Hello, yesterday my good friend Tom Iannucci and I paid a visit
to Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, New Jersey, to visit both
of their carousels.
The first of the two carousels is the antique Patrina Williams
carousel. It was designed and built by Frederick Savage in 1881.
Its original owner, Jimmy Williams, had named it after his daughter,
Patrina Williams, as well as his traveling circus "Patrina Williams
Traveling Circus" which toured Europe and England.
As it is an old English carousel, it spins clockwise instead of
Counter-clockwise. This carousel also used to have a European band
organ, too, which used to accompany its music. It only lasted for
five seasons at Six Flags Great Adventure before being removed.
This carousel was purchased by Six Flags from the Jimmy Williams
Traveling Show Company in England as their Great Adventure location
was being built. Nowadays, this carousel plays recordings of
Wurlitzer 146-A music and as for the looks of the carousel itself,
the ride needs better restoration.
The second of the two carousels is the more modern Allan Herschell
kiddie carousel, now called the Bugs Bunny Camp Carousel. It opened
at Six Flags Great Adventure in 1979 as the Kiddie Karousel from
1979-1983 and has undergone many changes throughout the years.
Then it was Kip's Kiddie Karousel in 1984, then Tweety Carousel
from 1985-1987 as Six Flags acquired the rights to the Looney Tunes
character names in 1985. Then Tweety Roundup from 1988-2005. Then
the current name Bugs Bunny Camp Carousel from 2006-present.
One thing about this carousel is that, due to its size, no adults
are permitted to ride the horses on the ride. They must either be
standing with their children or riding the chariot. The music that
currently plays for this carousel is recorded Wurlitzer 146-A music
just like the Patrina Williams Carousel.
Here are links to the history of the Patrina Williams Carousel
and a current video of it which I did not record:
https://www.greatadventurehistory.com/Carousel.htm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QhahZW0_ye0
Here are links to the history of the Bugs Bunny Camp Carousel
and a current video of it which I did not record:
https://www.greatadventurehistory.com/KiddieKarousel.htm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=60CW1JUY2R8
[ Patrina Williams Carousel
[ https://www.mmdigest.com/Attachments/25/08/28/250828_111614_thumbnail-13.jpg
[ Patrina Williams
[ https://www.mmdigest.com/Attachments/25/08/28/250828_111614_thumbnail-14.jpg
[ Patrina Williams Carousel History
[ https://www.mmdigest.com/Attachments/25/08/28/250828_111614_thumbnail-15.jpg
[ Bugs Bunny Camp Carousel
[ https://www.mmdigest.com/Attachments/25/08/28/250828_111614_thumbnail-16.jpg
Cassidy Juraniec
New Jersey
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