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Talbot Street Tuesday

For the fourth day of our advent calendar we’ll be looking at a short-lived set of Waltzers… but maybe not the one most modern visitors might be expecting.

Jumping back to 1979, the Maxwell Waltzer was one of two new additions to Brian Collin’s Amusement Park behind Alton Towers.

The Waltzer departed the park after one season, when the amusement park closed. Today they can be found on Clacton Pier.

4. Maxwell Waltzers.jpg
 
That is one ugly waltzer. I'm sure it looked super futuristic in it's day. Were the staff all dressed in pastel skintight jumpsuits?
 
It's sad that it isn't hard at all to find 24 flat rides that the park has removed. Half that number has occurred in the last decade hasn't it?

That Mixtape Smash 'n Jump was just awful. You just sat there as it bounced you around a bit in a manner that wasn't at all thrilling. But still better than the nothing that occupies the site now.

I had no idea that Blade was the park's second pirate ship. The only ride in the park in 2024 that was older than me.
 
Matt.GC said:
It's sad that it isn't hard at all to find 24 flat rides that the park has removed. Half that number has occurred in the last decade hasn't it?
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Just shy of half, I think Though, in many ways, the Retro Squad has made this advent calendar possible, and dipping back into the 70s. But it's still an impressive number they've got through of late.

Matt.GC said:
I had no idea that Blade was the park's second pirate ship. The only ride in the park in 2024 that was older than me.
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Ah, sorry, that might be my wording. The Blade was the first. Space Boat was the John Broome's second flat ride. But I think it is the shortest-running, it closed just 4 months after it opened.
 
Squiggs said:
Just over 40 years later, another Waltzer arrived at Alton Towers, but Roller Disco did not last long either.

Another Retro Squad ride, Roller Disco operated in Dark Forest for two seasons between 2021-2022.

By coincidence, both Roller Disco and the 1979 Maxwell Waltzer now go by the name of Thunder Dome

5 Roller Disco.jpg
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Roller Disco was the worst of the Retro Squad for me. The ride was poor, and it looked out of place.
 
The Magic Carpet offered riders a whole new world of thrills when it arrived at Alton Towers as part of ‘Project Octoberfest’, which saw Talbot Centre become Festival Park.

It was one of five new flat rides added to the park in 1984, but only stayed in the park for two season before it flew off to Scotland to become part of the line-up at M&Ds.

7 Magic Carpet.jpg
 
Behind door number 8 of our Flat Ride Advent Calendar is another member of the Retro Squad.

The Retro Squad line-up changed year by year. When they returned for the second year, Spinjam replaced Mixtape on the old Submission site.

It operated at Alton Towers until the end of 2023, when it returned to the fair circuit under its original name of Air Raid.
8 Spinjam.jpg
 
DiogoJ42 said:
I love how that's all you have to say about it. ;)
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I think of all the rides I'm covering in the Advent Calendar, this was one of the more difficult to come up with something original to say about it. It arrived, it operated and then popped off again. I think that's one of the things about having to do five Retro Squad write-ups in close succession - they all have a very similar story to tell.

That said, I have since discovered through one of the comments on Facebook that it is actually another ride that left Alton Towers to go to M&Ds, where it's been on loan this year. It's becoming a remarkably regular theme, as it will end up being three days in a row that a ride has operated at Alton for two seasons before heading to Scotland.
 
Oh, don't get me wrong, squire, I'm loving this calendar and the work you've put in to it!

But yeah, what can you say about a generic fairground flat that fills a gap for one season? "It was there". After that you just have to start reciting a history of the ride type, that anyone could look up.
No, Sometimes less is more. Makes the point that there is nothing good to say about the ride. ;)
I'm loving it, thanks! Bring on tomorrow. ;)
 
Yet another relocation to M&Ds today!

The Ferris Wheel was one of several rides that relocated to Alton Towers from Trentham Gardens in the mid-80s. It was only in the park for two seasons, but clocked up two different locations in Festival Park during its stay.

In something of a recurring theme, this is another ride that moved to M&Ds in Scotland after it left the park. It can now can be found in California at Gilroy Gardens, near San Jose and stills operates today, nearly 50 years after it was first made.

9 Ferris Wheel.jpg
 
It is unusual for a flat ride to replace a coaster. But in 1991 that is exactly what happened at Alton Towers when the Tri-Star replaced the 4 Man Bob in Talbot Street.

The following year, the Tri-Star moved to Festival Park after Coaster Corner closed. But it did not stay at the park for long, and it was removed at the end of the 1992 season.

The ride went on a park tour of the UK, operating at Pleasure Island and Flamingo Land, before it ended its working life in Pleasurewood Hills in 2017.
10 Tri-star.jpg
 
Behind door 11 of our Flat Ride Advent Calendar, we have the final member of the Retro Squad.

Whilst Funk'n'Fly was the longest serving member of the squad at Alton Towers, in reality two different rides filled the spot over the course of three years.

At the end of 2021 the original Funk'n'Fly returned to the fair circuit, but by popular demand the park hired another Super Trooper to take its place for the following two seasons.
11 Funk'n'Fly.jpg
 
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For saying it was a temporary attraction, Flavio’s Fabulous Fandango operated at Alton Towers for longer than all the rides covered so far in our Advent Calendar and therefore lands at the half-way point.

It is also the most recent departure, having already been removed from the park, following the announcement that 2024 was its final season, after four years.

The Twist will no doubt be back out on the fair circuit in 2025, under its original name of Sizzler.
12 Flavios Fabulouse Fandango.jpg
 
Watch out behind door 13 of our Advent Calendar – it’s a Spider!

It is more common to see Polyp style rides themed like an Octopus, but in the late 80s, Alton Towers also had the Spider.

The Spider came to Alton Towers from nearby Trentham Garden and replaced the Magic Carpet. It remained in the park for six seasons, until it was removed shortly after Tussauds took over.

13 Spider.jpg
 
1984 was a busy year for new flat rides at Alton Towers, with six arriving over the course of one season.

As part of this influx, the Turbo Star was added to Fantasy World, creating a dramatic new backdrop to the park’s Miniature Golf course.

Turbo Star stayed in the park for the rest of the 80s, but departed in 1989 to make way for the Gravitron.

The ride still operates today but can now be found in Kongeparken in Norway, where it is known as Humla and is themed after bumblebees.
14 Turbo Star.jpg
 
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