It’s an Amusement Park Thing: A Pictorial Essay

By Michael Burkes

This book is about having fun. It’s about enjoying a pastime and taking pictures, which you may not have thought about before. It’s about searching for that particular angle and shot that will be remembered by you and will be yours always. It’s about having the patience and the knowledge to prepare to take a particular picture and the joy of the hunt to find that photo.

I hope that this book will inspire you to get out and learn your camera to the many possibilities of functions it offers, to travel to your home amusement park as well as outside your realm to find that one particular photo that has an angle you did not see before—whether it’s a roller coaster, spin ride, pastoral scene, or an architectural wonder— and to beam and smile as you take photos during the dusk of morning, late afternoon, early evening, and late at night. This book will try to cover all those facets and more.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: May 31, 2017
• ISBN: 9781524546366

Michael Burkes

Michael Burkes was born and raised in Akron, Ohio. He has been a fan of amusement parks since his youth. With the help of his father, driving, and the companionship of his childhood buddies, he mainly traveled to Ohio parks, such as the defunct Playland Park, Chippewa Lake, Idora Park, and Geauga Lake. He also has travelled many times to Cedar Point and Kings Island. As he came of age, his travels expanded outside the state of Ohio, travelling throughout the United States, Eastern Canada, and Western Europe. He has visited approximately ninety-seven different amusement parks. He is presently employed by PNC Bank.

Book preview

Copyright © 2017 by Michael Burkes. 744886

Library of Congress Control Number:   2016916230

ISBN:   Softcover     978-1-5245-4637-3

             Hardcover   978-1-5245-4638-0

             EBook         978-1-5245-4636-6

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Rev. date: 05/30/2017

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Dedication

To Lucious Leonard Burkes (Daddy)

April 28, 1927- March 18,1986

Thank you for respecting my wishes and doing your best to take me and my friends to the many amusement parks in Ohio as I was growing up!

I love you!!

IT’S AN

AMUSEMENT PARK

THING!

A PICTORIAL ESSAY

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THANK YOU

First and foremost I want to give thanks to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for granting me the patience and determination to finish this project. I’d like to thank the American Coaster Enthusiasts, (ACE) The Great Ohio Coaster Club, (GOCC) The Western New York Coaster Club, (WNYCC) and The National Amusement Park and Historical Association, (NAPHA) for having events at different amusement parks throughout the United States and Canada and working with different parks to set up exclusive ride time and photo opportunities mostly in restricted areas to capture rare moments. Special thanks goes to Cathy Schwab for helping me navigate and solve problems with my computer, Matt Owen for taking the time to look at my photos and seeing for himself if they were worthy, and Mark (Turbo, Schwabinchen) Hackett for taking the time out to proofread and correct any language problems throughout this book, and last but not least, thank you to all the parks who allowed me to photograph their facilities without questioning my motives and allowing myself the pleasure of enjoying the surroundings of fun and entertainment.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION

CHAPTER 1: WOOD COASTERS

CHAPTER 2: STEEL COASTERS

CHAPTER 3: OTHER AMUSEMENT FAVORITES

CHAPTER 4: SCENIC AREAS

CHAPTER 5: ADDING ACCENTS

CHAPTER 6: CATCHING THE RIGHT MOMENT

CHAPTER 7: LATE EVENING/SUNSET AND SPEED

CONCLUSION

INTRODUCTION

In my bed, half asleep, with each passing minute, my adrenaline is getting more pumped. Finally, the alarm on my clock sounds with its repetitive and irritating buzz. On most days, I dread its sound, but not today because I’m on my way to a favorite destination. A place so surreal that even driving on the road and entering the parking lot with its breathtaking skyline that is seen before my eyes is jubilant! A triumph! A challenge! With the combination of undulating wood track, steel track, sometimes with skyscraper high loops, metal contraptions that spin and old style 19th and early 20th century buildings, I am at my destination of pleasure, the amusement park!

My fascination with amusement parks started at a very early age. I cannot pinpoint when my love for these places began, but I do remember begging my father to take me to the nearest park every summer. Being born and raised in Northeast Ohio I had my choice mostly of Chippewa Lake, Idora Park, Playland Park, Geauga Lake, Cedar Point (and if I was very fortunate, Kings Island near Cincinnati). My father worked for Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company. He belonged to the United Rubber Workers Union and they as well as his company would have picnics at the local parks, particularly Chippewa Lake, Idora Park and Geauga Lake. My father (God Bless him!) would do his best to fulfill my desires to take me to the amusement park as often as he could. I would often go to Geauga Lake and Cedar Point at least 6-10 times a summer. Most families were lucky if they went twice a year.

When I go to any amusement park, I always have my camera at hand. The cameras that I used were an Olympus 38-76 zoom, a Minolta