Wednesday, October 2, 2013
Tuesday, October 1, 2013
The Legendary Playland "Bobs"
Today, It would be hard to find someone who actually rode the Bobs. The legendary Woody Scream Machine of the past had a short existence but created a lasting ominous mystic.
The Bobs can be seen at far lower Left of this photo, behind the smoke stack.
Arthur Looff, son of the carousel designer, Charles Looff, first laid out the Midway design and was a major influence in the early years. Both Arthur and Charles had a major influence on the west coast Amusement park scene, building 3-4 amusement parks up and down the Pacific Coast. Along with concessionaire owner John Freidle, they forged a partnership that gave birth to Chutes at the Beach, the predecessor of Playland at the Beach. These two men would commission the building of Playland's greatest rides!
Designed by the Master coaster designers Prior and Church, the Bob Sled Dipper was erected around 1920+/-, although we can't say exactly. Most of Prior and Church's records have been lost in time. Our predominant clues to it's origin comes from photographic evidence which presents us with mostly undated construction photos.
Photos of The Chutes construction around 1920, shows us a completed or semi-completed Bob Sled Dipper. The two attractions may have been built at the same time! Photographic evidence shows The Bobs track seems to entwine with the Chutes superstructure? Although it's hard to tell... In fact, the Bobs track is so entrenched and entangled within the concessions and the Chutes, it's hard to make out the true design of the track. There's a Blueprint of the Bob Sled Dipper in a private collection I'd love to see....
Chutes Construction on Left with Bobs Coaster on Right
Prior and Church were still in their experimental stages of Coaster building in the late 1910's and early 1920's. They would quickly hone down their coaster designs to an art of sought-after designs. Two basic coaster designs became most infamous. The Bobs designs and Double Out and Back style which became a standard in the coaster industry for many years. Think Santa Cruz Giant Dipper style... The Bobs style coaster were more erratic in design with gut wrenching turns, leaps, dips and twists.
The Bob Sled Dipper was more of a Bobs style prototype. A few years later, the Big Dipper became an early prototype of the 'Double out and Back' coaster design. According to written accounts, the Bobs was a rough and jarring ride with hops, leaps and dips... Then jarring switchback turns. In addition to the thrill of design, the Bobs seat design was narrow with tandem seating. What we call today "Cuddle Seats" like the original Disneyland Matterhorn Bob Sleds. Although MODERN for their time... There was little provided for passenger safety... Crude Galvanized piping for hand rails and no safety belts or straps. Hang onto your seat partner or the pipe rail! Better hold on tight!
The ride had an Winter Alpine winter. The ride was supposed to emulate a Luge or Bob Sled ride down or through an icy course. As of now, there are no filmed sequences of Bobs in action. So, we have to use our imagination to fill in the thrills. We do know it was wildly popular, equally popular to the Chute's and Big Dipper. Wow! What a great trio of rides that must have been!
Bob Sled Dipper came to an abrupt demise. In April of 1929, there was a major accident. A Bobs car jumped the track and landed in the concession Midway. John Freidle was said to have been so SPOOKED by the accident, he demanded the ride be dismantled. He also feared major lawsuits. In 1929, the Bobs came down forever.... what we are left with are photographs and the aura of this mythical and legendary coaster...
Photos & Captions Courtesy of James R Smith and San Francisco Public Library
Don't miss James R Smith's new book "Playland: The Golden Years" coming out in November of 2013!
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