The first clip shows Blackpool Pleasure Beach at a time when I first started visiting the park. I have great visual memories from the time.
I love seeing The Big Dipper with its Ball on the Turnaround (as opposed to the "Tear" that appeared soon after Leonard Thompson died.) I love also seeing images of The Hurricane Jets, Pleasure Beach Express, Reel, Monster, Calypso, Log Flume, the inside of the Fun House (The monorail used to run through it) and The Speed Boats.
The Speed Boats were actually motor boats that you steered around a course and were situated between The Reel and Funhouse.
For the first 4mins (approx) of the first clip I'm going to play detective and try and suss out what year it was filmed by looking at what we can (and can't) see..
Here goes..Please feel free to disagree and add any comments.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QHeLQ3Rnjuk&feature=related
I'm typing this as I think here.
The Log Flumes first appeared circa ' 67 as did the monorail and Leonard Thompson died in '76 so we can date the first part of the first clip between '67 and '76
Refining this a little:
I couldn't see any sign of Tom Sawyer Rafts which opened in 1973 and we know The Monster opened in 1968 /69..so we can probably now date the clip between '68 and '72. (Year before Tom Sawyer rafts appeared)
Astroswirl was there (Seen from top of Big Dipper) That would date the film at its earliest 1969 ish..
..I told you I am thinking this as I'm typing this
The Wild Mouse has an admission price in old money...Now then..hang on.. decimal currency came in in 1971.
We must be talking 1970 here..
Yeah..I'm going to plump for 1970
Good Game! Good Game!
Cheers
Gary
Please pass through the turnstiles if you are riding again.