That Kennywood Summer
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- Опубліковано 24 січ 2019
- It's 30 minutes of video footage that was shot by our WQED crew in the summer of 1988 when we were gathering material for our program called KENNYWOOD MEMORIES. It's more of some stuff (like Bryan & Geno on the Laser Loop and Thunderbolt maintenance crew) and lots of new stuff (like a lot of screaming riders on the Flying Carpet!) It's a beautiful old amusement park an some of the people who loved it in the summer of 1988.
It's the 5th program in our NEBBY series, produced and narrated by Rick Sebak.
Anyone else still watch Kennywood memories before going to the park? I do every time.
Yep
It makes it so much better to know the history!
Always when I get home from a day at the park
It’s a tradition at this point!
Some of these sounds that you don't even think about are so nostalgic.
Gosh I wish I could go back to the 1980's and be stuck there. What a great time it was. Although, I wouldn't be able to write this comment... but, that's okay.
I'd like to go back to the 70's and ride the Ghost Ship. That was about the funnest haunted house ever.
Then it burned down, sadly.
before safety and red tape ruined everything in this world as we know it
I'd go back and stay there too if I could. Sure could use a DeLorean and some plutonium...
I worked at the Giant Eagle across the street when this was made. I would go and collect shopping carts at night. You could hear the screams of excitement. The lights would come on and it was so great to watch. I would give anything to go back to those times.
That sounds awesome!
You still can! Giant Eagle is always accepting applications for baggers.
when we were young we didnt realize how lucky we were to be healthy, maybe still living at home and not worrying about bills, or spouses, children, our careers, i remember how much fun we had i wish i had made more effort to stay in touch with old friends, thank god for facebook i have found some of them
Jesus is coming back. Have faith in Him alone to be saved.
I wished i enjoyed my job like you did
Beth Snodgrass says "slippy" instead of "slippery." The sign of a true Pittsburgher!
Did Beth Snodgrass say "slippy?" YES!!!! I was an altar boy at St Athanasius too. I was in college in 88 though.
Absolutely adored this and will watch this many times. The decision to revisit the original footage was genius.
Bring back the ferris wheel . George Ferris invented the Ferris wheel and he lived in Pittsburgh for a time .It's a shame Kennywood doesn't even have one any more
Love these Rick Sebak shows
88 man it was a different time before cell phones, before social media, before cancel culture, when going to the amusement park was pure thrills and fun and you left your cares and woes at the door stuffed your face till you hurled, screamed till you were out of breath, laughed till it hurt and rode till you passed out and you'd go home just wishing to go back soon to do it all over again
I drove all the way to Pittsburgh from Boston about 18 years ago after seeing this on pbs.
Worth the trip.
That's awesome!!! I live 5 minutes from kennywood, I could see it out my window
@@OM-md6ki that's cool.
I would like to bring my kids some time.
Well it's not worth the trip any more. I'd rather drive 4 hours to Kings Island than go to today's Kennywood.
@@Cocomanvideo that's a shame. .I liked the small park feel.
I remember watching the original on a PBS station in Cleveland when I was 11 and convincing my Mom to take us here the following summer. I live in Florida now, but still try to make it to Kennywood anytime I visit the north.
I think the last time I was there was in 2017. They had that new haunted mansion by the Thunderbolt, which wasn't much fun at all. Then they ruined the Tunnel of Love by making it Garfield's Nightmare. What were they thinking?
But then they had Noah's Ark working just about right again, so I wasn't too upset.
We need an updated Kennywood Memories.
GinaMarie I second this idea
When Steelers Country opens they should film it
Yes!!!!
Would have zero charm. There are fights there like every day lol.
They aren't open at night anymore, no more ethnic days and certainly not the old character it has in these days.
I love these shows. THIS is the Kennywood that's near and dear to me, I was in high school in the 80's. This is the park where my friends and I spent some of our best days. The park my Mom took me to, I lost her in 86. So many reasons that it means so much to me. I miss this time, no cell phones, just the people we were with. We'll never get that back and it hurts my heart. I'm laughing though because I forgot all about that old commercial the kids sang
This always stabs my heart when I see how the managers of the park used take care of it, and take pride in it. Unfortunately this is no more, the new owners are getting rid of some of the most iconic rides in the whole park. Just very sad to see.
I heard they might sell the park to Cedar Fairs (owners of a lot of large amusement parks in the USA)🥺 it won’t even be a family owned park anymore 😢
@@Kellylynn_ Kennywood hadn’t been family owned since 2007. Palace entertainment owns it rn
hasn’t*
@@Kellylynn_ Been hearing that rumor for years along with Six Flags
I was thinking the same thing. Now every time I go, and I go several times per year, rides are broken down and closed. This is especially true of The Exterminator. Ethnic days at Kennywood. Can you imagine the stir that would cause now?
I would have liked if they could've found and interviewed some of the people now who they interviewed back then.
Greg Daubner I thought that was the intent of the new show. I was kind of disappointed when it wasn’t
Gosh, what a miracle of a time. The 80's, wholesome, fun, free. What happened to life? We are so fortunate to experience this time of awesomeness and freedom. We get to look back and go take me back to the 80's, what person or child growing up today will say oh the good ol' 2020's take me back to 2020. Thank you Rick for sharing this video.
I'm 71 and live in Virginia now but I remember Kennywood from my childhood days in the 50's. A staple in Pittsburgh. Great memories looking at 1988. Amazing that it opened in 1899.
1988... I was five! I would have been one of those little kids in the video that he points out is in their 30's now. Yep *raises hand* I'm 35 now.
The Park in 1988 vs today, different totally.
fern Haloo not that much, the energy is still the same. Kind of. Lot more phones and not as much love
Liberals.
@@onemorething100 Ruined everything
I remembered making sure my parents kept track of how tall I was as a kid because year after year I would get closer and closer to being "tall enough" to ride the jackrabbit haha
@@raykarpinski4670 Nah it's a completely different park today man, plus now a days there's always large groups of obnoxious ghetto goblins, usually getting into fights or smoking weed in the smoking area *which I've seen countless times*..
I was born in 89 and spent many summers at Kennywood. I had a big smile on my face the entire time watching this!
And now its 89 dollars per person lol
It was great to see all this old footage. I love anything and everything having to do with the park. Kennywood Memories is one of the first things I remember watching on TV in 1988 when I was only 3 years old. Watching that film in the morning before we went to Kennywood became a tradition. I moved out of town and haven't had the chance to go since 2004, but I can still talk Kennywood for hours. Out of all the other parks I have been to, Kennywood will always be my favorite.
There was a 2009 movie called Adventureland. It was filmed in Kennywood Park, supposedly taking place in 1987.
The movie was just OK but the backgrounds will take you there.
Cellphones and social media ruined our society. There is no going back to the “good times”.
Kids growing up today will never know what nostalgia is because they are growing up in a time where the new replaces the old and the old becomes “lame”.
I'm having to save this to watch later, as I have a busy day ahead of me.....
But man, I love Kennywood.
My parents were born and raised in Pittsburgh. All of my grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, etc stayed there, and we ended up moving all over the place, going back once (sometimes twice) a year to visit.....and in the Summer, Kennywood was the BIG hit.
Had my 1st rollercoaster ride on the Jack Rabbit......which was around when my folks were kids.
The thought of that now is scary as F, but it was awesome then. Me.....my older brother, and my dad. (2 younger brothers were too little to go on it).
Noah's Ark was a blast......Heck.....All of it was!!
I'm stuck in Washington State now, and miss Pittsburgh (and Kennywood) so much.
It was the only 'constant' in my life.
We ended up moving back about a week after I graduated high school, and I spent the Summer there until I went off for the Army in September of '84.
But for 15 years after that (until my dad retired and my folks moved to Florida) I always took my leave to Pittsburgh.
A city like no other.......Actually, it's not just a 'city'......It's a whole different world and lifestyle.
Anyone want to adopt a 52 year old man-child so that I can move back??
I used to go to school picnics out at Kennywood in 1960 - 1964. We used to pack cold chicken in a basket and leave it on a picnic table and go on rides and come back and nobody disturbed our picnic basket.
My mom used to show up around noon during the school trip to Kennywood. She would sit by the merry go round with a big bag of McDonald's Filet O Fish sandwiches. We would swing by, grab some food, and then race back to the rides.
Big pocket full of ride tickets back then.
We went to KP school picnics all through the 50s. Same thing…Mother would take a picnic basket, put it in the pavilion and we’d come back for lunch. Nobody ever disturbed it.
Thank you Mr Sebak for raking us back 30yrs. We're all glad Geno's still alright!
Sometimes I just put this on to feel better. Something so soothing about old Pittsburgh. Love my city. I wave back every time.
I miss the days with my mom and family. 01/17/2011
Thank you for this. 😌 I was 15yo then. There is no other voice that would have made this experience better.
That was a great video, and thanks for posting it up on UA-cam for me to watch it. The end bit where you showed all the clips of folks waving at the camera sort of brought a bit of a tear to my eye, and I'm not sure why....it was not at all sad.
Me too ✌️
Because it's BEAUTIFUL. (When we left Kennywood as kids, my sister would always say, "Bye, bye, Kennywood! We'll be a-back!")
Wonderful storytelling; heartwarming and nostalgic. Thank you, Rick!
Rick Seback and Mr Kennywood from the carousel 🎠 will always be our favorite yinzers
So much has changed from the original Kennywood memories up until now. Very cool
That one couple was spraying each other with Ajax at 5:05 lol
Rick Sebak you are the voice of Pittsburgh and an absolute LEGEND
This is wonderful. I was 8 years old in 1988. I started singing that commercial right along with those people. Some if the best times of my life. I'd do anything to go back.
Thanks, MizzBee! It's great to reminisce on times like those and we love hearing everyone's memories about the park!
It is nice to Rick pull together an updated version of Kennywood Memories. I worked at Kennywood for 4 summers in the early 80s and this really seems familiar. I remember Gino, Beth, and Mitzi and Sharon (true characters even when not dressed as Kenny Kangaroo or Colonel Bimbo). One lasting memory is the end of shift close out. The old Nighty Night song from the 1920’s would play and on the last “Good Night” we would turn off our ride’s lights and pick up the ticket can and then our whole ride crew would walk out together to drop the ticket can off at the office. And one thing most of us would take to college in the fall would be our signature Kennywood tans (deep tanned faces, arms, and legs, but completely pale torsos ankles and feet). And true Pittsburgher’s know that saying “Kennywood’s open” can have two very different meanings.
Indeed lol 😂 zip it up shhh 🤫
They still play it
Man the flying carpet was a painful and torturous experience, I miss the hell out of it!
> 16:15 < Flying Carpet
I wasn’t alive pre-2002, but this makes me so happy. However, as Steel Curtain is built and more people around the country take notice of the park, I just hope it doesn’t become too modernized or coaster enthusiast-oriented. I live next to HersheyPark and the way it’s changed so, so much just since I was a kid is frightening. I don’t want to lose these classic amusement parks, especially not the ones in PA. It’s like losing people’s childhoods, and some of the best parts of the past.
Goddess of Wisdom Well said.
Steel curtain is where Log Jammer was? > 14:06
Having worked on the Log Jammer, made funnel cakes, corn dogs; this brought a tear to my eye. Those early mornings when there was a buzz in the park without any crowds.
I love this! Please do an updated kennywood memories! Things have changed so much
I feel sad for the lost time. I was a Knoebels kid but same exact vibe. 80s and 90s get togethers and parks like this are now gone forever. But memories like this are so amazing.
I'm 56 years old now I grew up in McKeesport Pennsylvania right next to Kennywood. All the schools in that area would go there every summer. I actually used to date Beth's Snodgrass. If you happen to see this Beth I just wanted to say hi and hope you're doing well. Take care Marc D'Amico
Hello. I grew up across from a snodgrass family in pointbreeze. Is this the same family?
Adore Kennywood !!! I could watch hours of footage !
I love Kennywood, I live in northeast Ohio, and we lost our "local parks" Geauga Lake is closed, and Cedar Point is now a resort vacation destination, almost on par with Disney, not a "local park" anymore.
Cedar Point is definitely not like Disney!
@@christopherflorio7658 Different crowd, but the area around it is looking more and more like 192. It is exactly like Disney only on a smaller scale.
dustanglx50 I’m near Youngstown and I agree...Cedar Fair has ruined its main park and now they are continually ruining Kings Island.
Medina here. I agree about CP; It lost its sparkle years ago. The thrills are one of a kind, but the atmosphere is sorely lacking. I take my kids to Kennywood every year, continuing on 3 generations of tradition. Kennywood is one of my favorite places.
Ive always wanted to travel to cedar point since i heard of it in 00ish.
Ive still never been.
My family isn't into amusement parks like i was.
This was beautiful
Never did I work so much, make so little and had so much fun doing it!
Beth’s legend is clearly enhanced by this additional footage - and you can tell Rick knows it because he references her casual use of a now iconic yinzer word when he transitions into the next scene by saying you could “slip” into the arcade.
This is The Godfather part two of Kennywood memories.
Slippy!!!! I miss Pittsburgh......especially back in 88’ when I graduated from Brashear High
Rip log jammer
That was a great ride, unless you are one of the folks that don't like to get wet. ;)
I dont miss it now that Steel Curtain is going there
HockeyGUY66871 I mean it was over 40 years old so you gotta miss it and remember it alittle bit
Someone had their head in the right place when they named that ride ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)
It's still funny to me 30 years later
This was absolutely charming.
The very first time I saw this documentary -- I had moved from Clairton to Allentown in 1988. And it was on UHF (so not good quality) maybe in 1989. I was so thrilled to see a documentary about Western PA (I was a kid -- and I swear, it seemed like none of my elementary school classmates ever even heard of Pittsburgh!)
Watching teenage mutant Ninja turtles and listening to vanilla ice on the way home and playing Nintendo with your friends lol. Man these were the days! Rick sebak is a national treasure especially for Pittsburgh!
What a charming and nostalgic documentary. A great find and thirty minutes well spent!
I was born in 1988. I live in Lancaster County PA and have only traveled to Kennywood once in the summer of 2001. The original Kennywood Memories documentary is what brought my family to visit then. Thank you so much for posting this great gem
I love this. It is an excellent companion piece to KENNYWOOD MEMORIES. Just brings back so many of my own memories that I have from my younger days going to Kennywood. Thank you.
I was 23 years old and had just gotten out of the Army in June 1988 so this footage brings back so many memories of my first summer back home in Pittsburgh in nearly 4 years. I can vividly remember elementary school picnics at Kennywood and the good times I had standing in line for the rides with friends, which was sometimes more fun than the actual rides themselves. Rick Sebak documentaries are the next best thing to a Pittsburgh time machine that I'll ever experience in my lifetime. I'm now living deep behind Confederate lines in Tennessee and I'm watching this documentary in my office on my lunch break and yet I'm thinking of a big plate of potato patch fries and sugar coated funnel cakes.
Went there this year for the first time the weekend of July 4th. Had a great time and would recommend it. Had a great time with my daughter, son n law, son and granddaughters. Can't wait to do it again.
"Kennywood's open"
only a Pittsburgher would know what that means :)
ahah pittsburghers know what's up
🤣🤣🤣🤣 no one understands that unless they are from Pittsburgh!!
Wholesomeness is off the chart.
Aww, this made me smile. Great memories. I worked there from '90-'94 :)
I've been waiting for a sequel to this iconic documentary, but I'll settle for this. Good job, Mr. Seback.
Born in spring 87 and lived half the nation away, but my family made summer trips to Pittsburgh to visit family each summer. Kennywood was of course the highlight of the year. I watched Kennywood Memories year round, basically memorized it. bought & read Charles Jr's history book (and the followup he came out with in the late 90s) but my last trip to Kennywood was in 2000. The way I remember the park is how it was presented in Kennywood Memories and through the 90s when I went. In a way, I almost don't want to see how it's changed. It's frozen in time to me as a little boy, and it almost seems like it would be sad to see it now with so many rides gone and changed. But at the same time, I have 2 little boys of my own now, and I'm certain that as soon as they're old enough we will make the trip so we can all create new Kennywood Memories again.
That's a great memory, thank you for sharing that! We hope you can create new memories with your children!
It's gone to pot. I haven't been there since 2013, and I've heard it's not being cared for like it used to be. Plus the crime has gotten worse. ☹️
The guy named Gino has a Sgt. Slaughter shirt on!!! The WWF TV show used to plug those every Saturday on their show. Awesome shirt!!
Troy Elich he still works at kennywood
Always a pleasure to see Kennywood Park , And to hear Rick describe the rides and the things that changed through the years . Thanks Rick .😊
Omg i forgot this voice but instantly remembered it
This was great! I’m from the Detroit area and I saw the original program on PBS back in 93 and taped it on VHS. I must have watched it every day for two years and finally convinced my parents to drive out to Kennywood in 96. Absolutely adore that park. Really want to go back there with my son.
I worked there in the early 2000s, on the Racer and the Jack Rabbit. Some of my best memories are from being a Kennywood employee before the world turned dark. Miss my old coworkers and friends from then too...
This was wonderful to see. I now live in Florida.
I would have been 7 years old and Im certain I was at the park that summer. Dad drove us up to PA to visit our grandparents every summer from Biloxi, MS. Long road trip but it was worth it… even if dad teased us by saying we wouldnt have time to go to Kennywood, he would still take us. Ive never been to Disneyland- THIS was my Disneyland and boy am I glad it was. I got pretty emotional watching this… I remember. 😢❤
By the way- my family is Slovak. Thank you Kennywood for celebrating cultural diversity 🥰
Those are some great memories, Laura! :)
I did Disneyland as a graduation present. I like Kennywood better. Disney is too big.
Went here as a young kid many times with family. Moved to the Bay area in Calif. in 85 and I still miss it now in 2022.
Excellent program. Thanks Rick!
Really wish they would bring back the log jammer. Had grown up goin to kennywood..favorite days were the Italian sons and daughters picnic, pittsburgh police picnic, then the school picnics....
What a great film! Thanks to WQUED for doing this for us! All of us Yinzers have wanted more KW Memories since the first one came out! Absolutely awesome!
A masterpiece, Rick, as always❤️
I need some of those fries right now.
So many memories. Thanks for posting.
i get season passes and i go like literally every day. it’s my fav place in the summer to hang out w frienfs
I have the kennywood memories disc and we watch it every year before we go to kennywood, it’s so sad that we can’t go this year 🥺
Thanks so much for this, Rick!
I’m only 15 but watching this made me feel so sad for some reason
This is really good footage for the time. Thanks!
Fantastic!!! Thanks for the link. This “slice of life” collection may have been outtakes but it captures the vibe of the park and the time so evocatively. It totally reminds me of my days running rides and games at a park in the 80’s.
I love Kennywood! In 88 I was only 7 years old but I took my kids this past summer (2018) and though a lot has changed it's still the same! Thanks for posting this.
Those short shorts, and perms!! Thanks for posting this! 💗
I miss the rotor omg theeee best ride. My aunt Peggy hated it. I learned every curse word in one night funniest 😂 day of my life I will never forget
BIG mistake to get rid of the Log Jammer...
As usual, Rick hits it out of the park. Love watching his stuff. Keep it up Rick.
What a great show this is. Such a great portrayal of the way us Yinzers love Kennywood!
Aww i loved this. Would be nice to see footage from the early 90’s to early 2000’s thank you for sharing this ❤️
Awesome! I loved this!
Of course I recognized 3 people in this video!! The good old days!!
Thank you! Great footage. I was most certainly there that summer. Just a kid, but this is the way that it will always be burned into my memory.
The Rotor. Ha!
I loved every second of this
I happened to be 11 back then. It was the perfect age and the perfect time with the perfect park!! ❤️
I just love Kennywood! One of the best places on Earth for me. :)
Im 18 years old so i definitely wasnt alive during 88 but its so fascinating seeing all the rides like i had no idea we had a ferris wheel and the flying carpet looks so fun
the footage is beautiful
I was just remarking about no cell phones, and then rick said it. These were better days overall!
Love it! Miss it.
They should make one with footage from 2019 when Steelers Country opens.