Altonadvocate1
TS Member
I'm 45 today. Happy Birthday to me. My knees knock, hair is largely grey, and I have more chins that a Chinese phone book.
I've been reading the section about Where has the magic gone and I can see it through a different perspective. I remember my trips to AT in the early 1980s when I was just a wee laddy.
I'm talking about former attractions, not the ones that get regular mention's such as The Thunder Looper, The Alton Mouse and The Beast.
No... way before these were attractions that few remember. Attractions without a multi million pound budget, that were knocked up from next to nothing, but which were magical to me as a child and hold fond memories today. Does anyone remember them or have I missed anything.
ALTON THEATRE AND FANTASTIC FOUNTAINS.
In the building that now houses Ice Age 4D. The lights would go down to total darkness, then on the stage a dozen or so fountains would appear, dancing in time to classical music (including hall of the mountain king). They were illuminated with changing coloured lights and cleverly choreographed to the music. They probably would not impress the iPad generation, but to me they were truly magical. There is a show today at Watermouth Castle that is so similar that I believe it must be the original AT hardware and it is on YouTube.
AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS.
Before Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Before Toyland Tours and in the same building. Travel in the footsteps of Philleous Fogg by Gondola visiting Paris, Egypt, China, Iceland and numerous other places. The sets were basic, yet more animated than CATCF, the music was relaxing and the lighting atmospheric. I remember this being magical and despite being created on a shoestring budget being better than CATCF and as good as Toyland Tours.
SPACE 1999
Set in the Towers and based upon the seminal Gerry Anderson TV series of the same name, using original props and costumes. The exhibition was in darkness, you walked across elevated gantries and it really felt like you were in space. Ultraviolet light made everything stand out. A lot of impact for a little price through the magic of theatre. JW would have loved it.
PLANETARIUM.
Also in the towers, scenes of space projected on to a domed ceiling with music and narration. No fancy CGI, but a great atmosphere. The original projector mow sits in Blivvys entrance building.
MODEL RAILWAY.
Every 70s child's dream. An enormous working model railway in the towers, with dozens of moving trains, buildings, country, people, lights and signals. Even ten minutes or so the building went dark so you could see it lit up. I always wanted to take it home.
LAND OF THE DINOSAURS
On the lower part of where the Smiler now sits. Half a dozen huge dinosaurs that were later moved to the flume site.
CAR MUSEUM.
Several dozens famous cars from TV and film where wobble world now sits.
James Bond, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Thunderbirds. Many of these are now at the car museum in Borton on the Water.
ALPINE BOB.
Before Health and Safety when kid's were allowed to play "dangerous" games like British Bulldog, Red Rover and Kick the Can was the Alpine Bob.
Racing your opponents down 2 asbestos tracks on what can only be described as a plastic milk crate with wheels but no breaks. Great fun if only you could survive without injury.
Some some of my fellow old fogies can remember these or have others to add.
Part two will follow.
These simple attractions were every bit as magical to me as a child as any big budget investment today.
I've been reading the section about Where has the magic gone and I can see it through a different perspective. I remember my trips to AT in the early 1980s when I was just a wee laddy.
I'm talking about former attractions, not the ones that get regular mention's such as The Thunder Looper, The Alton Mouse and The Beast.
No... way before these were attractions that few remember. Attractions without a multi million pound budget, that were knocked up from next to nothing, but which were magical to me as a child and hold fond memories today. Does anyone remember them or have I missed anything.
ALTON THEATRE AND FANTASTIC FOUNTAINS.
In the building that now houses Ice Age 4D. The lights would go down to total darkness, then on the stage a dozen or so fountains would appear, dancing in time to classical music (including hall of the mountain king). They were illuminated with changing coloured lights and cleverly choreographed to the music. They probably would not impress the iPad generation, but to me they were truly magical. There is a show today at Watermouth Castle that is so similar that I believe it must be the original AT hardware and it is on YouTube.
AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS.
Before Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Before Toyland Tours and in the same building. Travel in the footsteps of Philleous Fogg by Gondola visiting Paris, Egypt, China, Iceland and numerous other places. The sets were basic, yet more animated than CATCF, the music was relaxing and the lighting atmospheric. I remember this being magical and despite being created on a shoestring budget being better than CATCF and as good as Toyland Tours.
SPACE 1999
Set in the Towers and based upon the seminal Gerry Anderson TV series of the same name, using original props and costumes. The exhibition was in darkness, you walked across elevated gantries and it really felt like you were in space. Ultraviolet light made everything stand out. A lot of impact for a little price through the magic of theatre. JW would have loved it.
PLANETARIUM.
Also in the towers, scenes of space projected on to a domed ceiling with music and narration. No fancy CGI, but a great atmosphere. The original projector mow sits in Blivvys entrance building.
MODEL RAILWAY.
Every 70s child's dream. An enormous working model railway in the towers, with dozens of moving trains, buildings, country, people, lights and signals. Even ten minutes or so the building went dark so you could see it lit up. I always wanted to take it home.
LAND OF THE DINOSAURS
On the lower part of where the Smiler now sits. Half a dozen huge dinosaurs that were later moved to the flume site.
CAR MUSEUM.
Several dozens famous cars from TV and film where wobble world now sits.
James Bond, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Thunderbirds. Many of these are now at the car museum in Borton on the Water.
ALPINE BOB.
Before Health and Safety when kid's were allowed to play "dangerous" games like British Bulldog, Red Rover and Kick the Can was the Alpine Bob.
Racing your opponents down 2 asbestos tracks on what can only be described as a plastic milk crate with wheels but no breaks. Great fun if only you could survive without injury.
Some some of my fellow old fogies can remember these or have others to add.
Part two will follow.
These simple attractions were every bit as magical to me as a child as any big budget investment today.
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