Thank you for posting this. I remember The Cyclone at the Long Beach Pike, in the early 50’s. We lived nearby. When I was about 3 or 4, my two older sisters took me there. That may be why I am terrified of heights!
I was there in the final year , 1978.They still had the Skooter bumper cars and the ski lift type ride ,and 25 cents photo booths in which I tried them all.
I finally got to see the Pike right here. As kids, the Pike once crossed our minds around '71 or '72, but that idea quickly got nixed by a friend who said it was full of winos. Consequently, I never did see it although we often came down to LB to swim at Belmont Shores. Thanks!
This is where I got my only tattoo as a sailor. And yes, I was drunk. But the tattoo came out great. We used to go down there all the time in the '60s. It was a little run down but we still had a good time. It was still a great place to meet pretty girls. California has more of those than anywhere else.
Tattoo shops on almost every corner, guys at stands betting they can guess your age, and the smell of popcorn, cotton candy, saltwater taffy, and the ocean, all mixed together. And sailors, sailors, and more sailors! For you folks that weren’t here back in those days, you have no idea what you missed! Long Beach has lost a real gem.
Got stationed at Long Beach September 1972 and was there until 1974. The Pike was pretty much a dump by then, nobody went there. The Cyclone Racer must have already been torn down because I don't remember seeing it. I think the Santa Cruz Boardwalk is the only amusement park still in existence on the west coast.
The roller coaster shut down the year I started working in LB, circa 1968. The Navy was a mainstay in LB, from the early 40's until the mid 90's. When they shut everything and left.
The Pike is a fond memory for me as a kid. Especially the Cyclone coaster (I remember hearing it derailed into the ocean once) and the Salt Water Taffy stand!
I'm 78, and I remember going to the Pike with a high school club from San Bernardino in about 1962. Played pinball incessantly, rode some rides and then rode the Cyclone over and over. I remember the first time I rode it (first big coaster) standing, waiting for the cars to come in and the scaffolding of the coaster is creaking and swaying, and I'm getting real nervous. I didn't chicken out, got on, and attempted to go down the first big drop with my hands in the air. As the car went down, I felt myself rising. I immediately grabbed the bar and held on the rest of the ride. The guy sitting next to me laughed and told me I turned white as a ghost! It was so much fun, we couldn't stop doing it over and over.
There were always lots of sailors walking the Pike. Locker clubs where they kept their civies. I was a Navy wife living on Pine , a short walk to the Pike and beach.
In 1967, the final episode of THE FUGITIVE tv show had its climatic scene filmed at the PIKE, where Richard Kimble finally catches up with and fights the infamous One-Armed Man!@
@@luckyzert I believe you're RIGHT... always getting those two parks confused, Pacific Ocean Park THE FUGITIVE and numerous other credits, IT'S A MAD, MAD, MAD, MAD WORLD the Pike -thank you!
@@grahamhill6340 Ah, yes...Mad (x4) World is one of my favorite films. I actually set out to find the Big W back in the 70's. I found it down in Portuguese Bend in the Palos Verde Peninsula. At that time 3 of the 4 palm trees still existed...unfortunately, now they are all gone.
@@luckyzert I was more fortunate, I actually was there at that private home some 40 years ago when two of the original palms were still standing... I visited many of the locations. My late friend Carey Loftin was the main stuntman on the film getting paid the same $100,000 as the stars. Carey drives the car in the opening, kicks the bucket, doubles Terry Thomas and others, a true HOLLYWOOD legend. I got to meet quite a few cast and crew, and when I started at Universal in the 1970's, where half the film was shot, much of the backlot was still like you saw in the firetruck/fire-escape scenes!
@@grahamhill6340 Excellent! I actually went up to the private residence and knocked. The were quite nasty! "Carey Loftin" was one of the best stunt guys ever...and a pretty funny guy. And we must also give credit to Frank Tallman who did the flying stunts - putting that Beechcraft through the Coca-cola sign...incredible. Because of CGI, people today don't really appreciate things that are done in real life.
I always kinda thought they made the pike so sailors had something to do on liberty, and I guess they kinda did but us kids loved it to, you didn't have to wait for the carnival to get around to your town. Miss it , I guess, the childhood. ✌️. Thx.
I was a young sailor in the early 60's. Got assigned to a Destroyer at Long Beach Naval Station. The Pike was a hive of all that is Negative and warned by my Fellow Shipmates to stay away from it.
All gone now just for some places to eat and shop.. so sad.. the whole LongBeach shore has no boardwalk like Venice, no amusement park like Santa Monica or LongBeach own past "Pike" , just waveless beaches, trash from LA River, a deteriorating queen Mary, and a dog beach. 🤔
We have the type of ppl residing in long beach to thank for . Long beach used to be such an amazing place. Now it's all gone, because down town long beach is full of delinquency. Investors rather invest their money else where . Where is is safe to do so. I hope some day long beach can become at least half of what it used to be in the past .
When it was built the Cyclone was the biggest coaster in the world and the only double track roller coaster to boot. In the 1950s I was 4 or 5 taken on one of those "Dark" rides with scary stuff popping up and swinging down at me. Scared me so bad I wouldn't go on anything else, I was terrorized. Not the kind of ride you take a little kid on, would of been less scary if they had taken me on the Cyclone which I wanted to go on. They said it was too scary.
2:13 Looking at the vehicles in the photo, it's late 60's to early 70's. I thought that round apartment building in the background was much, much newer.
Had a Jewish girl, Steph I think, went down there to ride that ancient wooden roller coaster. She jumped on the first car; I steeled myself as we pulled to the top. Tried to be brave but that first drop I knew we were about to die...
My dad was born in 35. Born and raised in LA, told me he has seen Navy guys bail out of the coaster at the end of the pier and dive into the sea. It’s a great story but can anyone confirm this. My dad had a ton of stories and most of them true or un confirmed. Anyone, Buehler?
More tattoos were given to drunk Sailors in a week than any modern Hipster Tattoo place in Hollywood does in a month, or two.Of course 80% ofbthe old Sailor tattoos said a ship's name or MOM.
Must have been nice in the 40s, 50s and early 60s, before they just let it go with no up keep and demolished all the attractions over time. I was there in the early 70s and I am sure even then it was just a remnant of historical culture in neglect. Really sad and pathetic the cheesy modernized crap they turned it into that has no relation at all to the original Pike and that historical area. CA is such a sell out to rich land developers
Thank you for posting this. I remember The Cyclone at the Long Beach Pike, in the early 50’s. We lived nearby. When I was about 3 or 4, my two older sisters took me there. That may be why I am terrified of heights!
I was there in the final year , 1978.They still had the Skooter bumper cars and the ski lift type ride ,and 25 cents photo booths in which I tried them all.
I finally got to see the Pike right here. As kids, the Pike once crossed our minds around '71 or '72, but that idea quickly got nixed by a friend who said it was full of winos. Consequently, I never did see it although we often came down to LB to swim at Belmont Shores. Thanks!
This is where I got my only tattoo as a sailor. And yes, I was drunk. But the tattoo came out great. We used to go down there all the time in the '60s. It was a little run down but we still had a good time. It was still a great place to meet pretty girls. California has more of those than anywhere else.
yep I got my first tattoo there wjen I turned 18 at Bert Grimm's by Rick Waters.
Remember the dish toss? I LOVED that... still have a depression era glass dish ...what memories- sailors walking everywhere- that roller coaster... 😳
i remember the penny arcades as a child growing up, great memories
Tattoo shops on almost every corner, guys at stands betting they can guess your age, and the smell of popcorn, cotton candy, saltwater taffy, and the ocean, all mixed together. And sailors, sailors, and more sailors! For you folks that weren’t here back in those days, you have no idea what you missed! Long Beach has lost a real gem.
Thanks for sharing. 💋
I rode on that roller coaster when I was a kid, cost 25 cents😂
Technically so did I. My Mom was pregnant with me at the time. Sadly I never got the opportunity to ride it again (too short, poor, and/or far away).
Wow, Long Beach looked pretty awesome back then established huge amusement park 🥵
Nothing like nowadays sir
Got stationed at Long Beach September 1972 and was there until 1974. The Pike was pretty much a dump by then, nobody went there. The Cyclone Racer must have already been torn down because I don't remember seeing it. I think the Santa Cruz Boardwalk is the only amusement park still in existence on the west coast.
The roller coaster shut down the year I started working in LB, circa 1968. The Navy was a mainstay in LB, from the early 40's until the mid 90's. When they shut everything and left.
The Pike is a fond memory for me as a kid. Especially the Cyclone coaster (I remember hearing it derailed into the ocean once) and the Salt Water Taffy stand!
Thanks Ed, this brought back a lot of memories 👍👍👍👍
I rode on the roller coaster too a long time ago in my teens and I'm 74 now been many moons ago!!!
I'm 78, and I remember going to the Pike with a high school club from San Bernardino in about 1962. Played pinball incessantly, rode some rides and then rode the Cyclone over and over. I remember the first time I rode it (first big coaster) standing, waiting for the cars to come in and the scaffolding of the coaster is creaking and swaying, and I'm getting real nervous. I didn't chicken out, got on, and attempted to go down the first big drop with my hands in the air. As the car went down, I felt myself rising. I immediately grabbed the bar and held on the rest of the ride. The guy sitting next to me laughed and told me I turned white as a ghost! It was so much fun, we couldn't stop doing it over and over.
The Pike rings a bell with me. A Child in Mid 1940's
There were always lots of sailors walking the Pike. Locker clubs where they kept their civies. I was a Navy wife living on Pine , a short walk to the Pike and beach.
It's a tragedy so many of these wonderful places have come and gone.
More for adults ,sailors eveywhere,gritty ,seedy...loved it in '50's,'60's...as a teeny weeny kido..
I remember my friend and I going in that place back in the 70s two black girls had a great time
Why tear all this great history down. I can't wait til they tear down what's down there now. Lol
In 1967, the final episode of THE FUGITIVE tv show had its climatic scene filmed at the PIKE, where Richard Kimble finally catches up with and fights the infamous One-Armed Man!@
Actually Pacific Ocean Park (P.O.P.), a little further north around Venice and Santa Monica - built on piers.
@@luckyzert I believe you're RIGHT... always getting those two parks confused, Pacific Ocean Park THE FUGITIVE and numerous other credits, IT'S A MAD, MAD, MAD, MAD WORLD the Pike -thank you!
@@grahamhill6340 Ah, yes...Mad (x4) World is one of my favorite films. I actually set out to find the Big W back in the 70's. I found it down in Portuguese Bend in the Palos Verde Peninsula. At that time 3 of the 4 palm trees still existed...unfortunately, now they are all gone.
@@luckyzert I was more fortunate, I actually was there at that private home some 40 years ago when two of the original palms were still standing... I visited many of the locations. My late friend Carey Loftin was the main stuntman on the film getting paid the same $100,000 as the stars. Carey drives the car in the opening, kicks the bucket, doubles Terry Thomas and others, a true HOLLYWOOD legend. I got to meet quite a few cast and crew, and when I started at Universal in the 1970's, where half the film was shot, much of the backlot was still like you saw in the firetruck/fire-escape scenes!
@@grahamhill6340 Excellent! I actually went up to the private residence and knocked. The were quite nasty! "Carey Loftin" was one of the best stunt guys ever...and a pretty funny guy. And we must also give credit to Frank Tallman who did the flying stunts - putting that Beechcraft through the Coca-cola sign...incredible. Because of CGI, people today don't really appreciate things that are done in real life.
I always kinda thought they made the pike so sailors had something to do on liberty, and I guess they kinda did but us kids loved it to, you didn't have to wait for the carnival to get around to your town. Miss it , I guess, the childhood. ✌️. Thx.
GREAT VIDEO ED !... ESPECIALLY LIKED THE MUSIC...NOTHING BEATS A WURLITZER! I WILL WATCH THIS AGAIN.
The rollercoaster was fun!
I was a young sailor in the early 60's. Got assigned to a Destroyer at Long Beach Naval Station. The Pike was a hive of all that is Negative and warned by my Fellow Shipmates to stay away from it.
MEMORIES!😍
All gone now just for some places to eat and shop.. so sad.. the whole LongBeach shore has no boardwalk like Venice, no amusement park like Santa Monica or LongBeach own past "Pike" , just waveless beaches, trash from LA River, a deteriorating queen Mary, and a dog beach. 🤔
We have the type of ppl residing in long beach to thank for . Long beach used to be such an amazing place. Now it's all gone, because down town long beach is full of delinquency. Investors rather invest their money else where . Where is is safe to do so. I hope some day long beach can become at least half of what it used to be in the past .
When it was built the Cyclone was the biggest coaster in the world and the only double track roller coaster to boot. In the 1950s I was 4 or 5 taken on one of those "Dark" rides with scary stuff popping up and swinging down at me. Scared me so bad I wouldn't go on anything else, I was terrorized. Not the kind of ride you take a little kid on, would of been less scary if they had taken me on the Cyclone which I wanted to go on. They said it was too scary.
2:13 Looking at the vehicles in the photo, it's late 60's to early 70's. I thought that round apartment building in the background was much, much newer.
They need to bring it back all these empty lots that would be very nice
Thank you! But I had to turn the sound off. INSANE.
When I went there it wasn’t all this going on some of that had gone
Had a Jewish girl, Steph I think, went down there to ride that ancient wooden roller coaster. She jumped on the first car; I steeled myself as we pulled to the top. Tried to be brave but that first drop I knew we were about to die...
My dad was born in 35. Born and raised in LA, told me he has seen Navy guys bail out of the coaster at the end of the pier and dive into the sea. It’s a great story but can anyone confirm this. My dad had a ton of stories and most of them true or un confirmed. Anyone, Buehler?
The video is nice but the music is terrible I got a headache from listening to it
Long Beach was better then
Guy caught lacking at 3:37
I was there in '72
Sometimes riders of the Racer were thrown out and died.
More tattoos were given to drunk Sailors in a week than any modern Hipster Tattoo place in Hollywood does in a month, or two.Of course 80% ofbthe old Sailor tattoos said a ship's name or MOM.
Great post but the music is torturous! 😂
Come on man! SMFH
Must have been nice in the 40s, 50s and early 60s, before they just let it go with no up keep and demolished all the attractions over time. I was there in the early 70s and I am sure even then it was just a remnant of historical culture in neglect. Really sad and pathetic the cheesy modernized crap they turned it into that has no relation at all to the original Pike and that historical area. CA is such a sell out to rich land developers
Bloody Mary bar
Muted at 0.03
Same here! Terrible music selections.
Seriously the most feral rendition of 'Entry of the Gladiators' I've ever heard.
Really irritating music
Mute it
The music is horrible.
The rides all smelled like vomit. That’s how I remember it.