Cedar Point 1960

Another cool video! Thanks for sharing Walt. It's cool to be able to see a time that I didn't experience.

Super cool footage, as I was born in 1961. Two things, at the 1 minute mark I wonder if that building is present day Town Hall Museum, it sort of resembles it. And we need more of those circular swing things from the beach footage so kids can get crazy dizzy and go flying off!

Town hall wasn't built till Frontier Town was in 1967 so no that's not it.

That looks like the dorms that used to be located near the train building.

"we need more of those circular swing things from the beach footage so kids can get crazy dizzy and go flying off!" I don't think so, imagine the required safety restraints of todays' standards.

Looks like the ride op is sitting inside the barrier on scrambler as the ride is operating.

And "barrier" is a strong word.

I didn't see anything safe in that video. At least how it compares to 2020 standards. It probably worked out well in 1960.

Ha! The funny thing is that the amusement parks of the 50’s were definitely considered “casual”, and maybe “honky tonk” is a better word. There were “nice” parks, but it was nothing to see ride attendants loafing, smoking on the job, and wearing whatever. Grounds were kept differently, theming as we know it hadn’t quite been invented, and customers somehow knew how to respect boundaries around rides, and queue up across the midway.

Cedar Point remains a shining example of one of the earliest regionals that took the concept of a “nice” place to the next level, and places like Six Flags were still a twinkle in someone’s eye. When we arrived at the CP of the early 60’s, oh my gosh, it sure was slick and beautiful. Rides were sparkling, college students were at the helm, there was no fear of racial strife, and there were rules. Looking back it may seem crude to us now, but it was actually as close to Disneyland as any of us could find without getting on a train or in the car to head west.
I love to see old home movies like this. My dad had a ton of them, and they were unfortunately cast away.

I wish it was better quality, but I guess I should be happy that I can scan 60-year old film without it falling apart.