Magic Mountain August 1973 - Part 1

I recently came across a great set of amateur slides from August 1973 of Magic Mountain in Valencia California. There was only one problem, and its name is MAGENTA! These slides had turned the most vivid shade of magenta I have ever seen. I figured these were beyond repair, but I sent them to my buddy Dave over at Daveland and he was able to restore a great deal of color. Thanks Dave, we all greatly appreciate it!

There are about 25 slides so I will be breaking this series into three parts. I also have some fun stuff to include with each post. Check back on the next two Wednesday s for part’s 2 and 3.

“It’s always best to start at the beginning” so let’s take a look at a pre-opening article in the “Amusement Business” magazine. This is the March 13, 1971 issue. The tower was originally designed (by Intamin) to be the Playboy Club in Chicago, but they passed at the last minute so Magic Mountain bought it.






LOTS of details and data. That’s the Four Winds restaurant being built, the building is still there (with awesome views) but the last time I checked, it was closed. If you want to see a pre-opening brochure and inaugural day ticket, see my earlier post here (link). Magic Mountain would open on May 29, 1971.






A close-up of the Tower. The height scares me, but I will go up next time because there is a great Magic Mountain museum at the top! If you look closely in this photo, you can see people on the lower level. The lower level was screened in, no windows. The lower level is closed to the public now. In the "Playboy" version, this level was going to be the lounge, with the restaurant on the top level.






Taken from the tower, these are the fountains where the “Valencia Falls” spill into. The building in the lower right is the “Coffee Grinder” which is now the “Internet Cafe”. See the popcorn cart in the upper right? They STILL sell popcorn there, wow!






Three neat views of the Valencia Falls. The Falls were turned off recently for a few years as they built Tatsu. They have now been turned back on, see them on my Magic Mountain post from May (link). I sure dig the “MM” flags!







A few views of the Log Jammer. This view shows one of the lift hills and the first drop, the second drop is a blast, not surpassed until Splash Mountain.





More “flume”, some track from the “Gold Rusher” roller coaster on the left and part of the HUGE Show Case Theater on the right.






The Log Jammer as seen through the windows of the “Four Winds” restaurant.






A couple of Souvenir snaps shots. The Wizard and a couple of Trolls in front of the falls.






The Fountains at night.





Here’s a special treat. I posted this 1971 Magic Mountain Wall Map back in April, but I had to stitch it together myself and it was kind of sloppy. Alan over at the fabulous Wishbookweb (link) was kind enough to stitch it together properly from the four scans. The map shown below is my misaligned scan, but the link here is for the corrected version. Thanks Alan! If you've even been to Magic Mountain in the 1970's, be sure to download this map and study it...

1971 Magic Mountain Wall Map High Res. scan – 15mb






Be sure to check back next Wednesday for Part two.

Magic Mountain 1979 and 2008

Today’s post is very photo heavy, I hope you like Magic Mountain! The first section is a vintage brochure, the second section is how the park looked yesterday.

First up is a great Brochure from March 1979. The park was sold to Six Flags in 1979, but there is no mention of Six Flags in this brochure. The name changed in 1980 to “Six Flag Magic Mountain”. The mimes on the front give me the creeps, mimes are like a clown’s cousin, both nightmare inducing!







Spillikin Corners! The 1970’s were so fun and folksy!






This folds out BIG! Thanks Richard! This is the Magic Mountain of my early teen years. From 1975-1979 I spent many summer days at the park. Back then my yearly Magic Mountain to Disneyland ratio was about 25:1





Details on the back, wait, where is the Ronald Reagan Freeway? Yes the actor! "No Cumbersome Ticket Books".







Hint: Currently online you can get admission tickets for $26.99 (good thru 5/26) what a deal!

All of these photos’ are from yesterday. This first photo could easily be from 1979. Yes these are OLD trams, but they are fast and get the job done. More important, they instantly transported me back to those summers of my early teens, worth the $15 for parking fee just for that.






Lots of flowers, the park was noticeably cleaner than my last visit in 2005.






If you live in the Los Angeles area, I suggest you go to Magic Mountain during the week and before Memorial Day; there was virtually no one there and the price is right.






The Valencia Falls are running again! The falls have been out of commission ever since they started Tatsu Construction in 2005. It’s great to see them running again, I hear they just started them up again last week.






The Carousel seems to be in fine shape, it just needs some riders.






Ah early 1970’s architecture, I still have a fond place in my heart for this style of buildings, nice to see them still in use.






Squint your eyes and this could be Disneyland. Ok, maybe not.






Superman, the ride. Not for me, thanks.






The last remaining Troll, still driving his little bumper car!






My earliest memories of Magic Mountain are from the summer of 1971, when the park was new. Two distinct things come to mind; “Valencia Grass” everywhere and “Music” coming from loud speakers on poles and in the ground. It’s VERY nice to see both still exist today. They were playing music the whole time I was there; I don’t remember that in recent years.






Tatsu. Well, I did it! Let’s just say I am NOT that teenager anymore! It was fun, it was FAST, and it made me need to sit down for a few minutes afterwards! I was thinking it would be more like Ninja (which I rode twice, no line!) but it was more like a Space Shuttle launch. If you like coasters, it’s a must do.






One of the main attractions I wanted to see today was closed. The Sky Tower was closed all day, maybe due the winds or low attendance (or both). Too bad, I was willing to deal with my fear of heights because there is a Magic Mountain Museum at the top. I’ve seen pictures of it online, it looks fun. Maybe next time.






********** SAVE THE METRO **********

Ok, if you lasted with me this long, indulge me here at the end. One of my favorite attractions at Magic Mountain was the Metro Monorail. This was an original attraction to the park. It has three stations and is fully automatic. It was a real transportation system that actually worked. Yes two of the stations were kind of close, but the third one was up the hill and really saved time and eased tired feet.

The Metro has been nonoperational since at least 2003, maybe longer. I have heard all kinds of reasons why it’s not running, the big ones being: Doesn’t meet code and can’t find parts since the manufacture is out of business. Neither of those rings true; this same exact ride system is still in use at Hershey Park (since 1969!) somehow they keep it running and complying with codes.

Back in 2007, Magic Mountain hinted that a “Three Station Transportation System” was returning to the park, but I think we are getting Thomas the Train-land instead. I would like to think we can get both? Ok, enough of my “cause”. If you want to see the Monorail trains, here is a link to my previous Metro Rants (link).

Since the entire Metro infrastructure might go away someday, I got some pictures of the three stations. I wonder if people even know what these are for? This first station is the nearest to the entrance, just before the kiddy land.






This is the exit area for the first station. Ok, it needs some paint and TLC, but it’s all there.






The second station is up more near the “Carnival Games” section. This station has a super 1970’s look to it. I remember waiting in line on those stairs!






The building could use some paint and TLC too, but again its all there, the area’s for all of these stations are really nice and green.






The last station is somewhat hidden and partially blocked off (didn’t stop me!). The main entrance is still open; it’s on the back trail up the mountain (towards Superman and Ninja).






The path to the boarding area is blocked off (I reached around for this picture), this loading area is in a tunnel that runs under Superman (it used to just run thru the mountain). The Metro comes out the other side of the tunnel and runs near the falls then back to the first station. This station is in worse condition than the other two.





Whew, I hope I didn’t bore you to tears! Plaese come back tomorrow for some Disneyland Stuff.

Magic Mountain Double Ride Days - How about the New Colossus?

Time to head north of the Disneyland (or about 2 gallons north of Hollywood) to Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia.

Its Double Ride Days, you get to stay on the ride and go around again! I wonder how you got one of these? This card is large at 8 ½ by 3 inches. It’s also made of thick plastic; it won’t tear, wrinkle or fade. They must have re-used these?





I think I’ll use this on the New Colossus! As soon as Six Flags took over Magic Mountain (in 1979 for 51 million dollars!) they “fixed” Colossus. I rode Colossus before and after the changes done in these photos. In my humble opinion, it was much better before. It was more terrifying and thrilling, I recall getting lifted out of my seat and having to hold on or else. Come to think of it, I can see why they changed it.





Looks fun still, of course they are not showing the hills they cut way down, the ones where you had to hold on for your life!





In this photo, if you look behind and to the right of Valerie Bertinelli in the front row, you can see the lower section of the tracks, those “humps” used to be much more dramatic. The wizard looks confused, maybe it’s Eddie Van Halen in there?





And because these post really needs some color, here is a nice post card of the kids area from 1986.





I hear lots of good things about Magic Mountain these days, they really are trying to clean the place up and make it friendly again. I will be going to the “Mountain” in a couple weeks, I’ll be sure to update you on its progress and the Magic Mountain Museum they put up in the Sky Tower!!!

Magic Mountain Wall Map - 1971

From the opening year of 1971, this Magic Mountain Wall Map is pretty cool. This is before there was any expansion. Its also true to opening day and not just an artist rendering. See some great Magic Mountain concept art on my 1971 Inaugural Guest Preview Day post (link).

I spiced this together from four large 12" by 18" scans. I did an OK job putting the pieces together (those dark lines are folds, but you see my seams too...). Somehow I got the boarder out of alignment but kept most of the inside in place. Also it lost some clarity along the way.

A slightly higher resolution file can be found here: Magic Mountain Map 1971

If anyone wants to stitch together all four pieces for themselves, in high resolution, you can download it here:

Magic Mountain Wall Map in 4 parts at 400dpi (Zip File - 38mb)

Come back tomorrow for Mega Bonus Sunday!

The Magic of the Mountain

Lets take a close look at "The Magic of the Mountain". This is a great souvenir book from the early 1970's. It measures 6 X 9 and has a lot of great color pictures. I've posted the whole thing on today's post and just because - here is the whole thing in a high resolution PDF file. (Link) 30mb.

Some of these pictures are repeats found on post cards and other Magic Mountain guides. However, the center of the guide photo (the centerfold?) is a splendid shot of the bottom of Valencia Falls & Fountains. I think this is still mostly there, however it has two roller coasters running thru it and looks very different. I think I see a before and after project coming.

That sign is still there (but with Six Flags on it) along with the little building that used to be a info and gift shop, I think it just has signs on it now. I always wanted to stop there but never did.

If you like amusement and theme parks (who doesn't?) check out Shane's Amusement Attic, I hope you have about 3 or 4 hours to kill, theres 46 pages!

Shane's Amusement Attic at Theme Park Review.com

See you on Super Bonus Sunday~!