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Post by Robert on Jun 20, 2006 4:34:43 GMT -5
Anyone see the movie Birdy? It has a section fimed in Wildwood and you can see Morey's Pier with the haunted house in the distance, and then the Flyer at night in action! Then scenes of the boardwalk at night with all the lights. I bet the film crew had no idea at the time (1984) that the Flyer would become history in a few short years. Hey, the Flyer went down the same year the Berlin Wall did! (1989) The world was a different place in the 1980's, Ronald Reagan/George Bush the father was pres/vice pres, the Soviet Union was still in power, etc. There are so few wooden coasters on the shores today. The only ones I can think of are the Cyclone at Coney, Great White at WW, Hurricane (built 2000) (soon to be closed when Pavilion park closes forever for new development?) and Swamp Fox at Myrtle Beach, SC, and the Dania Beach Hurricane in Florida. That's it. Also parks themselves at the shores are threatened due to rising property values, a park in Panama City Beach, FL (Miracle Strip) closed forever in 2004 after 40 years of operation, and it had a haunted castle ride and PTC wooden coaster among other rides. The coaster is being relocated to another park in FL. The other rides were most likely doomed like the Hunt's rides were. I heard condos are going on the site of the closed park. Also an amusement park is closing forever in Myrtle Beach after 50 years. This is the final season. Yes, it has a dark ride, Haunted Hotel built in 1978. The year my brother was born. Now, it might be torn down if it can't be moved. Remember, upscale and old dark rides do not mix.
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Post by novacancy on Jun 20, 2006 7:27:02 GMT -5
No, but I'd be curious to see the movie. Is it actually called "Birdy?" Is there much boardwalk footage? Who is in that movie? I'll have to see if I can get a copy somehwere.
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Post by FlyinGN on Jun 20, 2006 12:47:21 GMT -5
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Post by Cindy on Jun 20, 2006 17:51:54 GMT -5
That's it, Frank. I saw parts of it in a film class, but unfortunately, not the WW parts. I think my local library has it, so I will check it out. Thanks for the tip, Robert. Did you just find this?
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Post by Robert on Jun 24, 2006 19:08:08 GMT -5
I found out about it on the web while searching for anything Hunt's Pier. I rented it. The Flyer scene shows going up the lift, and shots on the coaster and off the coaster showing the train with HUNT'S PIER FLYER on the front. It was night in the Flyer scene, pitch black sky. That's exactly how I remember it when I was there. Although I was too scared to ride the Flyer but I heard it roar from the pier standing by it. Whoever remembers, which was better, the Flyer or Jack Rabbit/Drac's Screem Machine? The Hunt's and Vince had a great pier.
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Post by hulk007 on Jun 25, 2006 22:43:39 GMT -5
Sounds like a good filck. must be set in the 60's or early 70's if its about Vietnam. Also sounds like one of Nicolas Cage's first starring roles.
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Post by FlyinGN on Jun 26, 2006 11:22:21 GMT -5
Robert.. Def the flyer..
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Mark
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Post by Mark on Jul 8, 2006 22:21:16 GMT -5
The movie "Birdy" was based on a novel of the same name. The author of Birdy (name escapes me) later wrote another book called "Pride". Pride is a fictionalized account of the 1930s wildwood boardwalk attraction involving Tuffy the Lion, and his later attack on his caretaker and a tourist on the boardwalk. It's not a bad book, and certainly interesting from a Wildwood perspective. I've recommended Pride on this board previously. It's a very sad story.
Anyway, I'm sure the fact that a scene in the movie Birdy took place on the Wildwood boardwalk is not an accident, as the author was obviously someone who had spent quite a bit of time in Wildwood. Thanks for the recommendation; I will keep an eye out for the movie Birdy.
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scca28
Junior Member
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Post by scca28 on Jul 13, 2006 21:28:47 GMT -5
Sorry, but it's Jack Rabbit for me!!! First, it gave you a chance to look around a bit at the top before the first drop. I remember in the '60s, my dad used to call it "the scenic", I guess because it gave you a scenic view of Wildwood for a few seconds??? I never thought to ask him, and sadly, too late now.. Next, I remember near the bottom of the first drop, where it looked like you were going to hit your head on the structure above! Plus, as I got older, and taller, I didn't fit into the Flyer cars as well as I did in the Rabbit.... |
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Post by FlyinGN on Jul 14, 2006 6:05:25 GMT -5
welcome scca.. Same age as me and from same place:) And I assume you are an scca racer too?  Ya know.. as a kid it was the flyer or nothing for me. I don't even remember the jack rabbit much less rode it.. |
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scca28
Junior Member
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Post by scca28 on Jul 14, 2006 8:20:49 GMT -5
welcome scca.. Same age as me and from same place:) And I assume you are an scca racer too? Ya know.. as a kid it was the flyer or nothing for me. I don't even remember the jack rabbit much less rode it.. Thanks for the welcome. I have been meaning to input some of my Wildwood memories to this forum for some time now, just been busy. I used to autocross with the SCCA for six years but I had to give it up recently because I work Sunday mornings now. The "28" in my screen name was my car number. Anyway,I just thought the Jack Rabbit gave more of a ride for the money. Besides the ride around the top, there was also a part right after the ride starts where you looped around under the station, past some shrubberies, through a tunnel, then out to the lift incline. Now, I haven't been to WW since the early '90s for a monster truck event, and we are planning a trip back for old times sake, but I don't know if I am going to like what I will see. I was just going through some of my old photos and I think it is going to be heartbreaking to see all of my favorite things no longer there. I have some pictures that I scanned that might be of interest to other members here, but I don't know if I can upload to this site. One of my favorites is the old ticket taker in front of the Pirate Ship on Hunts. Seemed like he was there forever. I got a nice shot of him sitting in front of the skull and finger bones. I also have a pic of the old bike cop that used to ride the streets of WW, was there for the Hot Spot fire that took out Hitchcock Manor. I will be scanning some more photos soon if anyone is interested. Talk to you soon! |
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Post by Al Alven on Jul 14, 2006 9:57:47 GMT -5
Welcome aboard, scca28!
Thanks for sharing your memories of the Jack Rabbitt. I vaguely remember the "Scream Machine" when I was younger, but never did get the chance to ride it. The only thing that stands out -- and I was very little when this happened -- was the time my mom and uncle rode it and were very surprised when it stopped and started running backwards!
I am very interested in seeing some of your old pictures. Actually, many of the forum members here are working on a Wildwood photo project, which you might be interested in.
Drop me a line (alalven@aol.com) if you get the chance...
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Post by crazyaboutwildwood on Jul 14, 2006 19:51:03 GMT -5
welcome scca.. Same age as me and from same place:) And I assume you are an scca racer too? Ya know.. as a kid it was the flyer or nothing for me. I don't even remember the jack rabbit much less rode it.. Thanks for the welcome. I have been meaning to input some of my Wildwood memories to this forum for some time now, just been busy. I used to autocross with the SCCA for six years but I had to give it up recently because I work Sunday mornings now. The "28" in my screen name was my car number. Anyway,I just thought the Jack Rabbit gave more of a ride for the money. Besides the ride around the top, there was also a part right after the ride starts where you looped around under the station, past some shrubberies, through a tunnel, then out to the lift incline. Now, I haven't been to WW since the early '90s for a monster truck event, and we are planning a trip back for old times sake, but I don't know if I am going to like what I will see. I was just going through some of my old photos and I think it is going to be heartbreaking to see all of my favorite things no longer there. I have some pictures that I scanned that might be of interest to other members here, but I don't know if I can upload to this site. One of my favorites is the old ticket taker in front of the Pirate Ship on Hunts. Seemed like he was there forever. I got a nice shot of him sitting in front of the skull and finger bones. I also have a pic of the old bike cop that used to ride the streets of WW, was there for the Hot Spot fire that took out Hitchcock Manor. I will be scanning some more photos soon if anyone is interested. Talk to you soon! I have seen uyour pictures somewhere on the net? Where was that at? |
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Post by FlyinGN on Jul 14, 2006 21:47:02 GMT -5
It was at the channel 10 ww pic post site///
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scca28
Junior Member
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Post by scca28 on Jul 15, 2006 0:36:08 GMT -5
It was at the channel 10 ww pic post site/// Wow! I'm glad somebody saw them! I have slow dial-up and it took forever to find my own pics on there.... |
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