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Talbot Street Video Archive

Christ, I wish I was around to visit the park then. It look much more impressive and how themeparks should look!
 
OK, that may be a promotional video designed to show the park at its best, but I find it deeply saddening that even by the time of my first visit in 2007 the park was a world away from that. If those standards and those of Tussauds in the '90s had been kept going through to now the place could be spectacular.
 
Cheese said:
OK, that may be a promotional video designed to show the park at its best, but I find it deeply saddening that even by the time of my first visit in 2007 the park was a world away from that. If those standards and those of Tussauds in the '90s had been kept going through to now the place could be spectacular.
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Well, yes. By 2007 the park was long dead, unfortunately.

I thought that video made the park look amazing but if you could have seen the place between like 1994-1998 then you'd be even more impressed. Basically the same but with much more updated rides, better theming, and still with a massive emphasis on entertainment.
 
The park was very exiting back then. There was no other place like it at the time. Thorpe was a fun fair, Chessington and Lego where still zoo's and euro Disney didn't exist. Even if you went to America back then, you wouldn't have had those English gardens, things like the Swiss cottage and vintage motor museum.

Of course it was very 80's back then and none of that would be suitable today however the park kept the concept of its USPs into the 90s. It changed significantly from what you see in the video but updated itself as it moved into a different decade without loosing it emphasis on a first class park.

Ive always got such fond memories of festival park, the Swiss cottage as a restaurant and coaster corner.
 
My dad had a standard 8mm cine camera (no audio) and I took it to Alton Towers back in 1981. I have recently had the old footage converted to DVD and I've now posted it on You Tube:



Footage includes the house, the gardens, the sea lions, the Pirate Ship, the Alpine Bob Sled, the Log Flume and, of course, the Corkscrew.
 
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Some really good rare footage there, particularly the crazy golf, toboggan and chairlift. Cheers for taking the time to upload it and then let us know it was there. Top man :)
 
AT86 said:
Dragging this one up from the dead but a news report from 20 years ago. 20 YEARS since UG Land opened and free fastrack was introduced. God I feel old.

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Ug Land really was a fantastic area up until Boneshaker closed; Rita utterly ruined it and the place has been a complete mess since Corkscrew closed.

Interesting to see the original Virtual Queue concept. I only ever knew the later one which you had to stick your ticket in to, presumably to stop you having more than one slot at a time (which must have been a problem with just a turnstile to go through). I'm lead to believe there was also an early trial of it on the Log Flume, whereby on hot days the only way to ride was via VQ.
 
The nostalgia force is strong with this one!

Teacups, Rapids before Katanga Canyon, including the Henry Hound animatronic thingy, Log Flume, Doom and Sons exterior, fantastic fountains show and loads more.



There are some cracking health and safety differences too, look out for the staff member casually standing on the platform right next to the Pirate Ship going full pelt!
 
Really interesting to see a video of the original rapids, with the old queue line and entrance! Also park looks really busy!
 
WillPS said:
Ug Land really was a fantastic area up until Boneshaker closed; Rita utterly ruined it and the place has been a complete mess since Corkscrew closed.

Interesting to see the original Virtual Queue concept. I only ever knew the later one which you had to stick your ticket in to, presumably to stop you having more than one slot at a time (which must have been a problem with just a turnstile to go through). I'm lead to believe there was also an early trial of it on the Log Flume, whereby on hot days the only way to ride was via VQ.
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I do remember having to scan your ticket to get the fastrack.

Also I believe in the end virtual queuing was also on Air, Oblivion, Blackhole and the Flume, most of the old huts are still around today (galactica and oblivion lockers) and until recently the Flume entrance and smoking shelter where smiler is now
 
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