The Opening of Great America in Gurnee Ill, 1976
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- Опубликовано: 16 сен 2015
- Celebrating the opening of a "new" Theme Park in Illinois, GREAT AMERICA in 1976. Co-Hosts: Steve Edwards & Sandi Freeman of WLS TV, Celebrity Guests: Mel Blanc as Bugs Bunny, JoAnn Worley, Forrest Tucker, Jerry Stiller, Roger Perry and the Cast Members of Great America.
Was involved with all of this taping as a representative from the Operations Dept. Brings back lots of memoires. Glad to see it again.
+Skip Davis SKIP!!!! How great to "see" you. Email me don@daptv.com
So appreciative of your help. It was fun!
@@donazars1367 don ffg o u still work for six flags
Thanks for sharing memories. My cousin, Bill Walters, was one of the performers, and I was there for the opening as a 9 year old. It is something to see that people appreciated the human factor: Before corporate sameness, bottom lines, and greed. There were shows, with real people like log-rollers, craftsmen, and singers. The cars were gas and brakes... not automated or concerned with ridiculous safety issues.
It was affordable, and not just lines, coaster, lines, coaster. To see all of the beauty that was created in the "Warner Bros" Disney makes me glad to have lived it. Yes I had lots of funnel cakes and spent hours in the arcade. The differences between Orleans and Yukon were known and appreciated, even by kids. The performers, sounds, smells, and tastes still resonate as vividly as they did then.
Oh to have another whirl on the Triple Play or catch the show at 3 before a fried chicken dinner.... To soar on the Delta Flyer slowly over the park one more time trying to catch sight of friends in line for the Yankee Clipper... To know the joy of a short line at the end of the night at Willard's Whizzer... that was Bliss, and while we did not know that the "good old days" were happening during those hazy summers of the bicentennial and beyond, and that they would end as quickly as disco did with the Gordon Gekko 80s, we had that time.
How I'd forgo some of the pension for that feel of a first loop on the Turn of the Century, or the rush of meeting a beautiful strange girl while in line for Orleans Orbit, the Cajun Cliffhanger, or the Rue le Dodge.
Close my eyes, and I can still hear the faint Americana music playing over the wet, paved walks....
So glad you saw it. I hope Bill knows his performances are here too! My best wishes to him.
I could see your memories through the beautiful imagery you used. I wish I could go to this time when great America just began. Just beautiful.
Thank you William, brought tears to my eyes. Thanks for the memories!
Thank you for refreshing past memories. My first time there was in 77 or 78 it was so much fun. At the end of the night they announced they set a new attendance record and kept the park open for an extra hour.
David here from Sebring Florida I used to live in California and went to Great America there, Our park was much smaller, but had some of the same rides, The 1970’s was a different time 😊
I wish i was alive to see the original Great America
I worked at Marriotts Great America Gurnee, Illinois from opening in 1976 until 1979. I had GAS! Great America Spirit! Worked in FOODS in Hometown Square at Farmers Market. It was a lot of fun! One of my first jobs as a kid. Ah...to be young again! It was great growing up in that area. A lot of great memories!
William Gross We're you involved in our production? Sell us food? Glad you saw this.
iEditVideo44
I didnt see myself in the video but I believe I was working that day in the Farmers Market where Jerry Stiller was getting food. I think I recognize a couple of my co-workers in the film, but it's kinda blurry and can't really see faces good.
I DID get to actually meet/see Barbara Mandrell one day while working at the park. I actually stopped her for her autograph as she was announced to come on stage!
I worked on HT Funnel Cake close to Whizzar. I am very interested on see all the changes the place have to now!
William I worked there during the same years in foods at Farmer's Market. It was a really fun job for a high school/early college kid. This video sure brought back some memories. Remember Sir Central Kitchen, that little suit of armor statue sitting on top of the paper towel dispenser? hahaha.
Just curious did they have any dark rides at this park?
That had so much more family entertainment back then. Now it pretty much about the rides - which are awesome too. Really miss the sky whirl!
my first ever visit to Great America was the last year of the Sky Whirl's operation. I'm glad I got to go on it at least once, although sadly it was long ago so i don't remember anything from it
@@skippythealien9627 Yes, the things was clanky and loud and very much mechanical. This of course added to the thrill of the ride knowing at any moment any of it could break (in theory). I could never relax on that ride because of that. Some people could relax and enjoy the wind whirling through their hair. Others watched the mechanics working and wondered how it works internally. Interesting how that single ride could evoke so many varied responses from the stimuli.
@@MaxAcceleration from what i've read online, it apparently was a nightmare for maintenance. once the company stopped selling parts for it, Six Flags decided to pull the plug
the loss of the Sky Whirl would be easier to stomach if the park could find a good replacement for it. instead we get Deja Vu which was ALWAYS closed...and then that weird buccaneer battle thing that no one ever went on
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!
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.
Minus the dolphins, don’t need mammals for entertainment.
i mean it was always bound to become a thrills destination, especially after Six Flags purchased it. that's how they make money
Hi Don-I was one of the MGA Singer/Dancers. This brought back such great memories and reminded me that, once upon a time, I really could move that fast. Thanks for this!
+Suzann Look So glad you were able to re-connect with this show. And once again, some years later, thank you for your enthusiastic performance way back when.
it's really not around??!/. but the,goofy mouse,park in Florida and California is, still.... open?! NOT right!!
Sorry about the quality. This video is from a VHS tape (slow speed). The originals are in a vault somewhere, owned by ABC TV Station WLS-TV in Chicago.
I love it! Thank you for sharing
Brings me to tears😢I obviously wasn't born in this time but it's great to see what this park once used to be.... I mean I was born when bugs bunny's national park as still there and now that it's gone, all I have is the memories😔
It was awesome 😊
U mean it's really.... closed?! 😔😡😳😲
Loved it thanks for posting! I played in the country band 1981 Louis the bass player. The best summer of my life!
After 43 years, I'm sure much has changed there.
Oh yes!
I want to see Six Flags Great America have stage shows like “Music America “ again.
I remember watching this as a kid. My friends and I were drooling, couldn't wait to go.
That was our goal of course. Hope you went and had a good time.
This is amazing! Thank you for posting!
I was there with my family the opening weekend. I recall there were some problems with the bathrooms flooding and problems with certain rides, and they gave everyone rainchecks for a return visit. So many great memories of going there for almost 30 years.
Yea we heard stories too. Many of our TV station personnel were there opening weekend of course. Even Disneyland had problems like that when they opened,...flooding....asphalt soft....etc. etc. Glad you enjoyed it as we did after that.
This is the best footage I have seen of the park during its Marriots days! 🤩👍🏼
I'm sure it is. We spent a week in the park and area shooting footage, music, dancing, etc. etc. exploring all the new theme park.Like all productions, much footage not used in the finished show was discarded. But our goal was to "celebrate" this new addition and its immediate impact on everyone's lives in that part of the country. It took us another week to edit the 90 minute special which WLS TV (ABC owned station) twice.
Amazing! Thank you for sharing! My dad raved about it when I was a young, and started taking us constantly starting in 1995. I’m not kidding when I say Great America is a staple in our family still 30 years later. I remember the first several years of going to be what I still consider the glory days of the tail end of Great America. Theming was still a thing lol not so much anymore, but the park is still home to me and has a great coaster collection. I’m a coaster enthusiast and travel the country to tons of parks because of the impact my beloved home park had on me at such a young age🥰
Thank you, Don, for making this show and for now allowing us all to take a trip back in time to see such a rare, in-depth look at Marriott's Great America in Gurnee in its brand-new, original form. This is priceless. Thanks again!
-- Steven
Wow! this is great! I remember watching this about a week before going to the park for the first time! And I remember seeing someone who graduated from my high school in one of the musical numbers - we were in a couple of shows in high school together. I actually met him after a performance.
I was there, I was 16 years old. Had a "Great time" Thanks for the video!
As a SFGa alum want to thank you for posting this priceless video. So awesome to see a vision of youth returned. Thanks so much Don!
So glad you and others who participated got to recall fun times.....I hope word spreads and more enjoy the experience of yesteryears.
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.
From what I remember, you did a great job for the cast of Great America. Congratulations again and again.
RIP Jerry Stiller
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-
Very different times!
Just wondering. Did you see the TV Special on the park's opening? Glad you went and had a good time.
@@donazars1367 I may not have. If I did, I don't recall.
I had the shirt till my son was 10 and he thought it was great. Had bugs on it!
Don please get in touch with me by facebook
Wow Jerry Stiller!
Because There Great america 2022
Going back to 40 years, Wow. Amazing? I never seen how everything was like back then. Funny thing that I begin to work this summer on my 20th year. Things changed from past 40th years from attraction to modern rides. Unbelievable!
R.I.P. Jerry Stiller
I believe it is me in the Bugs Bunny costume in the Yankee Doodle Dance with Foghorn Leghorn
Very cool! And thank you once again for participating. We overdubbed MelBlanc's Bugs voice during a back and forth with host Steve Edwards. But you made it believable!
I Love this video all the people are so beautiful at that time.
I'm sure those who participated and check in here will lover your comment.
Anyone viewing this who took part, please I'd yourselves.
That was supposed to be "ID" yourselves..... so I can remember you from the TV production.
I wish there was another park boom in America. It’s amazing how Disneyland seriously influenced so many parks to being built and expanded..
The carousel, Whizzer, and Demon (formally Turn of the Century) and I think Hometown Fun Machine are all still there, and while I'm only in high school, it's amazing we still have them up, they're very important to the history of the park. And they're still tons of fun!!
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!
Treasure! Thank you!
Those car rides were so fun.
Thanks for the beautiful memories ❤
It's my pleasure
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!! 😔😳😲😤💒🙏😇
Marriot's Great America!. Brought memories. My family was there on opening day.
Great! Did you see the TV Special on Channel 7 too?
I was the cowboy she was singing to in the Saloon.
Great to hear from you. I hope life has been good to you since we shot that so long ago .
this great america 1987
I was 1 years old when this aired. Great memories!
And you remember seeing the show? Wow! Glad you're seeing it again 46 years later.
@@donazars1367 no I don’t remember the show. But I remember how GA looked like back then and all the original rides and coasters. Love this stuff
Thanks so much for posting this. Been a park enthusiast my whole life and this opened when I was a teen. Was so exciting to have a major theme park open in our area. I vaguely remember marveling at this spectacular reveal of the park and I'd finally get my parents to take me later that summer. I'm more familiar with a sort of sequel they made a year or two later. I still have the "Tidal Wave" sequence on a VHS tape.
It was indeed a high impact on the area when it opened. The staff were helpful in the making of this "making of" TV special. I particularly liked the "theme" of the park though I hear that's all changed over the years. Thanks for your note.
This is a great local expo.
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!
I haven't been there since we did the show in 1976. I'm sure it's gone through many changes especially after 6 Flags acquired it. Glad to read it's doing well.
@@donazars1367 Thank you for answering! I really wanted to know about 2 eras, all the changes and what about everything! I was very surprised about the cable ties and the cars! I hope you visited it soon and maybe be working there again! I will be so happy to serve you!
Holy Crap its Arthur Spooner aka Jerry Stiller at 37:20
I want to see where these workers and performers are today they would be cool
From time to time I get feedback from some. See below. Most have moved on of course. Our on camera talent, I keep in touch with occasionally. Not sure a "reunion" would get everyone back there..check with me in 2076.
WOW.....still open
Wow , so immersive
wow
Indeed!
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.
Still funny after 42 years!
Wow they still have some old rides thats cool
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 🤣
We should have asked around for films like yours... glad you have good memories. I too enjoyed out work on the TV special. Thanks for the contact.
❤❤❤❤❤❤❤d it!!!!
Glad you got to re-visit your time there. I still hold the experience dear as well.
Why does this remind we of The Lorax?! I love this place btw I go every summer!!
Me*
I think back then they had maybe three coasters,i was 4
do you have better quality
Audioandlyrics Sorry no. This is from a vhs personal copy. The 2 inch (yes 2 inch) masters are owned by ABC Owned TV station WLS TV, Chicago.
Do you have the opening day of Santa Clara.
Audioandlyrics sorry no but the park may have it.
iEditVideo44 i don't think so hafe the people don't even know what you are talking about.
this and the Santa Clara park look so much alike is there also a video like this of the Santa Clara park and its 1976 opening I seen a few but nothing this long
I wouldn't be surprised if they used part of our show for the SC park's opening, but I don't know.
@@donazars1367 well they would use certain commercials from the 70s and early 80s for both parks and a lot of the footage was filmed in Santa Clara
I remember riding in a bumper car that said Great America on the hood, but someone removed all the letters except " eat me "
I hope that wasn't the opening day!
Sorry to read that about nefarious attendees. It didn't used to be that way there. It isn't at other places.
Expo!
Does anyone know if this was aired in the Milwaukee market? I just watched it. I miss the pride and detail Marriott created in the park!
Gregory Gniotczynski No. Televised only on WLSTV , the ABC owned station in Chicago. I don't think Milwaukee could see that signal in 1977. Why do you ask?
I am surprised I never saw this, but being from Milwaukee that answers my question. I first went to the park in 1977 and it brings the best memories of how it used to be.
No it was televised from WLS TV, Chicago, ILL, only.
I guess it wasn't opening day but I saw Elton John there. Can't remember the date. Can anyone confirm this?
25:41 The characters are.... Something.... Especially Porky
I guess this is funny...though the writer uses a company name instead of their own...I guess that's supposed to be funny too.
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
Yes there were two. We didn't go to the CA location nor use any material from that park. I remember that the Illinois location was supposed to be larger but I can't confirm that.
@@donazars1367 I was only six when it opened up I remember though the wizard was there forever and the turn of the century those were the big ones I couldn't ride them at the time though LOL.
It's interesting though cuz thanks to you too you can look up all these old historic places and that's where I came and saw the cable cars and I said that you reminded me a great America and then to find out that there was a great America in California and there's some old ads.
That's the one thing RUclips is good for nostalgia so many people post so many cool memories.
Can even find the old paper boy long Chevrolet in Elmhurst LOL
@@truckerkevthepaidtourist I was so funny that, working there last year I was face back Whizzer, thinking that is for kids, when I get there it was crazy, dangerous and excited as any of the other biggers one!
With the Six Flags-Cedar Fair merger the two Great Americas are back together. The California park ended up with Cedar Fair.
Porky pig had me rolling
Yes we got him (Mel) to record special for our show...Bugs too.
That’s Awsome.
pepito is the boss!!!
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.😢
Assuming that comment meant the park, I understand as 6Flags the owners concentrates on thrill rides not theme.
Except the Grand Opening of Jimmy's Great America in Santa Clara, California
Explain
@@donazars1367 Well, Jimmy's Great America was an amusement park in Santa Clara, California when it really opened on March or May 20, 2001 because my doppelganger, Other Jimmy Kielbasa, an American-Puerto Rican actor and voice actor and one of the doppelgangers, really built his famous whole fairgrounds and amusement parks in all the countries from around the world for Jimmy Parks, DIC Studios Parks, All-Star Flags Parks and All-Star Parks, Festivals, Fairs and Carnivals from around the world. Other Jimmy Kielbasa was an American-Puerto Rican actor and voice actor of the United States of America unless he was the best, so I got his autograph from his TV shows, movies, video games, attractions, shorts and commercials. Until then, All-Star Flags Great America was an amusement park in Gurnee, Illinois, when it opened on March or May 20, 2003. So you see, wasn't that fun at Jimmy's Great America back in Santa Clara, California and All-Star Flags Great America back in Gurnee, Illinois you ever saw? Hmm? Well, I hoped you enjoyed your days at Great America Parks during Jimmy Parks, DIC Studios Parks, All-Star Flags Parks and All-Star Parks, Festivals, Fairs and Carnivals in the all the locations of the whole countries from around the world.
Six flags is aweso.e
It wasn't owned owned by 6Flags then.
So they actually had dolphins at great America in Illinois??? Was it just for opening day?
It was ongoing at the time. So much there has changed especially after the parks (Illinois and CA) were sold.
600 acres?! Where the hell did all that space go today????
Dunno. I haven't been there since doing the opening show (1976). Did 6 Flags reduce the size of the place?
@@donazars1367 Thanks for the reply!! But to answer your question, apparently so. Or Gurnee, IL. did. Look it up. The park registers at 304 acres if that. I don't know what the original size of the Santa Clara Park was but it registers at around 101 acres. I'm from Chicago and I love Six Flags Great America. I've been going there since I was a kid. But it struggles with expansion. If they get a new coaster or flat ride, generally that means other rides have to go or the coaster itself has to be minimized making for a shorter less thrilling ride experience. Unfortunately, I don't know how it was back in the Marriot Great America days as far as surrounding area goes. I lot of rides have come and gone since then of course. I wish I could of experienced it back in the 70s though!! But now there is so much sprawling development and built up township around the park, the room for growth is extremely limited to absolutely none. I wish the park was still 600 acres today. Honestly, they could really use the space. Thanks again!!
@@xkee2013 It could be be that they own 600 acres but only use 304.
@@benplutafilms Where is all that other missing space then? Have you seen ariel pics of the park from circa1975 versus today. They only utilize around 90 acres or so for company offices, storage, employee parking and so on. I heard the remaining acres were most likely sold off to Gurnee to keep the park afloat during less profitable times, not to mention the pressure from the village itself to downsize the park for sprawling development in the township around the park. Its quite a shame actually. In the 70s ariel pic I saw most of the surrounding development that stands there today wasn't even present then. Again, a shame smh!
westwood one
San Mateo CA 94402 😷
Ahhhhhh... so it was not originally six flags?
No, it was GREAT AMERICA, opened in 1976 and their west coast park opened later. Both were sold to 7 Flags in 1995.
I’m finding that six flags bought Great America in 1984. Interesting stuff. I used to go to this park as a kid in the late 90s early 2000s. Never knew it wasn’t always six flags.
@@URAWESOME94 OH 84? OK. Originally the park emphasized "theme" more then just rides as 6 Flags usually does. It was nice and I guess remains successful.
NO, it was owned by the MARRIOT'S Corporation..both parks (ILL & CA)...sold later to 6 Flags.
Chicago's Great America was given to Six Flags in 1983 (This granted 6F the theme park rights to Looney Tunes), and California's Great America was sold to Paramount Pictures and today is now owned and operated by Cedar Fair Entertainment Co.
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.
I mean, you can't really just "bring back" something that's been destroyed for decades.
@@benplutafilms it's reflecting on the past. It was a better park. But they could build rides that look like older rides.
@@ronaldstubbs9450 yesh but its still not quite the same.
The old-fashioned Racecars can technically be brought back when the Great America in Santa Clara closes
A beautiful park, but unfortunately a lot of the character has been stripped away over the years.
Yes I've heard that. Since SIX FLAGS bought the two parks (SF and CHI) the original intent, style, theme were lost. But it was nice while it lasted.
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. I suspect once SIX FLAGS purchased both parks (Ill & CA) their focus was less on "theme" and more on "thrill rides" to attract younger customers rather then the "family" originally targeted.
@@donazars1367 You are 100% correct on this. Problem: They still promote / advertise 'family'. But they don't deliver on it. It's really for teenagers. Thanks so much for posting. I have such great memories of going there 1976 through 1985. For the opening of the Demon (like 1980) I met founder Mr. Marriott Sr. and the son, whose name I think is Bill. They were both very approachable and happy to be there.
IMO, it's not very wise to locate an amusement park in a town whose name means ambulance stretcher.
TnseWlms Gurnee vs Gurney
And there's a street very close by called cemetery St. And there's a crematory funeral home on it and an old people's home right next to it. Nice huh?
Jerry stiller no shit lol
Yes Jerry Stiller, JoAnn Worley, Forrest Tucker, Steve Edwards, Roger Perry - everyone was so much fun to work with. Alas only Steve, JoAnn remain alive and well in LA area.
sadly these amusement parts attract nothing but gangsters and the inner city crowd.
This is terrible.
Glad you watched..not sure why.
Not sure what is "terrible" - video quality is lacking if that's what you meant..sorry.
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