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Wild Mouse Memories, 1975
I remember going to the Boardwalk with my parents and sister at
least once a year. One year we went with some friends and
decided to ride the Wild Mouse. My friend's grandfather decided
to go with her, and I went with my Dad. We rode that ride
over and over again, until my friend's grandpa's hat flew off his
head... exposing his bald scalp. Needless to say, by the end
of our trip, his bald head was very red! Except for the sunburn
on his head... it was a GREAT time!
Now over 30 years later, I take my boys to Santa Cruz. They
are making their own wonderful memories now... and we are having
so much fun watching them happen. Thank you Santa Cruz.
Gina |
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The Dinosaur, 1964
My first time to Santa Cruz
Boardwalk was 1964 when I was 6 years old. I remember seeing the
wooden roller coaster for the first time and being told by my dad
that I had to wait until i was at least 8 years old before I would
be able to ride it. I also remember watching the dinosaur rise out
of the water, turn left to right while growling, and then going
back down under the water near the train ride at the end of the
boardwalk. I could stand there for hours watching.
Frances |
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Sea Monster, 1967
As a child, I couldn't get enough of the crashing waves, looking for sand dollars on the beach or the rides on the Boardwalk. I remember watching the older kids swim across the mouth of the river to "the cove".
My older siblings would take me (albeit reluctantly) along with them as they visited the Boardwalk. I remember the smell of the midway food and the echoing sounds of laughter---and the rides! My favorite was the Merry Go 'Round. Being so small, I could never reach the brass rings, but would giggle with excitement as my big sister pulled the ring and proceeded to throw the ring into the clown's mouth. I couldn't wait to be big enough to do that!
Unfortunately, leaving the Boardwalk meant one thing. We had to pass the lagoon. And lurking in the lagoon was the SEA MONSTER. I can't tell you how frightening that thing was to me. It would slowly rise out of the watery lagoon and moan. I would beg my siblings to leave, I wanted to get away before the monster could get me. Of course, they loved to see my reaction as the monster would rise from the water, with a distinctive and menacing mooooooaaaaaaannnnn. I was 5 years old---I would cry and cling to my sister for protection. I didn'realize at the time it was a mechanical monster, incapable of hurting anyone. Even now, at 45 years old, I can still remember the fright that creepy creature caused me......but now, I smile and I am so grateful for the memories. It might be time to go back. I have a date with a certain brass ring.
Alison |
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Giant Dipper, 2006
As a coaster enthusiast and an artist,
I decided to capture one of my top coasters.
Billy D'Anjou
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Hiding from Walking Charlie, 1961
I remember the Walking Charlie attraction from when I was about eight years old. There were male manikins with something that looked like a beer can on top of their heads. They were at least 4 feet tall and wore real clothes. They were on tracks that moved them behind a three foot fence.
The object was to throw a baseball and knock over the can on their head. They would come out from behind two arched doorways and would suddenly turn their heads and look directly at you, then move and look away and go back inside the doorway again. There was a mechanism that reset the cans upright when they went back inside. It was the creepiest thing I had EVER seen. I was so scared of them I would scream and cry if my dad forced me to cross in front of the stand.
I can only imagine his embarrassment, that his frady cat son could not handle the fear. I remember hiding my head under his shirt each time we passed the attraction on the way back to our car at the end of the day. This went on for several seasons. I always got the creeps even when I got older. I still have fond memories of this beloved attraction. Please bring it back as part of the celebration.
MICHAEL |
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Cousins, 1965
I still love the Boardwalk, I go at
least twice a month.
This is a photo taken of myself and my cousin Audrey on Bulgy
in 1965.
Bob
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The First Time, 1969
I remember our family vacationing in Capitola from 1960-1973.
The big treat was the one night we would go to the Santa Cruz Beach
Boardwalk for the night. Mom and Dad and my Aunt would go to the
wharf and eat out while us kids would amuse ourselves with a hamburger
dinner and the funhouse.
Often times I would look up at that Giant
Dipper and wonder if there would ever come a time when I would have
the guts to get on that ride. Low and behold in 1969 while dating
a girl I very much cared for, she actually talked me into taking
my first ride at 17 years old with her. After getting off the ride
I had told myself that I had wasted a lot of time being scared of
that ride. It is now easily my most favorite ride on the boardwalk
all these years later. I just cannot get enough of that ride. I
now ride it with my daughter who loves it as well.
Steve Denton |
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