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Genres
Oct 22, 2007 20:01:06 GMT -5
Post by gary on Oct 22, 2007 20:01:06 GMT -5
Bill's works seemed to fall into certain major categories. I think his final vision was to get into the Wild West, as seen in that catelog shot of a "ghost town" facade mock-up. He's already known for... Jungle/Safari Ghost Ship/Pirate Ship General Haunted house (whacky shack) What doesn't fall into those three? And I know I can see the wild west ideas he might have used. I think the ONLY venture he DID do in this direction was Dorney Park's Gold Mine... similar to the Pirate's Cove walk-thrus, it saw a relatively short life and there are no photos of it that I've seen. Fortunately, I did get to experience it as a kid. I found myself walking through it and riding Bucket O' Blood several times a day, whenever I was there. Oh and Journey to the Center of the Earth. JCE might be an example of his one-off stunts that never appeared in other rides. Here's a video link: www.youtube.com/watch?v=O7Ym82WJuKgVery brief glimpses in there, but better than nothing!
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Genres
Oct 22, 2007 22:44:31 GMT -5
Post by Brandon on Oct 22, 2007 22:44:31 GMT -5
Thanks for posting that video. Tracy did enjoy exploring a realm of possibilities with genres. And as you stated, I think he covered all of his bases very well. As in his themed rides, like Pirate Ship Skua or Jungle Land, the theme was definitely sort of defined for him. This was also the case with Pirate’s Cove—you obviously have to stick with a nautical theme in an attraction like this. Funny thing is, he had a knack for incorporating the unknown, inconceivable and fantastical atmospheres into a lot of his attractions, like the Shack. He realized, I guess, that he did not need to be concerned with sticking to a theme in these kinds of rides, just as long as you entertain the public. I feel as if though he was a bit at ease while working these contracts. Because of the nature of a ride like the Shack or the HH, you could incorporate anything you want, and it could be considered “Haunting”, because it is not the “norm”. In Wildwood’s Wacky Shack, he had more than one themed stunt that was out of the ordinary, like “Hell’s Kitchen”. Although it wasn’t as far out in left field as say, a swinging ape, it signifies an artist thinking outside the box. He could have just as easily put a gravestone in its place, but nevertheless, he decided to add a little bit of incomprehensible flavor into one of the best-known attractions in American amusement history. Tracy, being the artist that he was, could have gotten away with anything. As crazy as it sounds, a flock of penguins racing toward a dangling raw fish would have passed for a brilliant dark ride stunt from Tracy, and I think that folks really have no clue of his brilliant talent.
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Genres
Oct 25, 2007 17:26:17 GMT -5
Post by gary on Oct 25, 2007 17:26:17 GMT -5
I like that almost everything he did had some kind of underlying theme and wasn't just a token spook-house staple. No simple skeletons or monsters. They had to be doing something special. And it didn't stop at the figures --- most of the elborate scenes had their own backgrounds and there was panels made to dress the majority of the ride.
Today's suppliers include no backgrounds. Just stunts. Except maybe Sally Corp, but the work they do seems to be mostly two-dimensional. I think Tracy loved what he did and only charged enough to make it profitable. I bet if he was still around and pricing his work the way he used to, nobody else would be able to compete. Heck, back then, he really didn't have any competition. Well... none that could shine a light to him.
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Genres
Oct 26, 2007 1:58:44 GMT -5
Post by Robert on Oct 26, 2007 1:58:44 GMT -5
That is MY video! It was from a TV show. They showed the old carousel that burned Sept. 28, 1983 along with Bucket on the same day in the show. Good for you for finding it! I miss that ride! It was so...spooky. I love DP's haunted houses now that they open for HalloWeekends. About the Gold Mine, I remember the caves, bloody hand on wall, rope bridge, spinning tunnel, strobe light jail room.
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Genres
Oct 26, 2007 2:35:32 GMT -5
Post by Robert on Oct 26, 2007 2:35:32 GMT -5
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Genres
Oct 26, 2007 2:37:28 GMT -5
Post by Robert on Oct 26, 2007 2:37:28 GMT -5
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Genres
Oct 27, 2007 17:54:20 GMT -5
Post by plokoon111 on Oct 27, 2007 17:54:20 GMT -5
What does razed mean?
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Genres
Oct 27, 2007 19:16:59 GMT -5
Post by gary on Oct 27, 2007 19:16:59 GMT -5
a: leveled to the ground. demolished. kaput. gone.
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Genres
Oct 27, 2007 21:14:24 GMT -5
Post by Robert on Oct 27, 2007 21:14:24 GMT -5
Hey, respond to me plokoon! I asked you a question on RCT3 forums. Where did you get the curtains for the knit wit?
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Genres
Oct 28, 2007 10:14:26 GMT -5
Post by plokoon111 on Oct 28, 2007 10:14:26 GMT -5
It comes from shyguys mainstreet 4 set. And check out my bill tracy cs set 2.
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Genres
Oct 31, 2007 1:57:34 GMT -5
Post by Robert on Oct 31, 2007 1:57:34 GMT -5
Where was Bill's company/manufacturing facility? I heard it was somewhere in south Cape May County, NJ. Then, there was something in North Bergen. And Messmore and Damon. Jim Melonic took over the company I'm guessing 1974 or 1975 renamed it Fantasies and Dreams and closed it in 1979. Some of his projects included Bucket O' Blood at Dorney Park (Bill Tracy redid it as Pirate's Cove in 1962 and Jim did additional work in 1974-75 renaming it Bucket O' Blood which burned Sept. 28, 1983 when the Grande Carrousel burned) and Haunted Mansion at Rehoboth Beach. I can still remember the Gold Mine at Dorney Park under the arcade which closed around 1985 and remained sealed off and dormant (a porch deck was built over the entrance/exit) until the arcade building and gold mine was finally razed fall 2005. It was one of the oldest buildings in the park. Bill Tracy turned a storage room into the Gold Mine with caves, bloody hand on cave wall, suspension bridge, rotating tunnel, and strobe jail room. Bob Ott former park owner until May, 1985 knew Bill Tracy, but he passed away March 4. His wife, Sally Plarr Ott passed away Feb. 14. They were living in a retirement community the past few years behind Kmart near where I live not too far from the park. I met Bob twice for book signings a couple years ago. He was a nice man.
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Genres
Oct 31, 2007 2:00:50 GMT -5
Post by Robert on Oct 31, 2007 2:00:50 GMT -5
Oh, Bob Ott's son Bob who worked with his father and "retired" with him now lives in FL and Harris Weinstein, who married into the Plarr family ran Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom from 1985-1992 then sold to Cedar Fair from Sandusky, OH. also lives in FL and is retired.
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