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The '''Pretzel Amusement Ride Company''' was a famous manufacturer of pretzel [[dark ride]]s. Pretzel built over 1400 pretzel rides and sold them to carnivals and parks. The pretzel ride was invented by Marvin Rempfer. Leon Cassidy was Marvin's partner in the Pretzel Amusement Ride Company. Both names are on the patent.<ref>{{cite web|last=Luca|first=Bill|title=William Cassidy and The Pretzel Amusement Ride Company|url=http://www.laffinthedark.com/articles/pretzelride/pretzelride12.htm|work=Send 'em Out Laffing|accessdate=22 October 2011}}</ref> Leon Cassidy patented the single-rail dark ride in 1928 along with Marvin Rempfer. The company originated in [[Tumbling Dam Park]] on the banks of [[Sunset Lake (New Jersey)|Sunset Lake]] in [[Bridgeton, New Jersey]]. A rider said that "''It felt like I was turned and twisted like a Pretzel''", so the name Pretzel was chosen. A large heavy pretzel design was originally affixed to the front of each car to prevent the car from flipping backwards. In 1929, a standard Pretzel ride had five cars, 350 feet of track, and was one and a half minutes per ride. A pretzel ride sold for $1,200. |
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{{Infobox company |
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| name = Pretzel Amusement Ride Company |
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| industry = Amusement Rides |
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| fate = Defunct |
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| founded = 1928 |
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| founder = Leon Cassidy and Marvin Rempfer |
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| defunct = 1979 |
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| hq_location_city = [[Bridgeton, New Jersey]], U.S. |
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| hq_location_country = United States |
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| key_people = Bill Cassidy |
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| products = The Pretzel |
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}} |
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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. |
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==Name== |
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Portable pretzel rides for carnivals weighed about 9 tons. They were unloaded from huge moving vans and set up. For the first 3 decades, Pretzel rides were single story. In the late 1950s, they started making double decker (2 story) rides. The ride carts were hoisted to the 2nd story by a lift chain. Leon Cassidy was not in favor of the double decker. The ''[[Mad Giant]]'' was 17 tons, 40'x 8' on trailer, and 70'x30' when opened up. It took about 5 hours to set it up. Pretzel also made spinning rides, including a famous one for [[Coney Island]]. |
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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". |
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==History== |
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The rides were usually themed. A few of the rides were : ''Pretzel Ride'' (1930), ''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 3 ''Dante's Infernos''. The ''[[Historic Bushkill Park|Haunted Pretzel]]'' in [[Historic Bushkill Park]], [[Easton, PA]] was built in 1927, and was one of the oldest surviving dark rides in the U.S. until it was destroyed by a flood in 2004. |
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The company was established in 1928 when founders Marvin Rempfer and Leon Cassidy patented a single-rail dark ride<ref>{{cite web |last=Luca |first=Bill |title=William Cassidy and The Pretzel Amusement Ride Company |url=http://www.laffinthedark.com/articles/pretzelride/pretzelride12.htm |work=Send 'em Out Laffing |access-date=22 October 2011 }}</ref> they built in [[Tumbling Dam Park]] on the banks of [[Sunset Lake (New Jersey)|Sunset Lake]] in [[Bridgeton, New Jersey]]. The company remained in Bridgeton throughout its existence. |
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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. |
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[[Conneaut Lake Park]] has one of the few remaining Pretzel Dark Rides in operation, with their Devil's Den dark ride. |
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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]]. |
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[[Camden Park (amusement park)|Camden Park]] in Huntington, WV has one of the last surviving pretzel Haunted House attractions. It is of the double-decker variety featuring a lift chain and a dip to create the momentum to carry the ride through its entirety. |
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Leon's son William Cassidy ran the company after his father. |
Leon's son William Cassidy ran the company after his father. He sold the rights to build the rides in 1979. |
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==List of rides== |
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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. |
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{| class="wikitable sortable" |
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!Name |
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!Location |
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!{{nowrap|First year}} |
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!{{nowrap|Last year}} |
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!class="unsortable"|Ref(s) |
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|- |
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|Haunted Mansion |
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|[[Knoebel's Amusement Resort]] |
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|{{center|1973}} |
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|{{yes|Operating}} |
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|{{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>}} |
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|- |
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|Haunted Pretzel |
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|[[Bushkill Park]] |
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|{{center|1927}} |
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|{{center|2004}} |
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| |
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|- |
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|Pretzel Ride |
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|[[Blackpool Pleasure Beach]] |
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|{{center|1930}} |
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|{{yes|Operating}} |
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| |
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|- |
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|The Pretzel |
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|[[North Point State Park#Bay Shore Park|Bay Shore Park]] |
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|{{center|1931}} |
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|{{center|Unknown}} |
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|{{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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|- |
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|The Pretzel |
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|[[Hersheypark]] |
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|{{center|1931}} |
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|{{center|1963}} |
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|{{center|<ref>{{cite news |title=Hershey Park to Open For Season on Sunday |newspaper=The Evening News |location=Harrisburg, PA |date=May 20, 1931 |page=2 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Boys' Band Will Give Concerts at Hershey Park Memorial Day |newspaper=The Evening News |location=Harrisburg, PA |date=May 29, 1931 |page=2 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Hershey Park Adds Feature |newspaper=Harrisburg Telegraph |date=April 28, 1931 |page=8 }}</ref>}} |
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|- |
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|Zoomerang |
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|[[Kennywood]] |
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|{{center|1954}} |
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|{{center|1960}} |
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|{{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>}} |
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|- |
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|Safari |
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|Kennywood |
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|{{center|1961}} |
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|{{center|1971}} |
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|{{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>}} |
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|- |
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|Le Cachot |
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|Kennywood |
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|{{center|1972}} |
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|{{center|1998}} |
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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>}} |
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|- |
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|The Pretzel |
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|Conneaut Lake Park |
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|Unknown |
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|{{center|1966}} |
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| |
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|- |
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|Devil's Den |
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|[[Conneaut Lake Park]] |
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|{{center|1968}} |
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|{{yes|Operating}} |
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| |
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|Haunted House |
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|[[Camden Park (amusement park)|Camden Park]] |
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| |
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|{{yes|Operating}} |
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| |
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|- |
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|Laffland |
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|[[Sylvan Beach, New York|Sylvan Beach Amusement Park]] |
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| |
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|{{yes|Operating}} |
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| |
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|- |
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|Laff in the Dark |
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|Kiddieland Amusement Park (Birmingham, AL) |
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|{{center|1948}} |
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|{{center|1979}} |
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| |
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|- |
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|Spook-a-Rama |
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|[[Deno's Wonder Wheel Amusement Park]] |
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|{{center|1955}} |
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|{{yes|Operating}} |
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| |
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|- |
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|Keansburg Mystery House |
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|[[Keansburg, New Jersey|Keansburg Amusement Park]] |
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|{{center|1931}} |
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|{{center|1952}} |
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|{{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>}} |
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|- |
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|Spook House |
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|[[Keansburg, New Jersey|Keansburg Amusement Park]] |
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|{{center|1953}} |
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|{{center|2012}} |
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|{{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>}} |
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|- |
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|Ghost Train |
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|[[Lagoon Amusement Park]] |
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|{{center|1947}} |
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|{{center|1953}} |
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| |
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|- |
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|SpooksHouse |
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|[[Eldridge Park]] |
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|{{center|1940s}} |
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|{{center|1989}} |
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| |
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|- |
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|Ghost Train |
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|[[Luna Park Melbourne]] |
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|{{center|1934}} |
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|{{yes|Operating}} |
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|{{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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|} |
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==References== |
==References== |
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==External links== |
==External links== |
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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 |
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{{Amusement rides}} |
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[[Category:Amusement ride manufacturers]] |
[[Category:Amusement ride manufacturers]] |
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Latest revision as of 01:18, 21 November 2024
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (April 2018) |
| Industry | Amusement Rides |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1928 |
| Founder | Leon Cassidy and Marvin Rempfer |
| Defunct | 1979 |
| Fate | Defunct |
| Headquarters | Bridgeton, New Jersey, U.S. , United States |
Key people | Bill Cassidy |
| Products | The 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 | |
| Haunted Pretzel | Bushkill Park | 1927
|
2004
|
|
| Pretzel Ride | Blackpool Pleasure Beach | 1930
|
Operating | |
| The Pretzel | Bay Shore Park | 1931
|
Unknown
|
|
| The Pretzel | Hersheypark | 1931
|
1963
|
|
| Zoomerang | Kennywood | 1954
|
1960
|
|
| Safari | Kennywood | 1961
|
1971
|
|
| Le Cachot | Kennywood | 1972
|
1998
|
|
| 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
|
|
| Spook House | Keansburg Amusement Park | 1953
|
2012
|
|
| Ghost Train | Lagoon Amusement Park | 1947
|
1953
|
|
| SpooksHouse | Eldridge Park | 1940s
|
1989
|
|
| Ghost Train | Luna Park Melbourne | 1934
|
Operating |
References
[edit]- ^ 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.
- ^ Luca, Bill. "William Cassidy and The Pretzel Amusement Ride Company". Send 'em Out Laffing. Retrieved 22 October 2011.
- ^ "Haunted Mansion". dafe.org. Retrieved 2022-07-10.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Hershey Park to Open For Season on Sunday". The Evening News. Harrisburg, PA. May 20, 1931. p. 2.
- ^ "Boys' Band Will Give Concerts at Hershey Park Memorial Day". The Evening News. Harrisburg, PA. May 29, 1931. p. 2.
- ^ "Hershey Park Adds Feature". Harrisburg Telegraph. April 28, 1931. p. 8.
- ^ "LaffInTheDark.com: Le Cachot (Page 1)". Retrieved November 19, 2020.
- ^ "LaffInTheDark.com: Le Cachot (Page 1)". Retrieved November 19, 2020.
- ^ "LaffInTheDark.com: Le Cachot (Page 2)". Retrieved November 19, 2020.
- ^ "Pittsburgh: Kennywood's LeCachot ride art". Oni Durant. May 27, 2014. Retrieved November 19, 2020.
- ^ "Keansburg Mystery House - Keansburg Amusement Park". Retrieved March 28, 2024.
- ^ "Keansburg Mystery House - Keansburg Amusement Park". Retrieved March 28, 2024.
- ^ "Ghost Train". Retrieved 29 March 2024.
External links
[edit]- Send 'Em Out Laffing The History of the Pretzel Amusement Ride Company
