Knott's Berry Farm: The Good Old Days, Pt. 3

[pheadrasfall]

been going to Knott's since the 1950's and truthfully I can't even stand to drive by it now, so depressing to see what they have done to it a lowlife carnival now, California is indeed becoming and has become a rotting orchard..disgusted native..loved seeing what was and shall never be again! thanks much for that..p.s this should have been about 20 parts long :) burro rides, tin lizzy ride, sad eyed talking to us kids from jail and so much more so sad..

[neffada53]

Absolutely priceless and amazing videos and photos! Thank you for posting!

[TheZunigal]

Thanks for uploading this treasure. I love Knotts Berry Farm. One of my best childhood memories was spent at Knotts before my parents separated. I enjoy learning about rags to riches stories. The Knott Family are a true American success story. Long Live Knotts !!

[dreaminggirlish]

Yeah, I remember a line from the film "Poltergeist" where the dad says "So, what side of the rainbow are we working tonight, Dr. Lesh? Is this your Knott's Berry Farm solution?" Having known Knott's well that busted me up as a kid.

[JustNess78]

knotts must have been extremely popular because i just saw a rerun of I Love Lucy when they're in Hollywood. One of the sights they say they want to see is "Knott's Berry Farm." Amazing! Lucy was the most popular show in it's day, so this really says something of just how popular Knott's was even back in the 50's. I'm a child of the 80's and spent most of my summer's at Knott's. I love visiting these days, but it's just not the same..... I feel sorry for kids of this generation =(

[drmaxwelldc]

This is great. I danced at the Wagon Wheel at age 7! Thank you so much.

[tribumedia]

i love all the history about Knotts

[212annette212]

that was great! i worked at knotts in the 70's and 80's. i hav epictures of people from most departments an dlots of good memories. i even got married there! i remember harvey walker. the dancers in the saloon came to my wedding in costume. i played the time around their break so they could be there.

[DanHarkless]

Thank you so much for doing all this research and interviewing! I really enjoyed your film and will definitely be picking up a copy of your book.

I am kind of continuing the tradition of documenting Knott's (modern) history over in my channel, albeit only Haunt so far (though I have some non-Haunt footage I'll eventually be posting as well).

Thanks again for everything you've done to preserve these great memories of America's first theme park!

[swingcluekitsyl4]

This is amazing! Thank you so much for posting these. I am Claude K. Bell's daughter and I lived at Knott's pretty much at my father's Portrait Studio.

Wendy Bell

[tippisdad]

This is great! I grew up in Orange County from '59-'68. We were always broke, so Mom & Dad would take us to Knott's because it was free! We'd play on all the stuff, old iron things. I could watch the train all day; it brought on a lifelong fascination with railroads. I remember Old MacDonalds farm (ten cents!) and the seals. The first real "ride" was the Calico Mine. Pretty lame, really. We'd get a chicken dinner to go and sit at a patio and eat it. Those were happy times...

[mslizzyborden]

Great memories... I remember going to Knott's in the 60's and just loved Calico. I still have a bit of memorabilia including gold in a small container, coins, ticket books, maps etc. Thanks!

[minihaha56]

LOVE IT LOVE IT L-O-V-E-IT!!

[DavidCassidyFan2]

I remember the street "gun fights"! I remember when the guy "died" he would die with his arm up. When the undertaker would push his arm down, his leg would pop up. I thought that was the funniest thing in the world!

Thanks for the memories!!

[coliseumdog]

Nice trip down memory lane. Remember Henry's Livery that was located across the Park?

My mom would always stop there and let me have a ride after shopping at Sears or Akron.

Summers were great since we go there after supper and just have fun and pay for whatever attraction you wanted.

[JayMazz]

Bravo!!!

[bfaith456]

thanks--lots of good memories...

[moonray5]

Such a fun place,they also had the best strawberry jam!

[RocketRodder]

They still do. =D

[bassetbaby67]

Thanks for the memories! I worked there for 10 years, I miss the original Knott's. I even rememeber when they had the seals that you could feed.

[bratschmom]

I remember the seals too! My brother-in-law was a train robber in the 60's. See my video "in loving memory of Sherry." There are some really old photos of him in is robbery costume.

[flsunshine66]

Thank You so much for putting these videos online for us all to share. I grew up in Buena Park... 1950's,  we lived 3 blocks away. I remember very well your wonderful band, Wagonmasters. We loved your music then, and still do today. I loved Knotts Berry Farm and wish the kids of today could just get a piece of what we had. Those were the days.

[prettylandzz009]

Wow i really didn't know this..

I always thought it actually started as a theme park...

Does anyone know when

they actually started

putting in rollercoasters

and which one was the first one.???

[tonimuck]

Hi. I may be wrong (and I'm sure Mr.Jennings knows), but the first one was the log ride around late/early 60's. Just after they put up the fence and started charging admission . . .

Sad day when that happened.

[twincam96]

The first roller coaster was the Cork Screw it was built in the mid 70s as part of the 'new' roaring 20's section. The cork screw was torn down and the boomerang was put in its place.

[PHAEDRIDER]

knott's was such a big part of my life when i was growing up.

[strokedmustang66]

Wow I really like ur videos, There is so much i never knew about the park. I just started working there this week. I bet the people that i work with dint know about all that. thanks for the video.

[tonimuck]

It should be mandatory to know about KBF's history before you get a paycheck. I remember when it was free and the Knott's (may they rest with the angels)were wonderful people.

[Notyamom2]

I'm very happy that you made this video. It brings back such memories. I wish it were still the same place, but I guess that's just not possible. I remember row boats on the lagoon and walking down into the mine when I was about five. We lived in Anaheim during the late fifties, early sixties and Knotts was a fun place to go. There wasn't an admission and thrill rides were the train and stage coach. Father helped design the log fume. Remember the Haunted Shack? School house? Talking jail guy?

[tonimuck]

Haunted shack? Yes! Made my sister so dizzy and nausious she threw up. And the talking jail guy! He was flirty. I loved Auntie who would spin yarn and play the dulcimer. Man, she was old in the 60's! Such good times. Why did they have to ruin it with roller coasters?

[strokedmustang66]

well i can tell u a few things. they have all the new hires in a class for a few days, telling us about the farm and how it started. a few ins and outs.

[RealTalk7777]

Great video!

[dzoef]

Thank you for bringing back one of the most important places of my childhood. Every summer from 1953 to 1966 going to Knott's with my grandparents was the most. Too bad just a small clip of the woman playing the steam calliope. She was the best player. I remember the dulcimer player and love the instrument to this day. We ate at the Ghost Town Grill every time we went. Thank you again for the memories.

[lpentis]

What a great public service to put this on youtube! Even footage of them putting the dead bad guy in the wheelbarrow! Thank you,

thank you!

[paleoroundtable]

I have really enjoyed this three part series. The many memories it brought back for me. Back when it was a berry farm and a ghost town and the wonderful free area with the lake, ducks, merry go round, horse rides, train (with the wonderful cave), and boat. Alas, only Independence Hall is left.

[sharkyff4]

this was awesome, thanks for making it. :)

[TSMD]

this is really neat to learn the history. my parents used to take me and my brother there for vacation. Ghostrider was the first roller coaster my brother ever rode.