The Great Coal Mine Scenic Railway Roller Coaster (c. 1905)
Climb into a coal cart and see what it's like to work in a mine, deep underground! Because most (safe) roller coasters generally weren't fast enough at the time to truly be thrilling (that would happen in the early 1920s), they usually were paired with some type of scenery, like touring the Alps or Venice. People back then couldn't travel to Europe or Asia easily, so they were thrilled to see reproductions of foreign places. In this case, people got to see what it was like to work in a coal mine, deep underground.
Sounds boring compared to touring Venice, right? Not a chance. Here's why this ticket is so cool. See the young, fashionable couple in the foreground? That's code for saying that parts of the ride will be dark enough that you'll be able to make out with your date and no one will be able to see. Paid make-out time was a huge draw as strict proprieties had to be observed in public. Remember, women had to wear full-length wool dresses even when in the ocean, and had to ride carousel horses saddle-mounted!
Note: Dating this ride precisely requires a little investigative work. (Stop reading here unless you're really getting into this!) (1) We can confirm that the Great Coal Mine was located to the right of Luna Park's entrance, next to the entrance for one of Thompson's scenic railways. What you see in the picture above is an entrance to the elevated walkway to Thompson's scenic railway, which actually was located behind the Great Coal Mine and the railroad tracks that ran behind it. Vielkind's Hotel is to the right of the Great Coal Mine, and you can see the last few letters of the hotel name on the sign in the picture. (2) Even though the picture is undated, we know it is from 1905 (or, technically, 1905 or prior) because it was taken by the Detroit Publishing Co., a well-known company at the time, and the copyright is given in the postcard below, also by them. (3) The postcard has an undivided back, confirming its was printed prior to mid-1907. (4) However, the Historical Map from 1905-6 clearly shows a completely different building where the Great Coal Mine should be. Postcards identify this other building as an elaborate, massive entrance to Thompson's scenic railway. (5) Yet, a separate 1906 map states the parcel as under renovation. My best guess without checking periodicals is that Thompson must have taken over the parcel after the season in 1905 and put up a new entrance to his scenic railway between then and the start of the 1906 season. This would date the Great Coal Mine to 1905 or shortly prior to that.
Sounds boring compared to touring Venice, right? Not a chance. Here's why this ticket is so cool. See the young, fashionable couple in the foreground? That's code for saying that parts of the ride will be dark enough that you'll be able to make out with your date and no one will be able to see. Paid make-out time was a huge draw as strict proprieties had to be observed in public. Remember, women had to wear full-length wool dresses even when in the ocean, and had to ride carousel horses saddle-mounted!
Note: Dating this ride precisely requires a little investigative work. (Stop reading here unless you're really getting into this!) (1) We can confirm that the Great Coal Mine was located to the right of Luna Park's entrance, next to the entrance for one of Thompson's scenic railways. What you see in the picture above is an entrance to the elevated walkway to Thompson's scenic railway, which actually was located behind the Great Coal Mine and the railroad tracks that ran behind it. Vielkind's Hotel is to the right of the Great Coal Mine, and you can see the last few letters of the hotel name on the sign in the picture. (2) Even though the picture is undated, we know it is from 1905 (or, technically, 1905 or prior) because it was taken by the Detroit Publishing Co., a well-known company at the time, and the copyright is given in the postcard below, also by them. (3) The postcard has an undivided back, confirming its was printed prior to mid-1907. (4) However, the Historical Map from 1905-6 clearly shows a completely different building where the Great Coal Mine should be. Postcards identify this other building as an elaborate, massive entrance to Thompson's scenic railway. (5) Yet, a separate 1906 map states the parcel as under renovation. My best guess without checking periodicals is that Thompson must have taken over the parcel after the season in 1905 and put up a new entrance to his scenic railway between then and the start of the 1906 season. This would date the Great Coal Mine to 1905 or shortly prior to that.
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