One of the ancestors to the Matterhorn Bobsleds is the Coney Island Bobsled roller coaster. The attraction was originally constructed for the 1939-1940 New York World's Fair and was in Flushing Meadows as part of the amusement zone. The coaster was purchased from the World's Fair and moved to Coney Island in 1940. The track, if you want to call it that, is a half pipe and the cars run down the half pipe, banking on the curves and gaining speed. The cars are in a train similar to other roller coasters. The Bobsled was shuttered in 1974 and subsequently demolished in 1975. Walt Disney has been quoted to the effect he wanted the Matterhorn to be as close to a real mountain Bobsled ride as possible. However, in my opinion, the Coney Island Bobsled was more like a true frozen bobsled ride although not as nicely themed.
As a follow up and addition to the wonderful post on Jim Kurz by Major Pepperidge on his Gorillas Don't Blog, here are a couple interior images of the Frontierland Print Shop and some of their products.
It appears they had a variety of products. I do own one of the posters, but unfortunately it is stored away in storage. I do like the stack of non-personalized posters on the counter and wonder how many are still out there....
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3 comments:
What I wouldn't give to be able to visit the Coney Island of the 1940's or 50's!
Those color photos of the interior of the print shop are amazing! Any idea of when they were taken?
Lets not forget the short lived attraction at Magic Mountain the Sarajevo Bobsleds.
Great companion post to the Major's - thanks!
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