Essential Roller Coaster History, Episode 2: The Roaring 20's (1910's - 1929)

[@donjackson5522]

Grew up riding the Dragon Coaster at Rye Playland. I still enjoy it even though they had to replace the trains due to people standing up during the ride on the old trains. Even got to work it for a day or two when I worked at Playland in the early 90's. It will turn 100 in 2028. Still hope they will somehow re-build the Aeroplane Coaster you talked about. There is talk about it, they supposedly have the original plans. But the park has been struggling lately.

[@oceanlopez4739]

Never knew how important a coaster the Giant Dipper was until now. It's such an amazing landmark.

[@heheheiamasupahflyingace3921]

I love these roller coaster history videos. It surprised me to learn upstop wheels were patented in 1912, given that coasters with them weren't really made until 1920.

[@JNattyBoi]

Glad you like them! I thought the same thing, weird that upstop wheels took a couple years to catch on

[@julias4318]

Absolutely delighted to see Seabreeze mentioned alongside Kennywood! Their jackrabbit is often overlooked (even though it’s almost identical to Kennywood’s) because the park is small and not super well-known outside the local area. I rode it plenty of times when I lived in Rochester and it’s still a pretty smooth and exciting ride, despite being over a hundred years old!

[@themuaddib]

I rode "Giant Dipper" in San Diego. Still intense and a great ride to this day despite its small size.

[@metno.1thetankengine373]

Me to!😊

[@joeygassmann5595]

This is a really awesome video series, thank you for putting in the effort to make it. Personally, I have ridden both of the giant dippers in California and the roller coaster at lagoon. These are some true historical classics and I appreciate that they have been so well-maintained, all this time, despite their wild history over the last century.

[@JNattyBoi]

Thanks for the comment! I've gotten on San Diego's Giant Dipper, amazing how well it runs after all these years. With more and more wooden coasters being torn down every year, it's great to know there are still small parks out there maintaining their classic woodies. Really hope to get to Lagoon someday to ride Roller Coaster. Thanks again and appreciate the kind words

[@phoenixshade3]

Harry Traver was way ahead of his time. His rides almost look like RMC's. I have ridden a 1917 John Miller coaster... The Wild One at Six Flags America. My first ride was when the park was still called Wild World and that was their only coaster.

[@JNattyBoi]

Indeed, I can’t tell if Traver was a genius or a madman. Very cool to hear that you rode Wild One before the Six Flags acquisition! I hope to get down there someday

[@rattlesnakejake6915]

So happy to say I’ve been able to ride the Giant Dipper multiple times, and it remains one of my favorite coasters even after riding some of the modern heavy hitters. It still packs a punch, and it’s just plain beautiful! Hoping to ride more 1920s coasters before they bite the dust. Also I have to say man your videos are amazing. You have a talent for this.

[@trainbear8205]

Ridden Jack Rabbit in SeaBreeze in Rochester New York many times! Great coaster with fun turns and air times!

[@technicolortabby4239]

Schmeck designed the Wild Cat that originally stood at Hersheypark (1923) and was the park's first coaster. Although the original was demolished, the GCI woodie installed at the park in the 90s bears the same name as an homage to the original (stylized as Wildcat). Schmeck also designed the Comet at Hersheypark (you showed footage, but didn't really speak about). The Comet celebrated its 75th birthday this year and also received and ACE designation this year as well. Another notable (and still operating) coaster designed by Schmeck is the Phoenix in Knoebels. Phoenix was originally the Rocket in San Antonio, but was relocated to Knoebels in 84. Today the 74 year old coaster is known as one of the best wooden roller coasters in the world, having received multiple Golden Ticket awards.

[@JNattyBoi]

Schmeck is truly one of the GOATs of the coaster world. I talk a lot more about him and PTC in Episode 3 (including both Hershey's Comet and Knoebels' Phoenix) if you want to to check that out! Thanks for the comment. kzbin.info/www/bejne/bmTEq2uuqNGcodU

[@JeffreyPiatt]

@@JNattyBoi dorney Park 's Thunderhawk received it's Ace landmark status in 2020 for being the oldest PTC coaster standing and still operating. She's 100 years old.

[@SPRidley]

Watching all your videos list now. Ive ridden the rutschebanen at tivoli, what a fantastic fun ride, and its never the same thanks to the brakeman. Also, love the use of obra dinn music (i also hear a little bit of scott pilgrim videogame in the intro?)

[@mendfri]

Don't mind me, just binging all of your videos!

[@JNattyBoi]

Don't mind at all, thanks for coming by!

[@Uncle_Nate]

Great series!

[@cricketrecords1411]

Very nice video and very informative. The Giant Dippers are two of my favorite roller coasters. One point of contention though. The first Giant Dipper was built in 1923 on Pickering Pleasure Pier in Ocean Park, California, just north of Venice. The Venice Pier Giant Dipper opened a year later, in 1924. The Ocean Park Giant Dipper was destroyed in a fire in 1924, so no pictures of it survive except among the ruins of the fire.

[@filanfyretracker]

Lake Compounce in Connecticut I believe still has a functional Wildcat. Also the oldest continuously operating amusement park in the USA, There was a period where they had really bad financial times and opened only on a few summer weekends just to keep that oldest title.

[@Somewhat880]

such an underrated channel

[@lilblackbelt0001]

I've ridden Yankee Cannonball and until recently I didn't understand the significance of that ride. Always thought it was a fun woodie not knowing how old it really was.

[@JNattyBoi]

Yes its history goes back surprisingly far. It was actually named "Greyhound" until the 1970's!

[@MickanMansRCTStation]

Rode The Cyclone a couple years back, was a wonderful experience. Watching this has added a few more coasters to my bucket list!

[@JNattyBoi]

Nice! Despite being from New York I've actually never been on the Cyclone. Hoping to get on it sometime this fall

[@MickanMansRCTStation]

@@JNattyBoi I was pleasantly surprised by how (relatively) smooth it was - I've been on several modern wooden coasters that have been well more rough

[@JNattyBoi]

@@MickanMansRCTStation Not sure exactly when you rode it, but I think it was actually re-tracked by GCI over a couple of years starting in 2013, which could explain why it was relatively smooth. Not all old woodies get that type of love though I guess.. some are unfortunately located at Six Flags parks lol

[@jawharp1992]

Buddy, you’ve earned another subscriber!

[@JNattyBoi]

Thank you! Really appreciate the support :)

[@horseality6250]

wow I didn't knew the german bandit was based/inspired of the cyclone. I never visited the usa but most themepark/rollercoaster/ride-channels onl talk about american rides so I knew the cyclone but not the relationship. I really love your videos for being such a wide virarity and not only focusing on the us. Also the rct videos are just amazing :) (ps the bandit really is a pain to ride :'D Moviepark isn't the best park after having a fanancial problem after losing some rights. There really isn't much to go for so it's been a while since I visited the park. But even back than (like maybe even 10 years?? ago) the ride was really rough. My friend couldnt even enjoy the ride xD But I did. Its rough but enjoyable)

[@JNattyBoi]

Thanks for the kind words! I do try my best to not be so American-focused so this is great to hear :) As for the Bandit, it was manufactured by RCCA, who is considered one of if not the worst wooden coaster manufacturer in modern history, so it's not entirely Movepark's fault that it's so rough, a lot of that comes down to RCCA's shoddy construction. Thanks again for the comment!

[@horseality6250]

@@JNattyBoi thanks for that extra information :) it’s always so interesting to hear something about parks I actually went to because it’s pretty rare :D I still love videos about every rollercoaster no matter where there are. Moviepark kind off never had the best rides. The bandit, a standard slc and a vekoma suspended family coaster.. so yeah it’s alright but you don’t except the best and smoothes rides there. :’D

[@Noct31]

My Dad went to high school next door to Riverview in Chicago when it was still open. He and his pals used to sneak out during their lunch period to ride the Bobs and play the Midway games all the time. When he talks about the "good old days" I kinda have to give it to him.

[@SnowghostFilms]

If I had a time machine, I would tell one of these coaster designers “hey, do you realise those safety wheels mean the car won’t fall off of an upside down track?” before telling them into looking into some aircraft maneuvers.

[@Adam-xd9tr]

I was not expecting Return of the Obra Dinn's music to appear, but this was a good use of the game's soundtrack.

[@neodarvan8484]

Canobie Lake is my home park, The Yankee a cannonball is such a great classic!!

[@metal-magazine]

SOOO MUCH FUN

[@alanloeper3953]

Dorney Park, just west of Allentown PA, was our family's home town park with Hershey Park not much farther away. The ThunderHawk was my first real coaster ride but not called that back in the day. I remember when you entered, you were given a little cardboard card that the ride attendant 'punched' as you boarded the train. You could stay on the train and get your card punched for every re-ride then pay accordingly as you exited. The old park had a number of now removed elder generation features and this coaster had a station under a roof that housed both bumper cars and part of the old mill boats that ended with a lift hill and short drop into a water pond. These were all wooden structures that have been torn down due to fire hazard. They also had an enclosed crazy cup ride that was great in that it had four turn tables that switched the cups around. They also had a coney island labeled whip that I believe may still be in operation. Hershey has a great wooden coaster, the comet along with a rough track wildcat and a side by side racing coaster with articulated cars. Finally, we used to live on Long Island and were able to visit the real Coney Island multiple times where I enjoyed the true Cyclone Coaster which is across the street from Nathans Hot Dogs. I used to change a 20 into singles as you can still get re-rides on the Cyclone (used to be 4 dollars a pop) but be ready to pay as soon as the train pulls into the station. Also if you move fast enough you can change your seat and move up to either the front or back seat! The back is a killer and you feel like you went a couple rounds in the ring with a real boxer!

[@JNattyBoi]

Thanks for taking the time to write all of this up, I really enjoyed reading through it. It's amazing to hear how much these parks have changed over only a generation or two - your story about the cardboard card on the Thunderhawk particularly struck me, as it's so unlike how Dorney is today, now owned by a multimillion dollar publicly traded company. Thanks for coming by and checking out the channel.

[@rockangel16]

I grew up between Dorney, Hershey and Knoebels in the 80s and 90s and while The Phoenix was my first and favorite coaster, Thunderhawk and Comet are a close second and third. Thunderhawk was always such a beast of a coaster, I still love it so much. I vaguely remember a house under the first hill? Something about the owner at the time wanting his wife to divorce him so he built her it to drive her nuts but she stayed anyway? Something to that nature.

[@JNattyBoi]

@@rockangel16 that’s a hilarious story about the house. Personally, I’d be thrilled if my partner built me a house located underneath the oldest operating coaster in the Cedar Fair chain but, i guess it wouldn’t be for everyone haha

[@EDDIELANE]

Great videos!!

[@coastercafe6338]

Loving these videos!

[@JNattyBoi]

Thanks so much! Appreciate the support

[@NickyG790]

Roller Coaster at Lagoon, which was my early childhood park.

[@theodoreperkoski1951]

Don't forget that John Miller designed the valley section of the Thunderbolt in Kennywood Park

[@jessicamuffin7148]

I've ridden The Jack Rabbit and The Racer at Kennywood! Hoping to ride The Bandit soon!

[@fidwell]

now all I can think about is how good Return of the Obra Dinn is

[@JNattyBoi]

Lol it’s an amazing game, more people should check it out

[@dan96kid]

I rode the Giant Dipper in Belmont Park a few years ago

[@waveiscursed]

2:02 jesus christ i can feel the airtime just looking at that

[@Herman-ej4xn]

🎉😢😅😮❤😂 Good History Lesson !!!

[@JumpySnake-6088]

I rode a the big dipper at Blackpool but if your over there you’ll have to ride the big one. Bit late of a comment but oh well

[@jacknight10]

I have ridden the one in my home county Giant Dipper in San Diego

[@karlsmith2451]

Yes, I rode those coasters at chicago's riverview Park. And the price was right back then. Today, I think they compete way too much & has way too many theme parks now, & the greedy prices are too ridiculous these days. Anit nothing like a good old fashion woody. They built them better to last back then. Today, they are too long of a ride creating long lines and less thrills. They waste to much Money on these newbies, prefabricated type. Riverview was going to be rebuilt, but a greedy lawyer spoiled all the fun for us all. Park had a Great safety Record.

[@karlsmith2451]

Tanks for thé love

[@kevinpeters6709]

I know ThunderHawk Dorney is about an hour from my house with bad traffic… so regular PA traffic

[@debracarter9935]

In 1973, I was only about 4 years old, but I remember my mom and dad reminiscing around the dinner table and I hung on every word. My parents are from Chicago and often went to Riverview as kids... Dad would tell us tales about how they'd come home BLACK and BLUE with bruising from riding the Bobs all day - the lateral forces were THAT strong. 😂 He made it sound so incredible that I said, "I wanna ride a roller coaster!" but Riverview was no longer in operation and even Great America (Gurnee, IL) hadn't been built yet! So one Friday in late summer, he took me to Kiddieland (in Melrose Park, defunct in 2009) and I rode the Little Dipper roller coaster. I remember being so scared (yes! I remember it!) that I tried to duck down by putting my head down on my hands. 🙄 Well, even that little coaster can "buck" and it gave me a fat lip. 🤕😄 None the less, a roller coaster enthusiast was born!🎉 Years later, I was THRILLED (and a little emotional) when I heard Six Flags bought it and set it up at Great America. 🥲 I brought my own 3 kids to ride it and was surprised that, even now, it gave my tummy a tickle going over that first drop. Me and my husband are grandparents now and our grandson is 7½. He loves the rides at traveling carnivals so we are taking him to Holiday World in Indiana next week. Who knows... maybe he'll follow in his grandma's footsteps. He's 54" tall so if he wants to join me on the coasters - they'll let him! . . .

[@JNattyBoi]

@@debracarter9935 really enjoyed reading this, thanks for taking the time to comment. Enjoy your trip to Holiday World! :)

[@JJRClassic88]

Umm...How did you forget about the Wildcat at Lake Compounce in Bristol CT?!! That's one of the only original Wildcat coasters still in operation today! Originally built in 1927 by PTC and designed by Herbert Schmeck.

[@JJRClassic88]

Here: en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wildcat_(Lake_Compounce)

[@AdamSmith-gs2dv]

With modern technology I wonder if we can make a Traver ride that's actually safe

[@JNattyBoi]

Yeah I’ve thought the same thing! I bet RMC could do a great Traver-style coaster and make it rideable

[@Intaminator]

My best guess is that you'd have to stretch the layout a bit to allow for wider turns that stay within safe G-force limits. But if anyone would be suited it'd be RMC. Even with a widened layout the exerted forces would probably lead to material fatigue with more conventional roller coaster designs.

[@wellokayyes1266]

I still haven’t seen the great gatsby bc I’m unable to look at tobey mcguires face.

[@JohnKoziol-x7x]

When I was a kid, my family took a trip to New York City and went to Coney Island. We went to Astro Laand. While there, I had the opportunity to ride the Cyclone but I chickened out. I have a younger brother and sister who did. They even went on it.a second time. My mother asked me while they were going on again if I wanted to and I saw one of the cars go zooming by loudxly and took a giant step back i fear thqt the car would come hurtling off of the track and fall off of me. I have long since lost my fear of roller coaters and have rode many since. However, the Cyclone is one I still haven’t. One day I will go back to Coney Islad and do so! (I hope!)