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Vernon Keenan (coaster Designer)
Vernon Keenan (1886-1964) was an American roller coaster designer best known for his involvement with the Cyclone at Coney Island. Biography Vernon Keenan was born in Henry County, Kentucky, on August 8, 1886. His parents were Andrew J. Keenan and Anna Belle Grigsby, both born in Kentucky. Vernon was the oldest child in a family of seven children. In 1900 Andrew Keenan, Vernon's father, was listed as a lock keeper on the Kentucky River in Clover Bottom, Woodford County, Kentucky. Andrew Keenan worked at various locks along the river, including the ones in Jessamine County, Kentucky, and Henry County, Kentucky. When Vernon filled out his Military Registration Card in June 1917 for the World War I Draft he was living in Columbus, Ohio, with his wife Ula (born in West Virginia) and one child. "At that time he was employed as a Civil Engineer at the Ingersoll Construction Company in Cincinnati, Ohio. Vernon and Ula had four children, three daughters and one son, Vernon Keenan, Jr. V ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Roller Coaster
A roller coaster, or rollercoaster, is a type of amusement ride that employs a form of elevated railroad track designed with tight turns, steep slopes, and sometimes inversions. Passengers ride along the track in open cars, and the rides are often found in amusement parks and theme parks around the world. LaMarcus Adna Thompson obtained one of the first known patents for a roller coaster design in 1885, related to the Switchback Railway that opened a year earlier at Coney Island. The track in a coaster design does not necessarily have to be a complete circuit, as shuttle roller coasters demonstrate. Most roller coasters have multiple cars in which passengers sit and are restrained. Two or more cars hooked together are called a train. Some roller coasters, notably Wild Mouse roller coasters, run with single cars. History The Russian mountain and the Aerial Promenades The oldest roller coasters are believed to have originated from the so-called "Russian Mountains", speciall ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
National Amusement Devices
National Amusement Devices in Dayton, Ohio was an American construction company founded in 1919 as the Dayton Fun House by Aurel Vaszin. Based on research, they built a 2-foot gauge miniature train that could be either gasoline or electric powered. This resembled a typical standard-gauge center cab electric train as early as 1922. Vaszin was an early environmental idealist and really pushed the idea of electric powered trains, as safer and less polluting. A young mechanical engineer by the name of Frank Williams joined the Dayton Fun House in the mid-1920s, and later so did his dad and his son. They greatly improved on the concepts that had been previously developed. After World War II the Fun House began attracting worldwide recognition, and supplying amusement parks elsewhere. They changed their name to "National Amusement Device Co." (or NAD) and operated under that name for three decades. They designed some of the popular early miniature trains used in amusement parks aroun ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Roller Coaster Designers
Roller may refer to: Birds *Roller, a bird of the family Coraciidae * Roller (pigeon), a domesticated breed or variety of pigeon Devices * Roller (agricultural tool), a non-powered tool for flattening ground * Road roller, a vehicle for compacting ** Steamroller, a form of road roller * Roller, an element of a rolling-element bearing * Roller, used in rolling (metalworking) * Roller, in a roller mill, to crush or grind various materials * Rolling pin, a compacting device used for preparing dough for cooking * Roller (BEAM), a robot * Bicycle rollers, a type of bicycle trainer * Hair roller, used to curl hair * Paint roller, a paint application tool * Roller, or training surcingle, around a horse's girth Arts and entertainment * Bay City Rollers, or the Rollers, a Scottish pop rock band * "The Roller", a 2011 song by Beady Eye * "Roller" (Apache 207 song), 2019 * "Roller" (April Wine song), 1978 * ''Roller'' (Goblin album), 1976 * Roller, partner of the Optimus Pri ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Amusement Ride Manufacturers
Amusement is the state of experiencing humorous and entertaining events or situations while the person or animal actively maintains the experience, and is associated with enjoyment, happiness, laughter and pleasure. It is an emotion with positive valence and high physiological arousal. Amusement is considered an "epistemological" emotion because humor occurs when one experiences a cognitive shift from one knowledge structure about a target to another, such as hearing the punchline of a joke. The pleasant surprise that happens from learning this new information leads to a state of amusement which people often express through smiling, laughter or chuckling. Current studies have not yet reached consensus on the exact purpose of amusement, though theories have been advanced in the fields of psychology, psychiatry, and sociology. In addition, the precise mechanism that causes a given element (image, sound, behavior, etc.) to be perceived as more or less 'amusing' than another simil ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
White City (West Haven)
Savin Rock was an American amusement park in West Haven, Connecticut. It was previously called The White City and was established in the 1870s . The park included a number of roller coasters, other rides and numerous funhouses. The park has been mentioned several novels such as Eleanor Estes's ''Rufus M''., Stephen King's ''Low Men in Yellow Coats'' and ''The Boogeyman''. History The amusement park was established in the 1870s after entrepreneur George Kelsey extended the trolley lines and built a 1,500-foot pier at the end of Beach Street to accommodate a ferry service. Kelsey built the nearby Seaview Hotel, with rooms for up to 150 guests. A beachside resort grew around the hotel and pier, including a bandstand, a fountain, an observatory, a wooded area for picnics, and a carousel which was revolved first by manpower and later by a horse on a treadmill. Amusements were built by other businessmen, and soon the park had a zoo, a museum and a dance hall. Promoters organized co ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Moosic, PA
Moosic ( ) is a borough in Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania, south of downtown Scranton and northeast of downtown Wilkes-Barre, on the Lackawanna River. Moosic is in a former coal-mining region. A few older industries existed at one time, including the manufacturing of canvas gloves and silk products. The population was 5,972 at the 2020 census. History The name "Moosic" probably derives from the Unami language of the Lenape people, meaning "elk place". The Lenape, a Native American people, are the earliest-known inhabitants of Moosic. The borough was incorporated on December 9, 1898. Before incorporation, the villages of Moosic and Greenwood had been a part of Lackawanna Township. From 1886 to 1987, Moosic was the site of Rocky Glen Park, an amusement park. The former grounds are now a Pennsylvania state historical marker. Geography Moosic is located in the Wyoming Valley of northeastern Pennsylvania. In terms of physiography, Moosic is part of the Ridge and Valley pro ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Rocky Glen Park
Known by a variety of names over its 101-year existence, Rocky Glen Park was a park near Moosic, Pennsylvania. Founded by Arthur Frothingham in 1886 as a picnic park, it was transformed into an amusement park by engineer and entrepreneur Frederick Ingersoll in 1904. The trolley park was a popular Pennsylvania attraction that featured rides, arcades, and restaurants – even as a "wild west" theme park in the 1970s – until its closure in 1987. History Land developer Arthur Frothingham purchased the site for $15 at a tax sale in 1885. The following year, Rocky Glenn was open to the public as a picnic park. About 1900, Frothingham contracted E. S. Williams to dam Dry Valley Run Creek to create a lake on the property; when Frothingham failed to pay Williams for the work, Williams sued and was awarded one-half interest in the park.''The Scranton Times'', 25 July 1982, as cited iRocky Glen (circa 1904–1987)/ref> Soon afterward, Frothingham obtained a Pennsylvania state cemetery ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Whalom Park
Whalom Park was an amusement park located on Lake Whalom in Lunenburg, Massachusetts, that operated from 1893 to 2000. The site was redeveloped into a 240-unit condominium complex. Whalom Park was established in 1893 by the Fitchburg & Leominster Street Railway as a traditional, English-style park of gardens and walking paths."Coasting to a stop at Whalom Park," ''The Boston Globe'', October 19, 2006, Jenna Russell At the time of its last day of operations in 2000, Whalom was known as the 13th oldest amusement park in the United States,"Once a Carny", The Metropolis Observed, June, 2002, Michele Herman as well as the second-oldest trolley park in the world. The park had been in continuous seasonal operation for 107 years."Fire destroys Whalom ballroom", Fitchburg Sentinel & Enterprise (Fitchburg, MA), March 21, 2002, Benjamin Cole The "Flyer Comet" wooden roller coaster was one of the park's best-known rides. Most remaining structures at the park, including the Flyer Comet, were ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Flyer Comet (Whalom Park)
Flyer Comet was a wooden roller coaster located at Whalom Park in Lunenburg, Massachusetts Lunenburg is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 11,946 at the 2020 census. History Lunenburg was first settled by Europeans in 1718 and was officially incorporated in 1728. The name stems from one of t .... The roller coaster was built in 1940 and operated until is permanent closure in 2000. In 2006, after the lift motor and part of its electronics were gutted, Flyer Comet was demolished. The tracks were then reclaimed by the park. Flyer Comet was located next to the amusement park, Whalom Park, which operated until 2000. The ride consisted of a wooden wheel with stop buttons built into its outer rim. The main building was located underneath the ride and passengers sat on benches inside of the building. The outside of the building was covered in glass to hide the rollers so they could be easily discovered. History When the 1923 Shooting Star r ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Rockaway Beach, Queens
Rockaway Beach is a neighborhood on the Rockaway Peninsula in the New York City borough of Queens. The neighborhood is bounded by Arverne to the east and Rockaway Park to the west. It is named for the Rockaway Beach and Boardwalk, which is the largest urban beach in the United States, stretching from Beach 3rd to Beach 153rd Streets on the Atlantic Ocean. The neighborhood, with 13,000 residents , is also known as the "Irish Riviera" because of its large Irish American population. History Early development What is now Rockaway Beach was formerly two different hamlets, Holland and Hammels. In 1857, Michael P. Holland had purchased land and named the area after himself. Soon afterward, Louis Hammel, an immigrant from Germany, bought a tract of land just east of Holland. In 1878, he decided to give portions of his land to the New York, Woodhaven and Rockaway Railroad in order to build a railroad station for the peninsula. The area around it became collectively known as "Hammels". O ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Lincoln Park (Dartmouth, Massachusetts)
Lincoln Park was a park opened in 1894 by the Union Street Railway Company of New Bedford, Massachusetts, located in North Dartmouth, Massachusetts on the border of Westport, Massachusetts on U.S. Highway 6. Lincoln Park closed in 1987 and remained abandoned and vacant until the Comet roller coaster was torn down on July 11, 2012. History Beginnings Lincoln Park used to be known as "Midway Park" or "Westport Park" until a new name was chosen in a lottery. The Union Street Railway Company created Lincoln Park in 1894 as a way to connect Fall River to New Bedford. 46 acres of land in Dartmouth was purchased and the park began. The park originally had picnic tables, a playground, and several grill stoves for cookouts. This continued into the 1920s, which was when Lincoln Park became more of an amusement park. In 1941, the facility was purchased by John Collins & Associates for $40,000 ($500,000 inflation adjusted). They invested $150,000 installing a fourteen lane bowling al ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Comet (Lincoln Park)
The Comet was a twister-layout wooden roller coaster that operated in the now defunct Lincoln Park in Massachusetts. It operated from 1946 until 1987. History The coaster, originally named Cyclone, was designed by Edward Leis and Vernon Keenan and built by National Amusement Devices. The ride was 3000 feet long, and had a top speed of 55 mph and lasted two minutes and ten seconds. It had two trains, each with five cars, arranged with two per row, two rows per car, for a total of 20 riders per train. The coaster was originally designed to run with five car trains, but during the last years of its operation, they were shortened to four to allow the last carts to be used for spare parts. The roller coaster stood abandoned for 25 years until it was demolished on July 11, 2012. In 1964, a man died on the roller coaster as a result of standing up as it ascended the first lift. In 1968, the rear car of one of the trains became disconnected while ascending the final hill, ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
