What kid didn’t relish going to an amusement park when they were growing up? A fun-filled afternoon with Goofy, Daffy, Minnie and Mickey was a sure recipe for excitement and adventure.
In Studio City, a quick fix could be had at Kiddy Land on Ventura Boulevard, with its pedestrian rides for tiny tots. But as we grew older, other places demanded our attention. Here are some of my favorites.
Disneyland:
I think I was about four or five when I first visited Disneyland, which opened to tremendous fanfare in 1955. Although I was too young to go on many of the rides back then, I was permitted to go on the teacups. That was a big mistake. I got sick on that ride when my two sisters kept churning that wheel in the middle to make the cup spin like a top. So much for that hot dog I had for lunch.
There was also that flying saucer ride that was a futuristic version of the bumper cars. The single-seater spacecraft would glide along on a pocket of air. All you had to do was lean to change directions.
P.O.P.
My pals on Facebook and I have recently been exchanging memories about Pacific Ocean Park, a cool amusement park on Pier Ave. in Ocean Park which opened in 1958. Remember those oval gondolas that were suspended on wires over the ocean? It was so scary to look below and wonder if the sharks’d eat you if the ride broke down.
How about that ride where the bottom fell out, and your body turned into cement while the cylinder spun around? Daredevils would try to contort into a variety of positions, before the adventure ended and you slid back down to the floor below.
Marineland:
This precursor to Sea World opened in 1954, and braced the Palos Verdes Peninsula. Remember Bubbles the Whale and the other marine exhibits? Sadly, Marineland ceased operation in 1987 when Sea World purchased this oceanarium. The property was abandoned for a number of years until the Terranea Resort was erected in 2009.
Knott’s Berry Farm:
I still remember panning for gold at Ghost Town, and that crooked shack where the broom would stand up straight. The jams and jellies were delightful.
Special thanks: http://www.westland.net/venicehistory/mapsdocs/poppier-map.htm This is a great link sent to me courtesy of Andy Steiner. Very interactive.....great vintage photos.
What were your favorite amusement parks and what rides do you remember?
