I have fuzzy memories of OC, about as fuzzy as your film, as I went there from age 6-8. I do vividly remember there was a huge stuffed animal - a shark that hung from the ceiling of the park, I wanted to take home with me, although it was too large to fit in my room. The circus was incredible, with the roller-coaster whizzing close by with its screaming riders. Loved the log ride, kids play area, and magic shop. Too bad its gone. As cool as OC was then, think how much better it would be today.
My fondest memory of OC in 8th grade (1978) was being stoned on a class trip, buying under water wick from a hobby shop in there,to complete a pipe bomb I was making, that went off while closing it up, blowing my left pinkie almost off,shrapnel in my face & making a splash with the police and neighbors being new to the NW burbs from Buffalo NY. sigh ..
I worked there as a "sweeper" in the amusement park. I saw Michael Landon, Vincent Price, local weatherman John Coleman. We used to go the the Beer Garden where part of the movie "The Fury" was filmed. A couple got married on the roller coaster. A trapeze artist had a fatal accident. The "Small World" ride played a Carpenter's song (can't believe I can't remember it now).
old chitown was ok i remember the magic shop there and the funhouse type ride. but what reallly stands out was when they filmed the movie- the fury 1978imdb- there great scene where two arabs are on the flying bobs when the wing nut detaches and they go sailing into the wall then blow up! old chi was ok but took a backseat to kiddieland!
when i was a kid we went to old Chicago with my grandma who was visiting from Pennsylvania. she had her purse stolen from a bathroom stall from a inner city girl that was on a field trip. she was busted getting back on the school bus with the purse! sorry shenaynay! needless to say granny was scared. we just told her that old Chicago is just like the new Chicago!
Thank you so much for sharing this. It brings back memories of growing up in Chicago. It was such a treat when our mom took us there. "Old Chicago is a good times place."
A friend of mine had a job as one of the "monsters" in the haunted house. He was in costume, but it still hurt his dignity to have to do what they said to do to scare the patrons. He wanted to be classier than that.
Speaking of class, when they first built Old Chicago, they wanted to buy the 2 lions from the front of the Art Institute. I'm glad the Art Institute didn't sell.
I remember when it first opened I got to meet Vincent Price there - he was signing autographs at the entrance to the haunted house. - very cool. If I remember correctly, the haunted house ride had a recording of Vincent Price saying spooky stuff as you went through the ride. This was pre-"Thriller". Also, the park was surrounded on the outside by a shopping mall which had the very first Wendy's in the Chicago area. It also had the first corkscrew type rollercoaster in the area.
Wow! I'm 37 and I vaguely remember going to this place when I was in 1st grade. The roller coaster scared me. And I was really nervous because of all the noise. I think I remember that log ride too ... and my dad holding me really tight when we rode it. I remember Kiddie Land more fondly. Old Chicago was just too much for a young tot like me! LOL!
Well, as they say, unless you kill a guy now and then, you're not putting on enough of show. I'm 40 and remember the place well. A great idea having an indoor park in Chicagoland where the weather SUCKS for 8 months out of the year but I guess it failed anyhow. That log ride looked a lot bigger when I was a kid though. They used to sell colossal bongs out in the open in a few of the shops too. Try that noise today. And it just kind of smelled weird, but in a good way. I recall the smell.
the hole theme was to make it seem like the old days. the old cars brick roads etc... I loved it but it had a strange vibe. I want to say there were 3 people that died there I remember one died on the tight wire and one on the round up. anyone remember the women on the dome dancing on opening day? or celebrating the fourth of July 1976 everyone had those glow in the dark necklace's that you would put in the freezer and would work the next day mine was green funny how you remember thing like that
@fuzzybunny1972 Yeah ill be 37 this month and i remember when me and my family used to go there, I think they were talking about someone dying on the Round Up ride...But How did he die?? Do you know?? Was he thrown off into a wall or something..Because if so...that would break every bone in his body I would think..I remember it being kind of dark in there, maybe it was night when we went..It looks alittle bighter here on youtube..this is like Back to the Future for real!!!(in a way)
hi Fido, I was not "worst memories" it was "wow" memories. (i was only 15,16 years old when it was around.... but it seemed "dated" even when it was new. (wow, memories) =)
Nice post!!!Sometimes i wish Old Chicago was still there so i could take my kids there.But seeing how Bolingbrook and Romeoville have changed it would just be a haven for gangbangers.I do remember a guy falling off of the high wire act and dying though.
I went here for my birthday the same month and year this footage was filmed. We went for the novelty, an indoor amusement park., but honestly I hated it. The noise level inside was almost unbearable; The rides they had were either too extreme or too kiddy, nothing in between.
Thank u for posting this!!!!
GREAT MEMORIES!
InDarkSolitude 1 month ago
I have fuzzy memories of OC, about as fuzzy as your film, as I went there from age 6-8. I do vividly remember there was a huge stuffed animal - a shark that hung from the ceiling of the park, I wanted to take home with me, although it was too large to fit in my room. The circus was incredible, with the roller-coaster whizzing close by with its screaming riders. Loved the log ride, kids play area, and magic shop. Too bad its gone. As cool as OC was then, think how much better it would be today.
NoelArtMedia 2 months ago
My fondest memory of OC in 8th grade (1978) was being stoned on a class trip, buying under water wick from a hobby shop in there,to complete a pipe bomb I was making, that went off while closing it up, blowing my left pinkie almost off,shrapnel in my face & making a splash with the police and neighbors being new to the NW burbs from Buffalo NY. sigh ..
tjfreak 3 months ago
Great video. Except Bolingbrook is spelled with one L
Michelle062970 4 months ago
love that rollercoaster! i remember watching rex smith and willie ames there on stage!
MegaEvalee 7 months ago
I used to ride that Chicago Loop coaster over and over and over again.. too bad they went bankrupt.
lisakaylanemorris 7 months ago 2
Love this place as a Kid! the four seasons was my favorite!
ByHisStrypes 11 months ago
I worked there as a "sweeper" in the amusement park. I saw Michael Landon, Vincent Price, local weatherman John Coleman. We used to go the the Beer Garden where part of the movie "The Fury" was filmed. A couple got married on the roller coaster. A trapeze artist had a fatal accident. The "Small World" ride played a Carpenter's song (can't believe I can't remember it now).
itsmegain 1 year ago
Sadly, the four seasons ride was the only I wasn't scared of at that time...
cmh132 1 year ago
old chitown was ok i remember the magic shop there and the funhouse type ride. but what reallly stands out was when they filmed the movie- the fury 1978imdb- there great scene where two arabs are on the flying bobs when the wing nut detaches and they go sailing into the wall then blow up! old chi was ok but took a backseat to kiddieland!
darollinstones69 1 year ago
when i was a kid we went to old Chicago with my grandma who was visiting from Pennsylvania. she had her purse stolen from a bathroom stall from a inner city girl that was on a field trip. she was busted getting back on the school bus with the purse! sorry shenaynay! needless to say granny was scared. we just told her that old Chicago is just like the new Chicago!
darollinstones69 1 year ago
pop
darollinstones69 1 year ago
Thank you so much for sharing this. It brings back memories of growing up in Chicago. It was such a treat when our mom took us there. "Old Chicago is a good times place."
SFGal9 1 year ago 2
I wasn't born yet when this amusement park was around. Is the building still there??
EiEiOzles 1 year ago
@EiEiOzles it was torn down and is now an auto auction
NEWSonLULZ 1 year ago
i remember the 4 seasons ride.lot of memries thanks for sharing.
musicman257 1 year ago
A friend of mine had a job as one of the "monsters" in the haunted house. He was in costume, but it still hurt his dignity to have to do what they said to do to scare the patrons. He wanted to be classier than that.
Speaking of class, when they first built Old Chicago, they wanted to buy the 2 lions from the front of the Art Institute. I'm glad the Art Institute didn't sell.
BlueIslandGirl 1 year ago
@BlueIslandGirl The lions?!?!? That's sacrilege!
TheWitchOvAgnesi 1 year ago
I remember when it first opened I got to meet Vincent Price there - he was signing autographs at the entrance to the haunted house. - very cool. If I remember correctly, the haunted house ride had a recording of Vincent Price saying spooky stuff as you went through the ride. This was pre-"Thriller". Also, the park was surrounded on the outside by a shopping mall which had the very first Wendy's in the Chicago area. It also had the first corkscrew type rollercoaster in the area.
devtrev 1 year ago
Comment removed
caleb103106 1 year ago
Wow! I'm 37 and I vaguely remember going to this place when I was in 1st grade. The roller coaster scared me. And I was really nervous because of all the noise. I think I remember that log ride too ... and my dad holding me really tight when we rode it. I remember Kiddie Land more fondly. Old Chicago was just too much for a young tot like me! LOL!
abydos2002 1 year ago
The first time I seen The RAMONES was at Old Chicago. One of the best times of my life.
666billyboy 1 year ago
Yeah well I miss being able to come three times a day.
Teledebrukman 1 year ago
Well, as they say, unless you kill a guy now and then, you're not putting on enough of show. I'm 40 and remember the place well. A great idea having an indoor park in Chicagoland where the weather SUCKS for 8 months out of the year but I guess it failed anyhow. That log ride looked a lot bigger when I was a kid though. They used to sell colossal bongs out in the open in a few of the shops too. Try that noise today. And it just kind of smelled weird, but in a good way. I recall the smell.
Teledebrukman 1 year ago
today is my 39th birthday and I'm watching these videos missing my childhood. where did the years go? LOL
fuzzybunny1972 2 years ago
the hole theme was to make it seem like the old days. the old cars brick roads etc... I loved it but it had a strange vibe. I want to say there were 3 people that died there I remember one died on the tight wire and one on the round up. anyone remember the women on the dome dancing on opening day? or celebrating the fourth of July 1976 everyone had those glow in the dark necklace's that you would put in the freezer and would work the next day mine was green funny how you remember thing like that
fuzzybunny1972 2 years ago
@fuzzybunny1972 Yeah ill be 37 this month and i remember when me and my family used to go there, I think they were talking about someone dying on the Round Up ride...But How did he die?? Do you know?? Was he thrown off into a wall or something..Because if so...that would break every bone in his body I would think..I remember it being kind of dark in there, maybe it was night when we went..It looks alittle bighter here on youtube..this is like Back to the Future for real!!!(in a way)
cowbells4u 7 months ago
hi Fido, I was not "worst memories" it was "wow" memories. (i was only 15,16 years old when it was around.... but it seemed "dated" even when it was new. (wow, memories) =)
shamrockviolet 2 years ago
Nice post!!!Sometimes i wish Old Chicago was still there so i could take my kids there.But seeing how Bolingbrook and Romeoville have changed it would just be a haven for gangbangers.I do remember a guy falling off of the high wire act and dying though.
ChitownStever1 2 years ago
I saw Black Oak Arkansas there! Loved the movie "the Fury" but i never liked Old Chicago. wow memories.
shamrockviolet 2 years ago
thanks for the memories
BillyBughead 2 years ago
I went here for my birthday the same month and year this footage was filmed. We went for the novelty, an indoor amusement park., but honestly I hated it. The noise level inside was almost unbearable; The rides they had were either too extreme or too kiddy, nothing in between.
VIEWTUBE00000 2 years ago
I used to go there alot. I lost the newspaper article I had when a man died on the round-up.
vnvnation20006 2 years ago
Nice 8mm of this extinct experiment-I used to drive by there on I-55 my way to college-they also filmed a great scene there in "The Fury" lol
GOPSpinMachineInOD 2 years ago
I saw Nick Gilder there! LOL!
Grantalonus 3 years ago
the haunted house was amazing. riding in coffins.
pezez 3 years ago
the old carousel is at Six Flags over Ga.
cobra03x 3 years ago
Wasn't it the Riverview carousel that went to SF in Ga?
smctopia 2 years ago
I remember going here in the 70's with my family. Wow, Bolingbrook seems a long way from Westmont then.
thepowerhouse4u 3 years ago
wow pretty cool
MyThrillKillKult 3 years ago