This Page is an Archive of all news items featured on the Joyland Books News Page between 1 January and 30 June 2002.
For the latest news, click here.

New Blackpool Pleasure Beach Book Released [18/6/02]

A brand new book about Blackpool Pleasure Beach has been released. A Palette of Life is the result of the residency on the park of artist Julia Midgley. The book includes her sketches of the park, its rides and its attractions, along with a detailed journal of her observations of the park throughout her stay. The book includes an introduction by Blackpool Pleasure Beach Managing Director Geoffrey Thompson OBE. Click here for details.

Postcards Come to Joyland Books [16/6/02]

After numerous requests from our customers, postcards have now arrived at Joyland Books. As the Internet's biggest amusement park bookstore, we are aware of the demand for rare postcards of vintage amusement park rides. Now Joyland Books offers an ever-changing range of postcards of rides such as the Big Dipper at Blackpool Pleasure Beach in the 1930s, early fairground attractions at Skegness and a 110-year-old postcard of the Water Chute at Earl's Court. The list will be updated regularly. Click here for our online Postcard Catalogue.

Having a good time on the Cyclone, Southport Pleasureland. Available from the new Postcard Shop.

Scenic Railway Gallery Launched [13/6/02]

Joyland Books has launched a brand new gallery of photographs showing the Scenic Railway at Dreamland, Margate. The ride was became a listed building in March 2002, following a campaign lead by Joyland Books. This was the first time a UK amusement park ride had been listed. All of the pictures in the photo gallery are available from the Amusement Park Photographic Library.  Click here for the Scenic Railway photo gallery.

Scenic Railway, Dreamland (2002)

New Books Added to Secondhand Shop [12/6/02]

Several rare books have been added to the Secondhand Book Shop. Blackpool Pleasure Beach: Where Theme is Fun was a booklet about the park's history and attractions published in 1990. Savages Limited: A Short History 1850 - 1964 was produced by the fairground engineering company in the 1960s, and includes numerous photographs of vintage rides, with descriptive text. St. Giles Fair 1830 - 1914 is the history of the popular Oxford street fair.

Joyland Books Launches New Department [2/6/02]

Summer is here! Joyland Books packs its suitcases, catches the train and heads for the coast for some sun, sand and candy floss as it launches a completely new department: Seaside! Joyland Books is expanding to offer more than just amusement park and fairground books. Due to popular demand, we now offer a range of seaside books and videos, and our initial small range is set to expand dramatically over the coming weeks. Coming soon are videos of the history of resorts such as Blackpool, Brighton, Rhyl and Weston-Super-Mare along with a special video setting out the history of the British Seaside. Click here for our range of seaside books and here for our seaside video page.

Planning Problems for Flamingo Land [2/6/02]

Flamingo Land Theme Park, North Yorkshire, continues to suffer from planning problems. The 55-metre high Cliff Hanger tower ride, which was granted planning permission last year, has been installed in a slightly different location to that in the planning permission, and has the ride has been painted with red stripes to give it the appearance of a lighthouse. Members of Ryedale District Council's planning committee have been considering this issue now since the ride was installed, and no final decision has been made. One of the options put forward by the Council is to retain the ride, but to require the removal of the red stripes. Park bosses have expressed dissatisfaction at the Council's general support for the Flamingo Land business, which is one of the UK's most popular tourist attractions. If a retrospective planning permission is not granted, Ryedale District Council can commence enforcement proceedings. However, given that Flamingo Land could appeal any enforcement notice, this planning battle could run and run. The lighthouse themed tower ride forms part of a new, seaside-themed area of the park.

Hunstanton Pier Destroyed by Fire [19/5/02]

Hunstanton Pier on the north Norfolk coast was completely destroyed by fire yesterday, after a blaze swept through CHS Amusements. The Pier caught fire some time before 5am on Saturday morning, but is so badly damaged that the cause may never be known. Attractions on the Pier, which was built in 1870, have included bingo, rock stalls, waxworks, acrobatics and skating. In 1939 the Pier Pavilion was completely destroyed and most of the Pier was swept away during the gales of 1978. The amusement arcade was all that was left of this historic pier. The remains of the Pier will now have to be pulled down. In other news from Hunstanton, the Waltzer from the closed Spanish City amusement park at Whitley Bay is now open at Hunstanton's Rainbow Amusement Park, now under the ownership of Johnny Cook. With thanks to Keith Hamilton

Art Exhibition Opens at Blackpool Pleasure Beach [13/5/02]

An exhibition of paintings and etchings by Blackpool Pleasure Beach's resident artist, Julia Midgley, has opened at The Gallery at the Globe, the Pleasure Beach's new art gallery. Julia was appointed as Artist in Residence at Blackpool Pleasure Beach for Year of the Artist, 2000/2001, and this Exhibition displays the results of her stay at the park. Entitled "Blackpool Pleasure Beach - A Palette of Life", the Exhibition captures the action, colour and excitement of the Pleasure Beach as seen by Midgley, who  has practised as a documentary artist for many years. The Exhibition runs until 24th July 2002.

Image courtesy of Julia Midgley

New Scenic Railway Website Launched [12/5/02]

Joyland Books has launched a new website dedicated to Britain's oldest roller coaster, the Scenic Railway at Dreamland, Margate. A report submitted by Joyland Books to English Heritage, the UK Government's historic buildings advisers, resulted in the ride becoming a listed building. This was the first time an amusement park ride had been given heritage status. This report is available to download for free from this new website in a number of popular formats, and the site includes links to information about the ride and its landmark listing. Click here for the site.

Amusement Park Photographs Available to Buy [12/5/02]

The recently launched Amusement Park Photographic Library, a huge archive of images of British amusement parks, has added a new service. All photographs within the Library are now available to buy as prints or on CD-ROMs. Photographs can also be provided free of charge by email to non-commercial websites in digital format. The Library was launched last month to supply images of amusement parks and rides to the world's media. Click here for prices for non-commercial and private use.

Two New Fairground Videos Released [6/5/02]

Two new fairground videos have been released and they are both available to buy online now. The first concentrates on fairground transport. Fun Fairs On The Move 2002 Vol. 1 features the transport pull-ons at Heath Common, Wakefield and at Hertford. The second video features the huge Stamford Mid-Lent Fair 2002 in all its colourful glory. Click here to browse our fairground videos, or click here for a full list of all videos available from Joyland Books.

Tornado Roller Coaster to Open in Wales in 2002 [29/4/02]

A new roller coaster is to open in June 2002 at Pembrokeshire's Grove Land Amusement Park. The ride, which is to be called Tornado, formerly operated at Flamingo Land, Yorkshire, as the Flying Trapeze, but was removed to make way for a new seaside-themed area of the park. Tornado joins Grove Land's long list of rides for all ages, which includes Calypso, Dodgems and the Sky Rider, an Enterprise wheel which opened in 2001.

£30m Theme Park Planned For Kent [29/4/02]

A new £30m theme park is planned for the Chatham Docks area in Kent. Themed around the works of Charles Dickens, Dickensworld will feature several rides including a roller coaster. The theme park, which is to be financed by a London investment house, will be entirely indoors and will cover a total of three acres. More news as it breaks.

New £25m Ride for Blackpool Pleasure Beach [20/4/02]

A "spectacular" new ride could be build at a cost of £25m at Blackpool Pleasure Beach, according to the park's Managing Director. Speaking on last night's The Late Debate With Lucy Meacock on Granada Television, Geoffrey Thompson pledged that his Company would invest this sum of money on a world-beating ride if the proposals for the development of resort casinos in the town go ahead. The Government's proposals for the relaxation of gambling laws, A Safe Bet For Success, were launched on 26 March this year, and new legislation is expected to follow. The new attraction would be the most expensive ride ever built in the world-famous park.

Drayton Manor Announces Major New Development [17/4/02]

Drayton Manor Theme Park, Staffordshire, has announced a £6m, 78-bedroom hotel development, which will include special themed bedrooms, based on the park's famous attractions. This follows the success of the Alton Towers Hotel, which opened in 1996, and which is to be joined next year by a second hotel. The Drayton Manor Hotel is expected to open in time for the 2005 season. This is the latest in a long line of multi-million pound developments for the park. This year saw the opening of the £1m Maelstrom ride, and the park has already announced a new water based ride for 2003, currently known only as Project Neptune.

Americana Amusement Park to Re-Open [17/4/02]

Little-known Ohio park, the Americana Amusement Park, is to re-open this summer. In recent years the park had fallen on hard times, and closed its gates in 1999. Many roller coaster preservationists believed that this would mean the end of the line for the 1924 Miller & Baker Screechin' Eagle coaster. In 2000, the park was purchased by a new owner and they have been slowly bringing the park back to life with heavy investment and it now looks as though the vintage roller coaster will be saved. Joyland Books' sources have revealed that the park will re-open in May/June as The Great American Amusement Park at LeSourdsville Lake, therefore reintroducing the park's original name, which was used from 1921 to 1978. (With thanks to Andrew Edwards)

Joyland Books Launches Amusement Park Photographic Library [16/4/02]

Joyland Books has launched the World's first photographic library dedicated exclusively to amusement parks, theme parks and the rides that operate within them. The Amusement Park Photographic Library holds literally hundreds of photographs of amusement parks and rides, modern and vintage. The library supplies images to the world's media for use in books, magazines, newspapers, advertisements, etc, and charges commercial rates. Images are supplied free to non-profit-making organisations. Click here for pricing details.

Speaking yesterday, Joyland Books spokesperson Nicola Laister said: "The Joyland Books archive is undoubtedly the biggest library of UK amusement park photographs and we already regularly supply images to the media. The launch of the Amusement Park Photographic Library now formalises this into a brand new service tailored specifically to the requirements of the World's media. We can supply photographs for editorial or commercial use in any format, by post or email. Our newly-launched website includes a full list of all parks featured, and explains how to order photographs. We are confident that this new service will become the first port of call for any company looking for images of amusement parks and theme parks." Click here for the Amusement Park Photographic Library website.

Royalty to Open Fantasy Island's Odyssey [8/4/02]

The Duke of Kent is to open the 4,200-foot Jubilee Odyssey roller coaster at Fantasy Island, Ingoldmells, and the park claims that this will be the first time a theme park ride has been opened by a member of the Royal Family. The ride, which is being launched as part of the Queen's Golden Jubilee celebrations, will officially open on 23 May 2002. The opening event will also include an air display by the Red Arrows.

Adventure Island Log Flume Halted by Fight [8/4/02]

Joyland Books can report that last week, the Log Flume at Southend's Adventure Island theme park had to be closed following a fight between two gangs. Damage to the fencing around the ride occurred during the incident, to which police were called. The ride was closed for approximately an hour.

New Coasters Open to Mixed Reviews [8/4/02]

Britain's two newest roller coasters, AIR at Alton Towers and Colossus at Thorpe Park, both resulted in a busy Easter period for their respective parks, with queues of up to three hours. Whilst both rides have been generally well received, AIR has come in for criticism for its unreliability. The experimental nature of the ride, on which riders sit face down in flying position, has resulted in regular down-time. Guest Services at the park has had to deal with a large number of complaints from visitors. Modifications are to be made to the ride in the near future to improve customer throughput.

American Adventure Owner Tops Theme Park Rich List [7/4/02]

Trevor Hemmings, 66, the owner of Derbyshire's American Adventure Theme Park and the Blackpool Tower (amongst many other tourist attractions) is the wealthiest man in the theme park industry, according to the Times Rich List 2002. With a personal fortune of £518m, Hemmings ranks at No. 55 in the the Top 1000 list, published in today's Sunday Times. The only other member of the theme park industry to feature is John Woodward, 59-year-old owner of Fantasy Island Theme Park at Ingoldmells, near Skegness. Woodward, whose Blue Anchor Leisure company made £2m profits last year, ranks No. 595, with a fortune of £60m. 

Vintage Fairgrounds Exhibition Opens [1/4/02]

A brand new exhibition opens today in the Joyland Books Virtual Exhibition Hall. Following on from previous acclaimed exhibitions, such as Gallopers at the Amusement Park and Frontierland Remembered, Vintage Fairgrounds features stunning photographs of vintage fairground rides and attractions. Taken by leading fairground photographer David Page, editor of www.thegalloper.com, the photographs feature travelling fairground rides such as gallopers, jets, skids, dodgems and much, much more. Click here for the Exhibition Hall.

Secondhand Amusement Park Books Available Now [22/3/02]

Several new titles have been added to our Secondhand Bookstore. The highly collectible Roller Coasters: Their Amazing History is available, as is its sequel, Roller Coasters: Shake, Rattle and Roll. Two books about Manchester's Belle Vue are also available: The Belle Vue Story and Looking Back at Belle Vue (new editions of both of these books are also available). And anyone interested in in Butlin's will want to snap up Butlin's Filey: Thanks for the Memories, a rare publication celebrating Butlin's biggest holiday camp. Click here for the Secondhand Shop.

Scenic Railway Report Available to Download For Free [7/3/02]

The report produced by Nick Laister and David Page, which was issued to English Heritage in May 2001, and resulted in Margate's Scenic Railway becoming the first ever listed roller coaster is available to download now for free from Joyland Books. Click here to be taken to the download page.

Biography of Great Amusement Park Ride Inventor Out Now [7/3/02]

The new biography of the legendary inventor and amusement park ride pioneer Sir Hiram Maxim is available now from Joyland Books. Since 1904, Sir Hiram Maxim's Captive Flying Machine ride has thrilled visitors to Blackpool Pleasure Beach and is one of the park's signature attractions. This book tells the full story of this great inventor, who inventions have had a lasting affect on the entire world. Click here for details.

Margate Roller Coaster Becomes UK's First Listed Ride [1/3/02]

A report submitted to the Department of Culture, Media and Sport by Joyland Books and TheGalloper.com has resulted in a Margate roller coaster becoming a listed building, the first time a UK amusement park ride has been listed. The ride in question is the Scenic Railway roller coaster, which has stood at Dreamland Amusement Park, Margate, since 1920.

The campaign was lead by Nick Laister, a Chartered Town Planner from Oxfordshire (and editor of the Joyland Books website), and David Page, a journalist from Hertfordshire (editor of TheGalloper.com). Nick Laister says: “Well over a hundred wooden roller coasters were built in this country between 1885 and 1960. Only nine of those rides now remain.

"The Scenic Railway at Margate is the oldest operating roller coaster in the United Kingdom, and is nothing short of a remarkable survival. It is the only remaining ride of its type in original condition.” Click here for the full press release.

2002 Leeds and King's Lynn Fairs Available on Video [1/3/02]

The 2002 Leeds St. Valentine's Fair and King's Lynn Mart are both available on newly released videos. The Norfolk town of King's Lynn hosts what is traditionally the first fair of the new travelling season, and this year's fair featured  rides such as Andrew Bell's Booster and Darren Matthews' Megaspin. The video also features the transport pull-on. Click here for details. The Leeds video takes the viewer to the car park of the famous Elland Road Football Ground, where a mix of the latest thrill machines and a number of old favourites were attending one of the country's biggest fairs. Rides include the Big Ben Drop Tower, Spinning Mouse Roller Coaster and the Beach Party Afterburner. Click here for details.

Vintage Fairground Exhibition Announced [27/2/02]

Joyland Books is pleased to announce that its online Exhibition Hall is to reopen again in April 2002, with a two-month-long exhibition of vintage fairground photography. Featuring rides and attractions from fairs such as Carter's Royal Berkshire Steam Fair, the Great Dorset Steam Fair and Mason's Amusements, all photographs in the Exhibition have been taken by leading fairground photographer David Page, editor of the successful on-line fairground magazine, www.thegalloper.com. The exhibition will open its doors on 1 April 2002. Click here to go to the Virtual Exhibition Hall.

Fairground Show at Blackpool for Pleasure Beach Opening [27/2/02]

Blackpool Pleasure Beach opens its gates for the 2002 season on this weekend. And visitors to the park can enjoy a Fairground Model Show organised by Britain's Fairground Society. The Show, which is to be held in the Casino building, is part of the Society's 40th Anniversary celebrations and will open for one day only on Sunday 3rd March. It will feature 76 stalls with fairground model and memorabilia exhibitors, fairground organisations and trade stands. The event is being sponsored by Blackpool Department of Tourism and will feature entertainment from Foggy the Clown. Admission to the event is free, and with all Pleasure Beach rides at £1 and wristbands at half price, it is likely to be a fantastic day out.

Major Southport Sponsorship Deal Renewed [22/2/02]

Southport's Pleasureland Amusement Park has announced that its three-year sponsorship deal with Tizer has been renewed for a further three years. The link-up between the Blackpool Pleasure Beach-owned park and drinks manufacturer AG Barr is for an undisclosed sum and means that the UK's tallest and fastest suspended looping roller coaster will continue to be known as TRAUMAtizer. New for 2002 at Pleasureland is Space Shot, a ride which will launch thrill seekers 140 feet into the air. To celebrate the new season, Pleasureland has a new-look website, which can be accessed from Joyland Books' comprehensive Directory.

Hangover: Southport's TRAUMAtizer suspended looping roller coaster

Out Now: The Travelling Fair  [20/2/02]

The long-awaited new book about fairground transport in Britain: The Travelling Fair by Malcolm Slater, is out today. This hardback publication includes photographs and information about numerous forms of fairground transport, from AECs to Volvos, and even includes a section on living wagons. For more information about this important new publication, click here. Or click here to buy a copy of this important publication now. For a full list of fairground books available from Joyland Books, click here. Watch this space, new titles are added regularly.

New Range of Fairground Books Added [19/2/02]

A range of fairground books published by imprints of Nynehead Books have been added to Joyland Books today. The Fairground Album by Malcolm Slater is an excellent photographic guide to popular fairground rides. Fairground and Circus Transport is a reprint of a classic 1973 publication looking at showland transport. A further must-read for fairground transport enthusiasts is Trucks in Britain Vol. 2: Fairground Transport, a fine array of the many and varied types of commercial vehicles in showland use from the post-war years to the early 1980s. To browse a a full list of our fairground books, click here.

New Roller Coaster for Knowsley Safari Park [12/2/02]

Knowsley Safari Park near Liverpool will add a new juvenile roller coaster to its line-up for the 2002 season. Manufactured by DPV rides, this 'Big Apple' style ride will have a custom snake theme and will be called The Rattlesnake. It joins the Pinfari Viper coaster, installed at Knowsley in 2000 after the park purchased the ride from Marvel's Amusement Park at Scarborough. As part of the rejuvenation of the amusement park, the Elephant Express Railroad has also received two brand new covered carriages allowing riders to take shelter from the rain whilst enjoying the seven minute ride. To celebrate the new season, which commences 1 March 2002, Knowsley has a brand new website, which is linked from the Joyland Books Directory.

Top Fairground Books Reduced [9/2/02]

In its quest to bring you the best fairground books at the lowest prices, Joyland Books has now knocked a massive 50% off the price of two of the most highly acclaimed fairground books ever released: Jump On, Jump On and Roundabout People, both written by leading fairground author Brian Steptoe. The books have both been reduced from £19.99 to only £10! Click here to browse around our full range of fairground books.

Camelot's Venom Rollercoaster Demolished [8/2/02]

Camelot Theme Park has demolished its Venom roller coaster. Previously called The Beast, Venom was one of the earliest enclosed roller coasters in the United Kingdom, and took riders on a twisting journey into complete darkness. Camelot removed its famous Tower of Terror roller coaster in 2000, and was refused planning permission for a Vekoma Invertigo coaster last year. The park plans a replacement attraction, news of which will appear on Joyland Books soon.

Jubilee Odyssey to Open 24 May [8/2/02]

The long-awaited Jubilee Odyssey suspended looping roller coaster, custom-designed by Vekoma, is to open at Fantasy Island on 24 May 2002. The ride, so named in celebration of the Queen's Golden Jubilee, will feature six inversions and speeds of up to 100 miles per hour. Steelwork has arrived at the site and the ride is currently under construction.

Drayton Manor Pioneer Dies [2/2/02]

The woman who first brought rides to Drayton Manor Park at Tamworth has died. June Shipley, 75, was a member of the famous Shipley fairground family, and spent much of her life travelling the fairs of the Midlands. Her connection with Drayton Manor Park dates back to 1949, when the park first opened to the public. June and her husband, Harry, had become friends with the park's owners, the Bryan family (at the time a leading manufacturer of slot machines). When, in 1949, the Bryan family decided to open the park to the public, it was June and Harry who were the concessionaires who supplied the rides and attractions, a collection which grew considerably over the years.

Above: The Drayton Manor Gallopers, one of the original rides operated by the late June Shipley

As the popularity of the park increased, the Bryant family, aware of the phenomenal rise of nearby Alton Towers, decided to take the park in the direction of a theme park. It was at this time that the Shipleys sold all of their rides to the Bryan family. Only the park's amusement arcade is still run by the Shipleys. The Shipley family is now well-known for an amusement park at Stouport-on-Severn (Riverside Amusement Park) and for a chain of amusement arcades. June Shipley's granddaughter Joy Hall is the co-owner (with her husband Elliot) of the famous Top Buzz travelling ride.

Blackpool Pleasure Beach Book Reduced [2/2/02]

Blackpool Pleasure Beach: A Century of Fun, the hardback publication which tells the full story of Britain's most famous amusement park, has been reduced from £23.99 to £14.99. The beautifully illustrated book, which was released in 1996 to celebrate 100 years of the park, does the park full justice; its rides, its history and its atmosphere and is highly recommended. For more information click here. To buy the book now, click here.

Major New Book on British Fairground Transport Announced [26/1/02]

Joyland Books can reveal that late February has been announced as the release date of the long-awaited new book about fairground transport in Britain. Written by respected fairground author Malcolm Slater, The Travelling Fair: Fairground Transport in Britain includes photographs and information about numerous forms of fairground transport, from AECs to Volvos, and even includes a section on living wagons. For more information about this important new publication, click here. Although not available until late February, you can pre-order your own copy of this book now.

Rotunda Amusement Park Announces New Rides For 2002 [25/1/02]

Folkestone's Rotunda Amusement Park has announced its new rides for the 2002 season. Heading the line-up is a new Runaway Train coaster, adding to the park's coaster arsenal, which already includes the Magic Mouse spinning coaster and Runaway Coaster, the 1922 wooden side-friction coaster. Also new at the park in 2002 will be a Wave Swinger and a Jumping Star tower ride for the children. Rotunda is owned and operated by Dreamland Leisure, owners of the Dreamland Fun Park in Margate.

Blackpool Pleasure Beach Puts Several Rides on the Market [25/1/02]

A number of rides and attractions at Blackpool Pleasure Beach have been put on the market. The O.D. Hopkins Cableway, a central feature at the park since 1960, is the most famous of the rides currently being advertised for sale in trade newspaper World's Fair. Also for sale are a set of Ghost Train cars, the portable ice rink (which was installed on the site of the Tokaydo Express powered roller coaster), a set of roller coaster cars (built by the Philadelphia Toboggan Company), Hurricane Jets (Lang Wheels) and a revolving barrel (Lusse Brothers). Meanwhile, the Pleasure Beach has announced several new attractions for 2002 (see news item on 6 January 2002).

Tower Rides for Flamingo Land and Pleasureland [19/1/02]

More new tower rides have been announced for UK parks in 2002. Flamingo Land is set to open its new 185-foot high Cliff Hanger ride as part of its new seaside-themed area, Professor Bubbles Seaside Adventure. The ride will reach speeds of over 50mph. Southport Pleasureland will open its new Space Shot tower ride later this year. The 150-foot high ride, which is currently under construction at the park, will catapult riders upwards at speeds of almost 80mph. Brighton Pier on the South Coast of England will also open a new tower ride for 2002. The tower ride craze sweeping the country's amusement parks was started in 1996 when Blackpool Pleasure Beach opened Playstation: The Ride (now Ice Blast). Tower rides can now be found at several UK parks, including Drayton Manor, Fantasy Island, Oakwood, Pleasure Island and Thorpe Park.

Blackpool Pleasure Beach Announces New Rides For 2002 [6/1/02]

Blackpool Pleasure Beach has announced several million pounds worth of new attractions for 2002. Heading up the list is "White Knuckle Adventure 2002", which will be no less than two Fabbri Booster rides side by side, which will spin riders high into the air at high speeds on arms resembling huge propellers. The rides will be located on the Tom Sawyer Bridge. The second new attraction, called "Impossible", will see the 1001 Troubles (mirror maze) and Haunted Swing combine to create a new walk-through attraction full of illusions and effects. This follows the successful amalgamation of the Haunted Hotel and Tagada rides to create Trauma Towers a number of years ago. "Autopia" will replace the former Veteran Car Ride in the South Park, and will be a large version of the popular fairground ride. There will also be improvements in the park's infrastructure, including catering, shopping and shows. The park opens for business on 2 March, with all rides £1 and wristbands at half their normal price. For more information, visit www.blackpoolpleasurebeach.co.uk.

Secondhand Traction Engine Books Available [01/01/02]