CHARLES I.D. LOOFF's CAROUSEL

Completed in 1895, by carousel designer and famous wood carver Charles
I.D. Looff, this masterpiece was the cornerstone of the most eleborate
amusement park in New England.  This triumphant accomplishment houses
62 hand-carved figures (including a camel) and four majestic chariots.
Band organ, glass jewels, and fine trim decorate this 105 year-old ride
that is the only remaining piece of Crescent Park still preserved.


Governor Almond and his Wife

The Crescent Park Carousel was placed on the National Register of Historic
Sites and Places in 1976.  In 1987, The Carousel was designated a National
Historic Landmark by the National Park Service.  



You can still drive down to Riverside and climb aboard a stallion and try
to catch that BRASS RING!  Who said you can't turn the clock back???



In the old days you would get a "free ride coin" for catching the brass
ring (see below).  Today you get a yellow ticket (see below).






Here is one of the Looff Carousel's sister rides:

Playland-at-the-Beach Carousel
(now at Yerba Buena Gardens)

Hand carved and built by Charles Looff in his Rhode Island shop in 1906,
the carousel was slated to come to San Francisco.  Because of the 1906
earthquake and fire, the carousel wound up at Luna Park in Seattle.  In
1911, Luna Park burned down.  The carousel was the only surviving ride.
It was brought to S.F. from Seattle and set up at Playland-at-the-Beach
in 1912.  The Carousel ran there for sixty years.  Playland's last day
of operation was on Labor Day 1972.  The carousel was almost sold in
pieces at that time, but ended up being bought intact and stored for ten
years.  In 1982, after extensive refurbishing and renovation, Mariannne
Stevens set up the carousel at Shoreline Village in Long Beach.  The
carousel ran there until 1996.  Marianne sold the carousel to San Francisco
and it was  brought home in 1997.  Since arriving in the Bay Area some
additional renovations have been done.  A new floor along with new brass
poles and new jewels for the animals.  Additionally, much of the intricate
detail work on the horses has been retouched.  See picture below:


                  -Photo courtesy of Debi Long


Back to the MIDWAY!!  
Music: Composed and arranged by Stephen Kent Goodman (ASCAP).            
       Copyright 1996 by Sound Traditions Publishing (ASCAP).            
       Title: Painting the Town Red, White and Blue.
       Stephen Kent Goodman can be e-mailed at: skgoodman@mindspring.com.