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 4^th 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

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 4^th 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