VIDEOS
with
EDUCATIONAL MERIT
The following links deal with videos on the subject of Amusement
Rides & Parks and with Fairs primarily on a technical level, with
Physics or Engineering the main focus of several. Many also show the
Design & Construction of Rides or Parks.
Note that videos and books in other parts of the CEC site may
also touch on these subjects and should be consulted as well:
-Books
-Videos
See here for additional educational materials:
-Midway Education Exhibit
THE FOLLOWING MAY NOT BE REPRODUCED
WITHOUT PERMISSION FROM THE AUTHOR ©
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ARCHITECTURE: STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING (1990) NTSC
This instructional video looks at the importance of
mathematics in designing structures from skyscrapers to
roller coasters. After a wild roller coaster ride on the
Viper, architect Frank Gehry, structural engineer Ysrael
Seinuk, and Cooper Union's student engineers join Jaime
Escalante in this program. *(Not Reviewed.)
Produced by: Running Time: 15m
Unknown
Order From: Price: Unknown
Unknown
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HOW IT'S DONE (1994) NTSC
"From Roller Coasters to Ice Cream"
This teaching video is part of the "How It's Done" series. It
shows children how things are made and how they work. With
the help of the host, pellican detective Howie Dunn and his
friend, children discover, among other interesting topics,
how ice cream is mass produced, how the television news is
put together, and how roller coasters are built. *(This video
only dwells on coasters for 5 minutes, concentrating mainly on
The "Magnum XL-200". Computer-aided design is shown of a new
twister and then a partial, out-of-sequence ride is taken on
"Magnum". The topic is very lightly presented with many
subjects not covered, as well as being somewhat disjointed.
As an introduction for young children it may serve its
purpose, but it's not for the typical coaster buff.)
HOW IT'S DONE (Continued)
Produced by:
Michael Kalush
Steve Wittbrodt
Running Time: 35 m
Order From:
HGV Video Productions
1735 Bayly Street
Pickering, Ontario
Canada
Price: Unknown
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JURASSIC PARK: THE RIDE (199?) NTSC
"The Making of..."
A short view on the conception and building of The Universal
Studios ride. The animatronics are described in detail.
*(This shows how the ride was conceived almost even before the
movie itself had been storyboarded and how much of the movie
was recreated for the ride. Interviews with Steven Spielberg
and the technicians & designers make for a fast, but
informative overview of this attraction.)
Produced By: Running Time: 23m
Zaloom/Mayfield Productions
California, U.S.A.
Order From: Price: Unknown
-The Learning Channel
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THE MAKING OF DISNEY'S ANIMAL KINGDOM THEME PARK (1998)
Shows the planning and building of the theme park.
*(Not Reviewed.)
Produced By: Running Time: 20m
Walt Disney Attractions
Order From: Price:
Available at the park.
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MEAN SCREAM MACHINES (1996)
Part of the Canadian "Forbidden Places" series, this episode
profiles coasters mainly at Cedar Point, but from a technical
viewpoint. The Arrow design team is profiled extensively
with some of the computer programs used to design the rides
seen. Also shown are testing procedures and maintenance of
the rides. The show ends with a piece on the development of
the `Turbo Drop'-style rides such as "Big Shot". *(Highly
Recommended - especially for those that like to know more
about the technical end of coaster/ride design, testing, and
maintenance. A highlight is the maintenance crew discussing
"Mean Streak", its upkeep, and how temperature affects the
ride characteristics. Of special interest is the designers
of "Big Shot" showing how their ride was developed complete
with diagrams. A must for those techni/ride lovers.)
Produced By: Running Time: 50m
Aiken Scherberger TVR Productions
for Discovery Channel Canada Price: Unknown
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REALITY: THE VIDEO (1994) PAL
"It's The Big One"
This tape shows the making of "Pepsi Max - The Big One",
then one of the tallest coasters on the planet at a height
of around 64 meters. Shown are the opening celebrations and
an entire-circuit ride on board the coaster. * (Not Reviewed.)
Produced by: Running Time: 20m
Blackpool Pleasure Beach
Stageworks Television Productions
England
Order From: Price: Unknown
Blackpool Pleasure Beach
Marketing Department
Ocean Boulevard
Blackpool, England FY4 1EZ
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ROLLER COASTER! (1993) NTSC
Produced by the "Nova" television show in The United States,
this tape gives a good overview of the design and construction
of the roller coaster. Interviews with Ron Toomer and
American Coaster Enthusiast Ray Ueberroth contribute to the
understanding of Roller Coasters. Included is a short history
of coasters (and parks in general) in The United States. The
development of Disneyland is well profiled, as are simulator
rides and attractions such as "Earthquake" and "Backdraft" at
Universal Studios. *(Highly Recommended. The production staff
of "Nova" is top notch and this video is no exception to their
expertise. Informative and entertaining - a must!)
ROLLER COASTER! (Continued)
Produced by: Running Time: 55m
Frankie Glass
WGBH Educational Foundation
Boston, Massachusetts
U.S.A.
Order From: Price: Unknown
PBS Video
1320 Braddock Place
Alexandria, Virginia 22314-1698
U.S.A.
Shop PBS
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SAFE FUN AT THE CARNIVAL (1999) NTSC
Made for younger children, this video explores safety while
at the carnival. *(Not Reviewed.)
Produced By: Running Time: 8m
Outdoor Amusement
Business Association
Order From: Price:
Outdoor Amusement
Business Association
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THE SECRET WORLD OF AMUSEMENT PARKS (1999) NTSC
From the TLC (The Learning Channel) series. It views the
operations of a typical amusement park. *(Not Reviewed.)
Produced By: Running Time: 40m
MPI
Order From: Price:
-The Learning Channel
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THE TERROR TECHNICIANS (19??) PAL
This tape is from an English television programme which
focuses on the building and the opening of "Nemesis" and The
"Big One". It is quite interesting though it doesn't contain
that much on-ride footage, but it does have the excellent
first ride of John Wardley (though not quite as polished as
the footage of him riding "Nemesis" on The "White Knuckle"
video tape.) Tape suggestion and review courtesy of Michael
Bolton of England.
Produced By: Running Time: Unknown
Unknown
Order From: Price: Unknown
Unknown
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THEME PARK HEAVEN (1992) NTSC
Shows the development of theme parks and rides from Disneyland
through to modern parks like Cedar Point, and future trends in
the guise of Universal Studios. Several of Disney's imagineers
are interviewed with their early work shown and how it and
other early presentations led to things like "Earthquake" and
"Backdraft". The psychology of `why we ride' is examined and
rider's opinions are given. Designers like Ron Toomer are
profiled. The tape concludes with a look at simulator
technology. *(With many shots borrowed from the PBS production
"Roller Coaster", there isn't a lot new here. However, there
are some nice clips of Walt Disney talking about the early
Disneyland and kinescope shots of opening day.)
Produced by: Running Time: 46m
Frankie Glass, for
Open Media Productions
Order From: Unknown Price: Unknown.
________
THRILL RIDE (1997) NTSC
"The Science of Fun".
Produced in IMAX format. It starts off with some on-board
footage of rides like "Kumba" and "Montu", but then goes on
to detail how motion pictures work and how they are
incorporated into simulator rides like "Back to the Future".
The mechanisms that move the seating are shown, with their
origins in flight simulators discussed. *(This is not a film
that hard-core coaster fans are likely to really enjoy due to
the fact that few are shown. However, the details of how
simulators were developed are interesting and well done.)
Produced By: Running Time: 40m
New Wave International
Sony Pictures Entertainment
Culver City, California
Order From: Price:
Columbia Tristar Home Video
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