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Undid revision 1243546491 by 65.60.230.72 (talk) There is nothing suggesting Devil's Den has closed.
 
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| founder = Leon Cassidy and Marvin Rempfer
| founder = Leon Cassidy and Marvin Rempfer
| defunct = 1979
| defunct = 1979
| hq_location_city = [[Bridgeton, New Jersey]]
| hq_location_city = [[Bridgeton, New Jersey]], U.S.
| hq_location_country = [[United States of America|USA]]
| hq_location_country = United States
| key_people = Bill Cassidy
| key_people = Bill Cassidy
| products = The Pretzel
| products = The Pretzel
Line 15: Line 15:


==Name==
==Name==
The company took its name from its trademark dark ride, The Pretzel, so called because of its track's winding, prezel-like layout.<ref>{{cite book |last=Coleman |first=John P. |title=Historic Amusement Parks of Baltimore: An Illustrated History |publisher=McFarland |date=April 28, 2016 |page=26 |quote=[The Pretzel] received its name from the ride's twisted curving layout that guests navigated in the dark. }}</ref> It may also have been influenced by the comment of someone who rode the ride's prototype: "It felt like I was turned and twisted like a pretzel".
The company took its name from its trademark dark ride, The Pretzel, so called because of its track's winding, pretzel-like layout.<ref>{{cite book |last=Coleman |first=John P. |title=Historic Amusement Parks of Baltimore: An Illustrated History |publisher=McFarland |date=April 28, 2016 |page=26 |quote=[The Pretzel] received its name from the ride's twisted curving layout that guests navigated in the dark. }}</ref> It may also have been influenced by the comment of someone who rode the ride's prototype: "It felt like I was turned and twisted like a pretzel".


==History==
==History==
Line 22: Line 22:
A large heavy pretzel design was originally affixed to the front of each car to prevent it from flipping backwards. In 1929, a standard Pretzel ride had five cars, 350 feet of track, a riding time of one and a half minutes, and sold for $1,200.
A large heavy pretzel design was originally affixed to the front of each car to prevent it from flipping backwards. In 1929, a standard Pretzel ride had five cars, 350 feet of track, a riding time of one and a half minutes, and sold for $1,200.


Portable pretzel rides for carnivals weighed about 9 tons. They were transported on huge moving vans. For the first three decades, Pretzel rides were single story. Beginning in the 1950s, two-story "double decker" rides were also made whose cars were hoisted to the second story by a lift chain during the ride. Leon Cassidy was not in favor of the double-decker version. The ''[[Mad Giant]]'' was 17 tons, 40'x 8' on trailer, and 70'x30' when opened, and took about five hours to set up. Pretzel also made spinning rides, including a famous one for [[Coney Island]].
Portable pretzel rides for carnivals weighed about 9 tons. They were transported on huge moving vans. For the first three decades, Pretzel rides were single story. Beginning in the 1950s, two-story "double decker" rides were also made whose cars were hoisted to the second story by a lift chain during the ride. Leon Cassidy was not in favor of the double-decker version. The ''[[Mad Giant]]'' was 17 tons, 40'x 8' on trailer, and 70'x30' when opened, and took about five hours to set up. Pretzel also made spinning rides, including a famous one for [[Coney Island]].


Leon's son William Cassidy ran the company after his father. He sold the rights to build the rides in 1979.
Leon's son William Cassidy ran the company after his father. He sold the rights to build the rides in 1979.


==List of rides==
==List of rides==
Pretzel rides were usually themed. They included The Caveman, Haunted House, Lost Mine, Gold Nugget, Thunderbird Jr. Ride, [[Toonerville Trolley]], Whirlo, Kiddie Circus, Devil's Cave/Pirate's Cove/Bucket O' Blood (the same ride rethemed), Devils Inn, Winter Wonderland, [[Orient Express]], Mad Giant, Laff in the Dark, Laff in the Dark with spinning cars, Laffland, Pirates Cave, Pirates Den, Paris After Dark, Arabian Nights Tunnel of Love/Casper's Ghostland, Treasure Island, [[Spook-A-Rama]], Le Cachot/Safari/Zoomerang, and three versions of Dante's Inferno.
Pretzel rides were usually themed. They included The Caveman, Haunted House, Lost Mine, Gold Nugget, Thunderbird Jr. Ride, [[Toonerville Trolley]], Whirlo, Kiddie Circus, Devil's Cave/Pirate's Cove/Bucket O' Blood (the same ride rethemed), Devils Inn, Winter Wonderland, [[Orient Express]], Mad Giant, Laff in the Dark, Laff in the Dark with spinning cars, Laffland, Pirates Cave, Pirates Den, Paris After Dark, Arabian Nights Tunnel of Love/Casper's Ghostland, Treasure Island, [[Spook-A-Rama]], Le Cachot/Safari/Zoomerang, and three versions of Dante's Inferno.


{| class="wikitable sortable"
{| class="wikitable sortable"
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|{{center|1973}}
|{{center|1973}}
|{{yes|Operating}}
|{{yes|Operating}}
|{{center|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dafe.org/articles/darkrides/hauntedMansion.html</ref>}}
|{{center|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dafe.org/articles/darkrides/hauntedMansion.html |title=Haunted Mansion |website=dafe.org |access-date=2022-07-10}}</ref>}}
|-
|-
|Haunted Pretzel
|Haunted Pretzel
|[[Historic Bushkill Park]]
|[[Bushkill Park]]
|{{center|1927}}
|{{center|1927}}
|{{center|2004}}
|{{center|2004}}
⚫
|
|-
|-
|Pretzel Ride
|Pretzel Ride
|[[Blackpool Pleasure Beach]]
|{{unknown}}
|{{center|1930}}
|{{center|1930}}
|{{yes|Operating}}
⚫
|
|-
|-
|The Pretzel
|The Pretzel
|[[North Point State Park#Bay Shore Park|Bay Shore Park]]
|[[North Point State Park#Bay Shore Park|Bay Shore Park]]
|{{center|1931}}
|{{center|1931}}
|{{Unknown}}
|{{center|Unknown}}
|{{center|<ref>{{cite book |last=Coleman |first=John P. |title=Historic Amusement Parks of Baltimore: An Illustrated History |publisher=McFarland |date=April 28, 2016 |page=26 |quote=For the 1931 season, Bay Shore added the Pretzel dark ride. }}</ref>}}
|{{center|<ref>{{cite book |last=Coleman |first=John P. |title=Historic Amusement Parks of Baltimore: An Illustrated History |publisher=McFarland |date=April 28, 2016 |page=26 |quote=For the 1931 season, Bay Shore added the Pretzel dark ride. }}</ref>}}
|-
|-
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|{{center|1954}}
|{{center|1954}}
|{{center|1960}}
|{{center|1960}}
|{{center|<ref name="Safari">{{cite web|url=https://laffinthedark.com/articles/lecachot/lecachot1.htm |title=LaffInTheDark.com: Le Cachot (Page 1) |access-date=November 19, 2020}}</ref>}}
|{{center|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://laffinthedark.com/articles/lecachot/lecachot1.htm |title=LaffInTheDark.com: Le Cachot (Page 1) |access-date=November 19, 2020}}</ref>}}
|-
|-
|Safari
|Safari
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|{{center|1961}}
|{{center|1961}}
|{{center|1971}}
|{{center|1971}}
|{{center|<ref name="Safari">{{cite web|url=https://laffinthedark.com/articles/lecachot/lecachot1.htm |title=LaffInTheDark.com: Le Cachot (Page 1) |access-date=November 19, 2020}}</ref>}}
|{{center|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://laffinthedark.com/articles/lecachot/lecachot1.htm |title=LaffInTheDark.com: Le Cachot (Page 1) |access-date=November 19, 2020}}</ref>}}
|-
|-
|Le Cachot
|Le Cachot
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|{{center|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://laffinthedark.com/articles/lecachot/lecachot2.htm |title=LaffInTheDark.com: Le Cachot (Page 2) |access-date=November 19, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.onidurant.com/2014/05/pittsburgh-kennywoods-lecachot-ride-art/ |title=Pittsburgh: Kennywood’s LeCachot ride art |work=Oni Durant |date=May 27, 2014 |access-date=November 19, 2020}}</ref>}}
|{{center|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://laffinthedark.com/articles/lecachot/lecachot2.htm |title=LaffInTheDark.com: Le Cachot (Page 2) |access-date=November 19, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.onidurant.com/2014/05/pittsburgh-kennywoods-lecachot-ride-art/ |title=Pittsburgh: Kennywood’s LeCachot ride art |work=Oni Durant |date=May 27, 2014 |access-date=November 19, 2020}}</ref>}}
|-
|-
|The Prezel
|The Pretzel
|Conneaut Lake Park
|Conneaut Lake Park
|Unknown
|Unknown
|1966
|{{center|1966}}
|
|
|-
|-
|Devil's Den
|Devil's Den
|[[Conneaut Lake Park]]
|[[Conneaut Lake Park]]
|1968
|{{center|1968}}
|{{yes|Operating}}
|{{yes|Operating}}
|
|
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|Spook-a-Rama
|Spook-a-Rama
|[[Deno's Wonder Wheel Amusement Park]]
|[[Deno's Wonder Wheel Amusement Park]]
|{{center|1955}}
⚫
|
|{{yes|Operating}}
|{{yes|Operating}}
|
|
|-
|Keansburg Mystery House
|[[Keansburg, New Jersey|Keansburg Amusement Park]]
|{{center|1931}}
|{{center|1952}}
|{{center|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://darkridedatabase.com/rides/keansburg-mystery-house/ |title=Keansburg Mystery House - Keansburg Amusement Park |access-date=March 28, 2024}}</ref>}}
|-
|-
|Spook House
|Spook House
|[[Keansburg, New Jersey|Keansburg Amusement Park]]
|[[Keansburg, New Jersey|Keansburg Amusement Park]]
|{{center|1953}}
⚫
|
|{{yes|Operating}}
|{{center|2012}}
|{{center|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://darkridedatabase.com/rides/keansburg-mystery-house/ |title=Keansburg Mystery House - Keansburg Amusement Park |access-date=March 28, 2024}}</ref>}}
|-
|-
|Ghost Train
|Ghost Train
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|SpooksHouse
|SpooksHouse
|[[Eldridge Park]]
|[[Eldridge Park]]
|1940s
|{{center|1940s}}
|1989
|{{center|1989}}
|
|
|-
|Ghost Train
|[[Luna Park Melbourne]]
|{{center|1934}}
|{{yes|Operating}}
|{{center|<ref>{{cite web |url=https://lunapark.com.au/rides-and-attractions/all-rides/ghost-train/ |title=Ghost Train |access-date=29 March 2024}}</ref>}}
|}
|}


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* [http://www.laffinthedark.com/articles/pretzelride/pretzelride1.htm Send 'Em Out Laffing] The History of the Pretzel Amusement Ride Company
* [http://www.laffinthedark.com/articles/pretzelride/pretzelride1.htm Send 'Em Out Laffing] The History of the Pretzel Amusement Ride Company
{{Amusement rides}}
{{Amusement rides}}

[[Category:Amusement ride manufacturers]]
[[Category:Amusement ride manufacturers]]
[[Category:Companies based in New Jersey]]
[[Category:Companies based in New Jersey]]

Latest revision as of 01:18, 21 November 2024

Pretzel Amusement Ride Company
IndustryAmusement Rides
Founded1928
FounderLeon Cassidy and Marvin Rempfer
Defunct1979
FateDefunct
Headquarters
Bridgeton, New Jersey, U.S.
,
United States
Key people
Bill Cassidy
ProductsThe Pretzel

The Pretzel Amusement Ride Company was an amusement ride manufacturer that produced a variety of rides, including an early dark ride known as The Pretzel, the company's namesake. It built over 1400 rides for carnivals and amusement parks.

Name

[edit]

The company took its name from its trademark dark ride, The Pretzel, so called because of its track's winding, pretzel-like layout.[1] It may also have been influenced by the comment of someone who rode the ride's prototype: "It felt like I was turned and twisted like a pretzel".

History

[edit]

The company was established in 1928 when founders Marvin Rempfer and Leon Cassidy patented a single-rail dark ride[2] they built in Tumbling Dam Park on the banks of Sunset Lake in Bridgeton, New Jersey. The company remained in Bridgeton throughout its existence.

A large heavy pretzel design was originally affixed to the front of each car to prevent it from flipping backwards. In 1929, a standard Pretzel ride had five cars, 350 feet of track, a riding time of one and a half minutes, and sold for $1,200.

Portable pretzel rides for carnivals weighed about 9 tons. They were transported on huge moving vans. For the first three decades, Pretzel rides were single story. Beginning in the 1950s, two-story "double decker" rides were also made whose cars were hoisted to the second story by a lift chain during the ride. Leon Cassidy was not in favor of the double-decker version. The Mad Giant was 17 tons, 40'x 8' on trailer, and 70'x30' when opened, and took about five hours to set up. Pretzel also made spinning rides, including a famous one for Coney Island.

Leon's son William Cassidy ran the company after his father. He sold the rights to build the rides in 1979.

List of rides

[edit]

Pretzel rides were usually themed. They included The Caveman, Haunted House, Lost Mine, Gold Nugget, Thunderbird Jr. Ride, Toonerville Trolley, Whirlo, Kiddie Circus, Devil's Cave/Pirate's Cove/Bucket O' Blood (the same ride rethemed), Devils Inn, Winter Wonderland, Orient Express, Mad Giant, Laff in the Dark, Laff in the Dark with spinning cars, Laffland, Pirates Cave, Pirates Den, Paris After Dark, Arabian Nights Tunnel of Love/Casper's Ghostland, Treasure Island, Spook-A-Rama, Le Cachot/Safari/Zoomerang, and three versions of Dante's Inferno.

Name Location First year Last year Ref(s)
Haunted Mansion Knoebel's Amusement Resort
1973
 Operating
[3]
Haunted Pretzel Bushkill Park
1927
2004
Pretzel Ride Blackpool Pleasure Beach
1930
 Operating
The Pretzel Bay Shore Park
1931
Unknown
[4]
The Pretzel Hersheypark
1931
1963
[5][6][7]
Zoomerang Kennywood
1954
1960
[8]
Safari Kennywood
1961
1971
[9]
Le Cachot Kennywood
1972
1998
[10][11]
The Pretzel Conneaut Lake Park Unknown
1966
Devil's Den Conneaut Lake Park
1968
 Operating
Haunted House Camden Park Operating
Laffland Sylvan Beach Amusement Park Operating
Laff in the Dark Kiddieland Amusement Park (Birmingham, AL)
1948
1979
Spook-a-Rama Deno's Wonder Wheel Amusement Park
1955
 Operating
Keansburg Mystery House Keansburg Amusement Park
1931
1952
[12]
Spook House Keansburg Amusement Park
1953
2012
[13]
Ghost Train Lagoon Amusement Park
1947
1953
SpooksHouse Eldridge Park
1940s
1989
Ghost Train Luna Park Melbourne
1934
 Operating
[14]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Coleman, John P. (April 28, 2016). Historic Amusement Parks of Baltimore: An Illustrated History. McFarland. p. 26. [The Pretzel] received its name from the ride's twisted curving layout that guests navigated in the dark.
  2. ^ Luca, Bill. "William Cassidy and The Pretzel Amusement Ride Company". Send 'em Out Laffing. Retrieved 22 October 2011.
  3. ^ "Haunted Mansion". dafe.org. Retrieved 2022-07-10.
  4. ^ Coleman, John P. (April 28, 2016). Historic Amusement Parks of Baltimore: An Illustrated History. McFarland. p. 26. For the 1931 season, Bay Shore added the Pretzel dark ride.
  5. ^ "Hershey Park to Open For Season on Sunday". The Evening News. Harrisburg, PA. May 20, 1931. p. 2.
  6. ^ "Boys' Band Will Give Concerts at Hershey Park Memorial Day". The Evening News. Harrisburg, PA. May 29, 1931. p. 2.
  7. ^ "Hershey Park Adds Feature". Harrisburg Telegraph. April 28, 1931. p. 8.
  8. ^ "LaffInTheDark.com: Le Cachot (Page 1)". Retrieved November 19, 2020.
  9. ^ "LaffInTheDark.com: Le Cachot (Page 1)". Retrieved November 19, 2020.
  10. ^ "LaffInTheDark.com: Le Cachot (Page 2)". Retrieved November 19, 2020.
  11. ^ "Pittsburgh: Kennywood's LeCachot ride art". Oni Durant. May 27, 2014. Retrieved November 19, 2020.
  12. ^ "Keansburg Mystery House - Keansburg Amusement Park". Retrieved March 28, 2024.
  13. ^ "Keansburg Mystery House - Keansburg Amusement Park". Retrieved March 28, 2024.
  14. ^ "Ghost Train". Retrieved 29 March 2024.
[edit]
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