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Post by Robert on May 24, 2005 12:09:59 GMT -5
How many fires has the piers and boardwalk had over the years? In my time there were fires at Mariner's in 1981, boardwalk shops in September 1982 and August 1983 according to Funchase, and pier fires on Fun Pier in 1984, Nickels in 1992, 2002, and a block of boardwalk shops by the chapel in 2000. Has there been any other fires since the 70's? Do you remember any other fires in the 1990's besides the Nickels first fire? Were there any fires in the second half of 1980's (1985-1989)? All the fires caused alot of destruction, but the worst was the pier fires, Mariner's, Fun, Nickels. Were there ever any fires on Hunt's, Sportland or Morey's? As for 1982 and 1983 I remember seeing some black, burnt out shops somewhere on the boards, near the center by Nickels and Mariner's.
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scca28
Junior Member
Posts: 84
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Post by scca28 on Aug 1, 2006 0:05:21 GMT -5
Sorry to dig up an old post, especially about a tragic event at the shore, but in the interest of preserving history, here goes. I vaguely remember the fire in the Casino Arcade in 1964, as I was only 4 and a half at the time. My mom filled me in on the details though. We were staying at one of the places right across the street from the fire. I don't know the name of it, but there was a ride-thru dark ride that had two levels, and on the upper level the cars would briefly emerge through double doors, turn and re-enter through another set of doors. I think there were two places on the ride where the cars popped out like this. When the fire broke out, the ride stopped and several riders became trapped inside. From what I was told, the doors that the cars popped out through were made to swing in one direction only, which was of course the direction the cars were traveling (the cars pushed the doors open), and several riders were found just inside the doors where the cars would re-enter. Apparently, they tried to push the doors open from the inside, but they did not open in that direction...Even at my young age, I knew something very bad had happened when my mom took our entire dinner she was preparing, and threw it in the garbage. No one was in the mood to eat that night. I'm sure that event brought about some serious changes in the safety regulations for the amusement industry. If you check out this picture (from '73), there are a couple of hotels in the upper left corner. I think we were in the one with the white pillars. img228.imageshack.us/img228/9988/casinoarcadeif5.jpg I also have some of my own photos and a story (nothing tragic,Thank God) to share about the fire at the Starlight Ballroom/Mariners Landing, but that will have to wait until I get the pics scanned in.
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Post by FlyinGN on Aug 1, 2006 6:29:56 GMT -5
heres more info I found on that fire.. sad. 1964 Arson Kills Three Children in Mars Ride Fire - In 1964, the Casino Arcade Amusement Pier was struck with a tragic fire, later found to be arson. During the August, 1964 fire, the old dark ride called "Mars", built in the 1940's, burnt to the ground, killing three young children, including Gregory Thompson, Michael Thompsion and their cousin, Melody Dey. A third brother, James Thompson - the oldest of the children, escaped with the help of a ride attendant. The pier's owner - Gibert Ramagosa - was the second generation to own and operate the amusement pier, but he lost interest in its operation after the arson, and turned his attention to amusement ride importing, until his death, just a few years later. Information and photographs pertaining to the Mars Ride fire can be seen at: public.fotki.com/Darkride/
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Post by JerseyDigger29 on Aug 1, 2006 10:17:31 GMT -5
Sorry to dig up an old post, especially about a tragic event at the shore, but in the interest of preserving history, here goes. I vaguely remember the fire in the Casino Arcade in 1964, as I was only 4 and a half at the time. My mom filled me in on the details though. We were staying at one of the places right across the street from the fire. I don't know the name of it, but there was a ride-thru dark ride that had two levels, and on the upper level the cars would briefly emerge through double doors, turn and re-enter through another set of doors. I think there were two places on the ride where the cars popped out like this. When the fire broke out, the ride stopped and several riders became trapped inside. From what I was told, the doors that the cars popped out through were made to swing in one direction only, which was of course the direction the cars were traveling (the cars pushed the doors open), and several riders were found just inside the doors where the cars would re-enter. Apparently, they tried to push the doors open from the inside, but they did not open in that direction...Even at my young age, I knew something very bad had happened when my mom took our entire dinner she was preparing, and threw it in the garbage. No one was in the mood to eat that night. I'm sure that event brought about some serious changes in the safety regulations for the amusement industry. If you check out this picture (from '73), there are a couple of hotels in the upper left corner. I think we were in the one with the white pillars. img228.imageshack.us/img228/9988/casinoarcadeif5.jpg I also have some of my own photos and a story (nothing tragic,Thank God) to share about the fire at the Starlight Ballroom/Mariners Landing, but that will have to wait until I get the pics scanned in. Here are 5 really major fires that i remember or know of and my takes on the ones I experienced: 1) Probably the most famous: Ocean Pier Christmas fire in the 40's which lead to the creation of Hunts Pier. (My mom was a young girl and she said the whole town was devastated by that loss). 2) The Hunt's Starlight Ballroom Fire at Oak and the boardwalk (Which I don't believe affected Mariners Landing. I was sitting out on the beach about half way between the fire and the ocean watching it burn. All I could think of was the great history we were losing). 3) The big Nickels Midway Fire at Cedar and the Boardwalk (Where the famous merry-go-round used to be. 4) The Sportland Pier fire in 93 wasn't actually on the pier itself but it affected the pier indirectly. The fire actually consumed the block where Aqua Circus stood on the west side of the boardwalk. I was a reporter for the Leader at the time and covered the story. Because the fire was so big and happened so quickly, the smoke and flames blew eastward and completely closed off any exit from the pier onto the boardwalk itself. A whole bunch of people on the pier at the time couldn't get off the front, so they tried to escape through a gate at the east end of the pier, which had been locked in violation of the law. They couldn't get off the front and they couldn't get off the back. The only way some people could get off the pier was to climb over the side fences and jump. It was a big scandal at the time. That was probably the most hectic week in the history of the Wildwoods in terms of big news. Within two days of each other, we had the Sportland Pier fire and the capture of the World Trade Center bombers (the first time) at a small hotel in the beach block of either 23rd or 24th, I don't remember which exactly. That was, unfortunately, really exciting. It seemed like the whole world had come to NW all at once. There were dozens of TV Satellite trucks, the FBI, the secret service, more police that I ever knew existed, all surrounding this tiny apartment house by the boardwalk. Both events back to back. Amazing how sh*t happens, huh? To this day, I still haven't figured why international terrosists would try to hide out in the Wildwoods. I think they must have known someone local, or something. 5) The tragic Mars darkride fire I'm sad to say I experienced first hand, although at the time I didn't know what was happening. I was 13 at the time and like many kids, I used to like to go under the boardwalk every day searching for money that falls through the cracks. I tell people today that I know my way around under the boardwalk almost better than I do above it. No matter where I was under the boardwalk I used to know what was above me right down to the inch. Over the years, I probably found thousands of dollars in lost change down there. Anyway, when the ride caught fire, I was directly underneath it looking for coins. I didn't know how it started except that it didn't start underneath the boardwalk; I was the only one there and I was too busy looking for money. When I smelled the smoke I exited through a door onto Oak Avenue and saw the first fire engines arriving. The Mars fire bothered me for many many years. When I worked on rides on Hunts Pier, I was told that if there was ever a fire on a dark ride (in the old days) you NEVER, NEVER turn the electricity off until you're sure everyone is out. Then you turn the electricy off immediately. If the cars stop, people get out in panic and wander around in the smoke and dark, and can't find their way out. That was apparently what happend to the three children: the power went off and they started trying to find a way out and died screaming a few feet from the exit. The Mars accident was responsible for big changes in local, state, and national fire codes, like - I think - emergency lighting if the main power goes off, and panic bars on all the exits. Mostly, I've forgotten the incident now, but every time I'm reminded of the fire, all I can think of was that I was only a few feet away from those three kids while they were screaming for help and I couldn't do anything about it. I think that event affected me for a long time. There were a couple of serious accidents when I worked on Hunts and Sportland in later years. And I was always one of the first to rush into the ride without stopping to think first. Thom
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Post by writhinganacondo on Aug 1, 2006 12:03:52 GMT -5
heres more info I found on that fire.. sad. 1964 Arson Kills Three Children in Mars Ride Fire - In 1964, the Casino Arcade Amusement Pier was struck with a tragic fire, later found to be arson. During the August, 1964 fire, the old dark ride called "Mars", built in the 1940's, burnt to the ground, killing three young children, including Gregory Thompson, Michael Thompsion and their cousin, Melody Dey. A third brother, James Thompson - the oldest of the children, escaped with the help of a ride attendant. The pier's owner - Gibert Ramagosa - was the second generation to own and operate the amusement pier, but he lost interest in its operation after the arson, and turned his attention to amusement ride importing, until his death, just a few years later. Information and photographs pertaining to the Mars Ride fire can be seen at: public.fotki.com/Darkride/ "Until his death a few years later?" Thats funny, I did business with him into the 1990's. He was loooking pretty good for someone who died 30 yrs. before.
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Post by Robert on Aug 1, 2006 12:06:32 GMT -5
Don't forget the terrible Six Flags GA incident - the Haunted Castle fire May 11, 1984. Eight people died. That event brought even stricter fire codes and caused several dark rides in the state to shut down because the owners couldn't afford to upgrade their dark rides to meet the new codes. Almost all the old haunted houses/mansions/castles built in the 70's in NJ met their end by fire.
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Post by writhinganacondo on Aug 1, 2006 12:17:51 GMT -5
Don't forget the terrible Six Flags GA incident - the Haunted Castle fire May 11, 1984. Eight people died. That event brought even stricter fire codes and caused several dark rides in the state to shut down because the owners couldn't afford to upgrade their dark rides to meet the new codes. Almost all the old haunted houses/mansions/castles built in the 70's in NJ met their end by fire. That was at Six Flags New Jersey. After much condemnation and publicity, the park was found NOT GUILTY when it was admitted someone was goofing off with a CIGARETTE LIGHTER, probably INTENTIONALLY. In the meantime the amusement industry suffers again.
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Post by FlyinGN on Aug 1, 2006 12:34:25 GMT -5
I remember surfing the net for WW pics last year I came across the sad horrible pic of the childs burned body from the Mars ride accident. So very sad..
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scca28
Junior Member
Posts: 84
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Post by scca28 on Aug 1, 2006 13:45:16 GMT -5
2) The Hunt's Starlight Ballroom Fire at Oak and the boardwalk (Which I don't believe affected Mariners Landing. I was sitting out on the beach about half way between the fire and the ocean watching it burn. All I could think of was the great history we were losing That evening, believe it or not, was the first time I had ever been in the Hitchcock Manor! I was a dedicated Hunts kid and it just never drew my attention before. Anyway, I finally decided to give it a try. I enjoyed it, but don't remember much now. A few hours later, it was gone. I came off Mariners and went next door to play some video games in the arcade in the Starlight Ballroom building. By the way,I know the Hot Spot was part of that building, but was there also an Old Time Photo place there too? Anyway, after a few games, I began to smell smoke. I asked one of the attendants there, and someone else overheard and said he thought there was a fire a few blocks away. I didn't feel comfortable with that, so I went to the glass doors to go back out to the boardwalk. When I stepped out, I noticed people on the boards were looking and pointing up at the building I was in. I took a step out, turned and looked up, and there was smoke and small flames coming from the roof. I went back inside and informed the workers of what was happening. Then there was a mad rush for the exits. I held one of the glass doors open for a while to assist the people coming out. When the arcade was clear, I left the area and headed back to our apartment on Magnolia to grab my camera, which I usually had with me, but left behind that night. In one of my first pictures, you can see how fast the fire had spread, as I snapped it just as I got back on the boardwalk. The whole structure was already engulfed, and yet the wierd thing is, there are people on the boards just going about their normal business, with this huge ball of flame in the background! I made my way onto the beach and took a series of photos as the building began falling apart. One scene I won't forget, there were a bunch of workers from the arcade with hand trucks, trying to save as many of the money filled games as they could, while the flames were surrounding them. I will also never forget the heat that came off that fire. I was surprised the crowd was allowed to get as close as we were. As the fire spread, and the wind picked up, burning embers made their way onto the side of Mariners. Several attractions caught fire, and that brought the end to the Hitchcock Manor. I didn't even realize it until the next morning when I returned. I guess I'm lucky I got a chance to ride it before it was gone, but it's even luckier that everyone got out of that fire in time! I never did inquire as to the cause of that fire, I always just assumed it had something to do with the Hot Spot. Anyone else know? img258.imageshack.us/img258/1485/fire1it9.jpgimg71.imageshack.us/img71/9708/fire2nv4.jpgimg431.imageshack.us/img431/8462/fire5yd4.jpgimg446.imageshack.us/img446/3778/fire6ws5.jpg
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Post by Al Alven on Aug 1, 2006 14:04:28 GMT -5
Wow, those are some amazing pictures, my friend!
I just saw these before heading out, and was glad I did. Can't wait to see where this thread goes from here...
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Post by FlyinGN on Aug 1, 2006 14:31:29 GMT -5
fantastic pictures.. its so errie how the people are, like you said, just walking down the boards like nothing was wrong.. Most were not even looking at the fire.. weird.. so weird..
The other weird pic was the front pic of the fire with the Lauras Fudge sign STILL LIT. How in the world was the wiring not broken and still able to power the neon sign is beyond me..
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scca28
Junior Member
Posts: 84
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Post by scca28 on Aug 1, 2006 16:11:14 GMT -5
That last pic is awesome for 2 reasons. First all the great signage for the castle and the Wax Museum and second for a great shot in the upper right hand corner of the greatest ride ever on the boards....the Tubes of Terror. Thanks for all the compliments guys! If you look carefully again at that pic, you will also find a glimpse of the Jack Rabbit/Scream Machine track. Love the >>>ROLLER COASTER>>> sign! And, if you look towards the left half of the picture, under the gold dome, there is an upside down U, that was a piece of I-beam that melted and twisted like that.... Also, for FlyinGN, there are more pictures to this series, and if you flip through them, the Lauras Fudge sign is lit, then it's out and finally it is collapsing.
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Post by FlyinGN on Aug 1, 2006 17:46:45 GMT -5
okay. so how can I see the whole series??
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Post by writhinganacondo on Aug 1, 2006 18:03:00 GMT -5
Great pictures. Some of the volunteer firemen have incredible pics of that fire, as does the Boyer Museum. We were able to go up to the Sportland Bldg. office to see what was going on because all these people were running south on the boardwalk. It was aready so big we thought it was on Hunt's, but then saw people riding the Flyer silhoutted against the flames down at the Starlite. Very eerie. It was a very windy night, perfect for a fire which I believe started in an electric panel in Hot Spot. The wind blew embers that quickly caught the corner of Mariners and was raining fire particles on many blocks further south. Fire boats from the ocean were also utilized (Water not out as far as now). It melted a lot of the tires on the fire trucks and the plastic signs across the boardwalk. The guys running Stanley Sportland later showed me the coin boxes/coins that were fused together from the inferno. Thom has previously posted about all the metal, glass and asst. debris you can still find on the beach in that area.
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Post by wildwanderer on Aug 1, 2006 18:52:15 GMT -5
Absolutely incredible pictures. The one where people are walking on the boardwalk approaching the fire is strange. It must have been weird knowing that a major fire is loose and you're on the boards.
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