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starring: Rick Sebak (narrator)
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Binding: VHS Tape
EAN: 9780780627369
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Full Screen, NTSC
ISBN: 0780627369
Label: Warner Home Video \ PBS Home Video
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video \ PBS Home Video
Number Of Items: 1
Publisher: Warner Home Video \ PBS Home Video
Release Date: September 28, 1999
Running Time: 60 minutes
Sales Rank: 24869
Studio: Warner Home Video \ PBS Home Video
Theatrical Release Date: 2000
Related Items:
Editorial Review:
Description:
On a Hot Summer day, there may be no better place on earth than a traditional amusement park. A place where you can hop on a classic wooden coaster, reach for the ring as you whirl by on the merry-go-round, or cool down on the Caterpillar. In this documentary, you get to visit some of America’s most charming parks from Lake Compounce in Connecticut to Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk in California. You get to gallop on the Derby Racer at Playland, go with the flow on the Boat Chute at Lake Winnepesaukah, and rock on Deno’s Wonder Wheel at Coney Island. And of course there are coasters, including the Thunderbolt at Kennywood, the Cyclone at Astroland, the Raven at Holiday World, and San Diego’s Giant Dipper!
Amazon.com:
The Caterpillar. The Cyclone. The Whip. The Thunderbolt. The Cannonball. To amusement park buffs, the names of these legendary rides gives a roller-coaster rush of nostalgia and joy. From 'handcarved carousels to vintage mechanical contraptions and rides they just don't make anymore,' Great Old Amusement Parks is pure escapist entertainment.
Visit and go behind the scenes at the nation's oldest operating traditional amusement parks. At one time, 2,000 such amusement parks dotted the nation's landscape. They have, sadly, dwindled to 600, and this program's wonderful footage--past and present--is a reminder of what we're missing. Smaller than contemporary theme parks and older than Disneyland, such cherished establishments as Playland in Rye, New York, Cedar Point in Ohio, and Idlewild and Kennywood in Pennsylvania have thrilled and delighted generations. Their caretakers (with populist persuasion from activist amusement park buffs and historians) have not only kept them operating, but have painstakingly worked to keep their unique charms intact.
As this program observes, amusement parks are 'not part of the ordinary troubled world.' So strap yourself in (and keep your head and arms inside your easy chair at all times) and, in the immortal words of the commercials for Chicago's late, lamented Riverview Park, laugh your troubles away.
For more time-capsule Americana, check out An Ice Cream Show and A Hot Dog Program. --Donald Liebenson
Customer Reviews
Average Rating: 
Rating: - WHAT FUN!
I LOVED THIS TAPE! IF YOU REMEMBER RIDES LIKE THE CATAPILLAR OR
THE WHIP, THEN THIS ONE IS FOR YOU. IT TAKES YOU TO MANY OLDER
PARKS THAT HAVE MANAGED TO KEEP UP WITH "ROLLER COASTER PARKS".
NOSTALGIC AMERICANA- A FUN PLACE TO RETURN TO AGAIN AND AGAIN!
Rating: - Great Vid for Amusement Park Zealots!
Great Old Amusement Parks is a grand video that captures both the history and excitement of older amusement parks around the country! They pick the best rides and sites at each park! I really liked the interviews with Park owners/managers which show their love for their respective parks! This is a must own for any amusement park fan!
Rating: - Great, Great, Great
An hour long show about great old amusement parks. Lots of info, good interveiws, and a lot of fun. By the way, for the 12 year old form MA, Lincoln Park was in New Bedford until it closed. My mother had ridden their coaster many times, my grandfather grew up in New Bedford. If you drive by, I think there is still part of the coaster left.
Rating: - For lovers of old amusement parks
It was fun to watch the old rides that are still in amusement parks, and it had good interviews of those who run old amusement parks. The length could have been longer. I was suprized that it didn't mention the almost 200 yr old park that existed in our area. It was called Lincoln Park and it had alot of the old rides they discussed in the video.
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