I have learned something

that_guy · Post by **that_guy** » Sat Oct 01, 2005 9:37 am

Ever since I started looking at this sight I have said to my self "I wish I could see how it felt to actually go to the park, see it in motion." And now every time I go anywhere that I greatly enjoy on vacation I video tape it, Does anyone here feel the same? And that big question which I do not expect to be answered with a yes: Does anyone have ANY video of the Marriott's Great America parks in operation? ANYTHING, share it

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Post by **steven** » Sat Oct 01, 2005 10:40 pm

I appreciate your desire to see old footage of Marriott's GREAT AMERICA. Video is a bit tougher to share online because of the large file sizes.

Here is a commercial that does a good job of capturing the spirit of Marriott's GREAT AMERICA:

http://www.greatamericaparks.com/mga78001a.mpg
(Please right click and save!)

I took this file off of the home page and renamed it to help keep the site's bandwidth under control. The downloads of video files consume a lot of my monthly bandwidth allocation.

Let me know your comments on this commercial. I second the motion encouraging others to share video of MGA. Thanks.

Steven

jonrev · Post by **jonrev** » Sun Oct 02, 2005 9:06 am

I love that commercial. Was that the Gurnee park or the Santa Clara park in the commercial?

that_guy · Post by **that_guy** » Sun Oct 02, 2005 11:59 am

I was wondering where that commercial went, Thanks

redfishpaw · Post by **redfishpaw** » Mon Oct 03, 2005 7:33 am

Cool video, I noticed that the Lobster was the one in SC, not Gurnee. Also, It was nice to see the sky whirl running again. Thanks Steven

brdwyguy · Post by **brdwyguy** » Mon Oct 03, 2005 8:00 am

jonrev-----
that commercial was filmed in Santa Clara
definately the show clips - so i assume the exterior stuff is as well

that was filmed the summer of 77
the show clips are from Broadway '77

btw - that is me in the middle in the last shot!

its great to see the old stuff again

thanks again Steve

Joey (brodwyguy)

BrianPlencner · Post by **BrianPlencner** » Mon Oct 03, 2005 10:17 am

redfishpaw wrote:Cool video, I noticed that the Lobster was the one in SC, not Gurnee. Also, It was nice to see the shy whirl running again. Thanks Steven

I never noticed that before. But, looking at the video again, I see that it is the SC version, and not the one from Gurnee.

But, I believe Gurnee was the only park to have a circus? There are a few places that I believe were taken in Gurnee. About 5 secs into it, there is a shot of a bunch of women on unicycles, at 8 seconds, there is the guy landing in a chair on a pole, and the clown near the end.

brdwyguy wrote:btw - that is me in the middle in the last shot!

You mean the guy above the A in America? That's awsome!

Tanya · Post by **Tanya** » Mon Oct 03, 2005 1:44 pm

Santa Clara had a circus as well.

jonrev · Post by **jonrev** » Mon Oct 03, 2005 1:45 pm

Wasn't the Gurnee circus located where AE's tent is now?

Post by **steven** » Mon Oct 03, 2005 3:34 pm

Yes. And the Santa Clara circus was in the same location of the park -- just across from the Games Gallery and Ameri-Go-Round (now gone).

Steven

that_guy · Post by **that_guy** » Mon Oct 03, 2005 5:58 pm

Tee hee I found it kind of amusing that you see the SC Car #33 on the Barney Oldfield Speedway with the 76 blotched out. Also I noticed the Warner Brothers date of 1978 at the part with the looney toons characters. Also, you can see a wooden pole from the Yukon Territory at this time when you are on the sky ride.