Shoot the Chutes !

(1921-1950)

 

Before 1929, Playland at the Beach was known as Chutes At The Beach as early as 1921. When the Whitney Brothers took control of the park it became Playland at the Beach.  Actually, it became Whitney's at the Beach, but the signs all said Playland, so that stuck. Actually, PLAYLAND was a common used name for Amusement Parks around the country at the time. 

 

The Chutes were basically a Boat ride (like a modern LOG Ride) that climbed up to a height and then rushed down a water chute. "SHOOT the Chutes," was a common phrase.  The Chutes was quite a huge wooden structure with monsterous lift pulleys. It had a rivers and  lakes of water. The boats actually went subterranean under the Midway and popped back up on the Lift Hill. It's been reported that the tunnel was pitch black!

 

Looff outdid himself on the construction... Always trying to save space, he build the Bob Sled Dipper coaster into the superstructure of the Chutes. The Single structure supported 2 rides..... later three... but that's another story.

 

​The Chutes Ride was originally created by Captain Paul Boyton for the 1893 World's Columbia Exposition in Chicago.

 

The Chutes were build around 1920-21 by Arthur Loof. Some say he designed the Chutes, although a patent was held by Captain Boyton.  It was said to be the tallest Chutes in the North America.... Whether that's true or good advertising is up to debate.  George Whitney closed the Chutes in 1950. 

 

Rider account: 1940's. The boat was loaded back to front. There were no restraints or seat belts, only a hand rail. The boat moved forward and caught the conveyor belt which lefted the boat about 10 feet above the ground level. As it approached Cabrillo the sleuth made a quick right turn, then picked up speed, west along side Cabrillo. The boat dropped about 20 feet into the undersground tunnel. The tunnel was pitch black! Moving west, the boat made a slow turn North, still traveling in complete darkness. Around the area of the It Stand it caught onto the Lift hill and slowly pull yu upward. A quarter the way up you emerged from the darkness.  Reaching the top of the Chutes structure, the boats kind of made a slow rolling motion and u-turn. Facing South, the boat would then plunge down the Drop Hill splashing into the lagoon with a great splash and dislacement of water. Riders would get wet.