|
|
This
Page is an Archive of all news items featured on the Joyland Books News
Page between 1 July and 31 December 2004.
For the latest news, click here.
Loughborough Fair 2004 Now Available on DVD
and Video [19/12/04]
| A DVD and video
showing the 2004 Loughborough Fair in action have just been released
by BCM Video Productions. Traditionally the last of the season, this
premier street fair featured a superb selection of attractions.
Beginning with the showmen's transport pulling on, this is followed
by the rides in action.
Loughborough Fair 2004
includes Brandon Bishton's Wave Swinger, Billy Crow's Extreme, Booth
& James Leisure's Booster, William Percival's Waltzer, John
Silcock's Afterburner, David Wallis's Sea Strom and many more.
This is just the latest in
Joyland's massive selection of fairground videos.
Click here for a full list
of fairground videos and DVDs. We also have a large range of
amusement park,
roller coaster
and seaside DVDs and
videos.
|
 |
Leading Fairground Operator Acquires Eastbourne Amusement Park
[19/12/04]
| Eastbourne's Fort Fun
Amusmeent Park has been acquired by travelling showman Scott
Manning. Manning will be permanently based at the family park, and
all his travelling rides are now being advertised for sale in trade
newspaper World's Fair.
The park, which has seen
substantial development and modernisation over the past few years,
includes rides such as the Runaway Train Rollercoaster, Junior
Paratrooper, Jets and a 6-Lane Giant Astroglide. The 2-acre family
fun park has also recently added a themed Adventure Golf and the
indoor Rocky's Adventureland. |
 |
Major
2004 Fairs Captured on DVD [8/12/04]
| Two of Britain's
biggest and most famous fairs can be visited on DVD as BCM Video
Productions launch their latest titles.
Goose Fair 2004 visits
Nottingham's big fair, with the pull-on and the rides shown in
action. New and familiar rides were present, and the unique
atmosphere is captured on this DVD.
Britain's other giant fair is the
annual Hull Fair. BCM Video Productions have captured the rides in
action on Hull Fair 2004,
as well as the transport and living wagons pulling off the
fairground.
There is still time to order these
titles for Christmas. Click
here for more fairground videos and DVDs, or
here for a full list of our
video/DVD titles. |
 |
Pleasure Beach News [30/11/04]
Pleasure Beach Blackpool is to contract out
all its games operations from the 2005 season, following a successful trial
at sister park Pleasureland, Southport. HB Leisure of Llandudno will be
taking over operations. Rides, food, retailing and shows will continue to be
operated by the park and its sister companies. In other Pleasure Beach news,
Managing Director Amanda Thompson, has appointed three new directors to the
board: Jim Rowland as group operations director, Mike Brown as group
commercial director and Robert Owen as marketing director. Their new
appointments will come into effect for the 2005 season.
Tussauds Plans Theme Park Casinos [15/11/04]
The Tussauds Group plans to move into the
casino market following the forthcoming deregulation of the UK's gambling
laws. The Company is talking to major international gaming operators about
building casinos next to its theme parks, in a move that could be
controversial given the parks' popularity with children. The Company plans
to build on spare land around Thorpe Park, including possibly draining part
of a lake. Tussauds is also planning hotels at Thorpe Park, Chessington
World of Adventures in Surrey, and Heide Park, north Germany.
Amusement Park Enthusiast Organisation to Honour Deceased Life
Members at Trade Convention [13/11/04]
The National Amusement Park
Historical Association will hold a presentation to honour and pay
tribute to two of its Life Members, Geoffrey Thompson and his mother, L.
Doris Thompson, who passed away this past year, during an industry
convention this month. The presentation will occur on the trade show
floor during the annual convention of the International Association of
Amusement Parks and Attractions (I.A.A.P.A.) in Orlando, Florida at 4:00
PM on Wednesday November 17, 2004 at the booth of Give Kids the World,
an I.A.A.P.A. partner whose cause has been warmly embraced by the
members of I.A.A.P.A.
When told of the presentation, Blackpool Pleasure Beach Managing
Director Amanda Thompson said: "Both my Father and Grandmother were
passionate about amusement and theme parks, in particular preserving the
historical aspect. This is evident at Pleasure Beach, Blackpool where we
still have 5 wooden rollercoasters amongst other original and historic
features. I am delighted to attend this presentation which honours the
lives of 2 of my family members and will aid a very worthy charity, Give
Kids the World."
Oxford and Great Dorset Steam Fair on DVD [16/10/04]
| Two new videos and
DVDs have been added to Joyland Books.
The Fair at Great Dorset
Steam shows both traditional and modern rides at this famous
steam fair. As a bonus there are also showmen's engines, fair organs
and old fairground transport.
Click here for more
details. Fans of the Great Dorset Steam Fair can also buy the 2002
DVD and video by clicking
here.
Also newly released is a new
DVD/Video of two famous Oxfordshire fairs: the
Oxford St Giles and Thame
Fair 2004, both captured on one DVD/Video. See waltzers,
dodgems and Oxfordshire's beautiful street locations in this
fantastic DVD/Video.
We have loads more fairground DVDs
and videos; click here
to view them all. |
 |
Great
Secondhand Books Added
[9/10/04]
Acclaimed Fairground Books Arrive at Joyland [8/10/04]
| With the launch of a
new book on the history of Bridgwater's famous
St Matthew's Fair,
Joyland Books brings you a whole new range of classic fairground
books from New Era Publications.
Besides this fantastic new title, New
Era publish a wide range of books for the serious fairground
enthusiast.
The Travelling Cinematograph Show traces the early history
of moving pictures on the fairgrounds, the forerunner of our modern
cinemas. Philip Bradley's
Fairground Photographs
and Notes is a fascinating trip back to the fairground world
of the 1930s. My
Travelling Family by Eleanor Green tells the story of the
Mitchell fairground family. Click
here for even more New Era titles. |
 |
More
Fun Fairs on the Move [2/10/04]
| In the latest in the
popular Fun Fairs on the Move series, we visit Wellingbrough,
Newcastle Town Moor, Peebles and Galashiels to see fairground
transport in action.
Beginning with Stevens' fair pulling off wet ground at
Wellingborough, this is followed by some of the many showmen's transport, pulling
off muddy ground on the Newcastle Town Moor. With farm tractors and
chains having to be used on several loads, this fair was difficult
for the showmen. From Peebles Fair, the programme moves
to the pull-on at the
Scottish border town of Galashiels.
Click here for details. |
 |
Pleasure Beach Blackpool News [19/9/04]
| Pleasure Beach
Blackpool is about to build its biggest ride yet, a massive new
roller coaster that will fire riders out over the Irish Sea,
according to a report in the Blackpool Gazette. The new ride, which
will be bigger then the Big One, will cross the Promenade and
tramway onto a specially constructed new pier. No further details
are known at the present time, but news will be posted here as it
breaks. In other Pleasure
Beach news, the popular Bean Street Food Court - Britain's first
food court - was destroyed by fire on 2 September. And the Grand
National roller coaster, itself partly damaged by fire in May, is to
reopen within days with trains being tested on the ride over the
past few weeks (see right). |
The Grand National being tested in
early September (Courtesy: Ashley Staniworth)
See
rare pictures of Blackpool Pleasure Beach in this fantastic new
book! |
Kiddies Corner Fun Park at Cleveleys to Close [19/9/04]
A campaign has been launched by the
operators of the Kiddies Corner Fun Park at Cleveleys in Lancashire after
Wyre Borough Council served notice on them to quit the site. The park, which
is the main attraction in the small coastal resort near Blackpool, has been
operated by the Mason family for 42 years, and no explanation has been given
to them by the Council for the notice. A table has been set up at the fun
park for visitors to sign a petition to save the park. Already over 10,000
signatures have been received. Visitors, local traders and local residents
are already calling on the Council to pledge to allow the fun park to remain
on the site. If you do not want to see Kiddies Corner closed, you can write
to: Philippa Davies, Business Support, Wyre Borough Council, Breck Road,
Poulton-le-Fylde FY6 7PU.
Blackpool Illuminations Celebrate 125 Years With New Book [3/9/04]
| An electrifying 125
years of the Blackpool Illuminations were celebrated in style on 3
September 2004, with the launch of a spectacular new book:
From Lamp to Laser:
the Story of the Blackpool Illuminations. Written by
prominent local author and historian Terry Regan and Illuminations
expert Andrew Hazlehurst, the book takes a roller coaster journey
through 125 electric light years, including colourful tableaux,
celebrity switch-ons and a fascinating journey behind the scenes.
Ex-Spice Girl Geri Halliwell switched on the 2004 Lights and
launched the year's celebrations, which will be marked by a special
event on 19 September 2004, 125 years to the day since the first
Lights were lit. The launch weekend also included an appearance by
co-author Terry Regan on the BBC's popular Loose Ends show on Radio
4, with Ned Sherrin.
Click here
for more details of this acclaimed book. |
Trip the lights fantastic: From
Lamp to Laser |
Blackgang Chine Coaster Dismantled [29/8/04]
| The new Tornado
coaster at the Isle of Wight's Blackgang Chine Theme Park has been
dismantled and returned to its Italian manufacturer after it failed
to meet UK safety specifications. Blackgang Chine is now demanding
its £200,000 back from the manufacturer, Westech Ltd, who made five
failed attempts to rectify the problem and receive UK health and
safety approval since the ride was constructed in spring 2003.
Structural modifications to the ride have included replacement
supporting columns, but the required clearance between riders and
supporting stanchions was still not achieved. The removal of the
ride leaves a gaping hole in the centre of the park, one that the
owners promise will be filled by a new ride next year. Blackgang
Chine directors are currently "scouring the world" for a new ride,
and have not ruled out the possibility of ordering another ride from
Italy. Chine Director, Simon Dabell, estimates that in preparing the
site, buying the ride and lost takings, the roller coaster problems
have cost the park £500,000. |
 |
Super-sized
Disk 'O' for Flamingo Land in 2005 [27/8/04]
Flamingo Land has announced that its
new ride for 2005 will be a large version of the popular Disk 'O'
ride. The Disk 'O' has unique outward facing seating which enables
all passengers to view the park from about 60 feet in the air before
the kamakaze plunging of the carriage takes them to the opposite
side of the track! Flamingo Land announced only two weeks ago that a
large number of their rides were for sale to make space for new
attractions. Smaller Disk 'O' rides opened for 2004 at Southend's
Adventure Island and Great Yarmouth's Pleasure Beach.
(Courtesy: Jamie Baxter)
The
Cheeky Girls Launch National Funfair Week [26/8/04]
| The Cheeky Girls made a special appearance
at Bob Wilson's Funfair at Ealing Common today to launch ‘National Funfair
Week’ - in support of Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity (GOSHCC).
Joining the twins were locally based out-patients and former patients of the
famous children’s hospital, who will enjoy an afternoon of free funfair
rides. Also lending his support was the Mayor of Ealing, Cllr Ian Potts, who
attended alongside other civic guests and personalities from the area.
Wilsons threw the fair open for the afternoon with all proceeds from rides
taken between midday until 6pm donated to the GOSHCC. The fair is open as
normal daily until Tuesday 31st August. |
 |
Flamingo Land's Biggest Rides For Sale [12/8/04]
| North Yorkshire theme
park Flamingo Land has put many of its biggest rides on the market
as part of a planned major "park restructure". Giving the reason
that "we simply need the space", the park has decided to sell its
three main roller coasters: the triple looping Magnum Force, the
Bullet shuttle loop coaster and the Thunder Mountain Pinfari
coaster. Also featured in the large double page colour advert in
today's issue of trade newspaper World's Fair are several of
Flamingo Land's other biggest rides, including the Top Gun, UFO,
Flamingo Star 'Tristar', Jets, Formula K Go-Karts and the Ghost
Train (currently in storage). Flamingo Land has embarked on a
development programme to replace temporary travelling rides with
permanent theme park-style attractions, in new themed areas such as
the new-for-2004 Lost Kingdom, featuring the Lost River Ride. |
Above: Going: the towering
Magnum Force coaster. |
Front
Seat Thrills 2 Out Now [11/8/04]
| The long-awaited
Front Seat Thrills 2
is out now. This is our newest release of original roller coaster
documentaries. In this DVD, you will get to ride in the front seat
on 35 roller coasters. Featuring front seat, unobstructed,
uninterrupted, full circuit 'point of view' rides on some of the
most amazing roller coasters in the world.
Ride front seat on coasters like
Talon, Goliath, Dueling Dragons, Moonsault Scramble, Stunt Fall,
Wild Wild West, Magnum XL 200, Superman Ultimate Flight, and much
more. There is even some bonus footage from Hercules at Dorney Park
that will allow you to take a final ride on this extinct coaster!
Front Seat Thrills 2 is a DVD for the coaster enthusiast who likes
nothing but full 'point of view' shots on coasters! No annoying
narration or distracting visuals. No fluff, no frills.... just Front
Seat Thrills! Click
here for more information. |
Above: Take a front seat ride on coasters from around the
world - Front Seat Thrills 2. |
More
Fun Fairs on the Move [20/7/04]
| One for the
fairground transport enthusiast, the latest in the popular Fun Fairs
on the Move series is Volume 8, which shows fairground transport at Knutsford Heath and Cambridge Mid-Summer Fair.
Here is the full series:
Volume 1:
Wakefield and Hertford (2002)
Volume 2:
Knutsford and Spalding (2002)
Volume 3:
Nottingham Goose Fair (2002)
Volume 4:
Wakefield, Spalding, Boston and Corby (2002)
Volume 5: St
Albans and Paignton (2003)
Volume 6:
Barnstaple and Banbury (2003)
Volume 7:
Stamford, Wakefield and Spalding (2004)
Volume 8:
Knutsford and Cambridge (2004) |
 |
An
Elephant's Journey: From Menagerie to Belle Vue Zoo [20/7/04]
| When travelling
menagerie owner Alexander Fairgrieve - the operator of the famous 'Wombwell's
Royal Number One' menagerie - decided to retire, he sold his animals
by auction in Edinburgh. One animal, the Asian Elephant called
Maharajah, was purchased by Belle Vue Zoological Gardens in
Manchester. It was planned to
send him by train to Manchester, but this plan was rapidly altered
after he severely damaged a railway carriage. His keeper suggested
that they should walk to Manchester, and this they did over the next
ten days. Subsequently the tale of the walk entered zoological and
fairground folklore, suffering some alterations over time and being
linked with several other incidents.
Click here for
more information about the fascinating book
The Elephant Who Walked
to Manchester. |
 |
Aerial Glide Ride De-Listed [19/7/04]
| The Aerial Glide ride
at Shipley Glen Pleasure Grounds has been de-listed by English
Heritage following a successful appeal by its owner. Demolition has
already commenced, with the photograph to the right - taken at
4.15pm this afternoon - showing the owner Mr Teale dismantling the
ride.
There are still two listed
amusement park rides in the United Kingdom: the Scenic Railway at
Margate's Dreamland, and the Water Chute at Hull's East Park. |
 |
The
History of Dorney Park Comes to Life in New Book [18/7/04]
| The history of one of America's
great old amusement parks is brought to life in this new book in the
Images of America series. Among the vintage photographs and
postcards, Dorney Park
includes images of the Mill Chute, or the Tunnel of Love, as it was
also known; the old wooden roller coaster under construction; the
Zephyr train, a headliner in the park for many years; Castle Garden;
the original Dentzel carousel; the racetrack; and the
merry-go-rounds that were once a major attraction at the park.
Bob Ott, one-time owner of the
park, shares his photographs, postcards, and experiences with Wally
Ely to bring the history of Dorney Park to life.
Click here for more
details. Or click here
for more books on amusement park history. |
 |
Amusement Parks of the UK on DVD! [18/7/04]
|
Just For Fun: Amusement Parks of
the United Kingdom is now out on DVD. This US-produced
documentary visits nine of Britain's most famous amusement parks:
Dreamland, Great Yarmouth Pleasure Beach, Joyland, Gulliver's World,
Alton Towers, Oakwood, Frontierland, Pleasureland and Blackpool Pleasure Beach. The film includes on-ride footage of many of
Britain's most amazing amusement park rides. Hop on board modern
steel coasters such as Nemesis and the Pepsi Max Big One. Ride no
less than nine wooden coasters, including Morecambe's Texas Tornado
(demolished in 2000) and the threatened Scenic Railway at Margate.
Click here to buy this
DVD for £16. Plus we have reduced the
video from £28.63 to only
£16, a saving of £12.63!
|
 |
Coney
Island Arrives on DVD [18/7/04]
| Our two popular Coney Island
videos have now arrived in DVD format, and the price has dropped!
Volume 1 captures Coney
Island on film from 1917 to 1936, a DVD of classic memories.
Volume 2 shows Coney
Island from 1936 to 1954 as the glow from its million coloured
lights begin to fade. Both DVDs feature documentaries and
independent films of Coney Island in the past, and illustrate well
its gradual decline from the world's greatest amusement park to the
tarnished playground she had become by the 1950s.
Click here to buy
Volume 1 for £13.00, and
here to buy Volume 2 for £13.00.
And we have now reduced the price of
the original videos,
from £24.99 each to £13.00 each, a saving of £23.98 across the two
tapes! |
 |
New to Joyland: The
History of a Popular Amusement Pier [18/7/04]
| Teignmouth Pier has been a major
tourist attraction in this Devon seaside resort for over 140 years.
This is the first time a book has been written about the pier, which
today features a large range of amusements from slot machines in the
pavilion to rides on the outside deck.
The pier has had an ever-changing life
and had extensions added and removed, boats bumping into it, deck
sections cut away and replaced, bombs dropped next to it, machine
gun bullets riddling it and has even had bits blown away by
dynamite. This book includes photographs of everything from storm
damage to people enjoying the rides.
Click here for more information. |
 |
Keep
Yourself Entertained in Theme Park Queues [18/7/04]
| A creative amusement park
enthusiast has written a new book specifically for keeping you and
your family and friends, entertained while waiting in those long
theme park lines. Containing over 50 pages of games, activities and
ideas, 'Amusement 4 Theme Park Queues - Idea Pocket Book' is the
ultimate in weapons against those dreaded long waits. This book
caters for any scenario at any theme park with long queues. Whether
it's your first visit or your 20th for that year. Whether you're old
or young, in a group or visiting alone, this pocket idea book will
help those hours of waiting fly right past.
Click here
for more details. |
 |
125
Years of Blackpool Lights: Pre-Order Now [17/7/04]
| 2004 is the year that Blackpool
celebrates 125 electric light years. In 1879, the first ever
Blackpool light show was switched on, an event that received
national newspaper coverage. Now, 125 years on, this nine week, six
mile long show is a national institution.
From Lamp to Laser:
The Story of the Blackpool Illuminations is a nostalgic
journey through the lights, featuring well over 200 photographs,
many in colour. From the cliff-top tableau at Bispham to the
celebrities who have switched on the lights each year, this is the
definitive celebration of "the greatest free show on earth".
The book is available to pre-order now
and will be dispatched several days before its official release date
on 19 September 2004.
Click here
for more details. |
|
Pre-Order
Front Seat Thrills 2 Now [12/7/04]
| Joyland Books is pleased to
announce the forthcoming release of the sequel to one of the most
popular roller coaster DVDs of recent years:
Front Seat Thrills.
The new DVD, Front Seat
Thrills 2, includes several never before seen coasters and
exciting 'point of view' (POV) footage of the now gone Hercules at
Dorney Park and Moonsault Scramble in Japan. Nothing but full POV
shots on coasters.
No annoying narration, no distracting visuals, just Front Seat
Thrills!
This DVD will be released in a
few weeks, but you can be one of the first to own a copy by
pre-ordering now on Joyland Books. Your copy will be dispatched
on release. Click
here for more details. |
|
Pleasurewood Hills Acquired by Grévin
et Cie [5/7/04]
| Pleasurewood Hills Theme Park in
East Anglia has been acquired by major European theme park group Grévin
& Cie. Pleasurewood Hills opened in 1983 and had 250,000 visitors in
2003. Grévin is one of Europe's biggest theme park operators, with a
portfolio of 13 attractions in France, the Netherlands, Germany,
Switzerland and now the UK. Their existing parks include Parc
Astérix and Bagatelle in France and Panorama Park in Germany. Theme
park planning consultant Nick Laister of RPS assisted Grévin & Cie
in sourcing the transaction. Grévin & Cie plans to relaunch the
Park. The full official press release can be found here:
Grévin Press Release. |
Above: Pleasurewood's Cannonball
Express roller coaster. |
Drayton Manor Chairman Awarded OBE [4/7/04]
The founder and Chairman of Drayton Manor
Theme Park (Tamworth, Staffordshire) has been awarded an OBE for his
contribution to tourism in the UK. George Bryan, 83, founded the 250-acre
theme park in 1949, and gradually developed it over the years. Major
developments included the opening of the Zoo in 1957 and the opening of the
UK's first stand-up roller coaster - Shockwave - in 1994.
Devon
Theme Park For Sale [1/7/04]
Once Upon a Time, the popular children's
theme park, is for sale. The park, which is based around the former
Woolacombe and Mortehoe Station, features many children's rides and
attractions, as well as a shop, cafe, play areas and grottos. The business,
which is currently sister park to Watermouth Castle Theme Park, is priced at
£800,000.
News Archives
2013
January to June
July to December
2012
January to June
July to December
2011
January to June
July to December
2010
January to June
July to December
2009
January to June
July to December
2008
January to June
July to December
2007
January to June
July to December
2006
January to June
July to December
2005
January to June
July to December
2004
January to June
July
to December
2003
January to June
July
to December
2002
January to June
July
to December
2001
January to June
July
to December
2000
January to December
Search
Joyland Books
|
