Boardwalk, August 1962
Today I have six vintage photos from a mystery boardwalk - possibly New Jersey's Wildwood Boardwalk? I know somebody out there will know! The quality of the photos leaves something to be desired, and yet there is still much to enjoy.
This kid is having so much fun in his sporty red convertible. If only there were some groovy chicks for him to pick up! They would not be able to resist.
How about a "Hygrade's" beef frankfurter? For some reason, I find that name to be strangely off-putting. Maybe they were delicious.
Oh boy, a tiny boat ride that goes around and around! Who needs Space Mountain? For one thing, Space Mountain doesn't allow you to ring a little bell with all of your might (and kids hopped up on cotton candy and soda have a lot of nervous energy).
The sign in the background, "....DA CITY" may or may not be a hint as to the location. Note to self: buy a pith helmet.
Fun-A-Rama, that should have been the name of this blog. I blew it!
Ah, the Scrambler, named after Sir Albert Scrambler. It's a classic spinning ride that really gets those g-forces going. Another clue: the "Hotel Albion" in the background. It's a common name for hotels, but I think I've got it. I literally solved it as I am writing this blog entry! Asbury Park, New Jersey! That's probably young Bruce Springsteen in between those two girls.
Looks like these folks are about to board the world's smallest Ferris Wheel. Still fun, I'll bet.
You can see the little Ferris Wheel in the background, as well as what might be a very basic merry-go-round, with a thrilling helicopter ride in the foreground.
I hope you have enjoyed your trip to the shore!
23 comments:
Man, do I love today's pics! Love the graphics on the Eli Bridge "Scrambler" flat ride as it's not the usual design.
I operated kiddie rides like this when I worked at the Boardwalk back in the 1970's. I can tell you those little kids' smiles and the joy they received on those simple rides were as big as any I've seen at Disneyland.
Today's pics are extra-special and extra-cool. Thanks, Major.
Today's pictures are gold! GOLD, I tells ya!!!
I like the car in the first picture. I want one like it to drive to work! Maybe a little bigger, but not much!
Yes, I think it's probably a mistake to bring up "grade" with hot dogs. We know what they are. Don't make us think about it. Pass the mustard.
And then not one, but TWO pictures of my favorite ride as a kid! You know what was so great about those boats? They REALLY FLOATED ON WATER! As a kid, I remember thinking that was a big deal. And yeah, the bell.
The Scrambler was my first "thrill ride" as a kid. I wasn't too brave and it was just my "speed." It was great as long as you didn't get crushed by another rider.It did NOT, however, really float on water.
I don't have much on the last two, except to say that they really set off my claustiphobia anxiety, and they should have made them float on real water.
Thanks for the fun memories!!!
One more note: NEVER try to type "claustrophobia" when you first wake up ! It will not end well.
I wonder if the two red stripey kids are together? And what’s the story on the blue-capped boys and their fearless leader? Little League outing, maybe?
Let’s go to da city and get us a Canada Dry!
That little guy and his red sports convertible are cute! Seeing that little car next to the real cars - makes for a great contrast.
I do recall how much fun all of those other rides were, as a youngster. We had similar ones at Kiddie Land, near my childhood home. Good memories!
I can't help but notice that the restaurant, under the hotdog sign, seems to have an identity crisis. Is it a "cafe," "bar" or "grill"??
Our group needs to all wear matching Disneyland hats so that our Major can keep track of us and not lose anyone.
Thanks, Major, for a fun Saturday outing!
Major-
I was wondering the same thing too, about those blue chapeaus.
Schaefer Beer and Hygrade's all beef frankfurters - what a combination. As Hygrade 'invented' and made the famous Ball Park Franks starting in 1959; I wonder if they weren't allowed to call them that outside of (Detroit) Tiger Stadium, back in those early days-?
As for the mighty pith helmet - the 4th Monday of each month is Pith Helmet Day around the Nanook household. Tomorrow morning begins the cleaning and polishing ritual in preparation for the monthly event - one we all look forward to with great excitement, as you can well imagine-!
Thanks, Major, for these great images.
3rd pic: I just noticed the [fake] duck in the water for the boat ride. Cute! A mermaid would've been even better, right?
What great pics today. I wanna get a belly full of Hygrades and Schaefer and ride the Scrambler. Thanks Major.
I love these pics. The rides also remind me of a "Kiddie Land" that was near my grandparents' house when I was very young. Unfortunately, they tore it down and replaced it with a Taco Bell and a McDonald's.
Now that Sue pointed out the fake duck in the water, I'm noticing a cable attached to just one of the boats. Was that a power cable? And if so, did only one of the boats actually have power and was it just "pulling" all of the other boats behind it?
They tore down the "Kiddie Land," not my grandparents' house. ;-)
TM! :)
They replaced our Kiddie Land with a Costco (not with your grandparents' house).
I just noticed that these are from one month before I was born...
@ TM!-
Yes, that is a power cord, with an old style Twist-Lok connector. Talk about a potential electrical nightmare, if that happens to be 120vac (or greater) - which I suspect it is-! Wow. And is that red, 'bell'-shaped item the cover for the brushes and slip rings for the electrical connections-?? Double wow.
Sue, they paved paradise and put up a......Costco. :-(
Nanook, oooooh! I hope that one boat had adapters in it so the kids could plug in some small kitchen appliances. What could be better than piloting your own boat and toasting bread at the same time......or making some waffles!
@ TM!-
Can you say deep fryer-??!!
K. Martinez, I thought you might enjoy these! I think I know what the usual “Scrambler” graphics look like, but didn’t notice that the ones on this ride were different, so thanks for that. And I have no doubt that a day at this amusement park was something that any kid would have looked forward to!
stu29573, my brother is a car nut, and he has told me about cars made in Japan have never been offered to the US market that have all kinds of retro charm. Seems like the kind of thing that would appeal to all kinds of people here. Ha ha, I thought hot dogs were made from quality cuts of filet mignon! You mean they’re not? And you are so right about the Scrambler, it was fun, but you were either being crushed by someone, or crushing somebody else. I once had a real workout trying to not kill my young niece - I was exhausted by the ride’s end. I don’t think you would have much claustrophobia with plenty of light and air coming in, but… maybe you would?
stu29573, it’s OK, I knew it was a mere typo! I recently typed “neglidgeable” in an email and felt like a real dummy.
Melissa, I don’t think the stripey boys are together, but they probably gave each other a nod of approval on their sartorial choices.
Lou and Sue, I used to love it whenever we’d go to a local carnival or fair - those places tended to have rides very much like these. Funny how a kid is happy to just go around and around in circles, even if it’s on 8 different rides. I think I have a few photos of the Kiddie Land of which you speak! Do a search! Can’t a restaurant be a bar, grill, and cafe all in one? It can in America! I also wondered about all those blue hats, but have no clue what they mean.
Nanook, “Hygrade” reminds me of “Hydrox” cookies, another unappealing name that made me think of Hydrogen and Clorox. I do like me some Ball Park Franks though. They plump when you cook ‘em! Why would Tiger Stadium have had a monopoly on the name “Ball Park Franks”? There was a real, vintage pith helmet at my grandma’s house, in a closet. I never knew it was there until after she died. My mom must have gotten rid of it sadly, I’m sure it was a quality hat.
Lou and Sue, ha ha, I saw that too! And mermaids make everything better.
Jonathan, yep, you have to get nice and full of hot dogs, and beer, and dill pickles, and cotton candy, so that you can really let go on one of those rides!
TokyoMagic!, aren’t you lucky to be living in a land where you can have both Taco Bell and McDonald’s? In Russia all they have is Borscht City, with their mascot, Comrade McProletariat. I assumed the boats were hooked up to basically a horizontal Ferris Wheel contraption, but there are those cables or chains. Who knows.
TokyoMagic!, ha ha, I knew what you meant!
Lou and Sue, my grandparents’ house was replace with three houses on the same lot!
stu29573, it was all a part of my ingenious plan that I am still concocting.
Nanook, oh THAT cable. I was looking at the little chain in between the boats. Electricity and water, what could possibly go wrong?
TokyoMagic!, I don’t have a Costco membership, but sometimes I get to go with my sister. It’s kind of fun in a weird way. But they are not beautiful, that is for sure. I’d like to think that each boat had a cigarette lighter like you found in cars not too long ago - the kind you pushed in, waited until they glowed red hot, and then enjoyed a trip to mentholated flavortown.
Nanook, that is the kind of idea that is going to make you a millionaire!
Sorry that I'm late today, but these are awesome pics! Kennywood has a kiddie carousel and Ferris wheel that are identical to the ones here. Other local parks still have the Allan Herschell helicopters and boats. I've never seen anything like that tiny car ride, though!
Why would Tiger Stadium have had a monopoly on the name “Ball Park Franks”?
Well - according to Wikipedia... The history of Ball Park Franks began in 1958 when the Detroit Tigers became dissatisfied with the hot dogs being sold in their park. In 1959, a meat-packing company from Livonia, Michigan called Hygrade Food Products owned and run by the Slotkin family, won a competition to be the exclusive supplier of hot dogs to the Tigers and Tiger Stadium. Hygrade employee Gus Hauff invented the recipe for the Ball Park Frank in 1958, which to this day remains a secret. Meanwhile, Hygrade launched a contest for its employees in order to come up with the best brand name for their stadium hot dogs, which was won by saleswoman Mary Ann Kurk, with the name "Ball Park Franks".
Love it... I absolutely love it.
These photos remind me of the places my parents used to take me. Those parks were called Kiddieland, and Adventureland ( Chicago area ).
The pictures also remind me of shopping mall carnivals. It was inexpensive, and there was no charge just to walk around and soak up the atmosphere. Yes, sometimes the atmosphere was full of passed out drunks and a few other seedy things. That just gave the carnivals more character... ha-ha-ha.
This blog is a perfect place to take a mental vacation... Know what I mean?
P.I., I grew up going to Kiddieland (the one in Melrose Park) and Adventureland (in Medinah), too! In the 70s, I lived near Adventureland. Did you ever go to "Old Chicago" amusement park (in Bolingbrook) or Great America (in Gurnee)? Good times!
Sue
Sue...
I never went to Old Chicago, or Great America. My parents moved us to California in 1969.
I've heard about Old Chicago from relatives.
According to my mother, we also visted an amusement park called Riverview, but I have no memory of it.
My favorite things about Kiddieland were the trains. Especially the EMD locomotive replica.
Andrew, I was hoping you would see today’s post, thinking that it was right up your alley!
Nanook, I know more about Ball Park Franks than most people. If I ever go on “Jeopardy!”, I hope there is a category called “I Never Sausage a Thing” - questions all about hotdogs.
P.I. I’m sure most of us have experienced a small amusement park or carnival in our lives. I remember one particular instance, my dad wanted to take us to the carnival, and I didn’t want to go. Why? Who knows. I was a dumb kid. But once we got there I had so much fun. It was the first time I’d ever been on a Ferris Wheel, which seemed so tall, but probably wasn’t much higher than 20 feet. I’m glad this blog is your mental-vacation stop!
Lou and Sue, I’m hoping Lou took photos of Kiddieland and Adventureland!
Terrific thread.
I see a lot of familiar rides here, especially the mini-Ferris Wheel. The Fresno Story Book Land in Roeding Park had one very similar. The helicopters look familiar too.
The young man in red stripes is very earnestly driving his vehicles, so cute. Sure hope no one got shocked.
Thanks for all the great background on the various rides and foodstuffs. Come for the pictures, stay for the comments.
The name "Hygrade" is vaguely disturbing to me, partly for the subversive connotations it casts on it's competitors, who must all be "Lo-grade" by comparison, and who wants a low grade frankfurter?
Major, I "sau" what you did there...
Cheers all.
JG
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