PLAYLAND DARK RIDES
We call them Dark Rides. Rides that take you into the dark via a moving car, boat, flying carpet..... whatever. Playland, like many other Amusement Parks around the country had dark rides: Limbo, Dark Mystery, Laff in the Dark, etc. Scary, hokey, odd, weird? Maybe! But, SF Playland'S DARK RIDES have an interesting connection with Walt Disney and Disneyland.....
George Whitney Jr. was hired by Walt Disney as an advisor. He was employee #7 at Disneyland. George Jr advised Disney on crowd control and ride waiting areas or 'queues' as they're called. Also, he advised Walt on Dark Ride construction, maintenance and design. George was the ONLY advisor on the Disneyland project team that had actually worked and ran an Amusement Park! He became the first manager of Fantasyland. As you walk down Main Street look for his name in one of the windows, a tribute to his extensive input to the building of the Magic Kingdom.
Originally, Dark Rides were created by two manufacturers: The Pretzel Company and Traver/Chambers Engineering Company. Throughout the Photos you will see references to both manufacturers. Playland had at least one of each....
Want some Dark Ride History with a little Playland thrown. Click on link below.
A Dark Past: A History of the Dark Ride
Sounds from a Dark Ride
This was said to be a Dark Ride, yet it pre-dates the Dark Ride genre.... -James R Smith Collection
Traver/Chambers dark rides had their own identity. Marketed as a cheaper product compared to the Pretzel rides, the cars were made from wood. But, Traver/Chambers had some tricks up their sleeve....
Laff in the Dark.com -James R Smith Collection
Close up of the Traver/Chambers cars
Playland's first dark ride... 1936
-Dennis O'Rorke
Traver's LITD car design. He had to make his patent different from Pretzels, so he added a 3rd floor contact mechanism.
An interesting design feacture was that the seat backs of the cars were able to flip back to add to the effects.
That piece of brass looking strip of metal on the left is what saved Traver/Chambers from a huge Pretzel lawsuit. http://www.laffinthedark.com/
Traver/Chambers had some fun MOVING props. Car activated or triggered. The kicking mule was very popular. -Laffinthedark.com
These may look like simple props... they are! But when light triggered in the dark, some thought it was pretty shocking. http://www.laffinthedark.com/
One of Traver/Chambers original Pop-Up gags. http://www.laffinthedark.com/
Playland's first Pretzel ride. Early 1940's.
The classic Pretzel car
Pretzel's orignal stunts (gags) were pretty boring. Maybe a lite up prop or a sound. Chambers/Traver added motion! Pretzel wasn't going to stand for that. They added their Flying Skeletons! http://www.laffinthedark.com/
Moving alligator Pretzel stunt. Rockaway Playland http://www.laffinthedark.com/
A Playland Pretzel Car. Playland Not at the BEach -PNATB
INTERIOR
http://www.laffinthedark.com/
It's hard to tell... http://www.laffinthedark.com/
http://www.laffinthedark.com/
Dark Mystery moved from Safeway block to Chutes Block in early 50's. This included an expansion and better stunts.
The facade was built by local Italian artisians. Who built Limbo has yet to be discovered, but I'm thinking Pretzel.
Opened in 1958.
- Dennis O'Rorke
- Dennis O'Rorke
- Dennis O'Rorke
- Dennis O'Rorke
-Denis Englander
- Dennis O'Rorke
- Dennis O'Rorke?
-Rick Grant
Dark Mystery makeover. Still a Pretzel ride.
