I love carousels and this one is simply gorgeous! My heart still races whenever I see one and even at 62, I still love to ride them also. The horses are so beautiful and magical as they prance up and down. I have many fond memories of rides I've taken both when I was young until now!
The bells and flutes on the organ don't work anymore for some stupid reason i'm sure, but i'm just sad that i can't hear the sound of the beautiful bells anymore :(
Thank you for sharing this video. I am now living in California (a native Pittsburgher), and when I get homesick, I watch the Kennywood videos. This place brings back so many happy memories. I truly love this park. When I get a chance to visit my old hometown, I always make time to spend a day at Kennywood. There is nothing like the carousel, the thunderbolt, and the jackrabbit. Ohh, and of course, the cheese fries!!!!
The first time i went to kennywood in 1998, the carousel was the first ride i rode, the first carousel ride of my life, and i remember clearly, everything about that day. The band organ was playing "yankee doodle" and it was the most beautiful music i had ever heard. i love kennywood so damn much and i just wish i could go more often!
kennywood's Wurlitzer 153 is the best sounding IMO. The cymbal sounds almosst like a crash cymbal (like the larger cymbal on a 165), the organ itself is very fine-tuned, and the glockenspiel sounds great too!
Going to Kennywood for my birthday! Tradition dictates that we ride the Exterminator first but you can bet I'll practically be running to the carousel afterwords.
@Wurlitzer157 I look forward to seeing/hearing it! I'm getting very impatient waiting for summer to arrive! I haven't been to kennywood since October for PFN, and i haven't heard the band organ play since August!
I recently moved to this area, and got season passes to this park. One of the first things I noticed was this carousel. When I saw how the music was being produced, I almost died. As a musician, I thought this was one of the coolest things I have ever seen. It sure makes Midi look like a computer joke.
I always make my girlfriend ride this with me, though I think she gets embarrassed. She thinks it's a kiddie ride or something. It's NOT, it's amazing! What a work of art!
I love this ride. It's always a lot of fun, and it seems that it's never a complete trip to kennywood without riding it at least once. It's especially fun if you get a few people to start clapping along to the music, all the kids and parents join in, and it's a great ride!
This carousel is the grandlady of kennywood park, I seen on pbs were its the only one of its kind still in operation in the entire world, I don,t know who made it but i can see were it was made to take lickin and still keep on tickin, best ride in that park in my opinion.
There is a "sister" of this magnificent machine which stood in Rocky Springs Park Lancaster, PA until 1985(?) at which point it was leased to Dollywood. It operated there for several years & was removed for reasons unknown, but was refurbished. As I understand, it remains in storage somewhere near Lancaster, PA waiting for a suitable location.
I just saw a PBS show on old amusement parks on YouTube, and I saw him. I was the carousel man at the park in Fresno CA. where I used to live and work. It was/is an Arrow Development portable machine from 1954/55. I paid for a sound system for it. It was the next best thing to having a real live band organ play on it.
That is a gem there. I was there back in 1992 on a trip. I do remember a man who ran the carousel, an older gentleman. He was so nice, and he showed me the inside of the ride, the motor, gears and such. With pride he said everything is origonal (at that time).
His name is Tony Sacramento, a.k.a. Mr. Kennywood. Mr. Kennywood passed away in December, 1998. I have video footage of his funeral procession which passed through the Park and around the Carousel. ( It's on VHS and I don't know how to transfer it to my computer without pointing my digital camera directly at the television while playing the tape on my VCR. ) I will be posting this video in the future as well as other amusement park news stories ( mostly Kennywood ) that date back to 1991.
Also, a horse was painted in his memory, using Italian colors, along with his name on the horse in his honor. Tony Sacramento can be seen in the popular documentary program about Kennywood, called "Kennywood Memories", which was filmed in 1988.
I used to work this ride a few years ago and I remember each July they would come and put this roll on that had every single good song on. When the National Anthem was done playing I heard someone shout playball. It goes to show you that there are people out there that do enjoy a classic ride and entertained by a classic band organ. The Wurlitzer shown here is from 1917.
HUH? A carrousel the turns NOT clockwise???
ZAngmaus 1 month ago
I love carousels and this one is simply gorgeous! My heart still races whenever I see one and even at 62, I still love to ride them also. The horses are so beautiful and magical as they prance up and down. I have many fond memories of rides I've taken both when I was young until now!
cabamama 4 months ago
So sweet
spicolli3100 4 months ago
It's working perfectly now!!! :D
whoisthisguy724 7 months ago
Now the organ isn't working at all, they just play recorded music over the loudspeaker
whoisthisguy724 7 months ago
The bells and flutes on the organ don't work anymore for some stupid reason i'm sure, but i'm just sad that i can't hear the sound of the beautiful bells anymore :(
whoisthisguy724 8 months ago
Thank you for sharing this video. I am now living in California (a native Pittsburgher), and when I get homesick, I watch the Kennywood videos. This place brings back so many happy memories. I truly love this park. When I get a chance to visit my old hometown, I always make time to spend a day at Kennywood. There is nothing like the carousel, the thunderbolt, and the jackrabbit. Ohh, and of course, the cheese fries!!!!
gingerchipper 9 months ago
The first time i went to kennywood in 1998, the carousel was the first ride i rode, the first carousel ride of my life, and i remember clearly, everything about that day. The band organ was playing "yankee doodle" and it was the most beautiful music i had ever heard. i love kennywood so damn much and i just wish i could go more often!
whoisthisguy724 10 months ago
kennywood's Wurlitzer 153 is the best sounding IMO. The cymbal sounds almosst like a crash cymbal (like the larger cymbal on a 165), the organ itself is very fine-tuned, and the glockenspiel sounds great too!
whoisthisguy724 10 months ago
The kenneywood calliope is now at debence antique music worlds.
GermanStreetOrgan 10 months ago
@GermanStreetOrgan I suggest Kennywood management look for a new Tangley Calliaphone
whoisthisguy724 10 months ago
Going to Kennywood for my birthday! Tradition dictates that we ride the Exterminator first but you can bet I'll practically be running to the carousel afterwords.
TheWurlitzerFan 10 months ago
The organ is being restored for 2011, quite a treat I say!
Wurlitzer157 1 year ago
@Wurlitzer157 I look forward to seeing/hearing it! I'm getting very impatient waiting for summer to arrive! I haven't been to kennywood since October for PFN, and i haven't heard the band organ play since August!
whoisthisguy724 11 months ago
@Wurlitzer157 It sounds better NOW in this vid.
anglerfly 7 months ago
@anglerfly I just uploaded 18 videos of the organ! I was so excited about it working again i just stood there and recorded 2 entire rolls!
whoisthisguy724 6 months ago
A great carousel experience. Thanks!
Musicmany2k 1 year ago
This is great !! Music is wonderful !! Thanks for uploading !!!
Tiramisator 1 year ago
I recently moved to this area, and got season passes to this park. One of the first things I noticed was this carousel. When I saw how the music was being produced, I almost died. As a musician, I thought this was one of the coolest things I have ever seen. It sure makes Midi look like a computer joke.
I always make my girlfriend ride this with me, though I think she gets embarrassed. She thinks it's a kiddie ride or something. It's NOT, it's amazing! What a work of art!
lam190 1 year ago
Well Kennywood is in west mifflin pennsylania so its not ecsact;y in pittsburg
kttoshok 1 year ago
I know the name of the Roll!
anglerfly 1 year ago
@anglerfly Can you tell everyone the roll # plz?
whoisthisguy724 10 months ago
@whoisthisguy724 I think we all know it. Matthew caulfield has it in his wuritzer 150 catalog.
anglerfly 9 months ago
@anglerfly I found the song titles and the roll #. "Yenkee Doodle and "Star-spangled banner" are the last 2 tunes of the roll
whoisthisguy724 9 months ago
@whoisthisguy724 Its a popular roll..
anglerfly 9 months ago
I love this ride. It's always a lot of fun, and it seems that it's never a complete trip to kennywood without riding it at least once. It's especially fun if you get a few people to start clapping along to the music, all the kids and parents join in, and it's a great ride!
Horizons5556 1 year ago
@Horizons5556 Don't forget about those who sing along with the band organ! They're the best!
whoisthisguy724 9 months ago
@kennywoodjoe this is a brass ring dentzel.
anglerfly 1 year ago
The carousel is made by: William H Dentzel in the 1920s.
anglerfly 2 years ago
The first song is Yankee Doodle and the second one is jose can you see.
anglerfly 2 years ago
This carousel is the grandlady of kennywood park, I seen on pbs were its the only one of its kind still in operation in the entire world, I don,t know who made it but i can see were it was made to take lickin and still keep on tickin, best ride in that park in my opinion.
derail14 2 years ago
@derail14
There is a "sister" of this magnificent machine which stood in Rocky Springs Park Lancaster, PA until 1985(?) at which point it was leased to Dollywood. It operated there for several years & was removed for reasons unknown, but was refurbished. As I understand, it remains in storage somewhere near Lancaster, PA waiting for a suitable location.
6pigdek 1 year ago
I just saw a PBS show on old amusement parks on YouTube, and I saw him. I was the carousel man at the park in Fresno CA. where I used to live and work. It was/is an Arrow Development portable machine from 1954/55. I paid for a sound system for it. It was the next best thing to having a real live band organ play on it.
koasterkav 2 years ago
That is a gem there. I was there back in 1992 on a trip. I do remember a man who ran the carousel, an older gentleman. He was so nice, and he showed me the inside of the ride, the motor, gears and such. With pride he said everything is origonal (at that time).
koasterkav 2 years ago
His name is Tony Sacramento, a.k.a. Mr. Kennywood. Mr. Kennywood passed away in December, 1998. I have video footage of his funeral procession which passed through the Park and around the Carousel. ( It's on VHS and I don't know how to transfer it to my computer without pointing my digital camera directly at the television while playing the tape on my VCR. ) I will be posting this video in the future as well as other amusement park news stories ( mostly Kennywood ) that date back to 1991.
kennywoodjoe 2 years ago 4
Comment removed
anglerfly 1 year ago
@kennywoodjoe Can you post it here?
whoisthisguy724 1 year ago
@kennywoodjoe i have faith in this park. soon it will end up like disneyland entertaining everyone, everywhere.
legocontrollerjr 1 month ago
Also, a horse was painted in his memory, using Italian colors, along with his name on the horse in his honor. Tony Sacramento can be seen in the popular documentary program about Kennywood, called "Kennywood Memories", which was filmed in 1988.
kennywoodjoe 2 years ago
@kennywoodjoe Is he dead?
anglerfly 1 year ago
@koasterkav There sa vid on u tube
anglerfly 1 year ago
@koasterkav do they sell CDS?
anglerfly 1 year ago
@koasterkav I KNOW THE NAME of hte ROLL! IS tony sacremento alive?
anglerfly 1 year ago
@koasterkav Gavin Mcdonuogh WOrks on this organ and its not original, Dentzel put a gavioli or a 157on this carousel or something like that.
anglerfly 1 year ago
Comment removed
anglerfly 1 year ago
@anglerfly Not my arrangement.
masterperforator 1 year ago
I used to work this ride a few years ago and I remember each July they would come and put this roll on that had every single good song on. When the National Anthem was done playing I heard someone shout playball. It goes to show you that there are people out there that do enjoy a classic ride and entertained by a classic band organ. The Wurlitzer shown here is from 1917.
CoreyD1086 2 years ago
Almost 82 years old.
Rbuck2110 3 years ago
aahhhh...i love that ride..so fun....its really old to. this is the best one ive benn on...the one in central park gos like really fast...
yacanman11 3 years ago