West Edmonton Mall - 1994

[longboardguy]

Those submarines are rusty as hell now and they just sit under the water. The 90's were definitely a better time

[SaberTanker22]

it seems to me that the 1990's in my little kid day's was the best in the world even the music was good.

[tomysshadow]

They brought back the dancing fountains! Yay!

[Barley1020]

@LakeNipissing The purple one will do that with the color, but the red one (Skyscreamer) won't because it was still red and they took it down and put a new slide in!! :D

[Supergordan64]

Oh, shoot. One question, was that a zipline in the waterpark or something else? I can't remmeber if it was there or somewhere else

[Supergordan64]

Ha, I remember back then, the submarines, the cheap theater, the FREE Dolphin show, and all of that extra jazz. One thing I didn't enjoy was all the smoking in the malls, but it wasn't too bad anyways.

Thanks for uploading good memories again.

[chris5342000]

Dangit! They removed the whale! Gah!!!!!!!!!

[LakeNipissing]

@chris5342000 Yeah, that was a surprise to find that when I was there in January. They also had the fountains drained and dismantled in the corridor between the Ice Palace and the Submarine lake. Hopefully they don't just deck them over like they did where the whale used to be.

[mawiebie]

@LakeNipissing What was in the whale?? 

[Bunomous]

OH i remember those kayaks

[cantroos]

well it's a good shopping mall but there isn't much in the way of extras for entertainment, they should do something like that. There is Galaxyland and the Waterpark which are fun, but beyond that it's just a lot of stores.

[summerstars100]

@cantroos huh? there is golf, swimming, submarine rides, theatres, live entertainment, seal shows and more

[angel5469ca]

I live in Edmonton but I remeber going 2 years before this video was shot. They still call it the greatest indoor show on earth. Pffft its now loud, crowded etc and its too hectic.

[KaoriProductionz]

I miss those dolphines ;( after they decided to let the remaining dolphin free in floridas ocean, they got some sea lions ;)

[trekkiepro]

The running gag (if you could call it that) was that the WEM had a submarine fleet that rivaled the Canadian Navy.

[acewing29]

yea they removed it for some stupid bumper water thingy but the ship is there they removed the toy ships D: sigh

[catman974]

I went on the submarine :) it was awesome but i was like 6 and it was for a class field trip

[Supergordan64]

Ah, I remember those days...sorta (I last remember this place back in 2001 at the earliest) Those boats at the beggining actually worked!

[User274073]

so is this when the lazy river was still commissioned at the waterpark? I went there last saturday and it was creepy seeing parts of it still intact but covered by plants... I went there when I was younger and it took like an hour going down it xD does anyone know what happened?

[TheInfamousCanadian]

i really dislike what they did with the swinging ship

[TheInfamousCanadian]

i really dislike what they did with the swinging ship

[Whit451]

I remember the dolphins we watched a show not very far from the tank it was so cool. I remember the cheering scared my cousin who was just a year old at the time so my aunt had to take her away fro a little walk so she would calm down.

[treehugr132]

whoa!!!! west edmonton mall has CHANGED! lol, well i mean, there was like NO colour on the slides.... borrrring :)

[LakeNipissing]

Yeah, but the red and purple are slowly peeling off... the Sky Screamer and Nessie's Revenge will soon become tan / beige / ivory (whatever you want to call the color) once again!

The mall was nicer in the 1980s and early 1990s. The emphasis was more on quality than facade. The Pebble Beach mini golf was classy, and beautiful. All of the colorful fiberglass for "Professor Wem" just cheapened it. Don't get me wrong, I still like WEM a lot, but a lot of good things are gone today.

[treehugr132]

yea.. but when i take my little cousins there, they refer to "the purple slide" (yes they are quite tall, and can ride that slide

" and the blue one ect. But i think the lighter colour will look better because there isn't like paint chipping away :P

[Erectoralporicy]

@LakeNipissing

They had to change a lot of their stuff because of threats of legal action from Disneyland. I'm thinking after that point it all sort of went downhill.

Also, I miss indoor smoking. They should bring that back to WEM. Such a nostalgic feeling smoking indoors.

[TheHornet100]

Back when the waterfalls actually worked.... the submarines too!

[LakeNipissing]

@TheHornet100 Yeah, I was just walking around the 2nd floor today and noticed the large glass display of minerals which was on the second floor near the FLH is gone, and yesterday they just removed the two displays with the ming vases which were on the second floor in front of the Cafe Europa. Aside from that, I have to comment it is nice to see the miles of brass railings have been polished and make the place look sharp again.

[CookingEggss]

I work at the mall and I was shown a room near Galaxy land right by Entrance 8, there's old status and ice scream stands they had around the mall, like the bourbon street ones with the trumpet and saxophone players, I found that room really cool lol

[TheHornet100]

What? they are getting rid of the vases?? Those things are so cool! I was told by a friend that all the brass railings used to have lights on them, but were removed years ago. I did not know that. I also noticed that they got rid of the flamingos and put in ring-tailed leemers.

[LakeNipissing]

I don't know if they are getting rid of the vases, but the two I mentioned at the top of the escalator in front of the Cafe Europa have been moved. There are still two vases on display near the front desk for the FLH as of yesterday.

[LakeNipissing]

That's correct about the brass railings all being illuminated along the tops. I remember them like that, and it looked sharp. If you look closely today, you can see small holes every few inches where the light strips were mounted. After several years, being incandescent, some of the bulbs exploded, and then there were dark sections on the railings. I guess they just took them all out, since sealed light strips and not easily repairable. WEM should do it again, but this time with long life LEDs!

[Rezsha56]

@TheHornet100 today the submarines are out of service i dont exactly know why but i know someoone died in a accident with one of them

[catman974]

@Rezsha56 My friend told me there was some kind of leak or something about batteries but idk

[CookingEggss]

back then, bourbon street was actually good!

[rico305305]

back than people would walk through the mall and smoke as they did their shopping. you wouldn't see that today lol

[Erectoralporicy]

@rico305305

Yep :( its a sad day and age for the smokers.

[rico305305]

this was back before edmonton had close to 50 murders per year and when EMO kids did not exist and were still in diapers. and the mall had like 2 security guards seriously no joke, now they have their own force and a cop station in the mall.

[hunterlimuel]

OMG the peacock How did i forget about those i remember i would stare at them lol

[YukonTrooper]

The dolphins are thinking, "Fuck, this sucks."

[TomatoDevelopment]

The wem waterpark slides are so different

[shortblump]

its so much different

[LoveYouBig]

now they have sea lions there because two of the dolphins died a few years ago. x.x

[blacksoul1255]

i go here sometimes and come now its cool and i live in sherwood park and thats right outside edmonton

[Blackjesus3]

OMG BEST MALL IN THE WORLD

[sorik20]

You havent seen mall of asia (MoA) yet

[Blackjesus3]

naww man

[uploaded113redone]

more like mall of street vendors

[Sk8ergirl126]

i live in frt sask just outside of edmonton i go to west ed all the time its so much fun

[DanDFriend]

When in 1994? I was born in '94.

The World Waterpark is so much fun. I miss the days when I lived in Spruce Grove and went to WEM all the time and had so much fun. Since 2003 I have been living in Southern Alberta, and I am living in Calgary right now. In the summer Im taking a special trip to West Edmonton Mall with my cousin, aunt and their friend when they are here from Ottawa. I can't wait!

[sig0rn]

I loved Johnny Rockets. Then they had to take it out  >:(

[LakeNipissing]

Me too... ate there every time I was at WEM!

The place was always busy, and it was in a great location in the mall, so I am puzzled why JRs closed and then the Bose store is now in its place.

[stirrrrrr]

while i was there, they had free roaming penguins in the mall!

thx for posting and i really miss edmonton

[ogie76]

lol same here...

[PoisonSerpent1]

Whoa. This was it in 1994? It has changed now. I even admit, it is waaay to crowded now, since all those stores were added. I only go there for the Apple Store, and thats like once every three months.

[tyboy3]

the submarines were the bomb

[S0vereignty]

This was before West Ed turned into a high end fashion outlet for preppy teenagers. West Ed used to be cool, now it's filled with stores like Hollister and Abercrombie and Fitch. Yuck.

I hate going there now, it's filled with too many wannabes.

[wokangoman]

I hear ya

[takahashiwongwong]

i wasent even born yet

[omgomgitsALEE]

Seems like it..

You can't even spell wasn't.

Nor do you know how to capitalize.

Ah, West Ed. I'll get there someday.

[bubbygummz101]

they have sea lions now

[drsatan1978]

this is awesome, this was a time when bourbon street was bourbon street not the crap it is now these where the good times.

[LakeNipissing]

You bet it was. I was just there again yesterday... can only shake my head at the fiberglass 'theme' masks defacing the columns... even the random pattern ceiling lights seen in the video are gone now...

[BboySoulz]

Oh man, i was 2 years old haha.

[aprilstarr68]

ok on eropa street the petcetrea there is where I got my cat freddie

[aprilstarr68]

been there totaly awesome

[pronessman]

thats is when i was born.

[BenjKetsa]

all of canada's submarines are in west ed lol... i live in edmonton and i find that hillarious!!! also to bad that the dolphins died :(

[fabulous660]

sadly the subs dont work anymore and only one dolphine is dead the other went to a farm and they were repleast with those seals the dolphins were cooler

[BenjKetsa]

o i never knew that thanks i thought they all passed away :(

[gallya]

are u fucking serious? i thought tha the dolphins got moved somewhere, not died.

[seth233]

Its been so long since ive seen those submarines moving...

brings back memories

[Edward903]

I am sorry.Your response to this video answered my question.

[Edward903]

When you filmed this,in Galaxyland,did they still have the zipper?I wanted to ride that thing so badly,but they dismantled it before I ever got around to things.

[slickdog1]

good god i wish i had a mall like this in so cal

[Frost53King]

Yes i miss johnny rockets it was on the second floor by the skating rink

[LakeNipissing]

J.R.'s was great! Actually it was on the first floor by the Ice Palace, where the Bose store is now.

[seth233]

The only J.R.'s left are in Ontario :(

[lucky77ducky77]

it was so stupid to keep the dophins there... all but one died...

[Bumkinxox]

I miss the old mall...its crap now...I never go near there enless I can not get what I need anywhere else...I miss all the classic things...the ball machines...peacocks...fantasyl­and...the old mini golf...old bourbon street :(...so sad...

ps...where was jonny rockets i do not remember it!

[lilkitten29]

johnny Rockets was by the Ice Palace.

[blinky10]

I miss the dolphins.. Now they have seals though right? Anyway now i want to go shopping there..Lol

[bluechick999]

OMG you could RAFT in the pool!? That would NEVER happen anymore! WAYYYYYYYYY too many people!

[LakeNipissing]

That was after midnight. They rent the use of the wave pool (or used to) for groups with kayaks, surfing etc.

[animulcrakerz]

aha, i remember the dolphins, like if u were to sit in the front row you would be wet Lol! but then one of them died and the other one was depressed and wouldnt do shows so they took it to san diego or somewhere and now they have sea lions

[dominostandard]

most of the slides like sky screamer wernt painted...west edmonton mall has changed in the past few years!

[taykrismar]

gosh i miss the dolphins they were so cute

[BigT6900]

i totally love this mall!! i remember i went to the water park for my 13th birthday..that was 4 years ago...its amazing....i went on every slide except the sky screamer....but it was awesome...and i went to galaxyland(or is it fantasyland) for my 10th birthday...7years ago...u just cant beat west ed!!

[dominostandard]

me too. the sky screamer i'm scared to try it!!!

[skaterboywithflicks]

Pussy

[evilass03]

wish Santa Maria cen sail all around West Edmonton Mall,they juss have too make water trails.

[picturethief]

Bourbon was better back then, it looks like a hotel lobby now. West Ed needs a livecam.

[Oilersfan555]

why is there hardly any video or pictures of west edmonton mall inside of it from the 1980's and the early to mid 1990's?

[MrElfunzo]

ah the memories... back in the day when they still held those dolphin shows... yup those were the days

[Xbox360fana]

baller u must be weird cuz u know the word woot lol :P

[Xbox360fana]

i was born this year woot! lol

[baller4550]

there's no T in wooo

[AznGuy1629]

wow and europa boulavard what happened to all those trees it looks so much better than this cheesy cosmo setup

[ukraniandancer55]

so old and yet still popular

[kingtutt661]

Thanks for this man. God this mall has changed so much since then, I remember riding those subs when I was little.

[micr0chip1]

This is great! I was just a wee lad when I lived in Edmonton. I would have been 10 when this video was shot, so loads of memories. Thanks!

[PunchFace123]

your 23, just so you know

[micr0chip1]

Oh, ok, thanks for clearing that up! All this time...!

[PunchFace123]

your welcome, lol

[AznGuy1629]

ah and i would have been 1 when this was shot yur right ALOT has changed! i went into those submarines too and the mall looks kinda unpopulated

[playboybunny66696]

does that submarine still give rides?

[Madgravy]

nope

[NiceGuyAC]

I have been going to the mall since 1982. It has gone through quite the changes.

[q51304]

I visited in 91 while on a "working" holday from NZ.  This video is just like I remembered it and was like visiting a small Disneyland. Loved the waterpark with "Nessie" and the 14 story slide.

Sad to hear it has being "cheapened". I use to think that the Canadians did things in a "classy" fashion, unlike the US where cheap and tacky seems to be the order of the day.

[KingSizedSarah]

they're trying to get rid of the Santa Maria, its going to be sold to a mall in Japan. In it's place they're putting an underwater cafe though

=(

[LakeNipissing]

Good grief!!! What is next to go, the Ice Palace???

[KingSizedSarah]

i hope not, but there's a petition on facebook you can join to try to save the santa maria

[PunchFace123]

i'd rather want the underwater cafe

[prettytiedup]

ah, I completely had forgotten about the peacocks

I miss the old mall

[tesroz]

THATS HUGE!

[MultiFlamesFan]

@tesroz thats what she said, BUT THE MLL IS AESOME

[thebestplaceonearth]

Cool Video, thanks 4 the memories !

We lived in Edmonton back in 1994 and my wife worked at a store in the mall at that time.

Its a while back, yet time stands still watching this and remembering.

[runehcker129]

i like the sub that go under water but now there change it to this water gun boat thing it too

[Lemonpop21]

aww i miss the old day!!

[lovelypuke]

I sort of wanted the waves to come on in the water park when those people were canoing :( haha

[LakeNipissing]

That has happpened! One time I heard WEM ops on my radio scanner commenting: 'The kayaking group would very much appreciate if the waves could be turned off!' :)

[Kinoru]

Haha. I know the Kayaking/Canoeing club from the University of Alberta goes to the water park sometimes to surf on the waves. I guess they got tired of the waves that time.

[dilpoppa]

compared to this, the mall is so run down and dirty now.

[goalie1991]

Ya, they need to polish the floors and the brass railings. It looks bad. :(

[LakeNipissing]

I liked when the brass railings were illuminated with the strip lights. This was for the first 10 years, then the lights were removed. WEM used to be high-class. It has been cheapened somewhat by removing what was quality and replacing with cheesy fiberglass stuff.

Examples (Quality 1985-1995 > cheapened):

Pebble Beach Golf > Professor WEMs Golf

Fantasyland > Galaxyland

Bourbon Street then vs. today.

[LakeNipissing]

The World Waterpark is still really good, but they removed a lot of the mirrored walls which made the place look grand and replaced with murals which make it look confined.

I think 'Cosmo' has run his course and done enough damage adding purple and yellow fiberglass everywhere... time for him to leave and for quality to return!

[joshybrown17]

hey Lakenipissing do you live near or in sudbury?

[mujichubbs]

west edmonton mall, i remember the dolphins, i thot they were kinda gay cause i was like 7 when i first saw them, and i always wanted to get to the watewrpark

[goaldfyshe]

I remember the peacocks. And what about the bill ball contraption thing in that tower? You didn't get it on video. :( and I miss Johnny Rockets a lot.

[LakeNipissing]

That billiard ball 'contraption' was in the north side of Phase I if I recall correctly. Those used to play off xylophones, bellows etc. That was neat to watch the endless cycle. I remember that in the 1980s, but maybe gone by 1994 when I recorded this video, or I am sure I would have filmed it!

I always liked going to Johnny Rockets after skating at the Ice Palace...

[monkeymirror]

For sure. Those neat encased noisy things made everyone swarm around it. I want them back

[AquaRibbon]

What were the Johnny Rockets ???

[seanwat]

i remember the Peacocks i think they took em out because they were makeing to much noise

[marknetwork]

This is just wonderful! I remember all this as a child!! Do you have any of those weird slide things in fantasyland? What about those balls that were in a huge tower that bounced around?? This is so neat seeing it all again! Thank you.

[rachelannbonney]

the dolphins died like 2 years ago

[chadt4]

i know they died like 2 days after i saw them.

[itchypajamas]

I dont remember the Peacocks!!!!! Now they have those flamingo's :( theres like 20 of them in this tiny room thing

[Egghead83]

thats wierd, seeing it then, then now , its scary

[MrGreenGenes]

Hahaha..I was just waiting to see some 90's mall rats..Classic Stuff

That whole building is ready to go up in flames...Or crumble to the ground..Any day now...

[x0xbradx0x]

did the mall realy look like that back 13 years ago i did not live in edmonton back then

[iheartmyshoes88]

me either i lived in bc

[tokolove]

I used to work at the mall. This is the year that I quit working there and moved to Calgary for better opportunities.

[entertainmefools]

Now it is shit.

Just like the rest of Edmonton

Dirty, old and shit.

[LakeNipissing]

If you think Edmonton is bad, I would hate to see your comments about Montreal or Toronto.

[xonessox]

let me guess..

you're a resident of calgary

[Skunker]

No more Dolphine there anymore? T_T I was really looking forward to seeing them again :(

[xonessox]

they all died like 4 years ago

[deadoralive1999]

A lot has changed in that mall since then.

[xonessox]

no kidding!

submarines are gone

the dolphins are dead

jeez...

i was hoping to see soem footage of teh old fantasyland

[jonesygarcia]

dude the submarines aren't gone, they're still there but not running