from down the street.
Ever since my roller coaster “bender” trip of 2008, I have had a lingering thought – someone should PAY ME to have this much fun and share it with others. In that sense, that’s really when this whole “Great American Thrills” thing got started (officially it was Feb 13th, 2010 for legal reasons).
Fast forward to today. It’s pretty clear to those around me that I’ve got serious aspirations beyond reading the news once a week on the radio (on the weekend no less). I’ve always thought I had a decent on-air personality for television, so together with Nicholas, Robert, Andy and Barbara (plus Taylor on occasion) I’ve worked to hone my skills as an on-camera presenter.
So I made my way down here to Los Angeles this week to take a chance on fate.
THE ACTUAL EXPERIENCE:
Ironically, I would have never had found out about this opportunity had it not been for one of my worst enemies. Let’s just say there’s some interesting” personalities in our roller coaster community, and one of them from the midwest (who’s behavior was so reprehensible he was BANNED from all Six Flags’ properties) had uploaded a video in the hopes of being the next Travel Channel Star. Somehow, it caught my attention, and I found out about these open auditions in Santa Monica.
In a sick sort of way, I actually OWE him for this – amazing how ironic the world can be, huh?
The day had not started off that well – I had realized unpacking last night that I needed a belt. So I found the nearest Ross and styled up for less.
On route to my first scheduled appointment of the day in Glendale, I got stuck in L.A. traffic (shocking!) and was late to meet my good friend Andrew, who had just recently been hired by WDI.
After showing me to the cafeteria (I had a delicious burrito from the Taco Bar) he took me to the EXCLUSIVE Imagineering gift shop.
Big mistake.
When you’re an amusement or theme park fan, you’re automatically a Disney fan. Imagineering is the heart of the park operations – it’s where the magic is quite literally designed and tested before it goes into the parks.
The new limit on my AMEX card could have easily been tested. Thank God I didn’t see the really expensive stuff hanging up to the side of the register until after I bought my items. Perhaps I’ll come back again when I’m rich and famous and contribute to Andrew’s salary in a much larger way.
Since I was in the Glendale / Burbank area, I decided to make an old fashioned cold call to KCET, one of the largest independent TV stations in the nation, and former home to the great champion of California, the one and only Huell Howser. With a DVD of the entire “Lost Parks” series in hand – I was able to meet up with a very nice gentleman in the lobby who not ONLY took the DVD for review, (with cleverly hidden business cards from Nicholas and I inside) but the KCET employee also gave me a name and number of the person who would be reviewing it.
SCORE! As any salesperson will tell you – a name and number is the best currency you can have. Expect a call early next week, Mr. DVD at KCET!
With the time rapidly approaching 3:00pm, I wanted to head back to the general area of the studios (Santa Monica) just in case traffic was horrible. Thankfully, the traffic Gods were smiling and I found the studio around 4:15pm. With the fortunate glut of time available, I did what any respectable thrill seeker would do – seek out the local amusement park. Thankfully, Snata Monica has just the ticket, on a pier over the Pacific Ocean.
And of course, being near Hollywood, there was a film crew there. Looks like they were filming for a new Ross commercial (how ironic) given my previous trip there earlier in the day.
Now, Santa Cruz this park is NOT. With less than 15 rides (most of the middie variety) it befudded me how they coudl charge $99.00 for a seaosn pass, when the Boardwak comes in around $75.00 – SoCal logic I suppose. I got my single ride ticket for the “West Coaster” and walked up the queue to the station.
Like Quicksilver Express, West Coaster is a Morgan built hypercoaster that’s not really a hypercoaster. It had some decent force in the back, and a nice floater hill, but that’s about it. Two hexices and an airtime hill. Thankfully, they let us all re-ride (all three of us aboard, that is) so the price went down to just $3.00 per ride…
That being said, IF (and I stress IF) Santa Cruz wanted to get into the hypercoaster business (like the neighbors would let them after the Double Shot fiasco) it’s quite do-able if they use Santa Monica as inspiration. Maybe over the wharf? 😉
Back to the real reason for the trip. After getting the mandatory ride credit in, I drove back to the studios to stake out a parking space in the general vicinity and change in the car into what would be my audition clothing. (For the record, it was khaki pants, brown shoes + socks, blue dress shirt and black blazer.)
I found a spot about block from the studios, and walked there. We were directed by a security guard into what looked like an alley, which led to the studios themselves. That’s where we’d wait for about an hour. In the meantime, we had several passes of camera interviews and employees telling us about the Tastemade App (it was after all, their studio).
That’s where I made my first move. The camerawoman (wearing one of the SAME pieces of equipment Nicholas uses on set) asked our group, “…so what’s your sthick?”
Don’t set a softball up like that and not expect me to swing for the fences…
If Travel Channel was looking for a good show idea, just the conversations waiting in line were worth filming. I feel like I have several new friends now. The guy in front of me brought a giant, Tiki-like mask behind me wouldn’t shut up about his quirky travels and food (he once went to Kansas JUST to see the World’s Largest Ball of Twine) but he didn’t have the personality in my opinion. In fact, many of the people tonight were all about being foodies, which didn’t really make them stand out IMHO.
After going into the first room (as a group of three) we were given our official numbers and asked to choose a background from our shoot. (I went with LA because there was no theme park option). We were directed to an ancillary room where we filled out the required paperwork (via iPad). Figures mine had a split keyboard issue so it took forever to type my info in.
We were then led down a long hallway into what they called “the holding room.” This was actually the Tastemade production office, so it was cool to see how they operate from the inside. This is where we spent the majority of our night. But, I was so happy that I did.
Originally, I had chosen a seat in the small bleachers they had. But I found the seat uncomfortable and moved to a bench with a table.
I am so glad I did.
You see, about 15 minutes into sitting down, a stunningly beautiful woman named Tensia sat down next to me. Me being the suave ladies man that I am (insert you own laugh here) I stuck up a conversation and we got a good repertoire going.
Turns out she works at USC and loves fashion. (For the record, she approved of my getup for clothing, and was very happy I had chosen khakis over jeans at the last minute). She even showed me her dress she wore to the Oscars.
Yeah, she went to the freaking Oscars. Go on…
It didn’t feel like a date, but in a cool way – it was. We enjoyed each other’s company, kept our own nerves distracted from the audition and vowed to stay in touch. If I could, I’d absolutely ask her out.
And on that bombshell, you’ll just have to wait for part II tomorrow. I’m already down to just two mini bottles of Sutter Home left and the clock strikes 1:00am – might be time to pass out. Yup. Until tomorrow, thrill seekers!
Great American Thrills Celebrates Five Year Anniversary
Half a decade.
That’s the length of time it’s been since I decided to put my nose to the grindstone and dedicate a good portion of my life to the Great American Thrills® brand concept.
This month we’ll be celebrating all that we’ve accomplished with this little WordPress site, as well as the incredible future ahead of us. Thank you all for being a part of this crazy thrill ride called “life.”
Here’s to the next five years!
Remembering Gary Owens
We lost a legend in media this week.
Gary Owens, famed radio announcer, TV presenter and voiceover actor, died at the age of 80 on Friday. You may not know the man, but you certainly know the voice.
Like many in my generation, we were introduced to Mr. Owens not by his work on the radio or television, but on his very popular “Dinosaurs!” VHS tapes.
So what’s the amusement park connection? Well, both he and Eric Boardman took a trip on Kingdom of the Dinosaurs at Knott’s Berry Farm – and here it is for you to recall…and to enjoy. With Voyage to the Iron Reef now opening in it’s place – it’s a great look back with a true media legend.
Thanks for the memories, Gary.
And here’s some raw footage from the episode, featuring the park as well:
Newest Lost Parks Episode Debuts – Frontier Village in San Jose
These are the days I look forward to the most. After several months of blood, sweat and tears, we are finally ready to pull back the curtain on our latest “Lost Parks of Northern California” – presenting San Jose’s beloved Frontier Village.
Be sure to LIKE and SHARE the video with all your friends, family and favorite television networks and personalities – let’s make this the biggest Lost Parks episode EVER, TOGETHER!
The Knott’s Berry Farm Shopping Pass is the Amusement Industry’s Best Kept Secret
If I told you you could legally enter a theme park without paying, you’d probably call me nuts. But that’s just the case at Knott’s Berry Farm, thanks to their unique, “Shopper’s Pass.”
Logo courtesy of Knott’s Berry Farm – Cedar Fair, L.P.
The Shopper’s Pass is a timed-entry to Knott’s, originally intended for someone to enter to either purchase or peruse the park for something to buy within a limited time. In this case, 45 minutes. Say for instance you wanted to get an item the night before, but forgot to – this pass allows you to grab it before you head back home.
And as great as it is for that, there’s a second use that gaining popularity. If you’re willing to roll the dice on short lines and think you’re a decent power walker – you can go into the park, ride one or two attractions and then bolt back to Guest Services before your time is up.
Xcelerator at Knott’s Berry Farm. Photo by Kris Rowberry. All rights reserved.
Now, there’s a BIG catch to this too-good-to-be-true admission: if you fail to return in the allotted 45 minutes – even by just one second – you’re getting charged for a full day’s admission. How does the park guarantee that? They’ll ask for a deposit that’s equal to your full-day admission up front, fully refundable upon your timely return.
If you’re easily distracted or forgetful, this is not a good ticket option for you. Plus, Knott’s is worth AT LEAST a full day’s worth of exploring and riding.
The good news: If you are one of those forgetful types, you can always take that paid admission and apply it to an annual pass in the same building. That way, you can spend as much time as you want in the park for an entire year!
But, if you’re looking to do some shopping at Knott’s and are in a time crunch, the “Shopper’s Pass” is the best kept non-secret in the amusement industry.
Five Things Amusement Park Fans Must Stop Doing in 2015
Call me “Grandpa” if you must, but there’s a ton of things that just drive me nuts with the whole amusement park and roller coaster “fan” community. So here’s my picks for the the top five things we’ve got to stop doing in 2015:
5.) “Coaster Battles” on Instagram:
Collage by Instagram user: @Insta_Coaster
Collage by Instagram user: @Screamsource
I get it, you’re trying to drive engagement to your profile. But damn it’s annoying as all hell to see a “battle” of two or more rides that are usually “apples to oranges” in terms of comparisons-sake taking up my entire screen while I’m just trying to see some beautiful photos. Speaking of photos on social media…
4.) Stealing Each Others’ Photos / Videos:
There’s a reason when you search for photos in Google there’s a small disclaimer at the bottom. It reads: “This image may be subject to copyright.” So what does that mean? In short, it means you need to get permission to use the photo or follow the rules for using it as defined by the author (Creative Commons 3.0 is a good example of this).
So while it’s so easy to right click a cool photo and drop it into your social media feed (Facebook, Instagram, Tumblr) you better do some research to ensure no one owns the rights to it first – or you could be sued, and sued for each time it was reproduced (i.e. “shared”.) You wouldn’t want someone stealing your term paper and calling it their own – so why would you steal someone’s art and not attribute it.*
*Fun fact: While attribution is good, it does not completely absolve you from copyright infringement lawsuits. The easiest solution? Just go out and capture your own photos / videos.
Oh, and if you DO get caught – just fess up to it and fix the situation. No one likes a sore copyright infringer.
3.) Flying Your Drone Over Parks / Construction Areas:
Seriously – as cool as you think it might be to fly over a park, the lawsuits over damage, etc. don’t make it worth it.
With UAV’s (commonly known as “drones” becoming more and more prevalent (as they become cheaper), the temptation is there to do some really nefarious things with them, such as flying over closed parks without permission to spy on construction progress, or worse, fly over the general public without asking first).
While these amazing devices have given us incredible perspectives on parks and rides recently – the world isn’t quite ready to see them flying overhead while families are trying to enjoy their day. Plus, most pilots are not up to par with the pilots they see on YouTube – at least, not yet.
They’re also a major insurance liability to the park and yourself (seen all those drone FAIL videos? Now imagine them over a crowded midway) not to mention the serious, Federal / FAA violations you could be racking up – so just leave the DJI Phantom II in the hangar for now – okay?
2.) “Selfie Sticks” on Rides:
Loose articles can ALWAYS come loose – keep the camera in your pocket and ENJOY THE RIDE!
These things are bad enough off-rides, do we really need to capture every waking moment of our lives on RIDES and then upload them? Plus, once that stick / camera / phone gets knocked loose and whacks some unsuspecting guest below – good luck explaining yourself to the judge & jury in the civil & criminal lawsuits that are sure to follow.
1.) Arrogance in Parks and Online:
Unless you’re the GM or other high-ranking manager of a park, you’re not allowed to walk around your local park or on the internet like you’re a God on the subject (myself included). Begging for perks, exclusive experiences etc., just because you belong to a certain “coaster club” is not only beyond arrogant – it’s counterproductive to the entire community.
All it takes is ONE PERSON to act like an enthusi-ass at a park or TOWARDS a park – and it will ruin the fun for the rest of us. Think of that next time you’re bad mouthing a park via social media or claiming to know everything to the “GP” the next time you’re out on the midway. Remember our passion is all about having fun – not making other people miserable in the process…
What are your thoughts? Got anything to add to this list? Leave me a comment below or on our social media pages:
Lost Parks of Northern California wins at the 2014 CreaTiVe Awards
Pardon us if you’ve already heard the news, but…we think it’s worth bragging about:
“Lost Parks of Northern California,” the series produced by ACE Northern California and Great American Thrills took home the award for “Best Community Access Television Series – Professional” on Saturday at the CreaTiVe Awards in downtown San Jose.
Accepting our CreaTiVe Award for Best Professional Community Access TV Series (Photo by: CreaTV San Jose)
The show airs on both CreaTV San Jose and Peninsula Television here in the Bay Area.
We could not have done this without everyone who we’ve met along the way, contributed a video or photo at a lost park they once visited, or simply shared their experiences with us. Thank you for the opportunity to live history vicariously through you! Here’s to many more awards and celebrations.
And yes, you’re allowed to say, “We knew them when…”
Top Five Amusement Park Mistakes
Parks are run by humans – which means that sometimes (although rarely) they will make mistakes. It’s human nature, after all. Sometimes, taking a risk on a prototype pays off. (Look at how well Magnum XL-200 did!) However, in these cases, things didn’t quite work out as well as the parks had hoped.
That being said, let’s take a look back at five of some of the biggest “not-so-stellar” moves made by amusement and theme parks. Got one you think should be added to the list/ Tell us on social media, or leave a comment below!
5.) VertiGO; Thrill Shot – Cedar Point; Six Flags Magic Mountain
When park fans first saw this mammoth attraction, complete with it’s programmable ride sequence, many of us shouted, “…shut up and take my money!” Unfortunately, stress cracks that were discovered in the models and a snapped pillar in Ohio led the attraction to completely disappear to almost as little fanfare as it debuted to.
4.) Silver Bullet, Knott’s Berry Farm
Talk about a more appropriate name – many park fans will argue that the addition of this custom B&M inverted coaster nearly killed the charm from “America’s 1st Theme Park.” Plopped right in the middle of the park, the ride straddles several themed areas, and necessitated the moving of a church on the property as well as the original Berry Stand and vines that made Knott’s famous.
Built in an apparent attempt to compete with Six Flags Magic Mountain, Silver Bullet was the second to last major attraction built / purchased under the Kinzel-era of Cedar Fair’s management. Since then, the company has shifted, to re-investing in the parks’ classic attractions, bringing back the nostalgia and charm that made Knott’s the friendlier and less-crowded alternative to nearby Disneyland.
3.) Stealth – Paramount’s Great America
Announced in 1999 to much fanfare, this expensive, $17 million prototype attraction gave riders the sensation of flying…if they were willing to wait up to three hours on a GOOD day.
However, the ride was removed after only three years of operation, due to high maintenance needs, large amounts of downtime and that very low throughput / capacity. The second station was never built to completion, which allowed riders to bake in the sun for up to ten minutes while another train was dispatched. Quite simply, the ride never lived up to nor operated at it’s original potential.
Originally committed to several models of the ride for their parks, Paramount Parks allegedly pulled the contract on Vekoma after the disappointing results from Stealth. The area the ride sat on became the “Boomerang Bay Waterpark” but sharp eyes can still spot footers for Stealth in the Yankee Harbor area of the park.
2.) The Bat – Kings Island
Even the masters have their mistakes. For years, Anton Schwarzkopf had been designing a swinging, suspended coaster. Unfortunately, Anton’s skills with fabrication and design didn’t translate to running a business, and the company went bankrupt before “The Bat” could be finished. In stepped Arrow Development, who finished the ride.
However, high bank forces contributed to very high track maintenance, which eventually shut the ride down. It was replaced by another Arrow creation, the multi-loop “Vortex.”
Arrow would go on to build several suspended coasters of their own, one of which made a return to Kings Island, named “Top Gun.” Ironically, the park renamed and rebranded it to “the Bat” in 2014.
1.) Son of Beast – Paramount’s Kings Island
The looping wooden coaster. Once the holy grail of coaster-dom; now, it’s the “next big thing” when it comes to parks. But back in 2000, it was still a “work in progress.” True, the ride worked fine, but the heavy trains custom designed to transition between the steel loop and wooden track tore up the 7,000+ feet of track on the ride, to the point it became unbearable to ride.
Removing the loop and adding lighter, Gerstlauer trains didn’t help, either. The coaster was shuttered for several years and then eventually torn down in favor of a custom, record breaking B&M inverted coaster, “Banshee.”
What do you think? Are there other “not-so-great” moves that are worth noting? Tell us what you think on our social media feeds or leave a comment with video clip below!
(*All videos featured in this article are copyright of their respective owners. No ownership is implied*)
What’s Ahead for Great American Thrills in 2015
Now that the calendar has been officially flipped over to 2015, we wanted to fill you in on what’s to come for the year ahead with the Great American Thrills® brand.
Season Two of “Lost Parks of Northern California” continues, with two more episodes, featuring Frontier Village in San Jose and the 1939 World’s Fair on Treasure Island. Both should debut in January and March, respectively.
Also, you can look forward to Season Three of “Lost Parks” debuting in late Spring, with episodes focused on Scotts Valley’s “Lost World” and Redwood City’s “Marine World Africa USA.”
We’ll also be providing you content from our partner sites, such as The Coaster Guy, Thrills by the Bay and Park Journey, in addition to revamping our website to be more user friendly.
And finally, we’ve got something truly special up our sleeves for 2015. We can’t tell you what it is just yet – but we think that every amusement and theme park fan will enjoy it for years to come. Stay tuned to our social media feeds for the latest…as they might have you going around in circles!
So, as you can see, it’s going to be another fun filled and busy year for Great American Thrills®. Be sure to share us with your favorite cable channels, networks, friends and family – we’d appreciate it!
Here’s to the year ahead of us – let’s ride, everyone!
Bay Area Proud and “Lost Parks”
It’s crazy to think how time flies by, but this week marks one year since were had the incredible fortune of being followed for the day by Garvin Thomas of NBC Bay Area.
Surreal, nerve racking, inspiring – all words that would describe us that day. But Garvin and his assistant kept us at ease – they never were intrusive, yet you knew they were there. They never got in the way, yet somehow always got the shot they needed. In case you missed it, here’s the story that Garvin produced.
But Garvin didn’t just stop there. He went a step beyond. When a TV station tried to hire me away from my current gig, Garvin was more than happy to dish out advice – good advice mind you – that has served me well ever since.
The motto at my high school was “Men and Women for Others.” I must say, after meeting with and working with Garvin – he is the living epitome of that phrase. I can only hope to someday return the favor. Maybe with a mention in an Emmy speech…or how about the CreaTiVe Awards if we’re nominated?
Great American Thrills® 