Long Beach Pike
Here's an oldie for you on this 4th of July Saturday! Check out this clear, colorful photo of kids aboard a typical children's car ride, the kind you might see at scores of amusement parks, carnivals, and fairs. It was labeled "Long Beach, June, 1949" - over 70 years ago. It's so clear and colorful! It didn't take much brain power to put this little ride at the Long Beach Pike, one of a number of wonderful seaside amusement parks that dotted the California coast. I wondered what the sign in the upper right said - all we can see is the letters "...NIA". California? Dipsomania? Petunia? After a little bit of research, I discovered that part of the Pike was known as "VIRGINIA PARK". Bingo!
Here's an undated postcard view of The Pike, with the Virginia Park area in the lower half. Notice the building in the distance that says "VIRGINIA" on top. I am not 100% certain, but I think that our go-around little car ride is in the lower right of this photo. The famous "Cyclone Racer" roller coaster is in the upper right.
Here's a screen grab of a clipping from an October 4, 1952 article in Billboard Magazine annoucing that The Nu-Pike had acquired Virginia Park. Notice the mention of Dave Bradley, creator of Beverly Park in Los Angeles, and friend of Walt Disney (apparently Walt sought Bradley's input while planning Disneyland):
I was very intrigued by a Billboard Magazine article about Virginia Park from July 12, 1952, with a mention of a new attraction called "Whispering River", created by a man named Elmer Velare. Here's the description: Velare has gone all out in the creation of new effects. To the left of the entrance and extending from the ceiling is a large cage skeleton on which is a band of six monkey figures. The cage structure turns with the “band” remaining stationary. They “act” during the playing of a popular record. The lights dim as those behind a screen come up to show hulas and a bongo player, who “perform” during the playing of exotic music. The cycle is completed when the back lights dim and those in front on the monkey band brighten.
To the right of the entrance is a water wheel with the figure of a miller waving to the crowd. Waterfall effects are created with automatic floods and cellophane strips. The front is a blaze of specially blended bright colors. There are many modernistic designs carrying out the over-all effect.
The interior figures are placed at every turn, and Elmer Velare is now working on the final trick. It will be three skunks located near the exit. They will perform their well-known trick with H2O being substituted.
Sounds pretty awesome!
Meanwhile, here's a later photo (must be post-1952) where the sign for Virginia Park has been removed.
Just for fun, here's a few other vintage postcards featuring The Nu-Pike (the post WWII name):
I hope all of you have a safe, wonderful 4th of July!
28 comments:
Major-
As much fun as all of this looks (gotta love the
'Whispering River"), this was the very thing Walt was trying avoid with the creation of Disneyland.
Thanks, Major - and a Happy 4th to all.
Wow, color photos that old that look that good are really rare. I love the old golf cart in the last shot. So much to see and do here. Does anyone know if any of the park survived? What is there now? Thanks Major, Happy Fourth to all.
That kid in the first shot looks like my cousin, except that he wouldn't be born for about another ten years. I was born three years after him, so I sure wasn't there!
To the left of the car ride, I spy the "Drive-a-boat." I well remember these! The boats on this one are the fancy polished wood planked speedboats of the day. As a kid I loved this ride, and even though going around in a circle in a trough of water doesn't seem that exciting now, I can't help but feel a little of the old thrill when I get into one of Disney's trough water rides! It's funny how one's experiences influence each other even decades apart. Nice pictures today! Thanks!
Most of those rides would make me barf. It still looks like fun though. I'll be in the fire truck with Timmy.
Happy 4th to all.
Zach
Like Nanook said, this is definitely the antithesis to Disneyland, but I still love it. I mean, the Cyclone Racer alone... if only I was in a different era. Have you seen the degree to which some people are obsessed with that ride? It's insane how they study the placement of every board.
Now, old amusement ride ID is definitely not as impressive as old car IDs, but I figure that I'll still do it anyway. Starting off, a Little Dipper coaster is to the left in the first pic, a Bradley and Kayne original later adopted by Allan Herschell. I agree that that's the same car ride in the second view, further backed up by the fact that the same airplane ride in the first image is also visible.
In #3 we have a Fly-O-Plane and Loop-O-Plane at left, plus trains on the Cyclone Racer lift! The coolest thing in #4 is one of those great Rotor fronts. (For those who don't know, it was obstructed because you had to pay admission to ride and if you just wanted to see the novelty inside.
In the second-to-last picture, there's a different Rotor in the background plus what looks to be a Schiff Wild Mouse. There's a Tilt-A-Whirl behind the double wheel (missing its cars in the last shot), and I think that I can see a diving bell next to the Rotor, similar to what was at POP.
In the last shot, we can see the Laff in the Dark behind the Octopus (different from a Spider or Monster, BTW).
Have a great 4th everyone, and THANKS Major for the best post ever. :-)
Wow, Stripey Boy and Little Girl Blue are super-photogenic tykes. They could have been child models. And the picture is so clear and crisp!
The Pike is one of those places I would have loved to see back in the day. Although, as Nanook pointed out, it was sort of the anti-Disneyland, in pictures and film it seems to have had a certain rakish charm of its own. I’m glad it was used as a filming location so often, leaving a record we can see and hear,
Major, thank you for this fun trip, back in time. And, Andrew, thanks for identifying the rides!
In my younger years, I would've loved these spinning rides and spent all day on 'em. (Andrew, enjoy these while you can!!) Now, I think I'll visit 'The Jewel Box' and then get some ice cream, next door, and then watch the youngsters having fun. Anyone wish to join me? I'll save you a seat.
Happy 4th of July!
Sue
P.S. Do you know how many other countries have a 4th of July?
All of them. ;)
Major, thanks for bringing such fun to our Fourth of July! You did a great job of sleuthing but I think the first part of the sign behind our young rider is too short for the word "Virginia" so I'm going to place my bet that is says "Mania Pork".
I was trying to figure out what our friend has in his hand till I realized he's in a fire truck and tugging on the cord for the bell. He definitely has a good career ahead of him. Whereas the kid in the background with the stripped tie is probably going to go into investment banking. Look at the pipes on that roadster he's driving! It must be one of those Duesenbergs.
I think these photos are a good reminder of what a great place Long Beach was back in the early days, including the Whispering River with it's cellophane waterfalls. I would like liked to check out the Jewel Box with it's ice cream and hamburgers. I'll bet they made fantastic milkshakes! I'd definitely skip the Tilt-A-Whirl after that.
Happy 4th to everyone!
Surprised we didn't get a "Hellooo, sailor!" from Melissa for that trio of Royal Navy swabbies in the "Howdy from Long Beach" post card. Probably too busy looking for babushkas... ;-)
Wish I could say I remembered this place, but I don't. I know we were close once, but it wasn't the sort of place my parents like to go. The Cyclone Racer looks awesome.
Major-
Should have also mentioned the Laff In the Dark was prominently featured in an episode from the original Perry Mason series. It was from Season 6, Episode 18, The Case of the Two-Faced Turn-a-bout. It originally aired on February 14, 1963.
A few more tidbits: there's a picture of a similar monkey band to the one that was in the Whispering River at the top of this page. Kennywood had a similar set at the entrance to their Old Mill decades ago. For the record, I spelled Bradley and "Kayne" wrong in my other comment; it's actually Kaye.
In the third to last image in today's post, I am really seeing Pac-Man in the fence.
The place certainly was run down by the time I saw it in the 60s. I remember my high school buddy and I driving to the Pike one evening in his Austin-Healy Sprite to ride the Racer before it closed that month. Hardly anyone was there...it cost 25 cents a ride and the fellow operating it looked like he started when it was built. After the first ride we could simply pay him a quarter to stay onboard for another run. It was a rough ride...but an unforgettable one in the near darkness. You can't duplicate that today. On the way home we drove down a nearly empty PCH before we ran into the pea soup fog that used to exist in OC. All this with the top down and the heater blasting. Those were fun days (and nights). Happy 4th KS
”Kennywood had a similar set at the entrance to their Old Mill decades ago.”
I was just looking earlier today at some preview pictures of the Old Mill with its Old West theme restored; I can’t wait to see it in person. Too bad they couldn’t get the monkey band back!
@Chuck, good catch on the jolly jack tars! My sailor-spotting sense must have taken the holiday weekend off!
We visited here when I was young, maybe late 60’s. I don’t remember much but skee-ball and the Ferris wheel. Also the double wheel, which we did not ride. I recall it as kind of grubby and grotty and smelling of stale fried things.
I visited Long Beach a couple of years ago for a convention, the same trip where we stayed in the Queen Mary, those photos are on Tokyo’s blog Meet The World.
@JC Shannon, the tall white building in the background is still there. all of the Nu-pike is gone, including the big coaster to the right. The area in the photos is now occupied by the Convention Center and a Hyatt hotel (very nice).
The land to the left has been rebuilt into an outlet mall, because we need more of those. It’s not bad, just dull.
Oddly, even though I had been there before, even several times, nothing looked familiar but the Queen Mary, which hadn’t changed much since the 70’s, except to run down,
Major, a great post for the Fourth, thank you. Lots of memories here.
JG
By the way, Here locally (Dallas area) Sandy Lake Park closed last year after being family run for many many years. It was the home to one of the last original Laff in the Dark rides. I have no idea what happened to it, but I hope it was saved.
Those photos really took me back in time. My parents took me to the Pike many times in the early 50s. I clearly remember riding in that fire engine. The pony ride and boats too. Once Disneyland opened we never went back to the Pike but it will always be part of my childhood.
Thanks for the trip down memory lane Major!
I'm late so a quick one. I agree. that first pic is incredibly clear and colorful. Not only that, the kids and and adults and their attire don't look like '49. Could be the 50s or even early 60s. Those pants on the boy in front look like they might be wool or something similar. I suppose that might indicate an earlier time.
PS Interesting site Andrew, thanks.
Thanks Major and a Happy 4th to all.
Hi guys, sorry I have been relatively incommunicado… I’m out doing family stuff! Happy 4th of July to all of you!
Nanook, as much as I love Disneyland, The Pike looks like it was a pretty fun place in its heyday, I would love to see the “Whispering River” ride. Sure, the whole place got seedy eventually, but different isn’t necessarily bad.
Jonathan, yeah, that little cart is cute. Why walk at the grocery store when you can ride? As far as I know, the whole park is gone, but I can’t say for certain.
stu29573, it’s funny how many kiddie rides are just variations on “goin’ around in a circle”. Little planes, boats, cars, merry-go-rounds, and many more. Sounds like the “Drive-a-boat” used miniature versions of Chris Craft boats! Very stylin’. Like you, I love the “water trough” rides at a Disney park, so smooth and somehow relaxing. Glad you liked today’s post!
zach, I guess I am lucky to not suffer from motion sickness (for the most part), I know so many people who hate spinning rides of any kind.
Andrew, wow, you outdid yourself! Thanks for all the ride IDs! I was wondering what the Rotor was, but I’ve been on a couple of those in my day. Fun in a weird way. Love the inside photo with the people stuck to the wall! I didn’t know that there were fans of the Long Beach version of the Cyclone Racer - is it supposed to be identical to the one in New York? The diving bell has always fascinated me - ditto the “Laff In The Dark” rides, if only I could go back in time and see them! Thank you.
Melissa, yeah, I was very happy to find this beautiful slide, such a nice moment in history. Cute kids don’t hurt either. And as I said to Nanook, I would find the non-Disneyness of The Pike a big part of the appeal!
Lou and Sue, what is “The Jewel Box”?? Is that street slang for PRISON? And is “ice cream” slang for drugs? ;-) As I have learned with my niece and nephew, sometimes just watching the kids have fun is enough.
Omnispace, “Mania Pork”, another great band name! “Ladies and gentlemen, please put your hands together for…. MANIA PORK!” (crowd goes insane). Yes, the boy is ringing that bell, much to the annoyance of anybody within earshot. The girl hasn’t figured it out yet. Reading about the Whispering River ride makes me wonder how many other trippy, amazing dark rides existed, maybe with no record of them at all today.
Chuck, I was wondering about those sailor outfits. Royal Navy, huh? I’ll bet they had a good time at The Pike! My mom said my grandparents would NEVER have taken us to a place like that, much to my sadness.
Nanook, I have another pic - a night photo - where you can see the “Laff In The Dark” façade in the background. It’s scanned somewhere, not sure why I haven’t shared it yet. I wonder if that Perry Mason episode is on YouTube? I’d love to see the interior of the ride.
Andrew, thanks for that link to the photo of the monkey band! And you get extra points for your correction. They can be redeemed at any K-Mart store.
KS, I envy your experience at The Pike, even in its run-down state! It sounds incredibly fun, pea-soup fog and all. Happy 4th!
Melissa, oh, I have an antique pinback button for a ride called “The Old Mill”, and I always wondered what it was. Not sure if it is from Kennywood though.
JG, ah, that heady aroma of slightly burnt fry oil. Intoxicating! I’ll never forget going to the L.A. County Fair, and watching a kid barf when we first got there. I could not get the smell out of my nose, it was gross. You are welcome for that story, by the way. Outlet malls are great because they have low-quality products at prices that are not that low. We have a gigantic outlet mall in Camarillo - I’ve never seen a bigger one - and yet I rarely find anything I want.
sstu29573, aw, it always makes me sad to learn that a family-owned park that has been around for decades finally closes. I agree, I hope somebody with some money and a love of history saved the Laff in the Dark ride!
Grant, did you live in Long Beach? I think one of the reasons that we didn’t go is that Long Beach was just a little too far to drive from The Valley. It’s also why we never went to Santa’s Village near Lake Arrowhead.
DrGoat, this one was hand-dated, which is an exception rather than the rule. I was so glad, because I might have guessed it was from the 50s - partly because the quality of the color is so nice. Wool pants, sounds itchy!
Major, the answer to what was inside a Laff in the Dark ride is...amazingly little. Because the ride is pretty much pitch dark, the "scenes" that suddenly light up (sometimes with a scream) right in front of you are very bare bones (sometimes literally). I saw pictures of the Sandy Lake Laff in the Dark with the lights on and it was pretty much an empty room with a rickety looking track and junk piled up here and there where the "gags" were. There were even very few (if any) walls! Not what I would have expected!
If I know the Gorilla Scouts like I think I do, most of you have probably already seen it, but I just had to share this groovy 1970s roller coaster/amusement park documentary posted by Vincent Price. You California kids will probably see some familiar sights.
https://youtu.be/u4dy2Ixaqsk
“Posted” should be “hosted.” Darn voice-to-text.
Andrew, You are the man! Fantastic job identifying the old amusement rides. I'm far more passionate about old amusement park ride IDs than old car IDs. That's just the way I roll.
Thanks for the post, Major.
Major-
The two "Cyclone's" are the same in name only. The Coney Island version is a single track, kinda 'twister style'. The Pike's version is a twin track racer, 'out-and-back' style.
As for the interior of the Laff In the Dark ride, I'm uncertain if the few 'scenes' seen in the "Perry Mason" episode are from the attraction or not, but I can probably send you some of the footage of it.
Well, I am super late to the party, today. Major, you really should send out notices when you have a new post! ;-) Hey, it's my own fault. I was up late last night, as usual, but just somehow forgot to check in. Then today, I also somehow forgot. I'll just blame the holiday!
Ken Martinez shared pics with us of a dilapidated Pike, about 6 years ago. Among those pics, I believe, is two shots of the "Whispering River" attraction. It appears to have been a walk-through attraction, rather than a boat ride, as it's name sort of implies. Below is the link to the older GDB post with those photos and it's pics #1 and #6 that show the attraction. You can see the cage in both pics and it has about seven spotlights inside of it.....maybe one for each monkey? You can see the waterwheel in the upper right hand corner of pic #6.
http://gorillasdontblog.blogspot.com/2014/02/special-guest-photos-long-beach-pike.html
I remember walking past that facade, the one and only time that I ever visited the Pike. I just can't remember if it was open. I remember that the Laff In The Dark ride was closed. Everything was rundown and my grandmother wasn't too happy with the situation, so we never went back.
Stu, don't forget that the Laff In The Dark ride at The Pike, had the REAL dead body of Elmer McCurdy! (He has his own Wikipedia page!)
TM - Thanks for sharing that additional information! Those pics certainly look like Whispering River. Perhaps it was some sort of fun house? I can imagine those bridges oscillating up and down. And yes, I read about Elmer. :|
Major, in answer to your question, if we lived in Long Beach, no, we lived in Anaheim, just a few miles from Disneyland. (I'm your avid reader who's mom staffed the Crane Co. Bathroom of Tomorrow exhibit at the Park.)
My parents both grew up in Huntington Park and spent their childhood, teen and young adult years going to the Pike. It was an easy Pacific Red Car ride for them. So even though it was a fair drive to the Pike from Anaheim they took me there often.
Once the much closer Disneyland opened they started new family memories there.
This is a great blog! I remember as a really young boy riding Bulgy and as years went by many trips to Nu Pike or as we later refered to it as just the Pike. Would on occasion drive down from West Covina at 5:00 a m and stroll. One time we got on the Swinging Gym before the park opened and to the right of it was a single tub loop o plane painted dark green. No roof and I seem to remember no door but it had a swing down front like the octopus.At that time the flat rides were on rented spaces in this area and private owned.
By the late 70s much of it was gone but my soon to be wife would head there to play pin ball. I lived in Azusa by then and bought a home pin ball and held tournaments on the weekends with my 2 Cousins that were divorcing and holed up at my place. Good times!!
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