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Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk (Rides Series#3)
Whether you call it a merry-go-round, carousel, or whirligig, visitors have always been enchanted with the Boardwalk's oldest ride. In 2009 the Boardwalk’s Looff Carousel reaches its 98th Anniversary at the historic amusement park, charming children of all ages with its magical horses and challenging ring game.
In August of 1911 one of the great carousel carvers of all time delivered the merry-go-round to the Boardwalk. Danish woodcarver Charles I.D. Looff had achieved success with his first complete carousel placed at Coney Island in 1875 and went on to create several more around the country, including Santa Cruz. Charles' son Arthur Looff later designed the Boardwalk's Giant Dipper.
According to his great-granddaughter, Charleen Cowan, Charles I.D. Looff was an immigrant to America as a young man when he chose his middle initials. Ellis Island officials told Looff he had to have a middle name "for his I.D." (or identification), so he chose "I.D." Looff's sense of humor and personality show in his hand-carved horses.
Several of the Boardwalk’s carousel horses display their teeth in open smiles; others are more serious, with a gentle demeanor and closed mouths. Each horse is unique, with colorful details, from swords at their sides to garlands of flowers around their necks. Real horse hair tails, muscular bodies, and decorative, jeweled trappings also add to the charm. In all, the carousel is home to 73 horses (71 jumpers and two standers) and two Roman chariots decorated with the heads of rams and cherubs.
It is also one of only a handful of carousels in the world still featuring a working ring dispenser. Rings were once hand loaded by "ring boys," as the young employees were called. The process was mechanized in 1950. Steel rings are used today, with brass plated rings added on special occasions. Riders on outside horses can grab rings from a dispenser as they spin, then toss them into a large clown's gaping mouth, rewarded by bells and flashing lights.
Music for the carousel is provided by a 342-pipe Ruth und Sohn band organ built in 1894. The German-made music machine is one of the last of its kind. In 2007, a rare Wurlitzer 165 Band Organ from San Francisco’s (now closed) Playland was purchased by the Boardwalk. In 2009, a new exhibit in the carousel building will showcase the Boardwalk’s rare antique band organs: a Wurlitzer 165 originally from San Francisco's Playland and the Boardwalk's original 1894 Ruth & Sohn organ which has played alongside the carousel since 1911.
With the passing of Looff and his peers, the art of carving carousel horses has almost disappeared. Due to scarcity, they have become collectible and increasingly valuable. The Boardwalk’s entire carousel cost $18,000 in 1911; now, a pair of the Looff horses are valued at more than that.
Carousel horses seem magical, ethereal, and even immortal; the reality is that these beautiful carved figures are sturdy but all too mortal. Over the years some of the Boardwalk’s Looff horses have been lost to the ravages of time and wear. However, the Boardwalk was able to reinstate its collection in 1978 with the acquisition of additional Looff horses from parks in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and Belmont Park in San Diego.
BEVERLY HILLS, CA - OCTOBER 25: Musician Nick Jonas of The Jonas Brothers performs during the 30th anniversary Carousel of Hope Ball to benefit the Barbara Davis center for childhood diabetes held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on October 25, 2008 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
4604 2018 05 12 file
Carousel explored
Great Plains Amusements
***Note: cropped in Flickr Photo Editor 8/15/2023
I love this scene. One of many beautiful sights to see in the city of Paris. This too is a 3 shot composition blended in Photomatix and further processed in Onone 7.0 & 8.0.
catchavista.pixels.com/featured/carousel-catchavista.html
Galloping horses and Cockerels on a steam-powered merry-go-round
6" x 8" Faber Castell Albrecht Durer and Prismacolor on Canson watercolor paper with touches of gold ink.
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Thanks to Sally Robertson for the copyright free photo. The parrotlet is from my own photo.
I really enjoyed doing this challenge. I managed to put aside a little more time to get it done. This is my second carousel horse this year. I painted the local county fair's poster with a bucking bronco carousel. Fun to keep with the same theme. I'll be entering this one in the fair.
The shadow of my carousel horse candle holder. I had to move it from its usual spot to get this shot as the sun was coming through the kitchen window.
ANSH 134 (6) shadows
The Carousel animals were just fascinating- there were horses, a tiger, a dragon and more. This one was my favorite, I had to wait until it came around and I could photograph it.
Designed and built in 1916 by Charles I.D. Looff, and faithfully restored in 1981 through 1984, The Looff Hippodrome carousel building at the Santa Monica Pier is listed as a National Historic Landmark.
1893 Savage Steam Galloper.
Built by Frederick Savage of Kings Lynn in 1893. The carousel, known as the Sally Beach set, was purchased by the Beamish museum from it's one previous owner family (for 116 years!) this Victorian carousel is widely regarded as one of the best sets in the country in terms of it's originality.