tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25922463.post4755688005331087490..comments2024-03-28T16:44:05.806-07:00Comments on GORILLAS DON'T BLOG: Vintage Magic Mountain PostcardsMajor Pepperidgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09843598326995116014noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25922463.post-78735070924931997032015-08-27T08:09:42.789-07:002015-08-27T08:09:42.789-07:00@Ken, that's why i had "graphic designer&...@Ken, that's why i had "graphic designer" in quotes...LOL,<br /><br />JGAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25922463.post-26868019148873913452015-08-26T21:17:08.895-07:002015-08-26T21:17:08.895-07:00@ Dean Finder-
I seem to recall some time back in...@ Dean Finder-<br /><br />I seem to recall some time back in the late 1970's a Sid & Marty Krofft puppet show at Magic Mountain - using blacklight - and the puppets were 'dancing' to Hot Butter's 1972 version of the tune <i>Popcorn</i>. Coincidentally, the song was written by Gershon Kingsley - one-half of the team (Jean-Jacques Perrey-Gershon Kingsley) who wrote <i>Baroque Hoedown</i>, famously adapted by Disney as the main theme for The Main Street Electrical Parade.Nanookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07255357829181568172noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25922463.post-76228644473442066002015-08-26T20:50:28.331-07:002015-08-26T20:50:28.331-07:00Those trolls have a very Sid & Marty Krofft (L...Those trolls have a very Sid & Marty Krofft (Lidsville, Sigmund the Sea Monster) look to them.Dean Findernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25922463.post-57193342291045484022015-08-26T17:53:22.930-07:002015-08-26T17:53:22.930-07:00JG, it is strange that a hipster "graphic des...JG, it is strange that a hipster "graphic designer" has never heard of Peter Max. I remember his work well in my youth. There are lots of youngsters I've talked to about things that were popular in the 1950's, 60's and 70's. and they haven't a clue what I'm talking about. Even my parents shared with us things popular in their youth of the 1930's and 40's that I knew about things that were popular before I was born. Glad you enjoyed these.K. Martinezhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03960970051790617367noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25922463.post-35628491126638934082015-08-26T17:42:16.242-07:002015-08-26T17:42:16.242-07:00TokyoMagic!, Magic Mountain had a rough start in t...TokyoMagic!, Magic Mountain had a rough start in those early years so they began booking big name entertainment to drive attendance up. That along with increasing their attraction count helped, but it was when they opened their first big coaster "The Revolution" that things really took off.<br /><br />The coaster renaissance that began in the early 1970's with Kings Island's "Racer" in 1972 and Six Flags Over Georgia's "Great American Scream Machine" in 1973 proved that adding roller coasters to the park roster increased attendance substantially at the new modern theme parks. Magic Mountain was just following the proven success and trend of adding big coasters to drive attendance up. So, it was not that Magic Mountain management thought the public wanted it. It was previously proven that it was what the public wanted.<br /><br />Even Disney has done this. Since Space Mountain opened in 1977, all the major "E" ticket level attractions have been primarily thrill attractions or contained thrill elements within them. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Star Tours, Splash Mountain, Indiana Jones Adventure, Tower of Terror and California Screamin' are examples. Even at Walt Disney World Horizons was taken out for Mission Space, World of Motion for Test Track and Snow White's Scary Adventures was exchanged for the "thrills" of the Seven Dwarfs Mine coaster. Ironically it's the older sedate rides I appreciate more, now that I'm older.K. Martinezhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03960970051790617367noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25922463.post-19700244320266692442015-08-26T15:14:36.344-07:002015-08-26T15:14:36.344-07:00I visited MM maybe 3 times, all in the early '...I visited MM maybe 3 times, all in the early '70's. It was a fun trip and we could go and come back in the same day, not possible with Disneyland.<br /><br />I recall it as a nice place without much care for theming and detail, but enjoyable rides for a variety of ages. I think they suffered a bit for not having the movie/media tie-ins, it was more like going to the fair, except clean.<br /><br />Sad to hear that most of the things I enjoyed are gone. Oh well, I've gotten used to it.<br /><br />Cool postcards with the Peter Max thing going on. Can you believe I was talking to a hipster "graphic designer" the other day who had never heard of Peter Max? Kids these days.<br /><br />JGAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25922463.post-62985226168901645592015-08-26T14:10:24.206-07:002015-08-26T14:10:24.206-07:00Major, I do remember Spilikin' Corners. It se...Major, I do remember Spilikin' Corners. It seemed to always be popular when I went back there.....people dipping their own candles and watching the candy making demonstrations. I guess stuff like that isn't popular anymore? Or maybe it just doesn't bring in the customers like another mega coaster does.<br /><br />K. Martinez, I also remember both of those trains. When you think about how many attractions they had like Disneyland that are now gone.....a large scale train to transfer guests from one area of the park to another, and a smaller scale train that goes past a fictitious village (Trollywood)....TWO "Skyway" rides.....TWO flume rides (granted one is still there....for now).....an "Autopia" style attraction....a monorail around the park....a motorboat-type ride.....and a "teacup" ride where the turntable lifts up and tilts! Not to mention that the Dragon cars were very much like a slow/slower moving PeopleMover. All gone. I wonder if attendance was dropping, or was replacing everything with rollercoasters what somebody thought the public wanted.<br /><br />Oh, and I loved the Magic Pagoda funhouse!TokyoMagic!https://www.blogger.com/profile/16340756514811789233noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25922463.post-646096057810883412015-08-26T10:28:18.397-07:002015-08-26T10:28:18.397-07:00TokyoMagic!, Thanks for the article link. I loved...TokyoMagic!, Thanks for the article link. I loved it! There are some great images of stuff I recognize there. While Magic Mountain isn't what it used to be in the charm department, I think it would've been long gone if Six Flags didn't build it up and establish the place as a mega-thrills park. Most sizeable amusement/theme parks went this route. It’s too bad they didn’t retain some of those early attractions to balance out the park. To my dismay, I was surprised by the removal of the “Log Jammer” (one of the few remaining original attractions) for another coaster which there seems to be no shortage of at SFMM.<br /><br />Nancy, Glad you enjoyed these. The monorails and sky rides are long gone. It seems SFMM isn’t into scenic rides anymore unless you consider zooming by at high speeds in a coaster train scenic. Stay tuned, as there's probably a local favorite park of yours showing up here soon.<br /><br />Melissa, Those trolls and their names were Magic Mountain all the way. I'm not a fan of the nomenclature Disney uses on their attractions these days either. Short and sweet is best.<br /><br />Major, I sure do remember Spillikin’ Corners. I also remember the Trollywood train, Grand Centennial Excursion Railroad and Magic Pagoda. It’s too bad they didn’t keep those. Maybe they were too high cost in maintenance and operation to justify the rider count. Who knows! As for Bugs and Tweety, I loved seeing them when they roamed the park at Marriott's Great America. They seemed to fit in perfectly there. Not so at Magic Mountain. Thanks again.K. Martinezhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03960970051790617367noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25922463.post-65654902258740872622015-08-26T08:53:16.949-07:002015-08-26T08:53:16.949-07:00TokyoMagic!, I know what you mean! While MM has lo...TokyoMagic!, I know what you mean! While MM has lots of amazing roller coasters, it has lost the charm that it had in those early days. I was lucky to visit that park shortly after it opened. Remember “Spillikin Corners”?! <br /><br />TokyoMagic! again, thanks for the link to the photos of that guy’s collection. Wow! He has some amazing stuff. It is a bummer that the troll was replaced with Bugs Bunny, since the troll was the best part. <br /><br />Nancy, unfortunately the things you like the best have all been removed. No more sky ride or monorail or bumper boats; who knows, maybe the public really wouldn’t like those anymore.<br /><br />Melissa, “El Bumpo” was always a favorite. I still remember seeing the trolls and the wizard walking around, and miss them to this day. Visitors seem happy to see Bugs and Tweety, or Wonder Woman and the Green Lantern - but it’s just not the same. <br /><br />Melissa again, he might be a king, but he is humble and lovable. He still eats children, though.Major Pepperidgehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09843598326995116014noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25922463.post-45917557214669486262015-08-26T06:10:12.158-07:002015-08-26T06:10:12.158-07:00And how do we know he's King Troll? BECAUSE HE...And how do we know he's King Troll? BECAUSE HE'S WEARING A CROWN. Even Grandma can figure that one out.Melissahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06169920944565828337noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25922463.post-59355478181210088052015-08-26T06:08:36.725-07:002015-08-26T06:08:36.725-07:00These are too cool! Thanks, Ken!
What really tick...These are too cool! Thanks, Ken!<br /><br />What really tickles me about this era of magic Mountain is the no-nonsense efficiency of nomenclature. No need to be clever and cutesy with fanypants names that most people aren't going to remember. "El Bumpo," "Bleep," and "Blorp," are good, solid, simple names everybody can get down with. None of your "Gran Fiesta Tour Featuring the Three Caballeros" nonsense. Melissahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06169920944565828337noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25922463.post-85954010074939479732015-08-26T05:51:16.470-07:002015-08-26T05:51:16.470-07:00very cool!! these postcards are great. I love t...very cool!! these postcards are great. I love the double-arm Ferris wheel...so very 70s in its style and colors. <br /><br />I have to say that the first one is my fave, but I love the one in the middle as well, featuring the monorail and sky ride. so much going on here. maybe water would have been the answer for Disneyland's Flying Saucers....looks like fun!<br /><br />thanks for the fun look! :-)Nancyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09895614694411482044noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25922463.post-11079228899933127702015-08-26T03:32:03.480-07:002015-08-26T03:32:03.480-07:00I found the site that I mentioned above. Yep, thi...I found the site that I mentioned above. Yep, this guy has the horse statue, but unfortunately, it wasn't a happy ending for the troll that used to be riding on the horse. Here's that site: http://www.thecoasterguy.com/2012/03/06/treasures-from-six-flags-magic-mountains-past/ TokyoMagic!https://www.blogger.com/profile/16340756514811789233noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25922463.post-83090228817411648322015-08-26T03:20:01.314-07:002015-08-26T03:20:01.314-07:00G-R-O-O-O-O-V-Y, man! I love the psychedelic desi...G-R-O-O-O-O-V-Y, man! I love the psychedelic designs. Sometimes I forget that Disneyland and Knott's aren't the only ones THAT RUIN EVERYTHING! Sadly, so much of what is shown in those pictures is long gone. I wonder what they did with that statue of the troll on the horse? I saw some pics online of a private collection of Magic Mt. items including an Eagle's Flight gondola and s Crazy Barrel vehicle....plus a whole lot more. I can't remember if this person had that statue or not.TokyoMagic!https://www.blogger.com/profile/16340756514811789233noreply@blogger.com