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My first time here was in 1980. It was so much fun. After Six Flags took over, it completely changed. Prices sky rocketed, different atmosphere. It's never been the same.

Today it's just another Disney World, and that's far from a compliment. Severely overpriced and overcrowded. And the clientele has diminished from families and good standing citizens to teens with fake IDs and fake handicaps and gang members. I love roller coasters, but I honestly fear for my safety just walking through the parking lot, given the huge increase in violence in the past few years. I'd give anything to be able to jump into this video and experience the park the way it was intended. Taking in a thrill ride I didn't have to wait 2 hours for, enjoying a reasonably-priced treat that actually tasted good, surrounded by like-minded, respectful people without a care in the world. It's heartbreaking to know those days are long gone.😢

Porky pig had me rolling

I was the wardrobe supervisor in Gurnee from Feb 1976 until June 1982. I was also involved in the opening of the Santa Clara park.

Pet Shop Boys you are the way Disneyland Dreamworld to orrow 01/31/24 cinepolis fame❤hillsdale 94403😷

westwood one

San Mateo CA 94402 😷

still have the home movies, back in 1984! when My dad and me went there, with the ( y M C a) bus trip!! + friends and I went in,2014!! what a different in prices!!/. even a " small" shake was $7 bucks!! 😔😳😲😤💒🙏😇

I was there I was 6. My dad was a Forman with this tile crews working on the site. I saw that place during construction. We have the 8m films still. I remember being to small to ride a lot of stuff. Hella mad. Lmao 🤣

A beautiful park, but unfortunately a lot of the character has been stripped away over the years.

This is horrendous.

Thanks for the beautiful memories ❤

I guess it wasn't opening day but I saw Elton John there. Can't remember the date. Can anyone confirm this?

Jerry stiller no shit lol

The crowd you'd get to know as you waited for the hour to an hour and a half. I went from 80s until 2000 when everyone changed and ruined it. God bless everyone.

This is terrible.

Because There Great america 2022

this great america 1987

My first visit to the park I was seven years old back in 1981. I know the eagle was brand new then. I remember everyone at the park stopped and was looking up at the Eagle. So we too turned around to see what everyone was looking at. The train was stopped at the top of the hill. Here was this lady with long blonde hair in a shiny blue dress walking up the side stairs to say something to those people on the top of the climb in the train. Then she just casually walked down. Like nothing! Amazing! To this day i have no idea what that was about. In 2011, I took my son, whom was 7 years old to the park for the first time. I raved about the pictorium movies. I loved those movies. We went but the flying movies were not playing but the screams and dreams one's were. I admit I was disappointed . Not for me but I know my son was too young to enjoy it. In that movie I was shocked to see that same blonde haired woman that I saw so many years ago. I hit my son in the arm and told him that's the woman I told you about. Ya he wasn't impressed. The name is Angie Lovell Mcavoy. In the movie (part 1) they have an interview with her in the same blue dress it was media day at the park. I must have been there on media day. Best part was, in the movie she states she wasn't gonna ride it, but climbing it she was ok with. WOW!

25:41 The characters are.... Something.... Especially Porky

Don, thank you for sharing this beautiful tribute to a beautiful friend. My only regret is that it took me so long to find it. Steve’s wit and charm were second to none. Your video tribute prompted me to dig through my inbox and reread the last communication I received from Steve (January 27, 2013). I think of him often and cherish the times we had together!

I was 1 years old when this aired. Great memories!

Loved it thanks for posting! I played in the country band 1981 Louis the bass player. The best summer of my life!

I love how the terrain shape is the same as now! I worked there in Summer 2021 and a J1 visa and I am very obsessed with it! I was working on HT Funnel Cake and was very tired of see the Theater everyday but my biggest proud was Whizzer! Old and original! Willing to go there again this summer. Last year the firehouse was close and just employee allowed I wanted to see what about the tube!

What surprised me out of this is at the time that this opened up Marriott had one out there in California I think it was Paramount there was interesting there were two Great Americas

Wow , so immersive

I was the cowboy she was singing to in the Saloon.

He died relatively young. I'm wondering what he passed from?

So they actually had dolphins at great America in Illinois??? Was it just for opening day?

I believe it is me in the Bugs Bunny costume in the Yankee Doodle Dance with Foghorn Leghorn

I wish there was another park boom in America. It’s amazing how Disneyland seriously influenced so many parks to being built and expanded..

Hey bring back the live shows. Enough with the crazy looking rolletcoasters. Bring back thhe skywhirl, the old fashion race cars. And I do love rollercoasters.

Marriot's Great America!. Brought memories. My family was there on opening day.

41:15 true story...back about 1979 I was there with some folks and we were getting ready to leave around 8:30 PM..Suddenly the power went out and a majority of the park went into darkness...We had just walked through the entrance on our way to the car and as we're walking along I look through the fence and the ride you see in the clip had stopped and people were in those basket like compartments..I had an old camera that had a built in flash that you could test by pressing a button. So I stopped and aimed it at the ride and began to use the flash test..After about three flashes a guy in one of the compartments yells, "HEY! WHO'S TAKING PICTURES?" I continued to activate the flash test and more people began to yell and protest and one woman screamed.....MUWAHHAHHAHHAH!

I think back then they had maybe three coasters,i was 4

This is the best footage I have seen of the park during its Marriots days! 🤩👍🏼

WOW.....still open

RIP Jerry Stiller

I remember watching this as a kid. My friends and I were drooling, couldn't wait to go.

wow

R.I.P. Jerry Stiller

I want to see where these workers and performers are today they would be cool

Current and recent park management has worked very hard to extinguish quality show entertainment. Who do we have to thank for: Removal of Theatre Royal and Pictorium, and Orleans music gazebo, and Amphitheater, and Circus . No use of Wilderness Theater, etc. I know that in some cases they nixed a theater to get a new ride. A ride is a ride is a ride, but a theater can be anything! The park is way out of balance with so many rides to the detriment of all else. i.e. back in the day, you could get a hamburger at lunchtime in less than an hour. Result: All the 'progress' has yielded a new clientele of flotsam & jetsam.....lots of extreme tattoo's and body piercings for all to see......today's patrons are Loud & Obnoxious.

Sorry to read that about nefarious attendees. It didn't used to be that way there. It isn't at other places.

sadly these amusement parts attract nothing but gangsters and the inner city crowd.

I went in 1976! One of my brothers worked there washing down the sidewalks and streets at night. They gave him free tickets. I took one as a kid- 12 years old! Went by myself- what a time I had, unsupervised! I got home late. No one knew-

Except the Grand Opening of Jimmy's Great America in Santa Clara, California

Assuming that comment meant the park, I understand as 6Flags the owners concentrates on thrill rides not theme.

That's when Great America was GREAT AMERICA. That's when everything was so family oriented and everyone could enjoy. They had so much entertainment for everyone. It's terrible in 2019.

After 43 years, I'm sure much has changed there.