California
Berkeley
Tilden Park
Tilden Park is
home to a 1911 Herschell-Spillman, 4-row, park model carousel with 36 jumpers, 6 standers, 17 menagerie animals including 1 cat,
1 deer, 1 dragon, 2 frogs, 2 giraffes, 1 goat, 1 pig, 2 roosters, 1 stork, 1
tiger, 2 zebras, 1 lion, and 1 dog. There are 3 chariots and 1 tub on
the carousel.
The
carousel was modified in 1950 when a 4th inner row was added and
populated with Alan Herschell aluminum horses. A rocking chariot, a spinning
tub and two half chariots with Alan Herschell kiddie horses are on the
platform.
The
carousel was originally placed in Urbita Springs Park
(a trolley park) in San Bernardino, California in 1911 and remained there until
1916
when it was moved to Ocean Beach Park in San Diego. From 1935 to 1937 the carousel was in
Griffith Park in Los Angeles. It has been at Tilden Park since 1950.
The carousel appeared in the 1939
Universal Studios film “So Ends Our Night”.
There
are 2 band organs: A Ruth & Sohn/BAB and a North Tonawanda
187/Wurlitzer.
For information on
opening times, access the web site at www.tildenparkmerrygoround.org/
or call them at 510-559-1004.
For further information
The National Carousel Association
http://carousels.org/USACensus/stdqueries/census-CLA.html
Wikipedia
The Tilden Park Merry-Go-Round
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tilden_Park_Merry-Go-Round
Youtube videoes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CyuD-IiXZ4M
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ffmcXxfbS80
L to R: Giraffe
with Spinning Tub, Spinning Tub, Rocking Chariot
Rounding Boards
Scenery Panels
Long
Beach
The Pike at Rainbow Harbor
The Pike is home to
a 1920 Spillman Engineering 3-row, portable carousel with 30 jumpers and 2 chariots (Mother Goose and Uncle Sam).
The carousel
was originally part of an East Coast traveling carnival. At some time (about
1945), it was permanently installed in the Whale’s Tale amusement park in New
Hampshire where it remained until 1984. It was moved to Independence Center
Mall in Independence, Missouri where it remained from 1990 to 1996. Santa Barbara
was home to the carousel from 1996 to 1999. After being in storage/restoration
for 6 years at the National Museum of Carousel Art in Mt. Hood, Oregon, the
carousel found a home at The Pike where it has remained since 2005.
There is no band organ.
Rides are $2.00.
For information, access the web site at www.thepikeatlongbeach.com or call them at 562-436-4066.
For further information 562-436-4066
The National Carousel Association
http://carousels.org/USACensus/stdqueries/census-CLA.html
Youtube video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0Q49xg_3B4
Rounding Boards
Scenery Panel
Los
Gatos
W.E. (Bill) Mason Carousel
Oak Meadow Park
This 1915 Savage
Roundabout is a 3-row, portable with 30 jumpers and 2 chariots. The carousel
was made in England and rotates clockwise. The carousel is mounted on a wagon
which can be seen in many of the photographs below.
The carousel has
been at Oak Meadow Park since 1980. The carousel was shipped to California for
the 1915 Panama-Pacific Exposition. Eventually (1930), the carousel became part
of Foley and Burk Shows where it remained until 1967. After 13 years in
storage, the carousel was moved to Oak Meadow Park.
When the carousel
was purchased in 1980, there were 29 horses, but there was a place for one
additional horse. A cast was made from one of the existing horses and a new
fiberglass horse was made.
The inside horses
were made by G & J Lines, a famous British rocking horse and doll house
manufacturer. The outside row figures are attributed to Gustave Bayol (1859-1931),
a famous French carver. The middle row figures were replaced by Foley and Burk
Shows with five C. W. Parker, two Dare, and two
Armitage-Herschel horses.
Gustave
Bayol and G & J Lines Logo
“Originally,
the machine was hung from the top of a tall steel center pole that had to be
hoisted upright by many men and an elephant. An 'A' frame type structure was
constructed first, then, through use of block & tackle, the center post was
hoisted on end. Four outriggers were attached to the post above mid-point,
extended outwardly at the bottom to keep the post vertical. Each of the
outriggers was attached to one of four spokes that extended horizontally from
the base of the center pole” (http://www.los-gatos.ca.us/los_gatos/parks_and_rec/billy_jones_
rr/cl_ hist.html).
“In 1937, the arrangement was converted to a hinged post mounted on a 1920 GMC
circus wagon, this, to eliminate the time and effort consumed in assembling the
carousel. The wagon which houses the motor and center pole, weighs about five
tons” (http://www.los-gatos.ca.
us/los_gatos/ parks_and_rec/billy_jones_rr/cl_ hist.html).
There is a band
organ.
For information, access the web site at www.bjwrr.org or call them at 408-395-RIDE.
For further information
The National Carousel Association
http://carousels.org/USACensus/stdqueries/census-CLA.html
Los Gatos: W.
E. Mason Carousel History
www.los-gatos.ca.us/los_gatos/parks_and_rec/billy_jones_rr/cl_hist.htm
Youtube videos:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=in0PshTFYoE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EwOJfsolJRc
Rounding Boards
Rounding Boards
Scenery Panels
San
Diego
Seaport Village
The beautiful
Seaport Village is home to an 1895, 3-row, park model Looff
carousel with 30 jumpers, 12 standers, 13 menagerie
animals including 1 bear, 3 camels, 1 dog, 1 dragon, 3 giraffes, 1 goat, 1
lion, 1 burro, 1 elephant and 2 chariots.
The
carousel was originally in Fair Park in Dallas. From 1958 to 1967 the carousel
was at Pacific Ocean Park in Santa Monica and then moved to Spanaway,
Washington where it remained until 1982. From 1984 to 1988 it was in Portland,
Oregon at the Willamette Center and then moved to the Lloyd Center in the same
city. In 1992, following a complete restoration a year earlier, the carousel
moved to AmeriFloria ’92 in Columbus, Ohio for one
year after which it moved to Media City Center in Burbank, California for a
stay from 1997 to 2004. It has been in its present location since 2004.
There
is no band organ.
Rides
are $3.00.
For information, access the web site at www.seaportvillage.com/attractions or call them at 619-839-9591.
For further information
The National Carousel Association
http://carousels.org/USACensus/stdqueries/census-CLA.html
Youtube videoes:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NP6cJ89Rjd4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUWFxOvkJgQ
Rounding
Boards
Scenery
Panels
Balboa Park
Balboa Park Carousel
Balboa Park is home to a beautiful 1910 Herschell-Spillman 3-row, two-level, park model carousel with 12 jumpers, 15 standers, 25 menagerie animals including 1 camel, 2 cats, 1 deer, 2 dogs, 1 dragon, 2 frogs, 2 giraffes, 1 goat, 1 lion, 2 mules, 2 ostriches, 2 pigs, 2 roosters, 1 stork, 1 tiger, and 2 zebras and 3 chariots.
The
carousel was originally at Luna Park in Los Angeles from 1910 to 1912. It has
been at various locations in Balboa Park since 1912. It has resided in its
present location at the entrance to the San Diego Zoo since 1968.
The
ring arm is operational, rides are $2.00, 5 minutes (timed with an egg timer)
and the carousel rotates at 13.5 miles/hour.
The
band organ is a 1912 North Tonawanda 187.
For information, access the park’s web site www.balboaparkcarousel.org or call 619-239-0512.
For further information
The National Carousel Association
http://carousels.org/USACensus/stdqueries/census-CLA.html
Youtube videoes:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-nJHUiW2hs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xsHJ9QahoX0
Chariots
Rocking
Chariot
Kiddie
Horse
Rounding
Boards
Scenery
Panels
San
Francisco
Children’s
Creativity Museum
LeRoy King
Carousel
The LeRoy King
Carousel, named for former San Francisco Redevelopment Commissioner LeRoy King,
is a beautifully maintained and restored 1906, 4-row, Looff,
park carousel. The platform contains 44 jumpers, 6
standers, 12 menagerie animals including 4 camels, 4 giraffes and 4 rams, and 4
chariots. The chariots are rare in that they are long and can seat
several riders.
The carousel was
scheduled to be delivered to San Francisco in 1906, but the earthquake
prevented delivery. Instead, the carousel was sent to Luna Park in Seattle. The
carousel has been at its current location, the Children’s Creativity Museum,
since 1988 having previously been at Luna Park in
Seattle from 1907 to 1914 where it was the only attraction to survive the 1911
fire, Playland-at-the-Beach in San Francisco from 1914 to 1972, in
restoration and storage in Roswell, New Mexico from 1972 to 1984, and at
Shoreline Village in Long Beach, California from 1984 to 1998. The carousel
moved to its current location in 1998.
The carousel was
fully restored in 2014.
There is no band organ.
Rides are $4.00 ($3.00 if you purchased a
ticket to the museum).
The Children’s
Creativity Museum is located on the corner of 4th and Howard. The
carousel can be seen without entering the museum. The museum is open 365
days/year from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
For information, access the museum’s web
site www.creativity.org.
For further information
The National Carousel Association
http://carousels.org/USACensus/stdqueries/census-CLA.html
Youtube video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tm-rW7mBcNw
San Francisco Zoo
Eugene Friend Carousel
The Eugene Friend
Carousel, named after the philanthropist, at the San Francisco Zoo is a
beautifully restored (in 2000) and maintained, circa 1921, 3-row William Dentzel/Marcus Illions with 24 jumpers, 12 standers, 16 menagerie animals including 4
cats, 1 deer, 1 giraffe, 1 lion, 2 ostriches, 2 pigs, 4 rabbits, and 1 tiger,
and 2 chariots. The Illions figures were
previously at Glen Echo Park, Maryland.
The carousel has
been in its current location since 1925 when the zoo was known as Child’s Park.
The original location of the carousel is unknown, but it is known that it was
at Pacific City Amusement Park, Redwood City,
California until1925.
There is no band organ.
Rides are $4.00.
The operator of carousel was very
enthusiastic and informative. We thank him for allowing us to access the
platform just as the carousel was opening for the day.
For information about opening times, access the zoo’s web site at www.sfzoo.org and/or call the zoo at 415-753-7080.
For further information
The National Carousel Association
http://carousels.org/USACensus/stdqueries/census-CLA.html
Youtube video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6jiY7xkxo4
Inside
Panels/Mirrors
Rounding Boards
Golden Gate Park
The 1914 Herschell-Spillman
carousel at Golden Gate Park is a 4-row park model consisting of 28 jumpers, 10 standers, 24 menagerie animals including1
tiger, 1 lion, 1 giraffe, 1 stork, 1 deer, 1 goat, 1 camel, 1 dragon, 2 frogs,
2 cats, 2 zebras, 2 dogs, 2 roosters, 2 mules, 2 ostriches and 2 pigs. The
platform has 2 chariots and 2 tubs.
The
carousel was originally at Lincoln Park in Los Angeles from1914 to 1931. In 1931, it was
moved to Lotus Isle in Portland, Oregon where it remained until 1933. From 1939
to 1940 the carousel was at the World’s Fair in San Francisco after which it
moved to its current location in Golden Gate Park. The carousel was closed from
1977 to 1984 as it underwent a complete restoration.
The carousel was
originally steam driven, but it was eventually electrified.
The
band organ is a keyless Gebrueder-Bruder #107-52.
Rides
are $2.00.
For
information on opening times, access their web site at www.golden-gate-park.com/childrens-playground.html
and/or call the park at 415-831-5500.
For further information
The National Carousel Association
http://carousels.org/USACensus/stdqueries/census-CLA.html
Golden Gate Park Carousel (Merry Go Round)
https://goldengatepark.com/golden-gate-park-carousel.html
Youtube videoes:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2z3fjGv1JC4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MNgLlSo48fw
Rotating Tub
Rocking
Tub
Rounding Boards
Scenery Panels
Santa
Cruz
Beach Boardwalk
The 1911, 4-row,
park model Looff carousel on the Santa Cruz Boardwalk
is a beautifully restored and maintained carousel with 71 jumpers, 2 standers
and 2 Roman style chariots. “Several of the Boardwalk’s carousel horses display
their teeth in open smiles; others are more serious, with a gentle demeanor and
closed mouths”
(https://news.beachboardwalk.com/press-kit/looff-carousel-generations).
The
carousel is in its original location. In 1978, some of the original horses were
replaced with Looff horses from Myrtle Beach, South
Carolina, and Belmont Park in San Diego. The carousel was fully restored in
1980 at which time horses from Sans Souci Park in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania
and Belmont Park, San Diego were mounted on the platform.
The ring arm is operational.
There are 3 band organs on site: an 1894 Ruth und Sohn (original to the carousel), a Wurlitzer 165,
and a Wurlitzer 146-A.
The carousel has been seen in several
films and commercials.
In 1987, the carousel was declared a
National Historic Landmark by the U. S. Park Service.
Rides are $5.00.
For information on opening times, access
their web site at www.beachboardwalk.com
or call 831-423-5590.
For further information
The National Carousel Association
http://carousels.org/USACensus/stdqueries/census-CLA.html
1911 Looff Carousel Circles the Generations
https://news.beachboardwalk.com/press-kit/looff-carousel-generations
Youtube Video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4V4IjeZt0A
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IsvO-mcF6sw
Inside Scenery
Panels/Mirrors
Rounding Boards
Santa
Monica
Santa Monica Pier
The carousel at
the Santa Monica Pier is a 1922, 3-row, park model Philadelphia Toboggan
Company (#62). There are 28 jumpers, 16 standers and
2 chariots on the platform.
The carousel was originally at
Cumberland Park in Nashville from 1922 to about 1941 after which is was
probably in storage until 1942 when it moved to Venice Beach Pier, Venice,
California and stayed there until it moved to its present location in 1947.
The carousel is housed in the Hippodrome,
and the pier on which it sits was designed and built in 1916 by Looff to house a carousel. The original Looff
carousel was sold in 1939 and replaced in 1947 with the current Philadelphia
Toboggan Company (#62).
The Hippodrome at
the Santa Monica Pier
Photo by Richard
Wang.
The carousel was restored
from 1977 to 1981. It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1987. The
Hippodrome is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The band organ is a 1922 Wurlitzer 146-A.
For information on
opening times access their web site at www.santamonicapier.org/fun/
and/or call 310-394-8042.
For further information
The National Carousel Association
http://carousels.org/USACensus/stdqueries/census-CLA.html
Santa Monica Pier Hippodrome
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Monica_Looff_Hippodrome
This carousel
often has menagerie animals on the platform temporarily. The above are
examples.
Rounding Boards