OCThen reader, Snoop-tastic, writes about his/her memories of Knott's Berry Farm, and the attractions that are no longer there...
I remember going to Knott's Berry Farm atleast once a year as a kid...And now I work there! It truely is the "Friendliest place in the west". I remember what reflection lake looked like before the Silver Bullet was added....The water show thing they used to do was always great to top off every visit! I used to be scared of the Calico Mine Ride....It still freaks me out a little! lol. I loved the Kingdom of the Dinosaurs, and I hate that I couldn't ride it just once more before it was removed. I remember the Tampico Tumbler, the Gran Slammer, and I even have vague memories of the rides underneath the Wind Jammer (Where X-celerator is now.) The music at Knott's gets stuck in your head, yet it leaves a smile on your face. The stage shows (at the Wagon Camp, Calico Stage, Camp Snoop Theater, and Charles M. Schulz Theater) are all magnificent and well-written. I love Snoopy's Big Bow Wow, Charlie Brown's Jungle Journey, The Wild West Stunt Show and, at Halloween Haunt, "The Hanging". Every moment spent at Knott's, whether working or playing, is an adventure and a time to remember. For anyone who has not been to KBF, I highly recommend it, and while you're there, be sure to check out as many of the shows as possible, including the one in the Mystery Lodge!The first time I went to Knott's was in 1973 (or was it 1974?). I can't recall what all that was there at that first visit, but I do remember the Haunted Shack, the mine tour, the train, the stage coach, panning for gold, the Calico Graveyard, and of course the log ride. I think only the Haunted Shack is no longer there.
Back then, I lived in San Diego, and it was a really big affair for us to drive up to Buena Park. I was so excited to have visited Knotts!
One of my first jobs was at Knott's (and for a lot of family). I worked in the Berry Market. I used to run into the park on my breaks and ride Montezuma's Revenge. That Calico Mine Ride always scared me too. The waterfalls and the rickety rails. My folks would take us to Knott's back in the 60's when it was free. You'd watch that wagon show thing where the kid was begging for more water; or standing on the guy's grave with the heartbeat you could feel. The church that gave the cards that would open up to reveal a glow in the dark jesus (could you imagine a theme park with a church within it now?) Then on into the 70's when we would visit the John Wayne theater and see hokey 70's bands perform behind the water curtain. Knott's Berry Tales, the Corkscrew, the Motorcycle chase. Last time I went there in the 90's I hardly recognized the place. It had become such a carnival thrill ride type of place.
ReplyDeleteTHAT'S where my Jesus card came from! I only have dim memories of KBF -- maybe went there once after it began charging admission (and that was early in those days), but I remember the old farm, and the shops, and the devil who made the volcano erupt and Tony the puppeteer.
DeleteI grew up in Anaheim, so we went to Knott's alot. Back in the early '60's when we were in high school we would go there to shop for basket type purses. The bigger, the better, so we could throw in a swim suit, beach towel, whatever so we were always prepared for a trip to the beach. I loved those bags, and alot of the girls in school used them.
ReplyDeleteI moved in Minnesota in 1966 but finally got to return on vacation in 1972. Of course, I had to take my two girls there and to the chicken dinner. They were 4 and 6 years old. I took them on that mine ride and was scared to death. The 6 yr old was in her own car but the 4 yr old was with me. I did not know that it was going to get completely black and then we would would go downward very fast - I thought my youngest was going to fly right out of the car. And of course, had my camera in my purse so I could capture every moment, and thought I was going to loose that. Of course the ride ended and all was well - but I think I had nightmares that night.
Both other times that I was out there for vacation I had to go shopping at Knott's just "because". And my kid loved the candy factory.
We lived in Santa Ana for a couple years in the early 70's and then on base at El Toro. We must have gone to Knotts at least once a month and Disney, Magic Mountain, Sea World and the beaches on the other weekends in the month. The biggest thing I remember about Knotts was the ride that had the ghosts and it was like you could see one sitting in the seat beside me. I still have memories of that whenever I think of ghosts. Used to scare my little brother half to death...heheheh. That and the log flume ride because my Dad would always get soaked.
ReplyDeleteI can't remember the name of it but there was a theatre that sat on the water and you still while a movie played. The movie was all different things that had a camera strapped to the front of, like a rollercoaster, then a train, a boat, all kinds of high speed movement. Your body would lean different directions and involuntarily react to the movement. My brother and I actually got motion sickness.
ReplyDeleteOld Knotts Berry Farm in the 40's and 50's.
ReplyDeleteMy grand Parents took me there many times and for there great Chicken Dinners, Yeat the old rides were the best of all.
Born and raised in Anaheim and City of Orange.
1936-1959
I was born in 1939. My mom took my brother and me there in the late 1940's. I remember the train ride through a room with walls painted to look like the grand canyon, lit dim like sunset or sunrise; hearing the grand canyon suite music playing. It moved along fairly slow and you just imagined you were there in the grand canyon. A wonderful memory with my brother.
DeleteIn the '50's I lived in Seal Beach as a teenager and went to Knott's Berry Farm and it was free. Then when I was married and had children I remember Knott's Berry Farm was still free. I would take my kids in there and wander around the gold panning, the seal pond and the puppet show was the best. Then take them to have a fried chicken dinner. That was in the 1960's. Ahh,those were the days when Orange County was uncrowded with no cars on the road. Can you believe that! Orange groves, bean fields and acres and acres of strawberry fields.
ReplyDeleteI have always liked Knotts much more then Disneyland. I remember when they use to have some old time cars in the corner of the parking lot and you could drive them without having to go into the park. Across the steet was an island that had all kinds of neat wooden things to play on, swings, slides etc and a lake with a train going around it, now this area is all parking lot. There was even live burros to ride, in the park and across the steet.
ReplyDeleteI grow up in Buena Park and Santa Ana in the 60's and early 70's. My father would take our family to Knott's on Sundays, and there would be a band playing in that place where there were covered wagons. then we would go to old McDonald farm. I loved that place. the last time I was there, in about 87, it just wasn't the same place. I no longer live in California so I'm sure it would be very sad to go back and see the all the changes.
ReplyDelete@Mark: I believe that would be the Haunted Mansion ride over at Disneyland ;D
ReplyDeleteIn general, I LOVE Knotts! I believe the John Wayne Theater became the Good Time Theater, and is now known as the Charles M. Schulz Theater.
I grew up in S.Cal. We went to POP alot, it was only $1.75 to get in, I found a web site trying to keep the history together. But back in the early 60's we would go to Knotts on a "Sunday Drive". There wasn't a charge to get in back then, so it was a cheap thing to do. I mostly remember watching the puppetier, he was from Poland or someplace, but we would sit there for hours.
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone remember the old Birthday garden at Knott's Berry Farm where they had all different themes for parties. It was in the late fifties and I had a birthday party in a treehouse then saw a wonderful marionette show afterwards.
ReplyDeleteI had my birthday party there in !960 or 61. It was in a the treehouse and the cake was an ice cream cake. I think it was where the windjammer is now. After the cake we saw a marionette show in the building that is now where they sell Mexican food, and then over to Old MacDonald's farm. I remember the goat that always ate whatever you gave it and I remember the "merry-go round " that was horse powered there too. I do miss the simpler times at Knott's...the organ grinder with the monkey, Mr. and Mrs. Knott walking around in the park, the indian chief and the scent of caramel corn.
DeleteMy first job was at Knotts in the summer of 1975. I was a trash sweeper. I worked all areas of the park but my favorite place was ghost town at night. Most people just hurried through it to the rides so it was fairly calm there. I love the old west and the wagon camp was the coolest place in the park to me. Many happy memories of learning how to work and keep a job that summer.
ReplyDeleteSomeone mentioned the old Birthday Garden at Knott's Berry Farm...had my 7th birthday in 1959 there...still have pictures. It was great.
ReplyDeleteWe lived in Garden Grove from 1954-1979. I do remember the seal pond at Knott's Berry Farm. I remember buying the sardines in the wax bags to feed to the seals.
ReplyDeleteI remember seeing Barry Goldwater (1961?)speak before a huge crowd outside where the Independence Hall is now located. They sold cans of 7-up and called it "Goldwater." The cans had to be opened with a real can opener, it was before any pop tops were invented.
I grew up in OC in the 1950's. Stayed there until I moved to No Calif in 1976. I remember a small chapel at Knotts Berry Farm when I was a kid. You'd go in, it would get dark, and then a recording would talk about Christ and a door would open up with a picture of Christ and lights on him that made Him look so real. When you are 7, it's quite intense. Does anyone remember that?
ReplyDeleteI remember! Jesus' eyes would seem to follow you, to be looking directly at you. We'd do this as one of the last things before we'd be going home, and that was always a little freaky. It was cool in there.
DeleteYes, I remember that chapel. Jesus' eyes would seem to be looking directly at you. It seemed a little creepy! We always knew it would be cool in there, though.
DeleteYes I remember. I think the music that was played was the moonlight sonata during the presentation.
DeleteThe bands I say at the "JOhn Wayne Theatre" were great, not "HOkie" at the time. I went just about every weekend when I was 16-18 years old (in the early 70s). Rick Nelson, the Monkees (Davy Jones, Mickie Dolenz, Tommy Boyce, Bobby Hart), Paul Revere and the Raiders. $3.00 to enter the Park and free concert. Such a deal.
ReplyDeleteI also remember Old McDonald's Farm. When I was about 6 years old a mother chicken rejected one of her chicks. We had a coop at home, so my Mom let me bring it home and raise. Such great memories of Knotts.
My girlfriend's Mother lost her wig on the Corkscrew ride. We didn't realize it until the ride stopped. The employees had to go to the pond below the ride and fish it out. My Mom laughed so hard she peed her pants. What a sight they both were :)
I too always enjoyed Knotts more than Disney, but now they are both too commercial. No originality left :(
Great story and memories indeed
DeleteBurrow Rides at Knott's Berry Farm and Ghost Town.
ReplyDeleteSomeone mentioned the Knott's burrow rides. My first job in about 1956 was putting kids on the burrows and taking them around the trail.
Remember "Serrano" the world's most educated horse?
The KBF boysen berry sundaes were something that brought me back to Knott's for years and years.
DA
My high school friend Bruce worked at that donkey ride. He was the one who would put the children on, then lead them around the trail. I always thought that was a great job! Yes, I remember Serrano too. He would answer questions by picking up wooden blocks with letters and numbers on them. And, he was right!
DeleteAhhh, the burro rides, the seal pond, Old McDonalds Farm...the good old days! I remember the cars you would drive around the track; how about the tiny city with the mini Model T type cars that had a rubber block under each wheel that would make you feel like you were driving? The monkey cage and organ grinder, the great corn dogs, the Mynah birds by the Chicken dinner restaurant. The old train engine across from the Grill is the same one I played on in the 50's. There was a playground behind an old school (near where the talking jail inmate is) that had a see-saw and some type (?) of unusual merry-go-round kids could play on.
ReplyDeleteIn summer school between the fourth and 5th grade at Buena Terra, our class took a tour of the new fire station on Western just accross from where the donkeys were corraled. The fireman hit the horn on one of the engines and the donkeys went nuts. They started to bray and buck and went on for a minute or so.They must have gone berzerk when all the engines rolled out on a real call. The old school house was on the south side of the barn at the end of the street.Everything in the playground was made of wood and was period.There definitely was a see-saw. If you pushed off real hard when you were on the low end it would slam the person on the other end into the ground.
ReplyDeleteMy friend did this to me once and I went after him. We may have been the last two kids to ever scrap in that little schoolyard. Just down from there on the other side of the street was a model train shop with a track running around the shop near the cieling. Old Mc Donalds farm had a goat on the roof that would eat anything people would give it.People use to bring empty cans just to give the goat (there's hillbilly entertainment).There was an old swayback mare and a chicken that played a childs piano.Along the back wall behind the monkey cage and chapel were a series of hand made models of all the early California missions started by Junipero Serra.Each one was in a dip in the walkway and had a cover over it. Walter Knott had a sense of history and not everything he put in the park was a ride or tourist trap side show.The stationary trains (one was by the blacksmith shop),the working steam locomotive, the old farm implements and wagons kept in the barn, all these were things he had grown up with and knew that they were already obsolete. Children would walk through these places as their parents told them what the old things were and how they worked. The original fire station that was on Grand ave had old but functional fire engines. This was a real fire station that protected the park(the firemen would always let you sit on the engine).Next to the shop with the Myna birds was a room with a large mineral rock that turned different colors as a black light was shown on it. There was a small indoor garden in one of the buildings and a real honey bee hive was flourishing on one of the support poles. We frequently parked behind the building(pink?) where they made the candy. In front of it was a beautiful quiet garden area with a large fountain. Knotts was a series of little worlds, all with their own smells amd sounds, rich little settings leading from one to another, much like in a dream.
thanks for the memories, Walt. Forgot about the goat on the roof, the piano playing chicken, the black light rocks, and the beehives. The mission models in the dips under the stagecoach route I remember, used them as models to make sugar cube missions in elementary school (at Walter Knott Elementary). Somebody mentioned the little play of the Knotts coming west (Im thirsty, Mama), remeber that?
ReplyDeleteI seem to remember that chicken would get a few granules of grain when it pecked the piano keys! Its been fun reading the memories of Knott's here! We lived in Fullerton 1950-1970 when I went to my first job, away from home.
DeleteI don't remember the play at all. Where and when was it performed? I remember the first real ride Knott put in was the Calico Mine Ride. It was the first step towards becoming an ordinary amusement park and away from the truly unique place it was. The parking lots were gravel and grass with old Eucalyptus trees for shade. It was a patchwork of history, circus side show,working farm,country fair, roadside zoo, travelling shows,wood smoke and square dancing. Chickens ran everywhere-even onto La Palma and Beach Blvds (people would brake for them as they took their chicks to roost away from the lights and noise at night) . It was homey and familiar. The Knotts lived on the land still. Walter use to go to cub scout meetings at the elemtary school named after him. Corrals, hand rails and arbors were made from trees cut down on the farm.
ReplyDeleteNot milled into lumber but left natural as branches and trunks. Rails were worn smooth as glass from so many hands over the years. Rhubarb was still grown commercialy on the farm until the mid-seventies(between Independence Hall and the BP Mall). People who never saw it like this will never be able to understand how different it was from what it is today.
Walt, did they ever have a monkey riding on a cycle around a big bowl type stadium?
ReplyDeleteWow...I remember so much. My sister, cousins and I spent many hours at Knott's. It's still our favorite memories to talk about. Our cousins always lived very close to Knott's and went to Walter Knott Elementary, we'd come out from Hemet for Easter vacation or summer vacation and go to Knott's. My grandma would sit by the shops and just let us go, we'd just have to check in every so often. I don't know how she didn't die of boredom. When the money got too low towards the end of the vacation, we'd go to the lake part of the park and ride the burros, and the paddle boats. I totally remember the grass and gravel parking lots with the big trees, the little covered dips where the missions were, panning for gold (which I kept for years), the candy store, the Tijuana Taxi ride (with that Herb Alpert song playing in the background), the Fiesta Wheel and getting squished on it (lol), the Mexican Sombreros ride, Knott's Bear-y Tales (and how super good it smelled in there)... and how you'd go down the long ramp at the end of that ride into the arcade...there was a guy who looked like he was a statue sometimes and he'd jump out at you, being so surprised when The Corkscrew was introduced... I had dreams of upside-down roller coasters when I was really young, how they had dancing at the Airfield Eatery before Studio K opened, just so many amazing memories... I loved it there! My mom grew up in Buena Park and went to Western High School (class of '62 I think), she told me about when it was free and she would go there to the Wagon Train shows either with a date, or friends and they would meet boys...LOL... how funny. Thanks for making this site. I have a ton more memories of Disneyland too!
ReplyDeleteMy grandfather, grandmother, father, and I,as well as a couple of uncles all worked at the Farm. We lived a mile or so away so I could ride my bike almost any time.
ReplyDeleteAmong other jobs, my grandfather killed the chickens my grandmother helped Mrs. Knot cook. My dad put the first coat of paint on Independence Hall, as well as the Mine and Log rides. I saw them both from the inside before the were finished. Dad also used to paint the wooden figures located around the Farm.
I came to this site because I have a photo of San Francisco Municipal Railways car #59 with my grandfather and other Knott's employees on board. I was trying to find out what happened to the car. It is supposedly in New Orleans.
From “Berry Farm Bob” Part 1
ReplyDeleteHi all! I also grew up in the area (Fullerton) and have probably visited Knotts 2 or 3 times a year since the mid 50's. Please excuse my rather long dissertation of Knotts memories here in a 5 part series. I love the memories listed above, so here's a few thoughts of mine to add.
1) The Play mentioned above was on the corner next to the Ghost Town Hotel and the old-time photo shop. It was called the “Wagon Train Show” It featured a large static display of a covered wagon with a mom, dad and little girl in front of a beautifully painted skyline mural (done as I recall by a famous artist commissioned by Walter Knott). During the audio play (3-minutes long on the dot) the family would talk about how tired and thirsty they were, and the parents in turn would encourage each other to continue on. The lighting in the theater would gradually change from a hot sunny desert day to a dark red sunset, to completely dark. The little girl was actually the representation of Walter Knott's real life mother who experienced the theme of the play in her own childhood.
2) Very early in the 50's, my favorite thing was the mechanical gum ball machines located on fence posts all over the park. One penny and a turn of the crank would operate a little 3” tall mechanical puppet dressed as a chef or cook who would slowly turn, open a glass door, scoop up a gumball with his little flour scoop, then drop it down the candy chute for me to fish out from under the metal cover. Thanks I guess to messy ABC gum stuck everywhere, somewhere along the way the park management had all the machines removed in the very early 60’s. I collect vintage gumball machines now and have searched for one of these for years without success. So if anybody has seen one, please reply!
3) Old McDonalds farm with the live seal pool where you could feed sardines to them for a dime. What a loud racket! All the seals barking, groaning, and slapping their flippers for food. My mom would tell me “don’t just throw the fish, make ‘em work and jump for it.” I remember one time a seal jumped clear up and bit the fish right out of my hand… scared me to death! Also have fond memories of the billy goat that would buck the bent-over farmer’s rear (a wooden dummy dressed up in old overalls), at which point a cup of goat food would trickle out on the ground as a reward. I certainly remember the goat on the roof that would eat anything and everything thrown to him. I was one of those kids that would bring all sorts of trash to feed to it. How about the old mule hitched to the little circular merry-go-round in the corral where you would sit on one of the small wooden planked seats and the farmer would drive the mule around and around for 10 cents. I always tried to get the farmer to crank up the speed, but he never would.
More to come…
From “Berry Farm Bob” Part 3
ReplyDelete7) I also fondly remember the many performers and acts such as the puppet show held in the old circus wagon at the front of the park! The puppeteer was Tony Kemeny, an orphaned immigrant from Hungary that had been stricken and paralyzed with polio as a child and spent most of his life as a prisoner of war in Nazi and Communist camps until he escaped and later made his way to the US. He became quite famous and his life story is documented in an inspiring book entitled “A Puppet No More”. Google on his name for full details. There were many professional actors and performers who got their start at Knott’s Berry Farm, including the comedian Steve Martin who split his time working in high school between Disneyland’s Main Street Magic Shop and acting in Knott’s Birdcage Theater. Back in 2007 or 08, I ran into Steve Martin setting at a table with several folks in an LA Restaurant. I walked by and quickly mentioned to him that I really enjoyed his work -- -at Knott’s Berry Farm back in the 60’!! He laughed and we actually talked a minute about his experience and how I used to play Bluegrass music as a strolling musician there when I was in college. He then broke into his comedic sinister “Dick Dasterdly” role he played with such humor at the Birdcage. He had everyone laughing hysterically after a few minutes. One of the better-known plays Steve Martin performed in at Knott’s Birdcage was an abridged version of Our American Cousin, which was the one being played at the Ford’s Theater the night President Lincoln was assonated. A number of other singers and dancers working at Knott’s eventually moved on to TV bit-parts, TV commercials, and as dancers on such shows as Laurence Welk. As I noted above, I enjoyed playing in a small Bluegrass band in high school and later in college, and we would occasionally stroll around Knott’s playing on the Ghost Town porch or in Judge Roy Bean’s front office when he was performing marriages to all the love-struck teenagers there. We didn’t get paid because we didn’t belong to the performer‘s union, but it would get us into the park for free.
More to come...
From “Berry Farm Bob” Part 2
ReplyDelete4) How about the “Only Active Volcano in So California” just outside Virginia’s Gift Shop that would smoke and occasionally rumble when the little mechanical devil in the side window would turn his crank that caused little piano hammers to strike a piece of sheet metal?
5) I always made a point of going behind the knife shop to shoot bow and arrows into the large stack of straw bales. Generally 2 or 3 times a summer the employees there would hang a couple of party-poppers on a string as a target and then see who could hit one with an arrow to make it fire its confetti and streamers all over the place. There was an active 5 or 6 foot water wheel turning there, which drove a large grinding and polishing wheel just inside the knife shop. You could have the guy in the knife shop sharpen and polish all the blades on your pocket knife “just like they did in the olden days” for (as usual) a dime. The funny thing is that in those days, these folks were actual craftsmen working and crafting real works of art. My Mom used to take her kitchen knives to that guy every couple of years to get them sharpened back in the day when it was free to get into the park.
6) My all-time favorite was the Operating Gold Mine complete with a flowing stream, water wheel that turned the stamp mill (clank – clank – clank), and the sluice boxes where you would step up on a plank with the stream running underneath you, and the miner would show you how to pan for real gold. I’d get maybe 5 or 6 flakes and then he’d wash it into a little collector’s bottle as a souvenir. I remember that although everything else generally cost a dime, this attraction cost 75 cents. I still have a few bottles of “Real Gold Panned at Knotts Berry Farm Gold Mine; Buena Park, CA”. Every now and then, you’ll see these listed on eBay by the way. The miner’s shack at the head of the mine tunnel going down to the gold mine featured real gold nuggets of various sizes for sale as well. Some of them were quite large, and my dad always joked that these couldn’t possibly be real gold because they were too big. Too bad all this is sadly gone now. It was all torn out to make room for the big wooden roller coaster back in the late 90s I believe.
More to come…
“From Berry Farm Bob” Part 5
ReplyDelete10) The blacksmith shop was a big hangout for me and my family every time we visited the park. This whole setup was an original and active blacksmith shop located just to the west of the park on the edge of a huge orange grove operation. An old friend of my dad used to tell the story of how he had visited the place with his father a few times back in the early 30’s to get some plow repairs done. Walter Knott bought the shop from the farmer and had it relocated in its entirety to where it is today. Back in the 50’s all the park’s horses were actually shoed there in front of the public. Talk about history on active display! It was a true place where you could take your kids and experience life as it was in the old west.
11) In closing, I have to mention the wagon camp where the old country western singing group “The Wagon Masters” got their start and played for years. I think my parents had every album they ever released. Probably one of the reason I have a soft spot in my heart for Knott’s is that my Mom went into labor with me when she was sitting on a stump in front of the center covered wagon at the wagon camp, taking in a Wagon Masters concert with my Dad. For those of you old enough to remember, Roy Rodgers and Dale Evans used to play there quite often as well. That stump and that wagon are still there in the same location by the way. Over the years, my own kids learned how to effectively roll their eyes and shake their heads in pure apathetic boredom as I pointed the spot out many, many times in hushed and reverent tones (LOL).
Well, I’ll shut up now, although I have many more terrific memories, pictures, and memorabilia from the good old days. Suffice it to say here that I for one miss the old Knotts very much. When I visit there today with my own grandkids, they’re all off enjoying the rides while I’m walking around poking my head into areas that are off the beaten path trying to see what remains of the old park. A lot is still there to see of you know where to look!
By the way, a great 3-part historical video series is available to watch free on YouTube, hosted by one of the original “Wagon Masters” musical group members, Dave Bourne. The video series is entitled Knott’s Berry Farm – the Early Years [parts 1, 2 and 3], and is a must-see! Also a wonderful new historical book by Jay Jennings titled “Knott’s Berry Farm – the Early Years (Images of America) was released last year (2009) and is available on Amazon.com for a reasonable price. It’s really well worth owning. In addition, a great photo album of many period vintage shots back in the early days can be found online: DaveLand – Knotts Berry Farm. This one is excellent and photos of all the things I’ve mentioned above can be found here. As a side note, I recently discovered that I’m actually in the background of one of the photos ca.1961 (but I won’t tell you which one). The URL is http://www.davelandweb.com/knotts/
Best regards and great memories to all,
“Berry Farm Bob”
From “Berry Farm Bob” Part 4
ReplyDelete8) Ghost town buildings, mining equipment, etc. were authentic! Many folks don’t realize today that almost all of the buildings in the original ghost town are real and authentic antiques themselves! These were located by Walter Knott who was a real historian. He used to travel all over the deserts of CA, NV, New Mexico and other places locating and buying up abandoned ghost town buildings, old abandoned mining equipment, etc, and then had them all relocated and re-assembled in the Knotts Berry Farm park. Up through the mid 70s, Knotts Berry Farm had actually built up a truly world class collection of many American historical items such as Native American artifacts, farming equipment, cattle and horsemen’s tack, firearms, and of course their operating narrow gauge railroad. Same was true of all the antique original tools, wagons, carriages, guns, mechanical devices for mining, farming, gunsmithing, and railroading, and other such items that brought such great experiences to visitors. Similar to today where Jay Leno has his extravagant antique car collection, Walter Knott had one of the most extensive and complete collections of Western American artifacts from the 1800s anywhere. And he proudly showed it all off at his Park as a way to educate everyone about American history and the nuts and bolts of daily life in the old west. I can remember going out “ghost town scavenging” in the 50s and early 60s with my parents – particularly in the old abandoned borax and silver mining operations all over the southwestern deserts. This was a popular outside activity with many folks starting right after WWII, and a few old pieces of equipment (pony engines and mine ore cars) that my dad and uncle came across in those early days actually ended up later at Knotts Berry Farm. Again, sadly, many of these artifacts are mostly gone, except for maybe 10%, which are still displayed in a small museum building to the right of the Park’s livery barn today.
9) One of the more curious collections was a huge array of working music boxes and parlor music devices from the 1800s; some of which were incredibly big and elaborate (think on the scale of a large upright piano). One had a large 3 foot metal player wheel with hundreds of small nibs that plucked a metal harp as it slowly turned. It also had mechanical devices that played a full sized violin, bass drum, xylophone, and cymbals at the same time as the harp. Almost all of these contraptions were working models that could be played by inserting the preverbal dime in the operator box. But again, most have been sold off to collectors via private auctions and eBay. Interestingly, all of the carved wooden dummies featured in many of the old west scenes were works of art by a world class sculptor working out of I believe New Mexico. Over the last couple of years, I’ve also seen many of these auctioned off on eBay as well.
More to come…
Im trying to remember the group that played in the wagon camp in the 60's
ReplyDeletethey sold albums there....one of the songs was "Beautiful, Beautiful Brown Eyes" they had amazing voices. Does anyone know that group....?
Can anyone confirm the date of the reunited Monkees' performance at Knott's in the late summer of 1975?
ReplyDeleteAnd did anyone ever see Micky Dolenz (of the Monkees) perform solo at Knott's -- early 1970s?
Thanks!
Mark Kleiner
djbh35 at rocketmail.com
I worked at Knott's Berry Farm between 1960 and 1962. My jobs were at the Cable Car kitchen as busboy, the Farm Market selling jams,jellies & candy. In the Ghost Town at the Popcorn Wagon next to the Wagon Train and at the Mission Trails Market,next to the Seal Pool, selling jams, jellies & candy . I was asked by many guests about how I could stand the sound of the seals barking all day. It did take me about two weeks to block them out after I was transferred there. Christmas was the worst time to work in the Markets. The crowds buying Christmas Gift boxes were 4 deep at the counter. I had to wrap gift boxes by hand. I think that many guest thought that since I was a younger boy (16-17) at the time, that I wouldn't do good at wrapping. But I showed them! I'd hauled out 60 or 70 gift boxes at a time to business man's cars on electric trucks. Early shift (6:00am - 3:30 pm) was the best. Duties included steam cleaning the wooden grates behind the counters. This required hauling then via electric 3-wheeled trucks to the back parking lot for steam cleaning. Electric truck races between other food service worker would sometimes occur. The young employees were fun to work around. I had a crush on a girl server at the food service across from the Mission Trails Market. Another friend was one of the sweepers who looked like Jethro in the Beverly Hillbillies TV Series, I think his name was Bobbie. Sorry, wish I could remember the names better. One night, on the way home to Lakewood, Ca. I was flagged down by another car in the middle of Dairy Valley. I pulled over to inspect my car for what I thought was a low tire or something like that. To my amazement I found a roster perched on my rear axle. He must have had a good grip and was flapping his wings, for I was traveling at nearly 50 mph with few stop signs. People used to dump off unwanted chickens, ducks, cats in Knott's open parking lots during that period. As employees, each year, we got a free book of ride tickets to be used by our family and friends. The newest ride, when I quit, was the Mine Train ride built between 1960- 1962. I don't know if they still process the chickens for the chicken Dinner Restaurant on site but they did when I worked there. I remember seeing live chickens being hung up by their feet during a orientation tour when first hired.
ReplyDeletelol you people are halarious <------i dont know how to spell i wanna go back in the day when there wasnt nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo silver bullet and xcelerator etc.
ReplyDeleteokay, am 99% certain that the wagon camp band was called the WAGONMASTERS and for a time featured Steve Martin on banjo! also Stormy Omartian popular Christian musician & author.
ReplyDeleteKnott's Berry Farm was a huge part of my life. Today it is a legacy. My Father was a construction superintendent and built the Mine ride, I hate that ride, I get claustrophobic! The John Wayne Theatre. John Wayne christened my Dad's final ride @ Knott's, the Log Ride, my favorite! I have pictures of Dad with John Wayne @ Knott's, they were friends. I have pictures of Dad with Walter Knott and John Wayne and the way my Dad was treated by Mr. Knott was spectacular. I remember when they had Old McDonald's Farm and if I saw a critter I liked, Dad came home with it that night! I loved the burros, stagecoach ride, the twinkly lights @ night, the boysenberry punch and sherbet, the steakhouse and Mrs. Knott's fried chicken. Knott's Berry Farm will always be a part of me, thanks to Dad, Big Jim D.! Oops, I forgot the smell of the eucalyptus trees!
ReplyDeleteone of the groups that played at the Good Time Theater was The Grass Roots. they also played at the Wagon Camp and at Bobs Barn on a rainy day, R.I.P. Rob Grill
ReplyDeleteMy dad and his brother used to ride into knotts on there horses and sign autographs in the 50's. I have a news article on them from the buena park newspaper "LaMar brothers, real pistol packing papa's" if anyone remembers them, or have pictures I would really like to see them. marjelamar@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteI lived about a mile and a half away from Knott's Berry farm when I was a kid and my whole family would go there several times a week before it was fenced in in the 60's. I do remember the Good Time Theater and my dad taking us to see Roy Roger's and Dale Evan's band The Son's of the Pioneers because he liked them so much. I also remember the Clydesdale horse and especially the zeonky (zebra-donkey cross), and always Jungle Island. I loved that place. I still have a ticket from there with all of the 'Jungle Rules" on it. I also remember the seals and the sardines. I also remember the gift shop where I would get some of my Breyer Models. And to this day still have my collection of Russ Berrie Oily Jigglers I got there as well. I still remember when John Wayne went to the park. It was big news then. I remember the bottle house, (is it still there?), and the alligators as well. I was pretty afraid of them. My father used to always buy a boysenbery pie, and we would watch the ladies make the candy in the window. They always had loose chickens when I went there. Back then there were no fences and I was really dissapointed when they put them up following in Disneyland's wake. After that, we would just go to Jungle Island. Good memories though.
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I cannot remember the date but John Wayne and Johnny Cash filmed a show on the Railroad there. The guests were Rick Nelson, Lu Lu Roman and others. I remember Johnny Cash wife June was there with her baby. It must have been 1970 maybe 1971.
ReplyDeleteThey had roller coasters and a log ride and the Xcelerator drop and the blacksmith shop I liked. I enjoyed the old west theme of the park. Not too far up the road was the Wax Museum. Later on across from the Wax Museum the Medieval Times Horseback Jousting Show opened.
You could enjoy a nice vacation just on Beach Blvd. I believe the Wax Museum is closed now.
I grew up in Long Beach. My dad used to drive us east on Carson to Knott's Berry Farm. At that time, there was only Ghost Town and the Chicken Dinner Restaurant. After leaving the city limits, we drove through a long, green corridor of eucalyptus trees that protected the orange groves, past Ron's Florist shop, then left to Knott's. The road crossed the railroad tracks at the 'city center' of Dairy Valley (now Cypress). A friend of mine told me that she grew up by that crossing, where there used to be a sorghum mill owned by her father, next to the tracks to allow easy loading of the sorghum for market. (Now it's a tire store and the tracks are no longer in use.) My sisters and I got a long candy stick on each visit, and never missed a visit to the jail where the hidden man with the microphone pretended to be the poor guy in jail, making comments on the color of my shirt, or the candy, leaving us laughing at the 'marvel' of the dummy seeing us and talking to us. We loved hearing the Sons of the Pioneers in the Wagon Camp. LA and Orange counties were much different then!
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone remember the fantastic toy store across the street from the chicken restaurant? They had a huge selection of toy soldiers imported from England and Germany. I recall the castles were really detailed. I really miss that store. I felt very sad when I went to Knott's Berry farm for the last time in July of 2007. Nothing felt the same. Everyone there was a foreigner! (I'm trying to be polite.) Calico was practically empty except for a couple of old white people looking depressed and lonely.
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