The 1001 Troubles was a mirror maze incorporating a hall of mirrors and was originally situated to the left of Bean Street.

The attraction now forms the first segment of ‘Impossible’.“Walk, Don’t run in 1001”.

2002 was the last season the Safari Ride operated at Blackpool Pleasure Beach.

As at 2005 it was at Southport Pleasureland. 

They closed for business in the 2001 season to be replaced by the electrically powered Eddie Stobart’s Convoy ride.

The Calypso once stood where the (large circular spinning) Tagada element of Trauma Towers now stands.

It was in the early sixties that themagiceye remembers first seeing this ride and was captivated.According to the excellent National Fairground Archive (NFA) website there were only six (possibly seven) of these machines operational in UK:

“..the chain of ownership of the 2 Botton Brothers machines is not at all clear. The machines between them passed to Blackpool Pleasure Beach and New Brighton around 1965, though it appears that both machines had been ‘hybridised’ with the other. Worlds Fair notes a Lang Wheels machine for sale by Wilkie (New Brighton) in 1968..” Look at the photo and you will notice skiers around the circumference of the ride. By all accounts The Calypso took the place of the Ski Jump ride that occupied the space before it.

The Sidewinder was one of a number of portable rides that flooded the South Park in the eighties.It was a modern version of the Dive Bomber but unlike the Dive Bomber it also lifted to revolve on a horizontal plane as well.

The Ranger (manufactured by Huss) seen here in all its glory at Blackpool next to the North Cableway station.

The ride replaced The Virginia Reel in 1983 and was itself replaced by The Rainbow in 1987.These type of rides were rare in the UK.

The “Original Nineteenth Century Simulator” is not totally lost of course today – it can still be found in the park as part of the Impossible attraction.

However it has not been a stand alone attraction since 2001. The Haunted Swing was always one of the first attractions you saw (and heard) when entering the park from the North Entrance.

The Haunted Swing remains a classic ride and – in themagiceye’s opinion anyway – holds its own easily against some of the hi-tech rides of 2006. 

In 1999 the Blackpool management had added a Speech Bubble to the ghost advertising the ride (left). It read:

“Please don’t wait until next year to ride The Haunted Swing (Hex) at Alton Towers – Ride the original Haunted Swing at Blackpool Pleasure Beach now!”The very small writing underneath the words: “The Gravity of the Situation” below says: 

“This Nineteenth Century invention was revived here at Blackpool Pleasure Beach in 1955”.

Instead of pressing the usual pedal to get the cars to spin, riders pulled on a rope! 

The Rainbow occupied the spot vacated by the Ranger for a brief period from 1987. The Virginia Reel once stood proudly here.

“…The Rainbow (HUSS) was first manufactured in 1983 containing many design elements of the Ranger (HUSS 1981). This ride really has to be seen in motion to be appreciated. It’s typically HUSS – offering riders unbeatable smoothness (hydraulically driven), and spectators a graceful, well-lit, perfectly themed picture. Its amazing height of 66ft dominates the set-up of any carnival.

The Rainbow appeals to riders of all ages, offering a basic orbiting sensation, with alternating movements of varying speed, both clockwise and anti-clockwise. Generally speaking, the ride sensation is nothing too major, with basic side-to-side motions, and slight weightlessness sensations..”

David Burton, David Burton’s Amusement Ride Extravaganza

“The Grand Prix was situated next to the Tidal Wave and consisted of a group of cars linked together in a train being powered by drive motors positioned between the rails with two small tyres driving a blade mounted under each car. The cars also had a motor under each which, via a screw jack drive, tilted the cars inwards as they gained speed.

The ride was delivered new in its most minimal form and GSR staff added crash barriers and a tunnel with flashing green ‘go’ lights and fixed red ‘stop’ lights.It was also the intention to fit a video projector to the tunnel and add in-car race pictures. This did not stay in position long as during daylight the light level was too high to allow the image to be seen.”

Ian Beech – Blackpool Pleasure Beach employee 1978-1983

The following information was received from a reader of themagiceye on 29th November 2006 (the reader also posts on Club Pleasure Beach site):“The ride pictured above is an early sobema Superbob. It arrived in 1982 and was on a position let to Pat Evans. It lasted about a season, (if memory serves) before being put back on the travelling circuit”.

I can assure you though that it was situated in the South Park at Blackpool around the same period.A simulator with VHS technology – it didn’t really set the amusement world alight but it has a sentimental place in themagiceye’s heart anyway.

themagiceye rode this ‘B’ Ticket ride circa 1997ish when it first opened on the spot now occupied by the Burger King Restaurant in the South Park. Prior to 1997 this ride (albeit on a smaller scale) was actually situated inside the old Paradise Room!themagiceye is a great dark ride fan, and this was a great dark ride. But themagiceye has memories of it being closed several times due to it breaking down…on the days themagiceye visited the park anyway!