Waldameer New Comet Roller Coaster 1951

"Erie's famous, colorful amusement park has been under the guidance of Mr. and Mrs. F. A. Moeller for the past 37 summers. It had been in operation for 20 to 25 years as an old fashioned picnic center before the Moellers transformed it into the beautiful amusement center  it is today. The park boasts completely paved midway, expert landscaping with gay flower gardens, sanitary rest rooms and every convenience for your greater comfort. 

Truly, Waldameer is one of the nation's finest amusement parks.

Pictured (left), the newest of Waldameer's thrilling rides, 'The COMET' put into operation for the first time this season. Other big rides include: Ye Mill Chute, a scenic boat ride; Dodgems, Tumble Bug, a beautiful wood carved Merry-Go-Round and flying scooters." -ad in Erie Dispatch, August 15, 1951.

The Comet is one of the finest wooden roller coasters in North America.

Kiddie Land, featured below, includes a small boat ride and a other rides scaled down to the size of young riders.

Here is a link to the Top Ten Rides at Waldameer in 1941: http://oldtimeerie.blogspot.com/2012/08/waldameer-park-top-ten-rides-from-1941.html

Enjoy more historic Erie, PA facts and photos at: oldtimeerie.blogspot.com

Waldameer Park Opening Day 1924

Boating at Waldameer Park, postmarked 1919. Postcard courtesy of Michele H.

Ten to fifteen thousand people visited Waldameer Park in Erie, PA on May 30, 1924. And that was just in the afternoon! About 5,000 people were there in the evening. It was estimated that about one thousand tourists drove from Pittsburgh, PA to enjoy the park, filling every available spot. (Waldameer and Presque Isle State Park have long been favorites of Pittsburgh natives.)

"The kids were given a new treat yesterday in the 'Custer Car.' The miniature automobiles are run by storage batteries and go around a small track. The kids were so tickled at the new racing cars which they drive themselves that at times they were lined 50 deep waiting for a vacant car.

As usual, the Ravine Flyer was popular with young people seeking thrills and a great many of the more timid got their thrill on the Figure-Eight. The Merry-Go-Round was popular with almost everyone. The introduction of new horses and animals, including the elephant, made everybody want to ride the new ponies or the basket on the elephant." -Erie Dispatch-Herald, May 31, 1924.

Waldameer Park and Water World, located at 3100 West Lake Road in Millcreek Township, Erie County, PA, has long been a favorite with many generations of amusement park fans. The park is a favorite for fans of old style wooden roller coasters.

Here is a link to the Top Seven Rides at Waldameer Park in 1941: http://oldtimeerie.blogspot.com/2012/08/waldameer-park-top-ten-rides-from-1941.html

Friction Rocked Rainbow Gardens on New Year's Eve

You and me we're goin' Rockin' Tonight at Rainbow Gardens, where Friction will help ring in the New Year. But not tonight.

In the 80s and early 90s, we had a Love to Live By, courtesy of Friction. Sure, we were younger then, but as we said, we ain't bad kids, we're just tryin' to fake it. So when the ball drops, At Midnight I Go Punk. It's Too Late to Cry, and this ain't no Broken Heart Charity Ball.

Rockin' my baby on the tree top, Baby Talk. You couldn't turn on the radio and not hear a Friction tune, especially if you listened to K-104. Nobody was Down & Lonely when these guys were around.

Bob Michel, Marty Scott, Marlon Coe and the boys in Friction packed them in at Rainbow Gardens at Waldameer Park, and at practically any other gig they played in Erie, PA and the Tri-state area. If you followed the band you always had a chance to Wave Goodbye to a Friend at the end of the night.

Friction performed a reunion gig at Rainbow Gardens in 2008.

Enjoy more fun and puns about Erie, Pennsylvania at: Old Time Erie

Rainbow Gardens at Waldameer Park, Erie, PA

Rainbow Gardens has held many events over the past eighty plus years, everything from concerts, dances, antique shows, ethnic festivals and craft shows. The venue is located in Millcreek Township, Erie County, PA, on the grounds of Waldameer Park and Water World. The park has entrances on West 8th Street and on Peninsula Drive.

Rainbow Gardens was built around 1925. The roof of Rainbow Gardens collapsed under the weight of a heavy snowstorm just before Christmas in 1950, causing the cancellation of four Christmas and New Year dances. (There was also a destructive fire at a different building at Waldameer Park, the Hofbrau German restaurant, in 1941.)

Some concerts at Rainbow Gardens include:
Guy Lombardo and his Royal Canadians, May 23, 1927
Fletcher Henderson and his orchestra performed around 1928
Tal Henry and his North Carolinians, August 4, 1930
Duke Ellington & his Cotton Club Orchestra with Ivy Anderson, Sept. 10, 1931
Fats Waller and his orchestra performed for 6,000 people on April 25, 1936
Freddy Bergin with Mary Tudor, Oct. 17, 1936
Tommy Reynolds and his orchestra, May 22, 1942
Dick Stabile and his orchestra featuring Gracie Barrie, Nov. 26, 1942
Les Brown and his orchestra, December 5, 1942
Jack Teegarden performed around December, 1942
Richard Himber, April 24, 1943
Buddy Rich and his orchestra, July 6, 1946
Ina Ray Hutton and her orchestra, July 17, 1946
Carmen Cavallaro and his orchestra, July 9, 1947
Tex Beneke and his Glen Miller orchestra, Aug. 22, 1947
Gene Parlette and his orchestra, July 12, 1952
Les Brown and his Band of Renown, July 14, 1952
Stan Kenton, August 8, 1952
CJ Bri, February 13, 1970 Sweetheart Hop ad
Guy Lombardo and his Royal Canadians, May 13, 1973
Maynard Ferguson, August 7, 1975
The Moonlighters
The Pulse and Friction, Nov. 13, 1981
Generic Beat 1985 (Battle of the Bands)
Generic Beat 1986 (show sponsored by WSEG-FM)
Shok Paris, Dirty Looks, Blackout, Rex and Thunder, Friday, March 7 (1987?)
Ronnie James Dio, April 25, 1997

This is going to be a long list. I will add more dates as I find them. Feel free to add a comment with the dates of concerts you have attended at Rainbow Gardens in Erie, PA.

Enjoy more historic facts and photos of Erie, PA at: oldtimeerie.blogspot.com

Waldameer Park Top Ten Rides from 1941

-ad in Erie Daily Times, May 27, 1941.

Believe it or not, some of the Top Ten rides from the 1941 season at Waldameer Park are  favorites of kids today.  (Well, a couple of them still exist.) Let's see which rides you remember:

• Merry-Go-Round
• Old Mill Run
• Dodgems
• Loop-O-Plane
• Aerial Swing
• Fun House
• Ravine Flyer
• Ferris Wheel
• Kiddie Swings
• Blue Goose
• Custer Cars

This ad from the Erie Daily Times was for the May 29, 1941 grand opening of "The Joy Spot of Erie."

The Old Mill Run was replaced by Thunder River. The Ravine Flyer II replaced the old Ravine Flyer. The Sky Fighter is one of the older rides but it does not appear on the 1941 list.
Waldameer Park is the top amusement park in northwestern Pennsylvania.

Here is a very cool video of Waldameer Park from 1961 which was posted on YouTube by South Sierra Hikers: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3joRXpKvgk

And an ad for 'Tin Can Day' at Waldameer Park in 1927: http://oldtimeerie.blogspot.com/2012/07/waldameer-tin-can-day-july-15-1927-erie.html

Enjoy more historic facts and photos of Erie, PA at: oldtimeerie.blogspot.com

Waldameer Tin Can Day July 15, 1927 Erie, PA

Waldameer Amusement Park ad in the Erie Dispatch-Herald from 1927.

This ad from the Erie Dispatch-Herald made me laugh. Tin Can Day at Waldameer Park in Millcreek Township, PA.

"Boys and Girls Save Your Tin Cans! Any old can and 3¢ entitles you to a ticket good on any ride. The more tin cans you bring to Waldameer the more rides you get!

One can and 3¢ for one ride.

No limit to the number of cans you bring, so put your cans on a string and come to Waldameer Friday, July 15th, 1927."

Can you imagine some kid dragging twenty tin cans behind him on his way to Waldameer? I wonder what the park did with all the tin cans?

Here is an ad which includes the Top Ten rides at Waldameer Park in 1941: Top Ten Rides at Waldameer Park in 1941.

Find more fun ads and fascinating photos of Erie, Pennsylvania at Old Time Erie