The Pike
Encyclopedia
The Pike became a world famous Long Beach, California
amusement zone
in 1902 along the shoreline south of Ocean Boulevard with several independent arcades, food stands, gift shops, a variety of rides and a grand bath house. It was most noted for the Cyclone Racer (1930–1968), a large wooden dual track roller coaster
, built out on pilings over the water.
The Pike operated under several names. The amusement zone surrounding the Pike, "Silver Spray Pier", was included along with additional parking in the post World War II expansion, it was all renamed Nu-Pike via a contest winner's submission in the late 1950s, then renamed Queens Park in the late 1960s in homage to the arrival of the Queen Mary ocean liner in Long Beach. The Pike museum is located in Looff's Lite-A-Line at 2500 Long Beach Blvd, Long Beach, CA 90806.
resort
at the Long Beach terminus of the Red Car interurban commuter electric railroad system Pacific Electric Railway
southern expansion from Los Angeles
. A grand bath house was constructed at the shore scheduled to open Independence Day, 1902. The grand opening of the bath house, known later as The Plunge, coincided with the inaugural run of the first "Red Car" from downtown Los Angeles to Long Beach on the morning of July 4, 1902 - which established service connecting communities along the line to offices and shopping in Downtown Los Angeles as well as bringing bathers and families south to Pacific Ocean
shoreline recreation.
. It gradually grew in length, was widened again and again and was later poured in concrete and illuminated with strings of electric bulbs as "The Walk of a Thousand Lights", the midway
anchoring the widely dispersed attractions and "The Pike" changed context from the original wooden boardwalk to the entire amusement zone. As it grew from a simple beach access made of planks to a Midway of concessions
, it included The Plunge bathhouse (pictured), Sea Side Studio souvenir photography, the Looff carousel
, McGruder salt water taffy
, pitch and skill games, pony rides, goat carts, fortune teller, weight guesser and a variety of dark and thrill rides, amusements and attractions large and small.
with a roadway constructed along its crest, connecting Pine St. and the Long Beach Pier eastward to Linden. In the early 1920s, the original Long Beach Municipal Auditorium was constructed on 20 acres (80,937.2 m²) of tidal zone landfill
located south of today's intersection of Ocean and Long Beach Boulevards. After the construction of the auditorium, there were problems created by storms and coastal erosion
in the area. In order to protect the auditorium from these problems, the horseshoe (rainbow) shaped breakwater
and road was constructed around it. Because of its shape it was named "Rainbow Pier".
In the late 1940s, the City of Long Beach began filling in the water area enclosed by the Rainbow Pier breakwater creating Rainbow Lagoon and Wilmore Park [sic. Should have been Willmore, for William E. Willmore, the original developer of the origin of Long Beach - Willmore City] - additional public trust lands upon which a larger, more modern auditorium was constructed. Filling of the shoreline area continued in the late 1950s and early 1960s with the Tidelands Filling Project.http://www.flickr.com/photos/disneywizard/4911091826/in/pool-1507096@N22/
and then Disneyland (both less than 20 miles (32.2 km) away) and the rough "free-for-all" reputation of The Pike may have discouraged some families from attending. In the 1950s, the area underwent another facelift. Advertising with coupons appealing to families appeared in local newspapers. A Kiddieland collection of carnival flat rides, a 'Bud' Hurlbut miniature train and petting zoo were installed on the silted-in new sand and public restrooms were built of concrete and cinderblock, giving it a post-World War II modern look and the park was renamed "Nu-Pike."
, which the city had purchased as a combination tourist attraction and hotel. The park retained this name until closing and demolition (1979–1980). Most locals continued calling it "The Pike".
A Pike attraction from 1909-1930 was the "Wall of Death" - Reckless Ross Millman, among America's first motorcycle daredevil's, built a motordrome near the Jack Rabbit Racer.
archway entrance of the last surviving building associated with The Pike, and very unique, Ocean Center Building
containing Hollywood on the Pike cabaret and an amusement arcade
. One could stroll west along that midway
past storefront games, such as ball-pitch and shooting galleries, as well as outdoor amusement machines such as fortune predicting weight-scales, and several large indoor collections of coin-operated Electro-mechanical
amusements - pinball
, skill-prize merchandisers, penny-pitch, nickelodeon viewers, love and strength testers, fortune tellers and more. Among the most popular coin operated amusement machines and devices were the redemption game
s which dispensed tickets, such as skee-ball.
Proximity to the Naval Shipyards and it's many sailors on extended leave during retrofitting, supported an ink economy. The dense collection of tattoo
shops made next-door and cross-street neighbors of many minor and world-renown artists.
A variety of eating establishments ranged from snack stands with corn-dogs, cotton candy, popcorn and hot nuts, or one could sit at soda-pop fountains and counter service restaurants like Lee's Barbecue with menus of chicken, ribs and fish meals, to a secluded booth with table service on linen.
is considered to be the first of the great American carousel
master carvers, having installed the first successful carousel at Coney Island
, and developing amusements, carousels and rollercoasters around the U.S., examples of his carousels at Santa Monica Pier
Looff Hippodrome (1922) and Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
with brass ring feature (1911) still stand. In 1911 Charles I. D. Looff
installed a carousel at the Pike in Long Beach, and he took up residence with his son, Arthur Looff and the rest of his family in the second story above the shops in the carousel hippodrome building that would later become home to Light-a-Line. The horses of the original Long Beach Looff Carousel carved in 1911 were destroyed by fire in 1943, a new outdoor carousel was constructed nearby, and then the building was used as a gaming hall for “Lite-A-Line” bingo/pinball game and for many years was the last remaining building to survive the Pike demolition that began in 1979. The roof structure and cupola had been saved in the parking lot west of Pine Ave and the Ocean Center Building on Seaside Way was awaiting preservation by Mike Cincola, who married into the Looff family and has preserved much of the history of the Pike, some of which can be seen on display at his relocated "Lite-a-Line". The cupola was removed with its crest of popcorn lighted orb and saved intact by Cincola in 2010, but the roof was dismantled, it remains the last surviving original structure of The Pike.
type ride. This tall steel tower figures prominently in early postcards of Long Beach Pier (Pine Ave., later to join the west side of Rainbow Pier.)
According to a 1966 editorial in the High Tide, the newspaper of Redondo Union High School
, a rider met tragedy when he disobeyed a sign instructing riders not to stand up: "He apparently thought this would spoil his fun, so he proceeded to stand up. Unfortunately, his head was knocked off
."
Figure 8 was closed in 1914 and demolished to clear the way for new development.
. It was part of the Silver Spray Pier which included several new rides and concessions. You could look down through the tracks and see the water. In the mid twenties, several expansions were made to the area and the Jack Rabbit Racer was remodeled raising the ride's dips to a greater height and steepness. In 1930 it was removed.
.
To increase thrill, the new coaster was built on pilings over the ocean, several hundred feet beyond the shore. Eventually the entire pier stood over sandy beach, not water, because of the sand deposition due the slowing of water caused by the new harbor expansion and breakwater.
Over 30 million riders rode on the Cyclone before it closed in 1968. When demolished in September, the Cyclone Racer was the last remaining seaside dual track roller coaster of its kind in the United States.
It was demolished to clear space for a Shoreline Drive cloverleaf to the Magnolia Bridge in anticipation of the RMS Queen Mary
's imminent arrival (a connecting road which was later demolished when found unneeded, proving the Cyclone Racer was removed unnecessarily.)
Enthusiasts seeking to re-create this roller coaster have made a three dimensional model and are looking to perhaps have it rebuilt in Southern California.
The last remaining Cyclone Racer roller coaster car is located in the Pike Museum at 2500 Long Beach Blvd, Long Beach CA 90806
s and movie
s.http://www.imdb.com/search/title?locations=The%20Pike%20Amusement%20Park,%20Long%20Beach,%20California,%20USA
in 1967 and permanently docked the ship in Long Beach across the mouth of the Los Angeles River from the shoreline area of the Nu-Pike where a new road circled the parking lot and Londontowne shopping/dining complex serviced by a London Double Deck omnibus to Downtown Long Beach. The Nu-Pike was renamed "Queens Park" when the Queen Mary opened to the public in 1971 as a self guided maritime museum tour on the upper decks and former engine room, hotel utilizing the former luxury staterooms of the mid-decks and Jacques Cousteau's The Living Sea. Focus and attention was further diverted from Queens Park with Shoreline Village and Rainbow Harbor marina, serviced by Shoreline Drive, built to connect to the Long Beach Freeway on even more ocean landfill south of the Pike, as locals continued to call it. Planning for Shoreline Drive and a cloverleaf connection to the new Magnolia Bridge was the excuse to demolish the Cyclone Racer in 1968. Since 1975 the area has been a major portion of the Grand Prix of Long Beach route.
In 1979 the Pike amusement zone was officially closed and demolished. By the time the lease with the city ended, The Pike had fallen into disrepair and most of the businesses had already left. The City of Long Beach then removed the remaining structures. Various plans for development of the area took form over the next twenty years. In 1999, the California Coastal Commission
approved a plan for the construction of The Pike at Rainbow Harbor commercial and entertainment complex in the downtown shoreline area. The name is only a nod in reference to the original amusement zone, bathing beach and boardwalk - the outdoor shopping mall bears no resemblance whatsoever to its historic predecessor.
, the main development of the area did not occur until the construction and opening of The Pike at Rainbow Harbor in 2003.
The Pike at Rainbow Harbor is located between the Long Beach Convention Center and the Aquarium of the Pacific
. The tourist
-oriented development has a large number of restaurant
s and a 14-theater megaplex Cinemark movie theater. The Gameworks
keystone attraction closed and has re-opened as Kitchen-Den-Bar. There is also a 4-level, fee parking-structure, metered street parking, a pedestrian overpass supporting teaser artwork resembling a steel rollercoaster, an outdoor amphitheater, an antique Spillman carousel
(1920) and a solar powered Ferris wheel
.
Although the area has been developed into a retail-entertainment center that pays homage to its past as an amusement zone in name only, it has yet to become as successful as hoped. There continues to be controversy over the lack of a nearby recreational bathing beach and solutions are being sought for bringing back the excitement of the area’s heyday.
33°45′58"N 118°11′21"W
Long Beach, California
Long Beach is a city situated in Los Angeles County in Southern California, on the Pacific coast of the United States. The city is the 36th-largest city in the nation and the seventh-largest in California. As of 2010, its population was 462,257...
amusement zone
Amusement park
thumb|Cinderella Castle in [[Magic Kingdom]], [[Disney World]]Amusement and theme parks are terms for a group of entertainment attractions and rides and other events in a location for the enjoyment of large numbers of people...
in 1902 along the shoreline south of Ocean Boulevard with several independent arcades, food stands, gift shops, a variety of rides and a grand bath house. It was most noted for the Cyclone Racer (1930–1968), a large wooden dual track roller coaster
Roller coaster
The roller coaster is a popular amusement ride developed for amusement parks and modern theme parks. LaMarcus Adna Thompson patented the first coasters on January 20, 1885...
, built out on pilings over the water.
The Pike operated under several names. The amusement zone surrounding the Pike, "Silver Spray Pier", was included along with additional parking in the post World War II expansion, it was all renamed Nu-Pike via a contest winner's submission in the late 1950s, then renamed Queens Park in the late 1960s in homage to the arrival of the Queen Mary ocean liner in Long Beach. The Pike museum is located in Looff's Lite-A-Line at 2500 Long Beach Blvd, Long Beach, CA 90806.
History
The first major attraction to the seashore at Long Beach was recreational bathing, long before trains and cars, when the only roads were dusty rutted paths littered with horse manure, residents of Southern California escaped the summer heat by crowding the shore and beaches to enjoy the cool ocean breeze and the Pacific Ocean chilled by the Aleutian current. With the surge of health conscious new residents and the ease of access to a beach near the services of local merchants, Willmore City became a destination. In 1888 Long Beach Land and Water Company bought William E. Willmore's failed platt of Bixby's Rancho Los Cerritos and changed the name to Long Beach in 1892. The amusement zone began in 1902, as a beach and grand bath housePublic bathing
Public baths originated from a communal need for cleanliness. The term public may confuse some people, as some types of public baths are restricted depending on membership, gender, religious affiliation, or other reasons. As societies have changed, public baths have been replaced as private bathing...
resort
Resort
A resort is a place used for relaxation or recreation, attracting visitors for holidays or vacations. Resorts are places, towns or sometimes commercial establishment operated by a single company....
at the Long Beach terminus of the Red Car interurban commuter electric railroad system Pacific Electric Railway
Pacific Electric Railway
The Pacific Electric Railway , also known as the Red Car system, was a mass transit system in Southern California using streetcars, light rail, and buses...
southern expansion from Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
. A grand bath house was constructed at the shore scheduled to open Independence Day, 1902. The grand opening of the bath house, known later as The Plunge, coincided with the inaugural run of the first "Red Car" from downtown Los Angeles to Long Beach on the morning of July 4, 1902 - which established service connecting communities along the line to offices and shopping in Downtown Los Angeles as well as bringing bathers and families south to Pacific Ocean
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
shoreline recreation.
Long Beach Pier
Stretching Pine Avenue south from Ocean Avenue into the Pacific Ocean, the Long Beach Pier had an upper and lower deck to a service building on the end. Sheltered at the mouth of the Los Angeles River, the public pier served a range of purposes, primarily for trade and commerce, servicing freight and passenger shipping, but also served anglers fishing as well as pedestrian strolling. A simple wooden boardwalk was laid directly atop the sand west along the shoreline connecting the pier to the new bathhouse.Pike, a simple boardwalk
"Pike" was the name of the wooden boardwalk connecting the Pine St. incline of the Long Beach Pier west along the shoreline to The Plunge bath housePublic bathing
Public baths originated from a communal need for cleanliness. The term public may confuse some people, as some types of public baths are restricted depending on membership, gender, religious affiliation, or other reasons. As societies have changed, public baths have been replaced as private bathing...
. It gradually grew in length, was widened again and again and was later poured in concrete and illuminated with strings of electric bulbs as "The Walk of a Thousand Lights", the midway
Midway (fair)
A midway at a fair is the location where amusement rides, entertainment and fast food booths are concentrated....
anchoring the widely dispersed attractions and "The Pike" changed context from the original wooden boardwalk to the entire amusement zone. As it grew from a simple beach access made of planks to a Midway of concessions
Concession (contract)
A concession is a business operated under a contract or license associated with a degree of exclusivity in business within a certain geographical area. For example, sports arenas or public parks may have concession stands. Many department stores contain numerous concessions operated by other...
, it included The Plunge bathhouse (pictured), Sea Side Studio souvenir photography, the Looff carousel
Carousel
A carousel , or merry-go-round, is an amusement ride consisting of a rotating circular platform with seats for riders...
, McGruder salt water taffy
Salt water taffy
Salt water taffy is a variety of soft taffy originally produced and marketed in the Atlantic City, New Jersey, area beginning in the late 19th century.-Etymology:...
, pitch and skill games, pony rides, goat carts, fortune teller, weight guesser and a variety of dark and thrill rides, amusements and attractions large and small.
Rainbow Pier
For a short time, the Long Beach Pier and Rainbow Pier both existed, sharing combined shore access at the Pine street incline. Rainbow Pier was actually a horseshoe (rainbow) shaped breakwaterBreakwater (structure)
Breakwaters are structures constructed on coasts as part of coastal defence or to protect an anchorage from the effects of weather and longshore drift.-Purposes of breakwaters:...
with a roadway constructed along its crest, connecting Pine St. and the Long Beach Pier eastward to Linden. In the early 1920s, the original Long Beach Municipal Auditorium was constructed on 20 acres (80,937.2 m²) of tidal zone landfill
Landfill
A landfill site , is a site for the disposal of waste materials by burial and is the oldest form of waste treatment...
located south of today's intersection of Ocean and Long Beach Boulevards. After the construction of the auditorium, there were problems created by storms and coastal erosion
Erosion
Erosion is when materials are removed from the surface and changed into something else. It only works by hydraulic actions and transport of solids in the natural environment, and leads to the deposition of these materials elsewhere...
in the area. In order to protect the auditorium from these problems, the horseshoe (rainbow) shaped breakwater
Breakwater (structure)
Breakwaters are structures constructed on coasts as part of coastal defence or to protect an anchorage from the effects of weather and longshore drift.-Purposes of breakwaters:...
and road was constructed around it. Because of its shape it was named "Rainbow Pier".
In the late 1940s, the City of Long Beach began filling in the water area enclosed by the Rainbow Pier breakwater creating Rainbow Lagoon and Wilmore Park [sic. Should have been Willmore, for William E. Willmore, the original developer of the origin of Long Beach - Willmore City] - additional public trust lands upon which a larger, more modern auditorium was constructed. Filling of the shoreline area continued in the late 1950s and early 1960s with the Tidelands Filling Project.http://www.flickr.com/photos/disneywizard/4911091826/in/pool-1507096@N22/
Nu-Pike
In 1954 there were 218 amusements in the park, but during this time the zone began to face stiff competition from Knott's Berry FarmKnott's Berry Farm
Knott's Berry Farm is a theme park in Buena Park, California, now owned by Cedar Fair Entertainment Company, and a line of jams, jellies, preserves, and other specialty food, now part of The J. M. Smucker Company based in Placentia, California....
and then Disneyland (both less than 20 miles (32.2 km) away) and the rough "free-for-all" reputation of The Pike may have discouraged some families from attending. In the 1950s, the area underwent another facelift. Advertising with coupons appealing to families appeared in local newspapers. A Kiddieland collection of carnival flat rides, a 'Bud' Hurlbut miniature train and petting zoo were installed on the silted-in new sand and public restrooms were built of concrete and cinderblock, giving it a post-World War II modern look and the park was renamed "Nu-Pike."
Queen's Park
In 1971, the name changed again to "Queen's Park," to coincide with the public opening of the historical ocean liner RMS Queen MaryRMS Queen Mary
RMS Queen Mary is a retired ocean liner that sailed primarily in the North Atlantic Ocean from 1936 to 1967 for the Cunard Line...
, which the city had purchased as a combination tourist attraction and hotel. The park retained this name until closing and demolition (1979–1980). Most locals continued calling it "The Pike".
The Plunge
A grand bath house was constructed at the shore scheduled to open Independence Day, 1902 the first day the Pacific Electric Railroad established service connecting communities along the line to offices and shopping in Downtown Los Angeles and bringing bathers and families south to shoreline recreation. The indoor freshwater pool and change rooms behind a colonnade and sundeck charged admission to its clear 'vacuumed' pool and waterslide. An interior balcony surrounding the pool and an outdoor one facing the beach offered people watching on reclining lounges. The name was later changed to "The Plunge." When it closed, it was converted to the Strand Theater.Lido Ballroom
Until 1902, primary access to bathing was over unpaved roads by horse and buggy. A large livery and stables had been built to care for the animals of the bathers. Opening the Pacific Electric Big Red Car line to Long Beach diminished the importance of the livery which closed as the automotive culture of Southern California developed. It was converted into skating rink in 1906 then a dance hall by 1911, "The Majestic" featuring Big Bands, and in the 1950s it changed hands and was renamed "The Lido Ballroom".http://www.millikanalumni.com/Pike/PikeBathHouse.htmlLive and Motion Picture Theaters
Long Beach downtown featured several theaters, many of which were along the "Walk of 1000 Lights". Starting East of Pine Street with access at Ocean Bl. and The Pike was Lowes, known for first run major releases. Several small shop-front theaters, exhibiting side-shows and independent films, came and went along the Walk of a Thousand Lights, but one big (and very tall) one, the Virginia, was later converted into the dark ride "Whispering River". The Strand Theater offered a double feature, after being converted to a picture house when The Plunge closed.A Pike attraction from 1909-1930 was the "Wall of Death" - Reckless Ross Millman, among America's first motorcycle daredevil's, built a motordrome near the Jack Rabbit Racer.
Amusements
Beginning at the entrance to the "Walk of a Thousand Lights" through the arcade (architecture)Arcade (architecture)
An arcade is a succession of arches, each counterthrusting the next, supported by columns or piers or a covered walk enclosed by a line of such arches on one or both sides. In warmer or wet climates, exterior arcades provide shelter for pedestrians....
archway entrance of the last surviving building associated with The Pike, and very unique, Ocean Center Building
Ocean Center Building
The Ocean Center Building is a 14-story, 197-foot-tall office building in downtown Long Beach, California built in 1929 by architect Raymond M...
containing Hollywood on the Pike cabaret and an amusement arcade
Amusement arcade
An amusement arcade or video arcade is a venue where people play arcade games such as video games, pinball machines, electro-mechanical games, redemption games, merchandisers , or coin-operated billiards or air hockey tables...
. One could stroll west along that midway
Midway (fair)
A midway at a fair is the location where amusement rides, entertainment and fast food booths are concentrated....
past storefront games, such as ball-pitch and shooting galleries, as well as outdoor amusement machines such as fortune predicting weight-scales, and several large indoor collections of coin-operated Electro-mechanical
Electromechanics
In engineering, electromechanics combines the sciences of electromagnetism, of electrical engineering and mechanics. Mechanical engineering in this context refers to the larger discipline which includes chemical engineering, and other related disciplines. Electrical engineering in this context...
amusements - pinball
Pinball
Pinball is a type of arcade game, usually coin-operated, where a player attempts to score points by manipulating one or more metal balls on a playfield inside a glass-covered case called a pinball machine. The primary objective of the game is to score as many points as possible...
, skill-prize merchandisers, penny-pitch, nickelodeon viewers, love and strength testers, fortune tellers and more. Among the most popular coin operated amusement machines and devices were the redemption game
Redemption game
Redemption games are typically arcade games of skill that reward the player proportionally to their score in the game. The reward most often comes in the form of tickets, with more tickets being awarded for higher scores. These tickets can then be redeemed at a central location for prizes...
s which dispensed tickets, such as skee-ball.
Tattoo Parlors
Proximity to the Naval Shipyards and it's many sailors on extended leave during retrofitting, supported an ink economy. The dense collection of tattoo
Tattoo
A tattoo is made by inserting indelible ink into the dermis layer of the skin to change the pigment. Tattoos on humans are a type of body modification, and tattoos on other animals are most commonly used for identification purposes...
shops made next-door and cross-street neighbors of many minor and world-renown artists.
Drinking and Dining
From low-brow seedy dives like Rudy's (cocktails) and open front liquor stores to upscale Cabarets featuring suggestive girly-shows like Hollywood on the Pike, many an opportunity existed for visiting sailors and locals to get drunk - which they did, often in excess. A side effect of mass inebriation and intoxication was that every pocket and corner of the entertainment zone had on it at one time any number of bodily fluids.A variety of eating establishments ranged from snack stands with corn-dogs, cotton candy, popcorn and hot nuts, or one could sit at soda-pop fountains and counter service restaurants like Lee's Barbecue with menus of chicken, ribs and fish meals, to a secluded booth with table service on linen.
Rides
- Laff in the Dark, Dark rideDark rideA dark ride or ghost train is an indoor amusement ride where riders in guided vehicles travel through specially lit scenes that typically contain animation, sound, music, and special effects....
featuring three animated ballyhoo characters over the facade center, a Laffing SalLaffing SalLaffing Sal is one of several automated characters that were built primarily for funhouses throughout the United States. Sometimes called "Laughing Sal",she produces a raucous laugh that sometimes frightens small children and annoys adults.-History:...
, Laffing Sam and Blackie the Barker, which was the first to deteriorate from weathering. - Whispering River, dark rideDark rideA dark ride or ghost train is an indoor amusement ride where riders in guided vehicles travel through specially lit scenes that typically contain animation, sound, music, and special effects....
also known as "River Ride" or "Lost River." - Round Up, a Frank Hrubetz Co. 30 passenger tire drive single trailer model 18-18.5 RPM, 45° tilt, with chain restraints.
- RotorRotor (ride)The Rotor is an amusement park ride, designed by German engineer Ernst Hoffmeister in the late 1940s. The ride was first demonstrated at Oktoberfest 1949, and was exhibited at fairs and events throughout Europe during the 1950s and 1960s...
- Alpine.
- Wilde Maus aka Wild Bobs.
- Loop-O-PlaneLoop-O-PlaneThe Loop-O-Plane is an amusement park ride that originated in America. It was invented by Lee Eyerly and manufactured by the Eyerly Aircraft company of Salem, Oregon in 1933. The was immediately popular with customers and became a staple of amusement parks....
by aka Hammer. - Roll-O-PlaneRoll-O-PlaneThe Roll-O-Plane also known as the Bullet is an amusement park ride that originated in America. It was invented by the Eyerly Aircraft company of Oregon as an updated and more exciting version of the Loop-O-Plane. The ride is commonly nicknamed the "Salt and Pepper Shakers".The ride consists of a...
. - Loop Trainer, aka Looper.
- ScramblerTwist (ride)The Twist, also known as the Twister, Cyclone, Sizzler, Scrambler, Merry Mixer, Jambalaya, or Grasscutter is an amusement ride in which suspended riders spinning in cars experience the illusion that they will crash into other suspended, spinning cars. Riders are seated in small carriages clustered...
. - LooffCharles I. D. LooffCharles I. D. Looff was a master carver and builder of hand-carved carousels and amusement rides in America. Looff built the first carousel at Coney Island in 1876. During his lifetime, he manufactured over 50 carousels,twelve amusements parks, several roller coasters and Ferris wheels, and built...
Hippodrome (1911–2005) with CarouselCarouselA carousel , or merry-go-round, is an amusement ride consisting of a rotating circular platform with seats for riders...
(1911–1943) see below. - CarouselCarouselA carousel , or merry-go-round, is an amusement ride consisting of a rotating circular platform with seats for riders...
(1944–1979), three course, open air. - Horse Race, a W.F. Mengels Galloping Carrousel, two course, rocking style carousel.
- Space Capsule, observation crane, also known as Moon Rocket and Kiddie-land Hi-Ride.
- OctopusOctopus (ride)The Octopus is a type of amusement ride in the shape of an octopus. Five to eight arms attached to a central axis spin and move up and down in random, while cars at the end of the arms spin on rotary bolts. Each Octopus ride has the arms attached the middle of the ride. The middle of the ride will...
. - Crazie Maize, storefront House of mirrorsHouse of mirrorsA house of mirrors or hall of mirrors is a traditional attraction at funfairs and amusement parks. The basic concept behind a house of mirrors is to be a maze-like puzzle. In addition to the maze, participants are also given mirrors as obstacles, and glass panes to parts of the maze they cannot...
. - Skooter, indoor Bumper carBumper carBumper car is the generic name for a type of flat ride consisting of several small electric cars which draw power from the floor and/or ceiling, and which are turned on and off remotely by an operator...
. - Dodgem, Reverchon flat ride Bumper carBumper carBumper car is the generic name for a type of flat ride consisting of several small electric cars which draw power from the floor and/or ceiling, and which are turned on and off remotely by an operator...
. - Fun HouseFunhouseA funhouse or fun house is an amusement facility found on amusement park and funfair midways in which patrons encounter and actively interact with various devices designed to surprise, challenge, and amuse the visitor. Unlike thrill rides, funhouses are participatory attractions, where visitors...
, storefront walk-through of challenging paths. - Tilt-A-WhirlTilt-A-WhirlTilt-A-Whirl is one of the best-known flat rides, designed for commercial use at amusement parks, fairs and carnivals in which it is commonly found. The rides are manufactured by Sellner Manufacturing of Faribault, Minnesota...
by Sellner, later renamed Tilt. - Super TrooperParatrooper (ride)A Paratrooper also known as an "Umbrella Ride" is a type of fairground ride based on cars suspended below a wheel which rotates at an oblique angle. The cars are free to rock sideways and swing out under centrifugal force and the wheel rotates. Invariably, the cars on a paratrooper have an umbrella...
, umbrella ride. - Sharks Alive, diving bell, submersible shark tank view.
- Sky Ride, Watkins chairliftChairliftAn elevated passenger ropeway, or chairlift, is a type of aerial lift, which consists of a continuously circulating steel cable loop strung between two end terminals and usually over intermediate towers, carrying a series of chairs...
. - Snowmobile.
- Kiddie Land - a collection of several carnival style children sized flat rides and truck rides, such as "hot walker" style miniature boats and sport vehicles.
- Giant Slide.
- Go Karts, Briggs & StrattonBriggs & StrattonBriggs & Stratton is the world's largest manufacturer of air-cooled gasoline engines primarily for outdoor power equipment. Current production averages 11 million engines per year.-History:...
gasoline engine powered go-karts. - Wheel of Fun, child Ferris wheelFerris wheelA Ferris wheel is a nonbuilding structure consisting of a rotating upright wheel with passenger cars attached to the rim in such a way that as the wheel turns, the cars are kept upright, usually by gravity.Some of the largest and most modern Ferris wheels have cars mounted on...
, 6 cages.
- Sky Wheel, dual Ferris wheelFerris wheelA Ferris wheel is a nonbuilding structure consisting of a rotating upright wheel with passenger cars attached to the rim in such a way that as the wheel turns, the cars are kept upright, usually by gravity.Some of the largest and most modern Ferris wheels have cars mounted on...
: Built by Allan Herschell Company of New York. Two wheels of eight cars each were connected with an armature. The armature would allow loading/unloading of the lower Ferris wheel while the upper one revolved, then top and bottom wheels would swap and when both were loaded and spinning, several turns of the armature provided serious thrills.
The Looff Carousel Hippodrome
Charles I. D. LooffCharles I. D. Looff
Charles I. D. Looff was a master carver and builder of hand-carved carousels and amusement rides in America. Looff built the first carousel at Coney Island in 1876. During his lifetime, he manufactured over 50 carousels,twelve amusements parks, several roller coasters and Ferris wheels, and built...
is considered to be the first of the great American carousel
Carousel
A carousel , or merry-go-round, is an amusement ride consisting of a rotating circular platform with seats for riders...
master carvers, having installed the first successful carousel at Coney Island
Coney Island
Coney Island is a peninsula and beach on the Atlantic Ocean in southern Brooklyn, New York, United States. The site was formerly an outer barrier island, but became partially connected to the mainland by landfill....
, and developing amusements, carousels and rollercoasters around the U.S., examples of his carousels at Santa Monica Pier
Santa Monica Pier
The Santa Monica Pier is a large double-jointed pier located at the foot of Colorado Avenue in Santa Monica, California and is a prominent, 100-year-old landmark.-Pacific Park:...
Looff Hippodrome (1922) and Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk is an oceanfront amusement park in Santa Cruz, California. Founded in 1907, it is California's oldest surviving amusement park and one of the few seaside parks on the West Coast of the United States.- Overview :...
with brass ring feature (1911) still stand. In 1911 Charles I. D. Looff
Charles I. D. Looff
Charles I. D. Looff was a master carver and builder of hand-carved carousels and amusement rides in America. Looff built the first carousel at Coney Island in 1876. During his lifetime, he manufactured over 50 carousels,twelve amusements parks, several roller coasters and Ferris wheels, and built...
installed a carousel at the Pike in Long Beach, and he took up residence with his son, Arthur Looff and the rest of his family in the second story above the shops in the carousel hippodrome building that would later become home to Light-a-Line. The horses of the original Long Beach Looff Carousel carved in 1911 were destroyed by fire in 1943, a new outdoor carousel was constructed nearby, and then the building was used as a gaming hall for “Lite-A-Line” bingo/pinball game and for many years was the last remaining building to survive the Pike demolition that began in 1979. The roof structure and cupola had been saved in the parking lot west of Pine Ave and the Ocean Center Building on Seaside Way was awaiting preservation by Mike Cincola, who married into the Looff family and has preserved much of the history of the Pike, some of which can be seen on display at his relocated "Lite-a-Line". The cupola was removed with its crest of popcorn lighted orb and saved intact by Cincola in 2010, but the roof was dismantled, it remains the last surviving original structure of The Pike.
Roller coasters
According to Roller Coaster DataBase, the Pike had the following roller coasters:- Bisby's Spiral Airship (steel) (1902-?)
- Comet Jr. (1949–1959)
- Cyclone (4 trailer Galaxi, steel) (1972–1979)
- Cyclone Racer (5/30/1930-9/15/1968)
- Figure 8 Roller Coaster (6/1907-1914)
- Jack Rabbit Racer (5/1/1915-1930)
- Mad Mouse (1959-1968 or earlier)
- Wilde Maus/Swiss Bobs (2 trailer Wild Mouse, steel) (1961–1979)
Bisby’s Spiral Airship
Bisby's Spiral Airship built in 1902 had cars that were suspended beneath a steel monorail track and could swing freely. The cars traveled up an inclined lift track to the top of an expanding, spiral cone-shaped, steel tower. As they began their spiral descent, centrifugal force caused them to swing outward before returning to the station. This is commonly acknowledged as the first suspended roller coasterRoller coaster
The roller coaster is a popular amusement ride developed for amusement parks and modern theme parks. LaMarcus Adna Thompson patented the first coasters on January 20, 1885...
type ride. This tall steel tower figures prominently in early postcards of Long Beach Pier (Pine Ave., later to join the west side of Rainbow Pier.)
Figure 8
The Pike's first more traditional wooden roller coaster opened for business in June 1907. It was built by Fred Ingersoll and named the Figure 8 after the shape of the tracks. It was built on pilings that reached out over the water.According to a 1966 editorial in the High Tide, the newspaper of Redondo Union High School
Redondo Union High School
Redondo Union High School is a public high school in Redondo Beach, California.Redondo Union High School is a part of the Redondo Beach Unified School District....
, a rider met tragedy when he disobeyed a sign instructing riders not to stand up: "He apparently thought this would spoil his fun, so he proceeded to stand up. Unfortunately, his head was knocked off
Decapitation
Decapitation is the separation of the head from the body. Beheading typically refers to the act of intentional decapitation, e.g., as a means of murder or execution; it may be accomplished, for example, with an axe, sword, knife, wire, or by other more sophisticated means such as a guillotine...
."
Figure 8 was closed in 1914 and demolished to clear the way for new development.
Jack Rabbit Racer
In 1914 the Pike Amusement Zone undertook several upgrades and a new roller coaster named the Jack Rabbit Racer was opened in May 1915 becoming the second largest racing coaster in the country. It was again designed by Fred Ingersoll, this time with the help of John MillerJohn Miller
-Politics:* John Miller , Governor of North Dakota, 1889–1891* John Miller , Governor of Missouri, 1826–1832; U.S. Representative from Missouri, 1837–1843...
. It was part of the Silver Spray Pier which included several new rides and concessions. You could look down through the tracks and see the water. In the mid twenties, several expansions were made to the area and the Jack Rabbit Racer was remodeled raising the ride's dips to a greater height and steepness. In 1930 it was removed.
The Cyclone Racer
One of the best-known historic coasters, the Cyclone Racer was built in 1930 to replace the Jack Rabbit Racer. The Cyclone Racer was a dual-track (two trains could run at the same time), racing wooden roller coaster, the brain child of Fred Church and built by Harry TraverHarry Traver
Harry Guy Traver was an American engineer and early roller coaster designer.Traver was born in Gardner, Illinois...
.
To increase thrill, the new coaster was built on pilings over the ocean, several hundred feet beyond the shore. Eventually the entire pier stood over sandy beach, not water, because of the sand deposition due the slowing of water caused by the new harbor expansion and breakwater.
Over 30 million riders rode on the Cyclone before it closed in 1968. When demolished in September, the Cyclone Racer was the last remaining seaside dual track roller coaster of its kind in the United States.
It was demolished to clear space for a Shoreline Drive cloverleaf to the Magnolia Bridge in anticipation of the RMS Queen Mary
RMS Queen Mary
RMS Queen Mary is a retired ocean liner that sailed primarily in the North Atlantic Ocean from 1936 to 1967 for the Cunard Line...
's imminent arrival (a connecting road which was later demolished when found unneeded, proving the Cyclone Racer was removed unnecessarily.)
Enthusiasts seeking to re-create this roller coaster have made a three dimensional model and are looking to perhaps have it rebuilt in Southern California.
The last remaining Cyclone Racer roller coaster car is located in the Pike Museum at 2500 Long Beach Blvd, Long Beach CA 90806
In film
The Pike was frequently a location for filming television programTelevision program
A television program , also called television show, is a segment of content which is intended to be broadcast on television. It may be a one-time production or part of a periodically recurring series...
s and movie
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
s.http://www.imdb.com/search/title?locations=The%20Pike%20Amusement%20Park,%20Long%20Beach,%20California,%20USA
- Sugar DaddiesSugar DaddiesSugar Daddies is a 1927 short comedy silent film starring Jimmy Finlayson, and a pre-teamed Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy.- Cast :*James Finlayson as Oil tycoon Cyrus Brittle*Stan Laurel as Brittle's lawyer*Oliver Hardy as Brittle's butler...
(1927)http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0018452/ Laurel and HardyLaurel and HardyLaurel and Hardy were one of the most popular and critically acclaimed comedy double acts of the early Classical Hollywood era of American cinema...
see a girl about a funhouse. - Fish HookyFish HookyFish Hooky is a 1933 Our Gang short comedy film directed by Robert F. McGowan. It was the 120th Our Gang short that was released.- Plot :...
(1933), Our GangOur GangOur Gang, also known as The Little Rascals or Hal Roach's Rascals, was a series of American comedy short films about a group of poor neighborhood children and the adventures they had together. Created by comedy producer Hal Roach, the series is noted for showing children behaving in a relatively...
short in which a truant officer chases Wheezer, Dickie, Uh-huh, and Stymie through the amusement zone. - Life Hesitates at 40 (1935)http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0027885/ Watch for Carl 'Alfalfa' Switzer as the Boy at Soda Fountain.
- Strike Me Pink (1936)http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0028321/ The Pike doubles for an amusement park beset with mobsters.
- I Wake Up ScreamingI Wake Up ScreamingI Wake Up Screaming is a 1941 film noir. It is based on the novel of the same name by Steve Fisher, who co-wrote the screenplay with Dwight Taylor...
(1941)http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0033740/ - Fun on a Weekend (1947)http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0039405/ a motion picture starring Eddie Bracken was filmed at the Pike with scenes of The Walk of 1000 lights, arcades, marquees and various rides. The background shots of the Villa Riviera (still standing) and Pacific Coast Club (torn down in the late 1980s) shows the beach area as well which, in the movie is portrayed as a Seaside Resort Town somewhere in Florida.
- He Ran All the WayHe Ran All the WayHe Ran All the Way is a 1951 crime drama, considered a film noir, starring John Garfield and Shelley Winters. The film was Garfield's last, as accusations of his involvement with the Communist Party and a refusal to name names while testifying before the HUAC led to his blacklisting in Hollywood...
(1951)http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0043625/ - The SniperThe Sniper (1952 film)The Sniper is a black-and-white film noir, directed by Edward Dmytryk, written by Harry Brown, and based on a story by Edna Anhalt and Edward Anhalt. The film features Adolphe Menjou, Arthur Franz, Gerald Mohr, Marie Windsor, among others....
(1952)http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0045161/ The Pike substitutes for San Francisco's Playland as Eddie Miller(Arthur Franz) nails the shooting gallery, then walks past Laff-in-the-Dark to dunk a touting blonde.http://reelsf.com/the-sniper-amusement-park - The Beast from 20,000 FathomsThe Beast from 20,000 FathomsThe Beast from 20,000 Fathoms is a 1953 science fiction film directed by Eugène Lourié and stars Paul Christian, Paula Raymond and Cecil Kellaway with visual effects by Ray Harryhausen. The film is about an atomic bomb test in the Arctic Circle that unfreezes a hibernating fictional dinosaur, a...
(1953)http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0045546/http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi585958425/ featured The Cyclone Racer in the climax, when the stop-motion beast destroys a model of the coaster in split-screen with live action intercut with live action scenes from the coaster parking lot, entrance ramp and loading platform. A "sequel" to King KongKing KongKing Kong is a fictional character, a giant movie monster resembling a gorilla, that has appeared in several movies since 1933. These include the groundbreaking 1933 movie, the film remakes of 1976 and 2005, as well as various sequels of the first two films...
by the same cinematographers, improvements in visual effects were stunning for 1953. - Gorilla at LargeGorilla at LargeGorilla at Large is a 1954 horror mystery B-movie made in 3-D. The film stars Cameron Mitchell, Anne Bancroft, Lee J. Cobb, Charlotte Austin, and Raymond Burr. Lee Marvin and Warren Stevens have supporting roles. The film was made by Panoramic Productions, and distributed through 20th Century Fox...
(1954)http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0047041/ the Pike doubles for the "Garden of Evil." - It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad WorldIt's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad WorldIt's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World is a 1963 American comedy film produced and directed by Stanley Kramer about the madcap pursuit of $350,000 in stolen cash by a diverse and colorful group of strangers...
(1963)http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0057193/ the Pike can be seen in the background as the climactic car chase through downtown Long Beach turns south on Pine from Ocean Bl. past the Ocean Center BuildingOcean Center BuildingThe Ocean Center Building is a 14-story, 197-foot-tall office building in downtown Long Beach, California built in 1929 by architect Raymond M...
then around Rainbow Pier. - Roustabout (1964)http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0058534/, the Sky Wheel dual Ferris-wheel is seen in Elvis Presley's motorcycle movie.
- The Incredibly Strange Creatures Who Stopped Living and Became Mixed-Up ZombiesThe Incredibly Strange Creatures Who Stopped Living and Became Mixed-Up Zombies-DVD release:The DVD release of Incredibly Strange Creatures features a commentary track by "drive-in movie critic" Joe Bob Briggs.-In popular culture:...
(1964)http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0057181/http://www.imdb.com/video/crackle/vi1701446169/ The Pike's best known appearance is in this cult filmCult filmA cult film, also commonly referred to as a cult classic, is a film that has acquired a highly devoted but specific group of fans. Often, cult movies have failed to achieve fame outside the small fanbases; however, there have been exceptions that have managed to gain fame among mainstream audiences...
. - Nightside (1973),http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0338531/ The Pike was featured in this TV pilot.
- Three the Hard WayThree the Hard Way (film)Three the Hard Way is a 1974 action blaxploitation film starring Fred Williamson, Jim Brown, and Jim Kelly, written by Eric Bercovici and Jerrold L. Ludwig and directed by Gordon Parks, Jr....
(1974)http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0072284/ blaxploitationBlaxploitationBlaxploitation or blacksploitation is a film genre which emerged in the United States circa 1970. It is considered an ethnic sub-genre of the general category of exploitation films. Blaxploitation films were originally made specifically for an urban black audience, although the genre's audience...
film. - Emergency!Emergency!Emergency! is an American television series that combines the medical drama and action-adventure genres. It was produced by Mark VII Limited and distributed by Universal Studios...
(1975) Queens Park Kiddie-Land is documented in the Transition (#4.15) episode. Roy, John and Gill Robinson, a new Paramedic, assist Chuck, a child suffering a nosebleed from the Go-Karts - Giant Slide and Wheel of Fun, a kiddie-Ferris-wheel, can be seen after Squad 51 parks in front of the Carousel and kiddie-go-round. Then Squad 51 returns to "50 Ocean, intersection of Pacific" to rescue a heart attack victim and others stranded aboard Space-Capsule/Hi-Ride by a jammed cable - scenes include views of Octopus, Rotor, Laff-in-the-Dark, Sky-Ride, Round-Up, the dual Ferris-wheel Sky Wheel, all in motion, and the halted Hi-Ride in white Queen's Park paint. - The Six Million Dollar ManThe Six Million Dollar ManThe Six Million Dollar Man is an American television series about a former astronaut with bionic implants working for the OSI...
(1977) During the set-up to film the Carnival of Spies (#4.17) episode inside The Pike's "Laff in the Dark" dark rideDark rideA dark ride or ghost train is an indoor amusement ride where riders in guided vehicles travel through specially lit scenes that typically contain animation, sound, music, and special effects....
in December 1976, when a stage hand moved the "hanging manHangingHanging is the lethal suspension of a person by a ligature. The Oxford English Dictionary states that hanging in this sense is "specifically to put to death by suspension by the neck", though it formerly also referred to crucifixion and death by impalement in which the body would remain...
" prop, a waxy finger broke off. The human bone inside revealed the mummy to be more than a mere prop - it was a real human corpse. Examination of the body by the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner's Office discovered that it was the arsenic embalmed human remains of Elmer McCurdyElmer McCurdyElmer McCurdy was an Oklahoma outlaw whose mummified body was discovered in The Pike amusement zone in Long Beach, California in December 1976.-Background:...
, an outlawOutlawIn historical legal systems, an outlaw is declared as outside the protection of the law. In pre-modern societies, this takes the burden of active prosecution of a criminal from the authorities. Instead, the criminal is withdrawn all legal protection, so that anyone is legally empowered to persecute...
who had been killed in 1911 after a botched train robbery. His last words to his captors were "You'll never take me alive!". They obliged him.
Demise of the amusement zone
In the 1970s, the city of Long Beach began redevelopment of the area, expanding into the Pacific Ocean eliminating the recreational bathing beach by pouring landfill over it. The city had purchased the RMS Queen MaryRMS Queen Mary
RMS Queen Mary is a retired ocean liner that sailed primarily in the North Atlantic Ocean from 1936 to 1967 for the Cunard Line...
in 1967 and permanently docked the ship in Long Beach across the mouth of the Los Angeles River from the shoreline area of the Nu-Pike where a new road circled the parking lot and Londontowne shopping/dining complex serviced by a London Double Deck omnibus to Downtown Long Beach. The Nu-Pike was renamed "Queens Park" when the Queen Mary opened to the public in 1971 as a self guided maritime museum tour on the upper decks and former engine room, hotel utilizing the former luxury staterooms of the mid-decks and Jacques Cousteau's The Living Sea. Focus and attention was further diverted from Queens Park with Shoreline Village and Rainbow Harbor marina, serviced by Shoreline Drive, built to connect to the Long Beach Freeway on even more ocean landfill south of the Pike, as locals continued to call it. Planning for Shoreline Drive and a cloverleaf connection to the new Magnolia Bridge was the excuse to demolish the Cyclone Racer in 1968. Since 1975 the area has been a major portion of the Grand Prix of Long Beach route.
In 1979 the Pike amusement zone was officially closed and demolished. By the time the lease with the city ended, The Pike had fallen into disrepair and most of the businesses had already left. The City of Long Beach then removed the remaining structures. Various plans for development of the area took form over the next twenty years. In 1999, the California Coastal Commission
California Coastal Commission
The California Coastal Commission is a state agency in the U.S. state of California with quasi-judicial regulatory oversight over land use and public access in the California coastal zone....
approved a plan for the construction of The Pike at Rainbow Harbor commercial and entertainment complex in the downtown shoreline area. The name is only a nod in reference to the original amusement zone, bathing beach and boardwalk - the outdoor shopping mall bears no resemblance whatsoever to its historic predecessor.
After the amusement zone
With numerous debates over the area, and its use as a portion of the track for the Long Beach Grand PrixLong Beach Grand Prix
The Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach is an open-wheel race held on a street circuit in Long Beach, California. Christopher Pook is the founder and promoter which began as a vision while working at a travel agency in downtown Long Beach. It was the premier circuit in the Champ Car from 1996, and...
, the main development of the area did not occur until the construction and opening of The Pike at Rainbow Harbor in 2003.
The Pike at Rainbow Harbor is located between the Long Beach Convention Center and the Aquarium of the Pacific
Aquarium of the Pacific
-External links:*...
. The tourist
Tourism
Tourism is travel for recreational, leisure or business purposes. The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people "traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes".Tourism has become a...
-oriented development has a large number of restaurant
Restaurant
A restaurant is an establishment which prepares and serves food and drink to customers in return for money. Meals are generally served and eaten on premises, but many restaurants also offer take-out and food delivery services...
s and a 14-theater megaplex Cinemark movie theater. The Gameworks
GameWorks
GameWorks is a chain of entertainment venues featuring video games, simulators, prizes, and a full service bar and restaurant. There are 7 GameWorks venues throughout the U.S. The first GameWorks opened in Downtown Seattle in March 1997....
keystone attraction closed and has re-opened as Kitchen-Den-Bar. There is also a 4-level, fee parking-structure, metered street parking, a pedestrian overpass supporting teaser artwork resembling a steel rollercoaster, an outdoor amphitheater, an antique Spillman carousel
Carousel
A carousel , or merry-go-round, is an amusement ride consisting of a rotating circular platform with seats for riders...
(1920) and a solar powered Ferris wheel
Ferris wheel
A Ferris wheel is a nonbuilding structure consisting of a rotating upright wheel with passenger cars attached to the rim in such a way that as the wheel turns, the cars are kept upright, usually by gravity.Some of the largest and most modern Ferris wheels have cars mounted on...
.
Although the area has been developed into a retail-entertainment center that pays homage to its past as an amusement zone in name only, it has yet to become as successful as hoped. There continues to be controversy over the lack of a nearby recreational bathing beach and solutions are being sought for bringing back the excitement of the area’s heyday.
External links
- The Pike - fan history page.
- The Pike, 1902-1979, Fun Zone in Long Beach, California Flickr photo group.
- Photos of the Forgotten May 1980, between closure and demolition.
- The Pike at Rainbow Harbor outdoor shopping mall.
- The Pike at Rainbow Harbor, Long Beach, CA, since 2004 Flickr photo group.
33°45′58"N 118°11′21"W