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Park Hoppin’ with Paul Ruben


Coney Island comeback continues


It had been two years since I last visited Coney Island, birthplace of the outdoor amusement industry. Luna Park had opened, and the future appeared promising for this section of New York City. But that’s not saying much, because Coney Island had become blighted. The streets were dirty and the crowds were tough. Then in late October 2012, Hurricane Sandy struck and added to the turmoil. But looking back today, Sandy may have been a blessing in disguise. It forced the Coney Island Development Corporation, a New York City municipal entity, to step up and help local park operators to clean up and fix up from the storm. Sandy destroyed some old (and dingy) attractions, and in their place came some new and improved ones.


Case in point #1: Deno’s Wonder Wheel Park is home to Spookarama, a once-quirky dark ride. For years it had been promoted as the world’s longest dark ride, and it was. But 90% of the ride was in daylight, and once entering the 10% that was dark it was just, er, dark. A few of the gags inside worked, but they got washed away by Sandy. Today’s Spookarama has been shortened, travels mostly in the dark, and all the gags are fresh and operating. Once again it’s an entertaining dark ride. See it for yourself here: youtu.be/WL5pbnyfHEc Case in point #2: The historic Bishoff & Brienstein Carousell (B&B for short), in danger of being dismantled and sold from its former aging home on Stillwell Avenue, was purchased intact for $1.8 million by the City’s Economic Development Corporation, which also paid for its restoration by Carousels and Carvings in Marion, Ohio. The B&B was built in Coney Island, with a frame dating to 1906. In the early 1920s it received a new set of horses carved by Charles Carmel. Now fully restored, this piece of spinning art operates in a bright new carousel building in Steeplechase Plaza on the Coney Island boardwalk. Case in point #3: The City continues to lease open pieces of land


to Luna Park operator Central Amusement International (CAI), controlled by Zamperla. This year CAI has opened the Thunderbolt steel looping coaster and the first custom coaster to appear at Coney Island for over 80 years – as seen above. The ride’s cars each have a capacity of nine passengers, seated in three rows of three. I don’t quite understand this ménage à trois seating arrangement, but CAI president Valerio Ferrari assured me that “the three seats per row account for smaller families in certain areas of the globe, specifically Europe and China.” This got me thinking about all the families I know who ride coasters with their children. I’m still thinking ... With shiny new rides, a restored boardwalk, clean streets, and new buildings on the boardwalk, the former tough crowd is gone. The demographics I found at Coney Island has changed, and these are demographics any park operator would welcome. Coney Island is enjoying a renaissance. Families with children are now visiting the parks, riding the rides, strolling the boardwalk, bathing in the adjacent Atlantic Ocean, and frequenting the local restaurants and businesses. It’s a remarkable turn-around, one that both municipal and private partners can take pride in.


8


KMG clamps do


Imitation not the sincerest form of flattery, insists Dutch manufacturer


The manufacturer KMG has obtained a Dutch court ruling preventing the owner of what it calls a “knock-off” version of its popular Freak Out swing ride from continuing to operate the attraction in Europe, or even sell it on. Following an approach to the US attorney Tom Sheehan, it is thought action could eventually follow in North America. “A Dutch showman was operating a knock-off of the Freak Out, manufactured in the Czech Republic,” explains KMG sales manager Peter Theunisz. “This ride came from the same factory as several other rides that travel in the US and Europe. Similar copy rides are being manufactured by other factories in Poland, Hungary, Czech Republic, Bulgaria and Asia under the name ‘Extreme’ or ‘Freak Out’. On 2 October, the honourable judge of the Dutch court concluded that the KMG Freak Out is protected by copyright law and that the Czech copy (named ‘Hang Over’) is infringing that copyright.”


According to the ruling of the Court of Zeeland, which Park World has now seen in English, a fine of €20,000 ($25,000) per day will be levied if the Dutch showman continues to operate his Hang Over attraction. In the meantime he will be ordered to pay trial expenses of around €15,000. It is thought as many as many as 25 to 30 copies of the Freak Out may exist around the world, also including Australia. Operators of other cloned rides in Europe have been pursued by KMG, although some have come to an agreement by agreeing to pay a retrospective “licence” fee to the Dutch firm. “We wish to make possible buyers aware of the claims and legal steps which KMG might, or will, take against any factory or buyer who constructs or operates an illegal copy of the Freak Out,” adds Theunisz. The company has now hired The Sheehan Firm PC, which has previously taken successful action against several Chinese manufacturers on behalf of Zamperla, to go after the purchasers of similar attractions in the USA. In a quote given to the American website Carnival Warehouse, president Tom Sheehan says he and his client are “weighing the options.” Although he concedes that the Dutch ruling is not applicable to the US as it is with other European countries, he adds: “how persuasive that specific ruling will be is up to the judge. Just because something looks identical, doesn’t mean that the safety mechanisms are identical. That is absolutely the concern and it’s bad for the entire industry. It not only hurts the image of the manufacturer,


Gröna Lund promises


‘scariest attraction ever’ The Swedish amusement park Gröna Lund is building a haunted house for 2015 – and according to representatives at the waterfront property in Stockholm, it will “comprise the worst form of frightening sensations one can experience at an amusement park.” Called House of Nightmares, the US$3.4 million attraction will be created by Sally Corporation. Inside, the nightmare experiments once conducted by the legendary Dr Morphio will come to life and roam the hallways and rooms of the house with the aid of advanced technology, special effects and live actors. “This horror experience is not for everyone,” promises Gröna Lund ride manager Peter Osbeck. “We are currently discussing what the age limit should be.”


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