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Post by robert on Oct 11, 2007 18:39:32 GMT -5
Oh, it's a shame that young people have no appreciation for irreplaceable stuff, they vandalize it, and the staff is forced to remove it and throw it out because it can't be fixed. Most vandals don't care that the props were built by a guy by the name of Bill Tracy in 1962 and that he passed away in the early 70's, they just get their kicks out of destroying them.
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Post by notlmpresed on Oct 11, 2007 19:16:29 GMT -5
Robert--Yeah, I am somewhat familiar with other Tracy attractions, especially in WW, NJ. When I was in Wildwood, NJ last year, I spent half a day in the Wildwood Historical Museum digging up old photos of Wacky, Pirate Ship Skua, Jungle Land and the Nugget. Based on the pictures I saw (I made copies for my own collection), Trimper’s Haunted House was pretty much a replica as far as effects are concerned. I would have to see your floor layout to determine whether or not the ride’s layout was similar, too. I give so much credit to those who try to preserve these rides, even if a particular park can no longer operate the ride as-is. I was very iffy when I found out the Trimpers trashed the crab, bar tender, drunk pirate etc. To me, it doesn’t matter how battered a stunt is, it is worth re-fiber-glassing and a fresh paint job with fluorescent paint. Thanks so much for your brief history lesson of Hunt’s attractions. Although I am very knowledgeable about Trimper’s Park and attractions, especially the HH, I feel there is always room to learn about other Tracy Attractions.
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Post by notlmpresed on Oct 11, 2007 19:22:23 GMT -5
Very true--Unless you are an enthusiast, like you or I, folks don’t understand the true value of such an experience; of riding through one of these attractions and appreciating the work of Tracy. Thirty years from now, I will bet no Tracy’s will be left standing, which is shameful, but reality. All we will have are pictures and memories. I remember when I worked in Trimpers HH, so many late nights I would spend stopping people from reaching out to grab things. A few nights I even had to call for backup because the patron was not listening to me. It just amazes me how people are, and that they cannot appreciate things that other folks value so much…
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Post by robert on Oct 12, 2007 0:41:31 GMT -5
What dark rides need is better security, alarms that go off if a rider gets out of the car, cameras, no objects taken on ride that could be used as a weapon, no sticking hands outside the perimeter of the car, of course no smoking, matches, or lighters, a big no-no. What was the layout of the HH before the renovation of 1988? Did it have inclines and declines? After the spinning tunnel, you turn right and go up through the crooked floor upside down room, around a bend to the right past the sawmill, knitwit, around to the left through the graveyard, around to the right, left, up past the bat, around to the left and up the second crooked mine, and the barrel room, you keep going "up" through the first half of the ride so what was it like before? I can't believe the Trimper's would actually THROW AWAY retired Bill Tracy props considering how rare they are. They didn't remove anything out of the Cove, did they? Are all the props in there original since it was built? Also, the Haunted Mansion in Rehoboth Beach was built by what was Bill Tracy's company in 1976-1978 by Jim Melonic, it was the final dark ride built before the company closed in 1979. I tried looking up William Tracy's death on the Social Security death site and one was May 1974 with a Tracey spelling and one was Nov 1975 with a Tracy spelling. What was the correct spelling of the last name? One last lived in Paterson (Tracey) and the other last lived in Bayonne (Tracy). Those were the only deaths in NJ in the 70's. I thought his company was in Cape May County and he lived in Cape May County somewhere? Or wasn't there a company in North Bergen? It was Amusement Display Associates. And there was also Messmore and Damon. Here is a catalog theimaginaryworld.com/darkride.html
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Post by notlmpresed on Oct 12, 2007 9:09:09 GMT -5
As far as I know, TRACY was the correct spelling of his last name, although on many sites, it is spelled TRACEY. On my site, I have it spelled TRACY and until I learn otherwise, I think it will stay that way. Before the second story was added at Trimpers, there were no inclines or declines. After the graveyard, instead of inclining up “bat hill”, you turned a right and then another left to exit. After the Upside-down-room, the ride simply zig-zagged until its ending. Frankenstein, which was previously in the HH before exiting to the balcony, formerly resided at the rides ending when it was one story. Remember, before the second story, the exit door was located on the far right of the lobby, not beside the entrance door as it is today. Granville Trimper moved the exit door to the right of the entrance so more cars (which were added from ghost ship) could be in queue. The ride was pretty flat before the addition, except from when you slightly decline after the upside-down-room toward the sawmill, and of course, leaving the knit wit into the graveyard. The ride is original and pretty much untouched from the entrance to the graveyard. From “bat hill” onward is all new. To my knowledge, no props have been removed from Pirates Cove—They are original. Of course, naturally they will last longer in the Cove because it is a walkthrough and they have chicken wire protecting the stunts. They don’t risk being destroyed by customers. Currently, the HH has 5 cameras which are being watching on a monitor upstairs in the office on the second half of the top story. The cameras are : Sawmill, Graveyard, Crooked Hill #2, Electrocuting Man, and Rat #2 at decline. I am not sure how serious they are about watching the monitor, but they are there nonetheless. Another problem is that the newer effects from distortions are so “Fragile” and less “Rugged” than Tracy’s. If someone destroys a distortions prop or the like, it will sit broken for a long time because it would be so expensive to fix, or perhaps, the crew would not be able to fix it at all, and be forced to purchase something new. I have been to Rehoboth Beach’s Haunted Mansion a few times, but to me (and this is just my opinion), it doesn’t compare to Trimper’s. It’s like comparing apples and oranges, or….apples and kiwi. But, it is a nice attraction. Thank you for supplying the link for Tracy’s catalog. How interesting!
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Post by robert on Oct 12, 2007 10:56:03 GMT -5
Do you remember Dr. Blood's House of Horror on Sportland Pier in WW? It's a shame the owner finally decided to raze it this past January after SBNO since 1983. It had reproductions of Tracy stunts that were done in the mid-late 70's. Some of the stunts were saved and the ride cars. The monster head and hands from the front top are on the rear of the pier outside. The building itself was pretty much junked put into dumpsters. It was like a Bill Tracy ride back in the day with a whacked out crooked front, and buzzards, etc. Here are pics from the 70's and 80's www.funchase.com/Images/Abandoned/HH_1.jpg www.angelfire.com/nj/wwbysea/SPORTLAND/drbloods.htm
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Post by notlmpresed on Oct 12, 2007 11:41:54 GMT -5
I DO remember Bloods. Funchase's pictures of the demolition are a bit sad-- It is creepy seeing the Goul still hanging from the ceiling in those pics. I am glad, though, that they kept at least a few keep-sakes from the ride. I think someone should start a fundraiser to restore the Nugget. How cool would that be?
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Post by notlmpresed on Oct 15, 2007 12:47:06 GMT -5
I was just down OC last weekend -- I am so disappointed with the redo of the HH facade so far. To any average Joe, there would be no difference, but the fact of the matter is-- the carpenter seems to be cutting corners and not remaking the facade like the original. I uploaded a picture comparison of what was done so far. notlmpresed.angelfire.com/facadecompare.JPG . Tell me what you think...
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Post by Bill Cherkasky on Oct 15, 2007 20:49:33 GMT -5
I was just down OC last weekend -- I am so disappointed with the redo of the HH facade so far. To any average Joe, there would be no difference, but the fact of the matter is-- the carpenter seems to be cutting corners and not remaking the facade like the original. I uploaded a picture comparison of what was done so far. notlmpresed.angelfire.com/facadecompare.JPG . Tell me what you think... Yeah, I see what you mean. The guy is no Bill Tracy.
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Post by robert on Oct 18, 2007 2:50:44 GMT -5
If you remember both Wildwood's Castle Dracula, and OC MD's Morbid Manor (the old one not the new dark ride) on the pier, which one did you like better? It's a shame that some haunts have a limited lifespan. I was in Castle Dracula 95, 96, and 98 and thought it was one of the best haunts around. Brigantine Castle was bigger, though but Dracula had the advantage with the very old (built 1919) Dungeon boat ride. WW also had the Haunted House walk-through on Morey's which was built 1972, closed and was removed after 1984, and the Castle Frankenstein walk-through on Fun Pier which was built 1978, closed 1982 and burned Aug 1984. As well as the numerous dark rides on Hunt's Pier, Fun Pier, Sportland, etc.
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Post by notlmpresed on Oct 18, 2007 7:55:56 GMT -5
Yeah-- Wildwood has had the most significant "dark ride" history in my opinion. Those piers have seen the birth and demise of so many classics, most of which, like you said, ended way before their prime. I have very faint memories of Castle Dracula. From what I remember it was outstanding. Morbid Manor, which burned in 1995, was another one of my favorites. It was a classic walkthrough complete with hanging ropes, the floor being made of plexi glass and bodies laying beneath you, and many rooms and passages. I loved busy summer nights when the teenagers working there would scare the daylights out of you. I loved the plane's tail sticking out of the upstairs window of the building, and I faintly remember the manikin of a woman with a large bust hanging out the upstairs window as well -- I know I did not imagine this, but I can't seem to get my thoughts together enough to put together a complete picture. I do have articles posted at notlmpresed.angelfire.com/articles.html/ about the Morbid Manor's fire. It is a shame they put that lame trailer dark ride there and call it "Morbid Manor II" just for old times sake. It is a worthless ride and should be dragged out into the depths of the ocean. What a joke!
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Post by notlmpresed on Oct 18, 2007 14:38:19 GMT -5
We can stop worrying, at least this year, about Trimper's classics:
OCEAN CITY — Trimper’s rides in downtown Ocean City will remain in place at least until summer 2008.
That is the word from the Ocean City amusement company’s board of directors. The board of Trimper’s Rides and Windsor Resorts decided to keep the popular downtown rides open next summer even as it considers its options for the future.
The board said in a news release that “with appeals of the property tax increase still ongoing due to the backlog of cases in the tax court, it was difficult to make a decision on how to cope with the rising cost of staying in business.”
The company said that while efforts were continuing to get officials to create “some type of amusement enterprise zone” to change the way its property is taxed, optimism about continuing the 117-year-old amusement park “is guarded at best.”
It said the board decided to keep the park open for the summer of 2008 “with the hope that the next few months will produce a survivable tax environment.”
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Post by plokoon on Oct 18, 2007 20:12:29 GMT -5
Eh men! Thats good news that I can probally ride it next summer!
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Post by robert on Oct 18, 2007 21:05:01 GMT -5
But isn't the Haunted House safe from closing or demolition no matter what happens? I thought Granville said he would keep it open no matter what. Why would they rebuild it if they were planning to close? What about the Pirate's Cove? Is that safe even though it's located in the park area? Honestly, I don't care what happens to the kiddie rides or spin and pukes, but keep the carousel, and indoor rides, Haunted House, Pirate's Cove, Fun House, and Mirror Maze!
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Post by notlmpresed on Oct 18, 2007 21:18:14 GMT -5
You are right Robert-- Our classics were safe regardless. But, nevertheless, I was still a bit saddened that they may scale down, not because of the newer rides, but because of the classics like Toboggan, Aladin's Lamp, Mirror Maze, Sooper Jet, and the other rides that have been there for ages and would most likely get auctioned. Trimper's has some of the most classic and unique rides on the coast, and I would miss them if they were to leave. Though it may sound strange, I kind of miss the Ghost Hole that Trimper's used to own which was located on the side street where the Sling Shot now sits. They sold the Ghost Hole to Coney Island back in the late 90's. Even though it was not a great dark ride, it still leaves imprints in my memory, if you know what I mean...
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