Now Streaming
Discover what's special about these amazing parks.
Long before the days of giant theme parks, the United States had many amusement parks where families gathered for a cool escape on a hot summer day. Celebrate these pre-Disney parks with visits to Playland in Rye, New York; Holiday World in Santa Claus, Indiana; and California’s Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, where vacationers can still reach for the brass ring on the merry-go-round.
Long before the days of giant theme parks, the United States had many amusement parks where families gathered for a cool escape on a hot summer day. Celebrate these pre-Disney parks with visits to Playland in Rye, New York; Holiday World in Santa Claus, Indiana; and California’s Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, where vacationers can still reach for the brass ring on the merry-go-round.
Providing Support for PBS.org
Providing Support for PBS.org
About the Show
Long before giant theme parks and computer-controlled thrill rides, this country had lots of charming and beautiful amusement parks where families gathered for a cool escape on hot summer days. "Great Old Amusement Parks" celebrates some of the pre-Disney parks that are still thriving as well as a few of the classic parks that are gone.
The show takes you on old wooden roller coasters, vintage bumper cars and other classic rides. We look at some amusing history and discover what's special about these amazing parks that bring people together and keep them coming back. "Great Old Amusement Parks" visits places like Playland Park in Rye, N.Y., and Kennywood Park in Pittsburgh, Pa. — the only two parks in the country recognized as National Historic Landmarks. At Northern California's Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, we hop on the Loeff carousel (circa 1911), where brave riders can still lean out and grab for the "brass ring." We visit Holiday World in Santa Claus, Ind. — a traditional old "themed" amusement park, where sections of the park represent different holidays: Christmas, Halloween and Fourth of July. It's one place where you can talk to Santa in August.
Rick Sebak mixes historical footage, old postcards, vintage music and new video that was shot from California to Connecticut, from Chattanooga to Altoona to create his trademark "scrapbook documentary." Sebak takes viewers across the country to check out the quirky joys of some of these parks. We hop on fun old rides and find out how these places have changed over the years and how they've remained the same. We celebrate these wooden and mechanical old getaways and the communities that support them.
"Great Old Amusement Parks" was produced by Rick Sebak.
Producers
- Rick Sebak
Support for PBS.org provided by: