Another ride that has fond memories is the “Galloping Gertie” dark ride that took riders through darkened passages that featured both hilarious and scary props and stunts. The outside of the building featured big head people out of one’s dreams and an animated “Laffing Sal” animated woman mannequin that would constantly shake with loud almost shrieking laughter that would be heard up and down the midway. Roseland changed the name to “Giggling Gertie” and this PTC-built attraction would become a legend for many years to come. |
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The classic attraction had for props: a scary gorilla, human head that would pop out of a box, a lion, snake in a tree, alligator, a crawling menacing spider and a familiar, for its time, “Old Dan” stunt that featured a moaning corpse that sat up in a coffin, scaring those who were young and young at heart. This stunt was also in many other parks including the fondly remembered version of “Dead Dan” from the defunct Pretzel ride in Bushkill Park, PA. |
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Gertie also featured Pretzel ride company
cars with the colorful pretzel shaped weights on the cars' sides. It was a popular attraction for many years.
In 1961, at the end of the year, Roseland Park was sold to Lester and Richard Boyce, with Richard managing the park's day to day operations. Roseland added more modern thrill rides including an Allen Hershel “Flying Bobs”, a unique Chair Ride over the lake, something you would not see in today's society and a new Chance built “Yo-Yo” swing ride. A Paratrooper and Water Slide were the other new additions.The dark ride was remodled into a newer version called “Crazy House”, but its life as an attraction was short lived.
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In 1961, Roseland regulars would welcome a new dark ride to replace the older “Crazy House”, and they added one of the best: A Bill Tracy design called “The Gold Nugget”. Bill Tracy was a former artist for the great dark ride Company called Pretzel Rides, in Bridgeton NJ, who went on to form his own company “Amusement Display Creators” and later “This Is, Inc.” after his death. Tracy was known for revamping existing rides or designing them from bottom up. His most famous attractions included his “Pirates Den” walkthroughs and his dark rides called “Wacky Shack”. |
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Tracy would bring his “Best of The Best” to Roseland's own custom version. Tracy was a master using UV black lighting, day glo paints and warping reality and space by using red/yellow striped painted rooms with strobe light effects. The outside facade had a large mechanical skull mounted with an exposed speed hill and roller coaster style drop, complete with warped and bent Western ghost town buildings and Indian tee-pees drawn in for good looks. |
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