Great Old Amusement Parks

For those who love the offbeat, this nostalgic journey through some of America's oldest remaining amusement parks confirms the enduring popularity of yesteryear's thrill rides. In today's era of jumbo theme parks, enthusiastic riders grab for the brass ring on an antique carousel, throw their hands in the air and scream while being scrambled on "the whip," and propose marriage at the top of a Ferris wheel. Adults return for one more trip on the miniature train, boat chute, or horse race ride they enjoyed as kids. Here, viewers get to tag along on wooden roller coasters via various onboard camera angles, learning snippets of history while having fun. In his breezy, often humorous "scrapbook documentary" style, narrator-writer-producer Rick Sebak explains each park's origins, and documents restoration efforts, changes, and interesting sidelights. From East Coast to West, bumper cars to funhouses, this documentary provides--like the parks themselves--a delightful excursion. Recommended. (J. McDaniel)