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Vidbel Circus Coming to Coney Island in One-Year Deal

Posted in circus, tagged Central Amusement International, Coney Island, Coney Island 2011, Vidbel Circus, Zamperla on June 3, 2011| 1 Comment »

Since Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey Circus bowed out of Coney Island after two seasons, ATZ has been hearing that efforts were underway to bring another circus to Coney this summer. Names of a few circuses were mentioned, but didn’t pan out. This morning, the following press release from Robert W Connor Marketing landed in our inbox. Though we don’t usually post press releases, this is very good news for Coney Island’s amusement area and we’re happy to share it with our readers…

Bob Connor announced today that he has booked the Vidbel Circus into Coney Island this summer from July 4 thru Labor Day. This will be the first summer of ~~a multi year deal~~. So the people of New York City will have a circus at Coney Island this summer and many years to come. The circus will be centrally located in Coney Island–Connor says–“If you walk out the front door of the subway station at Coney Island–cross Surf Ave. heading straight for the boardwalk and the beach–~~Nathans will be on your right and just past that will be the circus.~~ It is a perfect location.”

We’ll update this post as more details become available..

Update, June 3rd, 11:30 am…

The location mentioned in the booking agent’s press release, which is Thor-owned land currently occupied by the BK Festival, is incorrect. The circus is actually coming to City-owned Parcel C, the empty lot across from the Scream Zone (Parcel B). It is also not a multi-year deal, as claimed in the release. ATZ has confirmed with Valerio Ferrari, CEO of Zamperla’s Central Amusement International, the operators of Luna Park and Scream Zone, that they are bringing in the circus for a one-year deal. Also, Ferrari says the deal is not signed yet.

Update, July 10…

Photo Album: Vidbel Old Tyme Circus Opens in Coney Island
Shows are Tuesday through Fri, 6 & 8pm; Saturday, 4, 6 & 8pm; and Sun, 3 & 6pm. Tickets are available one hour before showtime and cost $10. At the show we attended, children 5 and under were admitted free of charge.

Update, July 17…

Catch the show this weekend! The circus will be here only through Sunday, July 17th and then will be hitting the road again. Discounted tickets are now available online
http://coneyisland.eventbrite.com/

Credit: Coney Island Development Corporation

Coney Island 2011: Videos of New Scream Zone Rides

Posted in Amusement ride, video, tagged Central Amusement International, Jim McDonnell, roller coaster, Scream Zone, Sling Shot, Steeplechase Ride, Turbo Force, Zamperla on May 2, 2011| 1 Comment »

Photographer and amusement park aficionado Jim McDonnell has uploaded two new videos of Scream Zone rides to his YouTube channel. Jim was the grand prize winner of last year’s Luna Park film contest and his videos feature an inspired pairing of edited images with music. Jim’s latest shows Zamperla’s Turbo Force, which has been christened the “Zenobio” in Coney Island. The 100-foot-tall thrill ride sweeps passengers through the air at speeds of over 60 mph.

As you can see in Jim’s vid, it’s also a thrill to stand and watch the Turbo Force in action. When I worked with Wade Shows, this spectacular was often set up near the entrance to the carnival midway. The first time that I happened to pass by the ride in action, I experienced the optical illusion that the whirling arm hurtling in my direction was coming directly at me. Pretty soon I was lingering by the fence to experience the vicarious thrill of this scream machine.

Jim’s short vid of the Steeplechase Cavalry coaster aka the Motocoaster is the first showing the ride in action in Coney Island. The Zamperla coaster pays homage to Steeplechase Park’s signature horse race ride that made a circuit around the park until it closed in 1964 (“Steeplechase Express: Will Zamperla MotoCoaster Pony Up for Coney Island?,” ATZ, February 15, 2010). It’s one of two new Zamperla coasters in Coney Island’s Scream Zone. When a video of the second –the Soarin’ Eagle aka Zamperla’s Volare– is available, we’ll post a link to it here.

This vid of the Sling Shot is one of several already uploaded to YouTube by Scream Zone visitors. We expect to see many more– the Sling Shot is as much of a show as a ride. On the vid’s soundtrack, you can hear the exclamations and screams of the crowd. In a few weeks, a video camera will be mounted on the capsule and patrons will be able to purchase a video recording of their ride complete with close-ups shots of their faces. This on-ride video of the Sling Shot is part of Luna Park’s Channel of Coney Island ride videos.

Coney Island Scream Zone’s Official Opening Set for Today

Posted in amusement park, Amusement ride, Photography, tagged Bruce Handy, Coney Island, MotoCoaster, Scream Zone, Steeplechase coaster, Zamperla on April 20, 2011| Leave a Comment »

Zamperla's Steeplechase Motocoaster Under Construction in Scream Zone. April 19, 2011. Photo © Bruce Handy/Coney Island Photo Diary via flickr

On Wednesday at 1 pm, Mayor Bloomberg and other electeds, officials and guests will celebrate the “Grand Opening” of Scream Zone. The new thrill park in Coney Island will open to the public on ~~Thursday~~ at 12 noon. (UPDATE…. On Thursday, Luna Park’s Facebook page said “Scream Zone will open to the public this weekend. We appreciate your patience and enthusiasm as we work on the finishing touches.” Coney Island Fun Guide updated the event page for Saturday, April 23rd. As of April 30, all of Coney Island’s 64 rides, including Scream Zone, Luna Park, Deno’s Wonder Wheel Park and the Cyclone are open Saturdays and Sundays through end of May, when the summer schedule begins.)

Which one of the park’s four rides do you suppose will appear in the photo op? We wouldn’t be surprised to see the Mayor and officials sit astride the “Steeplechase coaster” horses still under wraps in the above photo. Zamperla’s Steeplechase MotoCoaster takes its name from Coney Island’s signature horse race ride that made a circuit around Steeplechase Park. But it does differ quite a bit in design. Most notably, the horses are part of a single train instead of racing against each other on multiple tracks. Another big difference: The ride’s seating design and restraint system are new and improved to comply with current-day safety standards.

At last year’s opening of Luna Park, official “Lunatics” took a group picture on the Electro Spin, though they did not actually go for a spin. We don’t expect them to go for a ride on the coaster, which is still getting finishing touches. But perhaps one of their assistants will be daring enough to try the Sling Shot, which has already been tested and is ready to ride?

Here’s a look at Zamperla’s Pony Express-themed MotoCoaster at Knott’s Berry Farm courtesy of Ryan Childers via YouTube…

UPDATE 8pm…As it turns out the Sling Shot provided the photo op. Mayor Bloomberg and Brooklyn Borough Prez Marty Markowitz pulled the switch to launch a couple of daring 12-year-old kids into the air. Here’s the video!