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- Lost Media | Amusement History
Lost Media This section attempts to list, archive and track down pieces of media related to the Canadian amusement industry. "Lost Media" is any type of media confirmed to once exist, but is no longer available to the general public on the internet, in accessible archives, public libraries, or any other openly accessible resource. This section lists our most wanted pieces of media for our archives, most of which are extremely obscure and not discussed anywhere in other amusement and lost media communities on the internet. Castle Dracula Radio Spot - Castle Dracula (Lost radio commercials for U.S. l ocations, mid-late 1970s) Castle Dracula T.V. Commercial(s) - Castle Dracula (Lost television commercials for U.S. locations, mid-late 1970s) Coaster Chaos - FX Ride Theater (Lost edit of "Funhouse Express" ride film with additional footage, 2010) Country Hound Jamboree - Magic Harbour (Lost showtapes/footage of Waxattract-built animatronic show for U.S. park) Crystal Ball Projection Video - Castle Dracula (Lost film used to create special effect, 1974) Dracula Face Projection Video - Castle Dracula (Lost film used as projected face for figure in U.S. location, 1975) Captain Andy's Rivertown Revue - Boblo Island Amusement Park (Partially lost showtapes/footage of animatronic show) Captain Carnival Commercial - Captain Carnival Pizza Theatre (Lost commercial for family entertainment centre, 1983) Captain Carnival Show - Captain Carnival Pizza Theatre (Lost showtapes/footage of animatronic show) PARTIALLY FOUND "Cat in the Hat" Ride Film (Existence Unconfirmed) - Extreme Movie Ride 4D, MGM Studios Plaza (Lost motion ride film, 2002) "Country Jamboree" - Crystal Beach Amusement Park (Lost showtapes/footage of animatronic show) Ghostblasters Attraction Trailer - Ghostblasters, Great Canadian Midway (Partially lost advertisement for ride) Good Times Jamboree - Pyramid Place (Lost showtapes/footage of animatronic show, 1979) Good Times Jamboree Cartoon - Pyramid Place (Lost animated preshow film, 1979) Harry Houdini "Talking Head" Projection Video - Houdini Hall of Fame (Partially lost film used to create special effect) Hillbilly Bear Jamboree - Maple Leaf Village (Lost showtapes/footage of animatronic show, 1982) The Hot Air Fantasy - Marineland (Partially lost showtapes/footage of animatronic show, mid-late 1980's) "Ice Cave" Projection Video - Louis Tussaud's Wax Museum (Partially lost film used to create special effect) John Bradshaw Show Ripley's Episode - Ripley's Believe it or Not! Museum (Lost television showcase of the attraction, 1964) Marineland Promotional "Sailor Seal" Video - Various locations (Partially lost advertisement used in promotional stands) Marineland "Sailor Seal" Show - Various locations (Partially lost showtapes/footage of animatronic used in promotional stands) Meet Mr. Lincoln - Maple Leaf Village (Lost showtapes/footage of animatronic show, 1984) Monster Mash - Castle Dracula (Lost showtapes/footage of animatronic show, 1974) Monster Mash Projection Film - Castle Dracula (Lost film used as projection effect in U.S. location, 1975) MGM Multi-Media Films - MGM Great Movie Journey, MGM Studios Plaza (Lost presentation films from attraction, 2003) Robots of Mars 3D Adventure - FX Ride Theatre, Great Canadian Midway (Partially lost motion ride film, 2005)
- Manitoba & Saskatchewan | Amusement History
Manitoba and Saskatchewan Amusement and Theme Parks Don't let these prairie provinces' mostly rural nature fool, they're still home to major cities and several regionally-oriented tourism getaways. Several small towns also contain a small attraction or two such as a mini golf course or arcade that's a beloved cornerstone of the community, due to providing a space for people to come together. Kiddieland - Regina, SK Playland - Grand Marais, MB Sunset Park - Regina, SK Tinkertown Family Fun Park - Springfield (Winnipeg), MB Arcades, Mini Golf and F.E.C.s Adventure Mini Golf Clear Lake - Wasagaming, MB Amanda Pizza + More - Service Rd. #2, Shellbrook, SK Arcade - Canarama Shopping Centre, Saskatoon, SK ATS Amusements - Winnipeg Square, Winnipeg, MB Baller's Recroom - Dewdney Ave., Regina, SK Battle Creek Adventure Park - Moose Jaw, SK Beach Corners Ice Cream & Mini Golf - Loon Lake, SK Big Putts Mini Golf - Onanole, MB Blue Room Billiards - Notre Dame Ave., Winnipeg, MB Bobo’s Arcade - Confederation Mall, Saskatoon, SK Break Billiards - Pembina Hwy, Winnipeg, MB Brightsand Mini Putt - Brightsand Lake, SK Broken Rack Billiards - Albert St., Regina, SK Buffalo Bill's - Normanview/Southland, Regina, SK Bugsy's Hideout - Central Ave., Saskatoon, SK Captain Silver's - Campbell Ave., Saskatoon, SK Cherrydale Golf - Yorkton, SK Chuck E. Cheese's - Regina, SK Chuck E. Cheese's - Winnipeg, MB Circuit Circus - Saskatoon, SK CJs Snack Shack and Mini Golf - Rivers, MB Classic Billiards Bar & Grill - Portage Ave., Winnipeg, MB Command HQ/LVR Games - Circle Park Mall/The Centre, Saskatoon, SK Command HQ - Lawson Heights Mall, Saskatoon, SK The Corner Pocket Billiards - Sherritt Ave., Lynn Lake, MB The Corner Pocket Restaurant - Broadway St., Cartwright, MB The Cove - University of Saskatchewan Shops, Saskatoon, SK Crazy 8 Billiards & Lounge - Berry St., Winnipeg, MB Crystal Palace - Donald/Ellice, Winnipeg, MB DJ's Arcade/Sand Dunes Fun and Games - St. Clements Row, Grand Marais, MB DJ’s Video - Primrose Dr., Saskatoon, SK Dooly's - Main St. N., Moose Jaw, SK Duffer’s - 22nd St. (later moved to 24th/Wall), Saskatoon Dutch Treat Mini Golf - Greig Lake, SK Echo Par Mini Golf - B-Say-Tah, SK Emma Lake Mini Golf - Emma Lake, SK Excalibur - Garden City Mall, Winnipeg, MB, Fairhaven Billiards - Saskatoon, SK Falcon Lake Mini Golf - Falcon Lake Golf Club, Falcon Beach, MB Family Leisure Centre - Albert/?, Regina, SK Flea Whiskey's - Erin St., Winnipeg, MB The Fun Factory - Quebec Ave., Saskatoon, SK Fungoes Golf Centre - East Saint Paul (Winnipeg), MB Fun Land Arcade - Regina, SK Fun Park Amusement Centre - Winnipeg, MB Funstrip - Broadway Ave., Saskatoon, SK Games on the Avenue - Portage Ave., Winnipeg, MN GameWorld International - Primrose Dr., Saskatoon, SK Geppetto's Mini Golf - Richer, MB Gobbles Putt For Par - Shell Lake, SK Golden Mile Arcade - Regina, SK Goldwave - Main St., Moose Jaw, SK The Golf Dome - Winnipeg, MB Grand Prix Amusements - Springfield (Winnipeg), MB Gravity Zone - Broadway Ave., Saskatoon, SK Grenfell Little Greens Mini Putt - Grenfell, SK Gull Lake & District Kinette Club Mini Golf Course - Gull Lake, SK Jack Pott's Thrill Zone - Regent Ave. W., Winnipeg, MB Judy's - Main St., Canwood, SK Hackers & Smackers Mini Golf - Hackers & Smackers Golf Driving Range, Winnipeg, MB The Hanger Billiards and Sports Lounge - Scurfield Blvd., Winnipeg, MB Harbourview Mini Golf - Harbour View Golf Course, Winnipeg, MB HI Bar - Cardinal Crescent, Saskatoon, SK Hidden Valley Mini Golf - Hidden Valley Golf & RV Resort, Estevan, SK Highland Miniature Golf - Brandon, MB The Holland Windmill Mini Golf - Holland, MB Huggie Bear - Market Mall, Saskatoon, SK IQ's Cafe & Billiards - Winniped, MB Kat's Arcade - Desmond St., Grenfell, SK Kivimaa-Moonlight Bay Mini-Golf Course - Kivimaa-Moonlight Bay, SK KK Entertainment - Eaton Place , Winnipeg, MB Krazy Leo’s - 33rd St., Saskatoon, SK Lakewood Arcade - Lakewood Camping Resort, Cross Lake, MB LanMark Games - Circle Park Mall/The Centre, Saskatoon, SK Laser Illusions - Confederation Mall, Saskatoon, SK Laser Illusions - Polo Park Mall, Winnipeg, MB LaserTopia - Waverley St., Winnipeg, MB Las Vegas Amusements - Vaughn St., Winnipeg, MB Long John Silvers - Portage Ave., Winnipeg, MB Little Al's Mini Golf - Waskesiu Lake, SK MagicLand - Portage Ave., Winnipeg, MB MagicLand- Winnipeg Beach, MB Magic Mike's - Charleswood Centre Mall, Winnipeg, MB Market Mall Mini Golf - Market Mall, Saskatoon, SK Mar's Mini Golf - Saskatoon, SK Masters Mini Golf - Kenosee Lake, SK Matty's Fun Centre - Melville, SK Maxwell's Amusements - Regina, SK Mercer's Manitou Mini Golf - Manitou Beach, SK Par-Tici-Putt Mini Golf - Good Spirit Lake, SK The Pas Billiards & Sports Bar - Fischer Ave., The Pas, MB Pete's Grand Putt - Grand Marais, MB Phantom Amusement - Kildonan Place (later moved to Forks Market Rd.), Winnipeg, MB The Pirate's Den - Grant Park Shopping Centre, Winnipeg, MB Pike Lake Mini Golf - Pike Lake, SK Playland Arcade - Playland, Grand Marais, MB Playland Arcade - Main St., Winnipeg Beach, MB Pokeys Pinball Cafe - 33rd St. W., Saskatoon, SK Prairie Jurassic - Saskatoon, SK Putt 'N Bounce Mini Golf - Saskatoon, SK Putters Dream Mini Golf - Belair, MB Putter's Grill & Mini Golf - La Broquerie Golf Course, La B roquerie, MB RC Amusements - Pembina Hwy, Winnipeg, MB Ruckers Amusement Centre - 8 St. E., Saskatoon, SK Ruckers Amusement Centre - Regent Corner Shopping Centre, Winnipeg, MB Ruckers Amusement Centre - 22 St. W., Saskatoon, SK Rudy's Arcade - Sheppard St., Winnipeg, MB Rustic Wilderness Mini Golf & Ice Cream - Goodsoil, SK Sharkey's Billiards - 101 St., North Battleford, SK Sherwood Village Arcade - Regina, SK Shooter's Family Golf Centre - Winnipeg, MB SkyPark Regina - Regina, SK The Snooker Shack - 8 St. E., Saskatoon, SK Stoked Centre - Owen Mnr., Saskatoon, SK Syd's Carousel - Regent Ave. W., Winnipeg, MB Syl's Drive Inn Mini Golf - Syl's Drive Inn, Carman, MB T-Birds Food Fun Games - Currie Blvd, Brandon, MB Tee Off Park - Regina, SK Top Gigio - UniCity, Winnipeg, MB Thunder Rapids Amusement Park - Headingley, MB Tuxedo Golf Club Mini Golf - Tuxedo Golf Club, Winnipeg, MB U-Puttz Amusement Centre - Winnipeg, MB VicSquare Fun Park - Regina, SK Waves Ice Cream & Mini Golf - Kamsack, SK Wonderland - Regina, SK Wizard's Castle - Circle Park Mall/The Centre, Saskatoon, SK Wizard's Castle - Lawson Heights Mall, Saskatoon, SK X-Cues Cafe & Lounge - Sargent Ave., Winnipeg, MB Arcade (Name Unknown) - Central/111th St. W., Saskatoon, SK Arcade (Name Unknown) - Dewdney Ave., Regina, SK Arcade (Name Unknown) - Midtown Plaza, Saskatoon, SK Arcade (Name Unknown) - Northgate Mall, Regina, SK Arcade (Name Unknown) - Polo Park Mall (lower level), Winnipeg, MB Arcade (Name Unknown) - 22nd St. W. & Avenue T, Saskatoon, SK Arcade (Name Unknown) - Wildwood Mall/The Centre, Saskatoon, SK Specialty Hotels and Gift Shops The Atlas Hotel - Regina, SK Canad Inns Destination Centre Brandon - Brandon, MB Canad Inns Destination Centre Fort Garry - Winnipeg, MB Canad Inns Destination Centre Garden City - Winnipeg, MB Canad Inns Destination Centre Polo Park - Winnipeg, MB Canad Inns Destination Centre Portage la Prairie - Portage la Prairie, MB Canad Inns Destination Centre Transcona - Winnipeg, MB Canad Inns Destination Centre Windsor Park - Winnipeg, MB Theatres, Bowling Alleys and Miscellaneous Allan Bowl/Pins & Pints Bowling - Allan, SK Alley Oop Building - Radville, SK Auto Cinema Saskatcheone - Manitou Beach, SK The Biggar Bowl - Biggar, SK Billy Mosienko Lanes - Winnipeg Boissevain and Area Bowling Lanes - Boissevain, MB Bolorama Lanes - Regina, SK Bowlers Lanes - Gimli, MB Broadview Bowl - Broadview, MB Carman 5 Pin Bowl - Carman, MB Carnduff Bowl - Carnduff, SK Chateau Lanes - Winnipeg, MB Coronation Bowling Centre - Winnipeg, MB Cross Road Lanes - Thompson, MB Cut Knife Country Lanes - Cut Knife, SK Dakota Bowling - Winnipeg, MB Esterhazy Bowl Arena - Esterhazy, SK Estevan Bowl - Estevan, SK Foam Lake Bowling Centre - Foam Lake, SK Galaxy Lanes - Melita, MB Glencarin Bolodrome - Regina, SK Golden Mile Bowling Lanes - Regina, SK Gutters Bowling and Game Centre - North Battleford, SK Hepburn Centennial Bowl - Hepburn, SK Hunter's Eastview Bowl - Saskatoon, SK Hunter's Fairhaven Bowl - Saskatoon, SK Jake's Place - Watrous, SK Kemway Lanes - Humboldt, SK Kindersley Bowl-A-Drome - Kindersley, SK LaVerendrye Lanes - Winnipeg, MB Lipton Bowling Alley - Lipton, SK Melfort Bowl - Melfort, SK Melville Bowl Arena, Melville, MB Minnedosa Bowl - Minnedosa, MB Moonlight Movies Drive-In - Pilot Butte, SK Nipawin Bowl - Nipawin, SK Nitehawk Drive-In - Indian Head, SK Nortown Bowling Lanes - Regina, SK Outlook Bowling Alley - Outlook, SK Park Alleys - Winnipeg, MB Parkway Lanes - Dauphin, MB Planet Lazer - Regina, SK Polo Park Bowling Centre - Polo Park Mall, Winnipeg, MB Prairie Dog Drive-In Theatre - Carlyle, SK Rossmere Lanes - Winnipeg, MB Selkirk Bowling Centre - Selkirk, MB Shamrock Drive-In - Killarney, MB SilverCity St. Vital Cinemas - St. Vital Centre, Winnipeg, MB South Hill Bowling Centre - Moose Jaw, SK Southport Bowl - Southport, MB Stardust Drive-In - Morden, MB Steinbach Bowling Alley - Steinbach, MB St. James Lanes - Winnipeg, MB Tisdale Bowling Lanes - Tisdale, SK Treherne Bowling & Billiards - Treherne, MB Twilite Drive-In - Wolseley, SK Uptown Alley - Winnipeg, MB Up Your Alley Bowling Center - Swan River, MB VB's Entertainment Center - Winkler, MB Westwood Lanes & Games - Winnipeg, MB Weyburn Super Bowl - Weyburn, SK Wheelies Family Roller Centre - Winnipeg Themed Restaurants, Bars and Stores The Disney Store - Polo Park Mall, Winnipeg, MB Water Parks and Attractions Atlantis Indoor Waterslides - Winnipeg, MB Fun Mountain Water Slide Park - Springfield, MB Penguin Village - Saskatoon, SK Skinner's Wet 'n Wild - Lockport, MB Soaked! Waterpark - The Atlas Hotel, Regina, SK Splasher’s Indoor Pool and Waterslide - Canad Inns Destination Centre, Brandon, MB Splasher’s Indoor Pool and Waterslide - Canad Inns Destination Centre Fort Garry, Winnipeg, MB Splasher’s Indoor Pool and Waterslide - Canad Inns Destination Centre Garden City, Winnipeg, MB Splasher’s Indoor Pool and Waterslide - Canad Inns Destination Centre Polo Park, Winnipeg, MB Splasher’s Indoor Pool and Waterslide - Canad Inns Destination Centre, Portage la Prairie, MB Splasher’s Indoor Pool and Waterslide - Canad Inns Destination Centre Transcona, Winnipeg, MB Splasher’s Indoor Pool and Waterslide - Canad Inns Destination Centre Windsor Park, Winnipeg, MB Splash Island Water Park - Portage la Prairie, MB Turtle Tide Water Slides - Grand Marais, MB
- Photo/Video Archive | Amusement History
Photo and Video Archive Welcome to the Canadian Amusement History archives. This archive is the result of over a decade of searching through old photographs, tourist home videos, public libraries, newspaper archives, advertising, and more. Here you'll find images and footage of both former attractions and ones that have changed over the years. You can also find old postcards, brochures, guide books, newspaper articles, commercials, and more. All sources are provided when applicable. This section will always be a work in progress. Due to the scope and size of our personal archive collection, the entirety of it will never fully be featured here, so if you're after something you don't find here, please contact us as we might have it in our collections! All Photo Galleries All Video Galleries Lost Media
- House of Frankenstein 1971 Tour | Amusement History
1971 "Tour" A Canadian Amusement History Special Feature This "tour" through the House of Frankenstein as it would have been the year it opened is made possible by an old souvenir guide book provided by Donald Deveau, as well as countless recounts of former staff and guests. A huge thank you to members of the Dunham family of the Waxattract company who's artistry, creativity, and passion built the attraction, and were kind enough to share information that also made this article possible. Here you'll see just how impressive the original version of this attraction remains today, but keep in mind this was over a whopping 50 years ago. "Come in... and 'kill a little time' with us..." Guests were met with terror before even entering the building, which was a large gothic manor, complete with an imposing clock tower featuring a working clock. The originally grey and red building stood out on the street, and strobe lights flashed in the second-story faux windows to simulate lighting inside bringing the titular Monster to life. A large Frankenstein's Monster head sign flashed red as it was struck by a large neon lightning bolt, and a live actor playing the character roamed under an awning, weeding out the weak before they were even able to near the doors. After passing the Phantom of the Opera in the front window and the skeleton escaping his coffin in the lobby (as well as a display of antique guns, apparently), guests would purchase their ticket and enter a door next to the counter. The Monster outside was terrifying to some, and a great photo-op for thousands of others who got their photo taken with the Monster. A portion of "The Grotto". The echo effect apparently sent several guests running straight back out the door. "The Comte De Lorge" glares menacingly from his cave-like prison. Guests would immediately find themselves in "The Grotto", with cave rock walls and the sound effects of a vast cave. They would soon come to an opening of mummified corpses, stalagmites, and circling bats. There was also an echo effect, where guests would actually hear their own voice's echo seemingly chase them down the hallway. This was achieved via microphones hidden in the stucco rock cave walls and a surround sound audio system with heavy reverb. Sent running by the sound of their own voice, guests would be met with perhaps the most gruesome and detailed area in the museum: the torture scenes. The "Comte De Lorge", imprisoned in the Bastille and forgotten about for over 30 years, raised his head and outstretched his arms in desperation at the sight of another human being. The massive "Medieval Torture Chamber" was next: a large room-sized scene with prison-bar walls on three sides that guests would walk around. Many met their bitter end in the torture chamber as guests looked on in horror. There was a flaying alive where a victim's skin was ripped off their body, a branding with a hot coal between tongs, a hanging by the thumbs, the stocks, a bed of nails where heavy stones were lowered into the victim via pulley, an "Iron Maiden", a man with his head in a cage of hungry rats, a man chained to rotating platform, and the infamous Rack stretching a victim in two, among several other unfortunate ends. The next scene was originally various artifacts likely tying into a torture or punishment theme, however this scene didn't last long (as even evidenced in the guide book by: "This scene will be changed and added to over time.") It's likely this was quickly replaced with one of the torture scenes later found in the Lake George location or the Castle Dracula attractions, such as the Druid sacrifice. Next guests would discover "The Forgotten Prisoner", a writhing skeletal figure chained to the wall of his cell, and then pass the "Barrel Drowning" where a man was dunked in and out of a barrel, an always lethal precursor of sorts to waterboarding. Next guests would enter the modern crime and punishment area, where very real, still relevant horrors held domain. The uncaught "Machete Murderer" of California showed off his collection of severed heads (and machete), "Charles Manson" attempted to escape his straight jacket, loud starling machine guns echoed from a recreation of the "St. Valentine's Day Massacre", and the "Boston Strangler" peered menacingly at guest's necks. Guests would also see the "Bird Man of Alcatraz", "Jesse James", "Wyatt Earp" in a violent shootout at the OK Corral, "Bonnie and Clyde", and "Sherlock Holmes" discovering a cadaver. A postcard of the torture chamber from the later Lake George location with the lights on. Many, if not all of these figures would have been created from the same sculpts and molds as those in the original Niagara location. To give an idea of the size of this area, only about half of it's contents can be seen in this image. The "Barrel Drowning" (left), "Wyatt Earp" about to draw his gun at the infamous Doc Holiday OK Corral shootout (right) "Sherlock Holmes", although the frightening scene he's examining unfortunately can't be clearly seen in this image. The "Electric Chair" scene as it appeared up until 2020 in the Lake George location. The original victim has since been replaced with an off-the-shelf prop. "Canada's First Hangman" was next, a death row prisoner himself who volunteered to do the dirty work for the government in exchange for his life. He operated a detailed gallows which guests also activated. On the same note of gruesome punishments, the half-eaten remains of a man being devoured by hungry ants protruded from the sand in the next scene: the "Ant Torture", which was uncomfortably located at eye-level. The punishments were rounded out by the towering, famous Guillotine scene which gained the attraction fame, a witch burning where a judge sentenced a screaming woman to be burnt at the stake (complete with fake flames), and "The Axe Man" sharpening his axe at a grinding wheel in front of his next victim. Fittingly bridging the gap between fiction and reality, the last scene in the crime and punishment area (or first scene in the fiction section, if you look at it that way), was Jack the Ripper gruesomely "ripping" his victim with his blade. In Lake George, "The Axe Man" scene is known as "A 17th Century Beheading", where it's still located today. It's likely this scene is identical to it's long-removed Niagara counterpart. Sometime around this point in the attraction, guests would ascend to the second floor. The present-day staircase up has a scene on the landing halfway up the staircase, however the staircase up and the staircase down may have been reversed at some point since the attraction opened (see main article on the attraction.) If this was indeed the original stairs up, which scene would have been on the stair landing, or if it was listed in the guide book off which this "tour" is based, isn't clear. That being said, the next scene after Sherlock Holmes was the Electric Chair, which the U.S. had only discontinued use of 8 years prior to the attraction's debut. Guests activated it at the push of the button, for an added sense of unease and remorse. The incredibly realistic effect featured the man jolting around in the chair and screaming wildly, accompanied by stobe lights and real carbon arcs causing smoke. The "Ant Torture" "The Guillotine" in 1998 shortly after it's made a cut. This remains one of only two original scenes in the attraction today. "Jack the Ripper" plunges a knife into his victim in a claustrophobic London abbey. By now guests were certainly upstairs if they had not already been for several scenes, and the Phantom of the Opera sat playing his organ, his wild and frantic music playing through the hall. Next the "Mutant", man's possible future if it continues its self-destructive path, gobbled on human flesh in a post-apocalyptic wasteland. Next was the "Witch of Endor", followed by Poe's "Pit and the Pendulum" torture device, where the endlessly swinging pendulum blade cut a seemingly ever-deeper gorge in a victim's stomach. The next scene was perhaps one of the most impressive: "The Seance." Three people sat a table along with a medium and her crystal ball. Upon activation, the ball would begin glowing as the table began to float. Items in the room began to violently move and bang on their own as the lights flickered, air cannons blasted at guests, and air-powered ankle whips along the bottoms of the walls tickled at guest's feet (these were later relocated earlier in the attraction when the scene was removed.) Clockwise from left: The "Phantom of the Opera" (above) plays his pained organ music. Along with the aforementioned Guillotine, these remain the only two original scenes in the attraction. Timelapse shot of the "The Pit and the Pendulum" scene swinging (top right), and the popular "Seance" room (bottom right). "The Edinborough Body Snatchers" Running scared away from the spirits summoned by the Seance, guests found themselves face to face with the "Edinborough Body Snatchers" robbing a grave. The next classic film monster guests would encounter would be "The Hunchback of Notre Dame". Guests would then find themselves in the "Crypt", and then in "Hell" itself. Exiting a taste of damnation, guests would find "Edgar Allan Poe" reciting and scribbling his horror works on a page. Next was the "Twilight Zone": a mirror maze lit with strobe lights and the familiar black-and-white stripe pattern from the series of the same name painted on the floor. Exiting the mirror maze guests encountered Count Dracula himself, who slowly transformed into a bat via a light and mirror trick. Another classic film monster immediately followed: The "Creature From the Black Lagoon" in his swamp. In a welcome (yet still distributing) break for humans, the next scene featured the "Death of a Vampire", impaled with a stake through the heart, taking it's last gasping breaths. Guests would witness the godfather of horror himself at work in the "Edgar Allan Poe" scene. The vampire Count Dracula (left) who would seem to transform into a bat at your very eyes. But fear not, after a quick journey through the swamp to meet the Creature from the Black Lagoon, guests would witness the "Death of a Vampire" (right) via a stake through it's heart. The next scene was "The Attic Ghost": the supposed ghost of a bride killed by her jealous lover, who is then sentenced to spend eternity being haunted by her. The ghost herself was a hovering animatronic figure with a glowing head. After escaping the ghost, guests would walk past "The Room of Rats", where a man lay on a bed being eaten alive by rats, his chest slowly rising and falling. They would then find themselves face to face with the "Wolfman", who came lurching around a corner to grab them. Dodging the Wolfman's grasp, guests would flee into the Mummy's tomb, where the Mummy would slowly open his sarcophagus to rejoin the living. The next scene was a bit of comic relief, the House of Frankenstein "Wax Workshop", where a mad wax maker dunked a severed human head into a vat of wax in a supposed explanation of how the attraction's wax figures were really made. It's safe to say the actual Waxattract studios were probably a much more friendly place. A man hopelessly devoured alive in "The Room of Rats." (Above): The original "Wolfman" in 1998 shortly prior to it's replacement four years later. This blurry VHS capture between strobe flashes has been digitally enhanced to show as much detail as available. (Left):"The Wax Workshop" ("No Admittance") offers some comic relief to the attraction. Narrowly avoiding becoming permanent residents of the House of Frankenstein, guests then found themselves on the "Strange Planet", a room with a squishy floor and trippy music playing. Countless blacklight eyes peered from the darkness, as well an animatronic figure of Metaluna Mutant from "This Island Earth". Returning to Earth, guests now walked past a graveyard featuring "The Undead" corpses rising from their graves. Next was the mad "Dr. Jekyll", who would transform into the evil "Mr. Hyde" at the press of a button via the same mirror trick as the Dracula transformation. A more natural scare, a massive "Gorilla" would be the next scene guests encountered. "The Undead" rise from the graveyard. "Dr. Jekyll" (left) and his transformation into the hideous "Mr. Hyde" (right). 2016. The scene's push button had already been modified several years prior to these photos to activate a corpse which slams into the plexiglass. The Doctor's transformation remained operational in some form in the background until it was shut off in 2018. Doctor Frankenstein and his assistant peer over their creation just prior to resurrecting the Monster. The giant Jacob's Ladder effect as well as The Bride of Frankenstein are just out of frame. Could this be the dress in question? By the point this capture was taken, the figure had already been moved to the lobby display, and then laid down elsewhere in the attraction. It didn't sport this dress in the lobby rather wearing a large sheet, however it may have been underneath the entire time. The figure was sadly removed from the attraction except for the head in 2019. The final scene in the attraction would be "Your Host" (a grotesque hooded man) saying goodbye, giving you an invitation to return, and showing you the door. If the up and down staircases have been reversed at some point in the attraction's lifespan (as mentioned earlier), it's possible this scene was the one on the stairs landing. Guests would descend the stairs back to the first floor and come out in the gift shop, where they could buy a variety of monster themed and House of Frankenstein branded merchandise, as well as masks and latex hands of authentic House of Frankenstein monsters made from the same molds as the characters in the attraction. Finally guests would reach the laboratory of Dr. Frankenstein himself. The doctor stood in front of a wall of elaborate machinery, his Igor-esque lab assistant at his side. In front of them was an operating table parallel to the window into the scene, and on it was "Frankenstein's Monster". Standing in the corner with a look of horror on her face was the Bride of Frankenstein, already brought to life, awaiting her future husband's re-awakening. The dress worn by the Bride was actually Betty Dunham's wedding dress, and it would manage to remain with the figure until she was removed from the attraction (save for the head) in 2019. Above the operating table the Monster lay upon was a massive Jacob's Ladder device in a ray gun suspended from the ceiling, pointed at the table. The Jacob's Ladder used actual electricity, and was a highlight of the attraction. At the push of a button, the Doctor and his assistant would flip the switches and levers, causing the Jacob's Ladder to intensify from it's resting state. As strobe lights illuminated the room, the Bride would scream in horror as the Monster would sit up on the table and turn it's head to look at the guests. The impressive scene was a fitting climax for an equally impressive attraction. "Your Host" finally shows you to the door. The collage featuring (top to bottom) "The Garrote" execution, "The Grotto", the lobby coffin display, the "Witch Burning", "The Mummy", a portion of the "Medieval Torture Chamber", "Canada's First Hangman", "The Machete Murders", The Bird Man of Alcatraz", Metaluna Mutant in the "Strange Planet" room, the mysterious ape-man, and the giant "Gorilla". It's likely there were more scenes featured in the attraction that simply weren't listed in the guide book. Some can even be seen in a collage of images at the end of the book, such as the Garrote wire execution and a scene with a hairy ape-like man popping out from behind something. It's possible this was some sort of "Planet of the Apes" scene. The same collage also features a photo of what's presumably the Gorilla scene, however the figure looks strikingly similar to one in the Lake George location which held a Barbie doll and was placed in a miniature set to give it the appearance of King Kong. It's unclear in the photo of the gorilla figure if he's holding a Barbie doll or something else due to the image quality, but if he is, it's possible this is either infact not the Gorilla scene but rather an unlisted Kong scene, or that this is the Gorilla scene simply named that for copyright reasons, however the former would be more likely. The attraction's original brochure also mentions more scenes absent from the book like the "Mysterious Motel", the "Iron Lady", and the "Snake Pit"'. It's also possible that several of the other scenes originally found in the later Lake George location ("The Hatchet Man", "The Bathtub Murder", "The Grim Reaper", "The Price of Infidelity", "The Zombies", etc.) were also originally in the Niagara one, however the two attractions weren't exact carbon copies despite being nearly identical Needless to say, the attraction was incredible and years ahead of it's time in technology, special effects, and concept. It's not hard to see from this description of the experience why it had the impact it did. Click here to return to the main House of Frankenstein page and read more about the attraction's impact on Niagara Falls and the greater amusement industry, as well as how the attraction has changed over time.
- British Columbia (& Northern Canada) | Amusement History
British Columbia (and Northern Canada) This page specifically covers British Columbia, however the Northern provinces of Yukon and the Northwest Territories are included on this page as well due to their extremely small number of attractions. All attractions are/were located in B.C. unless otherwise stated. Amusement and Theme Parks Bedrock City/Dinotown - Chilliwack Bedrock City - Kelowna Cultus Lake Adventure Park - Cultus Lake Dyck's Dinosaur Park - Maple Ridge Fantasy Gardens/Fantasy Garden World - Richmond Happyland/Playland at the PNE - Vancouver Rattlesnake Canyon - Osoyoos Arcades, Mini Golf and F.E.C.s The Adventure Zone - Granville Island Kids Market, Vancouver Ballie Bear Amusement - Parker Place Mall, Richmond Bear Creek Park Mini Golf - Bear Creek Park, Surrey Bonker's - Vancouver Bumble Bee - Scott Rd., Surrey Captain George's - Springer/Lougheed, Burnaby Central City Fun Park - Surrey Choice Billiards - Surrey CHQ - Metrotown Mall, Burnaby Chuck E. Cheese's - Langley Crossing Shopping Centre, Langley Chuck E. Cheese's Pizza Time Theater - Burnaby Circus Circus (Circuit Circus?) - Vancouver City Centre Park Mini Golf - City Centre Park, Victoria Coin City Arcade - Vancouver Creston Mini Golf - Creston Cue's Game Room - Penticton The Den Arcade - Robson St., Vancouver District Billiards - Kelowna Doc's Golf Centre - Penticton East End Billiards - Vancouver Electrafun - Cameron St., Burnaby Energyplex Entertainment Centre - Kelowna eSpot - Richmond Family Adventure Zone - Whistler The Family Fun Centre - Kingsway St., Burnaby Flintstone Mini Golf - Bedrock City, Kelowna Flintstone/Dinotown Mini Golf - Bedrock City/Dinotown, Chilliwack Fraser Valley Billiards - Abbotsford The Fun Centre - Harewood Mall, Nanaimo The Fun Factor Centre - Kamloops Funtasia Family Fun Park - Fairmont Hot Springs The Games Room - Victoria Giggle Ridge Mini Golf - Cultus Lake Adventure Park, Cultus Lake The Goose - Yates St., Victoria Gull's - Yates St., Victoria Hi-Knoll Driving Range & Minigolf - Surrey House of Pool - New Westminster (Burnaby) Huggie Bear's Pizza Circus - Hillside/Quadra, Victoria James Street Billiards - Duncan James Street Game Room - Nanaimo Johnny Zee's - Capitol 6, Victoria Johnny Zee's - Esquimalt (Victoria) Johnny Zee's - Langford (Victoria) Johnny Zee's/Hugo's/King Kade - Shelbourne St., Victoria Johnny Zee's - University Heights Mall, Victoria Jonhhy Zee's - Station Square Metrotown, Burnaby Kamloops Billiard Club - Kamloops Kelowna Driving Range and Mini Golf - Kelowna Ladner Arcade - Vancouver Laser Illusions - - Brentwood Town Centre/The Amazing Brentwood, Burnaby Laser Illusions - Richmond Centre, Richmond Lester's - Kingsway St., Burnaby Lion's Lair - Vancouver LocoLanding Adventure Park - Penticton Long Beach Golf Course Mini Putt - Long Beach Golf Course, Tofino Lord Nelson's Arcade - Lansdowne Centre, Richmond Lukie's Mini Golf - Sicamour Master Billiards - Coquitlam Marsten Billiards & Snooker Club - Vancouver Metro Cafe Billiards - Vancouver McArthur Island Mini Golf - McArthur Island Park, Kamloops Mini Golf - Christina Lake Miracle Beach Adventure Golf - Black Creek Movieland Arcade - Granville St., Vancouver Mr. Tubbs Ice Cream Parlor - Tillicum Rd., Victoria Pacific Adventure Golf - Vancouver Paradise Mini Golf and Fun Park - Parksville Pacific Pool and Snooker Club - Surrey Peacock Billiards - Victoria Pie in the Sky - Kingsway St., Burnaby Play Abby - Abbotsford Playdium - Metropolis at Metrotown, Burnaby Playland Arcade/Fun Centre - Playland at the PNE, Vancouver Porter Creek Billiards - Whitehorse, Yukon Putters Mini Golf Course - Powell River Q1 Billiards - Richmond Quazar's - Government St., Victoria Raceway Go-Karts & Mini Golf - Prince George Rack & Rally Social Club - Port Alberni Rattles nake Canyon Arcade - Rattles nake Canyon, Osoyoos Rattlesnake Canyon Mini Golf - Rattles nake Canyon, Osoyoos Riptide Lagoon Adventure Golf - Parksville Rollerland - Vancouver Roll 'N Stones Fun Centre - Penticton Rusty's Sports Lounge - Kelowna Salmon Arm Go-Karts & Mini-Golf - Canoe Salmon Arm Waterslides Mini Golf - Salmon Arm Scandia Golf & Games - Kelowna Scotch Creek Family Fun Centre - Scotch Creek Sneaky Pete's Pool Cafe - Vancouver Soho Bar & Billiards - Vancouver Star Snooker Club - Richmond Strike Zone Mini Golf - Strike Zone Bowling & Mini Golf Centre, Prince George Stargate 5 - Richmond Square Mall/Richmond Centre, Richmond Sweet Escape Mini Golf - Playland at the PNE, Vancouver Top 147 Snooker - Richmond West Coast Mini Putt - Richmond Wizard's Castle - Richmond Square Mall/Richmond Centre, Richmond Wizard's Castle - Rutherford Village, Nanaimo Wonderland/Castle Fun Park - Abbotsford Arcade (Name Unknown) - Craigflower/Dominion, Victoria Arcade (Name Unknown) - Douglas/Boleskine, Victoria Arcade (Name Unknown) - Northbrook Mall/Brooks Landing, Nanaimo Dark Attractions, Wax Museums and Exhibits Gastown Wax Museum - Vancouver Glass House - Playland at the PNE, Vancouver Haunted House - Playland at the PNE, Vancouver Haunted Mansion - Playland at the PNE, Vancouver Jurassic Exhibit - Bedrock City/Dinotown, Chilliwack Royal London Wax Museum - Victoria Specialty Hotels and Gift Shops Theatres, Bowling Alleys and Miscellaneous Best Western Coquitlam Inn - Coquitlam Alder Alley - Aldergrove Beaver Valley Lanes - Fruitvale Big Country Lanes - 100 Mile House Black Diamond Bowl & Billiards - Prince George Brechin Lanes - Nainamo Canyon Lanes - Boston Bar Capri Valley Lanes - Capri Centre, Kelowna Cariboo Bowl - Williams Lake Castle Bowl - Castlegar Chillibowl Lanes and Pool Hall - Chilliwack Codes Country Lanes - Courtenay Commodore Lanes - Vancouver Copperhill Lanes - Princeton CR Bowling - Campbell River Dell Lanes - Surrey Duncan Drive-In - Duncan Duncan Lanes Bowling Centre - Duncan Falcon Lanes - Kamloops Galaxy Bowl - Abbotsford Glenmerry Bowl - Trail Golden Bowling - Golden Grandview Recreations/Grandview Lanes - Vancouver Kingpin Bowling Centre - Yellowknife, Northwest Territories Kingpin Lounge - Hope King Pins Bowling - North Vancouver (Vancouver) Kobau Lanes - Osoyoos Lakeside Bowling - Salmon Arm Langford Lanes - Langford Laser City Fun Centre - Victoria Laserdome Plus - North Vancouver (Vancouver) Legacy Drive-In - Victoria Lincoln Lanes - Vernon Mackenzie Bowling - Mackenzie McCurdy Bowling Centre - Kelowna Merrit Bowling Centre - Merrit Miracle Lanes - Sidney Park Drive-In Theatre - Prince George Pinheads Bowling - Grand Forks Planet Lazer - Kelowna Planet Lazer - New Westminster (Burnaby) Planet Lazer - Richmond Planet Lazer - Surrey Pleasant Valley Plaza - Houston PoCo Bowl - Port Coquitlam (Coquitlam) Rev Bowling Lanes - Quesnel Revs Bowling - Burnaby Revs Maple Ridge - Maple Ridge Rainbow Lanes - Port Alberni Romano's Runaway Lanes - Creston Sandcastle Bowl - Surrey Scottsdale Bowling Lanes - Surrey SilverCity Riverport Cinemas - Richmond SilverCity Victoria Cinemas - Victoria Smithers Bowl - Smithers Splitsville Nanaimo - Nanaimo Splitsville Riverport - Richmond Stardust Roller Rink - Richmond Starlight Drive-In Theatre - Enderby Strike Zone Bowling - Strike Zone Bowling & Mini Golf Centre Sunset Lanes - Parksville Terrace Bowling Centre - Terrace Twilight Drive-In Theatre - Langley Township Valley Alley Bowling Centre - Invermere Village Lanes Fun Centre - Chase West Kelowna Lanes (and Whiski Jack's Pins & Pints) - Kelowna Zone Bowling - Coquitlam Themed Restaurants, Bars and Stores The Disney Store - Guildford Town Centre, Surrey The Disney Store - Metropolis at Metrotown, Burnaby The Disney Store - Pacific Centre, Vancouver Hard Rock Cafe - Hard Rock Casino, Coquitlam Hard Rock Cafe - Vancouver Hard Rock Cafe - Victoria Hard Rock Cafe - Whistler Planet Hollywood - Vancouver Rainforest Cafe - Metropolis at Metrotown, Burnaby White Spot Dinersaurus - Bedrock City/Dinotown, Chilliwack Water Parks and Attractions Big Splash Water Slide Park - Tsawwassen Bridal Falls Waterpark - Bridal Falls Chilliwack Landing Leisure Centre - Chilliwack Cultus Lake Waterpark - Cultus Lake H20 Adventure Centre - Kelowna Salmon Arm Waterslides - Salmon Arm Splashdown Vernon - Vernon
- Home | Amusement History
Rekindling Memories & Smiles The Only Digital Museum of its Kind View History Pages Button About Welcome to Canadian Amusement History. We're an online museum with the goal to serve as a historical resource on the rich, often untold history of the amusement and attractions industry in Canada. Here you will find written history, links to our documentary series, image and video galleries, current news relevant to historic attractions still in operation, and more. While this site attempts to comprehensively archive and collect information on attractions nationwide, our focus is on the Niagara Falls area due to it's tourism landscape being unlike any other on Earth. From your local mall arcade to amusement parks, haunted attractions to themed restaurants, mini golf courses to animatronic shows, and every kind of amusement attraction in between, you'll be able to find information on it here. We hope we can help you discover a lost memory, relive a fond one, learn something new, or find a photograph of something you thought you'd never see again. Don't see something you've been searching for? Feel free to contact us using the contact form below. Recent Updates History Page Updated: Castle Dracula 2024 Remodel The history page for Castle Dracula/Dracula's Haunted Castle has been updated following a 2024 remodel and change in ownership. This attraction has truly risen from the dead like The Count himself. New Documentary Video: The History and Abandonment of Castle Village Enchanted KIngdom With several explore videos of this park already on YouTube, I noticed none dive into it's incredible history. Join us as we not only explore what's left of this beautiful park, but also share it's amazing story. History Page Added: Wizard's Castle Arcade (and Affiliate Chains) Main history page added for the Wizard's Castle Arcade chain. The story of Canada's largest, beloved, and sorely missed mall arcade chain, including a list of confirmed former locations. This also serves as the main history page for all other chains and arcades owned by the Wizard's brand, including Sky Games, The Games, and Games Maximus. Site Launch: Welcome Welcome to all, whether you were searching for this website, something on it, or stumbled upon it by accident. A handful of special feature articles and a good chunk of the history pages are up, mostly for Niagara Region attractions, with several more on the way. There will also be more added to the photo gallery section as time goes on and the website's massive historical photo collection is sorted. We're excited to grow the website with you and see where this goes! Never Miss a Site Update Enter your email Subscribe Thanks for subscribing! About the Author I grew up in Southern Ontario visiting Niagara Falls often. The attractions in the area (as well as those elsewhere in the province) gave me the desire to pass on the joy they bring and pursue thematic amusement design as a career from an early age. The landscape of attractions in Niagara Falls began to shift along with the rest of the amusement industry as a whole starting in the late 2000's. By the mid-2010's, I found myself curious about the history of attractions I remembered from my childhood, ones before my time, and ones across the country, only to find it existed nowhere online except for clues scattered to the corners of the internet and public library archives. Not only that, the stories I began to uncover were more interesting than I ever could have imagined. I would occasionally post my findings on social media and various forums, and quickly learned I was not alone in my curiosity. This site and mini-documentary series are the culmination of over a decade of searching through old photographs, tourist home videos, business records, government databases, public libraries, newspaper archives and peoples' recollections. This is my love letter to the places that inspired me, and I feel it's my duty to make sure these incredible stories of incredible attractions get told instead of lost to time. - Alex Crew, Canadian Amusement Historian Contact First Name Last Name Email Message... Submit Thanks for submitting!
- Themed Restaurants and Bars | Amusement History
Themed Restaurants, Bars, and Stores Niagara Region Themed dining and retail can come in a wide variety of both themes and levels of theming. While most stores and restaurants from the 80's-early 2000's had some sort of unique decoration and style, a truly "themed" dining or shopping experience is defined as one where the theming goes beyond just simple decor, being the core identity and draw. These themed establishments are immersive experiences, with themes ranging from popular brands to the depths of the jungle. Animatronic arcade/pizza restaurants are not listed on this page as they are technically Family Entertainment Centres containing several attractions, and can instead be found here . Boston Pizza Clifton Hill (and Sports Zone) - Niagara Falls Beefeater/Coachlight Restaurant (and Jolly Brewer)/Ruby Tuesday's - Honeymoon City Motel/Travelodge, Niagara Falls Coca-Cola Store - Falls Ave. Complex, Niagara Falls Fun Factory - Movieland Wax Museum, Niagara Falls Hard Rock Cafe - Falls Ave. Complex, Niagara Falls Harley Davidson Store - Niagara Falls Hershey's Chocolate World - Falls Ave. Complex, Niagara Falls Julio's Pizza and Spaghetti Factory Plant One - St. Catherines Julio's Pizza and Spaghetti Factory Plant Two - St. Catherines MGM Studios Store - MGM Studios Plaza, Falls Ave. Complex, Niagara Falls Mr. Fantastic's Candy Laboratory - Marvel Superheroes Adventure City, Niagara Falls Planet Hollywood - Falls Ave. Complex, Niagara Falls Rainforest Cafe - Falls Ave. Complex, Niagara Falls Terrace Cafe/Kelsey's Clifton Hill - Park Motor/Venture/Comfort Inn, Niagara Falls Turf 'n Surf - Niagara Falls WWE Niagara Falls - Falls Ave. Complex, Niagara Falls The Yard/Rathskeller Pub/Rumors Nightclub - Park Motor/Venture/Comfort Inn, Niagara Falls Greater Toronto Area The Disney Store - Eaton Centre, Toronto The Disney Store - Fairview Mall, North York (Toronto) The Disney Store - Scarborough Town Centre, Scarborough (Toronto) The Disney Store - Square One Shopping Centre, Mississauga The Disney Store - Vaughn Mills, Vaughn The Disney Store - Yorkdale Shopping Centre, North York (Toronto) Frankie Tomatto's - Markham Hard Rock Cafe - Toronto Lime Rickey's - Eaton Centre, Toronto Lime Rickey's - Sussex Centre, Mississauga Lime Rickey's - Yonge/Eglington, Toronto The Old Spaghetti Factory - Toronto The Organ Grinder - Toronto Planet Hollywood - Toronto Rainforest Cafe - Scarborough Town Centre, Scarborough (Toronto) Rainforest Cafe - Yorkdale Mall, North York (Toronto) Ontario - Other Areas The Disney Store - Georgian Mall, Barrie The Disney Store - Lime Ridge Mall, Hamilton The Disney Store - Masonville Place, London The Disney Store - Rideau Centre, Ottawa The Disney Store - Upper Canada Mall, Newmarket Hard Rock Cafe - Ottawa Alberta Cafe Orleans - Bourbon Street, West Edmonton Mall, Edmonton The Disney Store - CrossIron Mills, Rocky View The Disney Store - Kingsway Mall, Edmonton The Disney Store - Market Mall, Calgary The Disney Store - South Centre Mall, Calgary The Disney Store - West Edmonton Mall, Edmonton Fantasyland Nightclub - West Edmonton Mall, Edmonton The Fossil Shop - Drumheller Hard Rock Cafe - Bourbon Street, West Edmonton Mall, Edmonton Hard Rock Cafe - Calgary Julio's Barrio - Calgary Julio's Barrio (82nd Ave. NW location) - Edmonton Julio's Barrio (WEM location) - Bourbon Street, West Edmonton Mall, Edmonton Jungle Jim's - Bourbon Street, West Edmonton Mall, Edmonton The Old Spaghetti Factory - Bourbon Street, West Edmonton Mall, Edmonton Planet Hollywood - West Edmonton Mall, Edmonton Manitoba and Saskatchewan The Disney Store - Polo Park Mall, Winnipeg, MB British Columbia (and Northern Canada) The Disney Store - Guildford Town Centre, Surrey The Disney Store - Metropolis at Metrotown, Burnaby The Disney Store - Pacific Centre, Vancouver Hard Rock Cafe - Hard Rock Casino, Coquitlam Hard Rock Cafe - Vancouver Hard Rock Cafe - Victoria Hard Rock Cafe - Whistler Planet Hollywood - Vancouver Rainforest Cafe - Metropolis at Metrotown, Burnaby White Spot Dinersaurus - Bedrock City/Dinotown, Chilliwack Quebec Hard Rock Cafe - Montreal Planet Hollywood - Montreal
- Alberta | Amusement History
Alberta Home to two of Canada's largest cities and several other medium-sized ones, as well as popular tourist areas in Banff/the Rocky Mountains and Drumheller. Drumheller's Dinosaur Valley contains a large amount of fossils, leading to several dinosaur-themed attractions in the area. The largest contributor to Alberta's amusement industry however is Edmonton, containing a variety of attractions, most importantly the sprawling West Edmonton Mall which was once the largest in the world. Amusement and Theme Parks Barney's Adventure Park - Drumheller Calaway Park - Calgary Fantasyland/Galaxyland - West Edmonton Mall, Edmonton Funland Amusement Park - Drumheller Heritage Park - Calgary 1920s Midway & Exhibition - Fort Edmonton Park, Edmonton Whitemud Amusement Park - Edmonton Arcades, Mini Golf and F.E.C.s Apple Creek Arcade - Rocky View Ardmore Golf Mini Putt - Ardmore Golf & Country Club, Ardmore Bullwinkle's Family Food 'n Fun - Edmonton Bullwinkle's Family Food 'n Fun - Macleod Trail S., Calgary Cactus Coulee Fun Park - Drumheller Canada Golf Card Mini Golf - Canada Golf Card Driving Range & Mini Golf, Edmonton Century Billiards - Edmonton Chalks Billiards - Bannister Rd. SE, Calgary Chill Billiards - Macleod Trail SE, Calgary Chuck E. Cheese's - Macleod Trail, Calgary Chuck E. Cheese's - 19th Ave. NW, Edmonton Chuck E. Cheese's - 137th Ave., Edmonton Chuck E. Cheese's - 32nd Ave., Calgary Chuck E. Cheese's Pizza Time Theater - 34th Ave., Edmonton Chuck E. Cheese's Pizza Time Theater - 20th Ave., Calgary Circuit Circus/Newplay - West Edmonton Mall, Edmonton Circus Circus - Capilano Mall, Edmonton Circus Circus - Kingsway Garden Mall, Edmonton Circus Circus - Northgate Mall, Edmonton Circus Circus - Southgate Mall, Edmonton Command HQ - Calgary The Corner Pocket - 50th Ave., Red Deer Cosmic Corral - North Hill Mall, Calgary Crystal Ridge Mini Golf - Crystal Ridge Golf Club, Okotoks The Cutoff - Edmonton CyberMind V.R. Centre - Calgary Deb's Greenhouse Mini Golf - Deb's Greenhouse, Morinville Delta Billiards - Edmonton DINOS Centre - Innisfail Discovery Zone - Gateway Blvd., Edmonton Dragon's Tale - West Edmonton Mall, Edmonton Easy Street - Chinook Center, Calgary Easy Street - Sunridge Mall, Calgary Electronic Avenue - Whyte Ave., Edmonton Evergreen Golf Centre - Lethbridge Fantasyland/Galaxyland Arcade - Fantasyland/Galaxyland, West Edmonton Mall, Edmonton Fort Edmonton Park Mini Golf - Fort Edmonton Park, Edmonton Fuddrucker's - Gateway Blvd., Edmonton Game World - Calgary Ganges - Northmount Dr., Calgary Golfuture - Calgary Golf World - Peace River Gravity Zone - Calgary Hi-Spot - Edmonton Hooplas Family Entertainment Centre - Medicine Hat Hornbrook Hollow's Funhouse - Grande Prairie Huggy Bear Arcade - Market Mall, Calgary Infinity Play - Fort Rd. NW, Edmonton Lakeside Go Karts & Mini Golf - Sylvan Lake Laser Illusions - Calgary Eaton Center, Calgary Laser Illusions - 8th Ave. Mall, Calgary Laser Illusions - Londonderry Mall , Edmonton Laser Illusions - Marlborough Mall, Calgary Laser Illusions - Southcenter, Calgary Lil' Jay's Family Arcade - Canal Ave., Strathmore Metropolitan Billiards - Stony Plain Rd., Edmonton Mikes Billiards and Arcade - McKnight/Edmonton Trail, Calgary Mike's Family Billiards - 32nd Ave. NE, Calgary Miniature Golf/Arcade - Whitemud Amusement Park, Edmonton Mini Golf - Elkwater Mini Golf - Rocky Meadows Country Getaway, Bonnyville Mini Links - Grande Prairie Monster Mini Golf - Calgary Monster Mini Golf Edmonton - Edmonton Mo's Billiards - 102nd Ave., Lac la Biche Mulligans Island Mini Golf - Calaway Park, Calgary Oasis Greens Golf Centre - De Winton Par 57 - Calgary Playdium - West Edmonton Mall, Edmonton Pockets 96 - 4th Ave., Wainwright Power Players - Center St., Calgary Professor WEM's Adventure Golf - West Edmonton Mall, Edmonton Puttz Miniature Golf - Lethbridge Pysanka Putt Putt - Vegreville Red's/Ed's/Rec Room - West Edmonton Mall, Edmonton Rundle Mini Golf & Paddle Boats - Rundle Park, Edmonton River Bend Mini Golf - River Bend Golf & Recreation, Red Deer Sexsmith Mini Golf Course - Sexsmith Sharks Billiards - 100th St., Peace River Sharks Club - South Ave., Spruce Grove Southern Fun - 7th Ave., Calgary Starcade - 118th/97th., Edmonton The Sticks - 44th St., Lloydminster Stone Creek Adventure Golf - Calgary Tee to Green - Calgary Three Ring Circus - 8th Ave. Mall, Calgary Top Shots Billiards - 66th St. N., Edmonton WinSport Mini Golf - Calgary Wizard's Castle - Bower Mall, Red Deer Wizard's Castle - Capilano Mall, Edmonton Wizard's Castle - Chinook Centre, Calgary Wizard's Castle - Circle Park Mall, Calgary Wizard's Castle - Deer Valley Centre, Calgary Wizard's Castle - Heritage Place Mall, Edmonton Wizard's Castle - Kingsway Garden Mall, Edmonton Wizard's Castle - Lloyd Mall, Lloydminster Wizard's Castle - Londonderry Mall. Edmonton Wizard's Castle - Market Mall, Calgary Wizard's Castle - Marlborough Mall, Calgary Wizard's Castle - Millwoods Town Centre, Edmonton Wizard's Castle/Newplay - West Edmonton Mall, Edmonton Wizard's Castle - Northgate Mall, Edmonton Wizard's Castle - Park Place Mall, Lethbridge Wizard's Castle - Red Deer Wizard's Castle - Southcentre Mall, Calgary Wizard's Castle - St. Albert Centre, St. Albert Wizard's Castle - Sunridge Mall, Calgary Wizard's Castle - University of Alberta Hub International Marketplace, Edmonton Video Gym - Southgate Shopping Centre, Edmonton Arcade (Name Unknown) - Bonaventure/ 94th, Calgary Arcade (Name Unknown) - Bonnie Doon Mall, Edmonton Arcade (Name Unknown) - 8th Ave SW, Calgary Arcade (Name Unknown) - 82nd St., Edmonton Arcade (Name Unknown) - 82nd/132nd Ave., Edmonton Arcade (Name Unknown) - Milbourne Mall, Edmonton Arcade (Name Unknown) - Northwoods Mall, Edmonton Arcade (Name Unknown) - 90th/132nd, Edmonton Arcade (Name Unknown) - 118th Ave., Edmonton Arcade (Name Unknown) - 127th Ave., Edmonton Arcade (Name Unknown) - Stephen Ave. , Calgary Arcade (separate from above, Name Unknown) - Stephen Ave. , Calgary Arcade (Name Unknown) - Stony Plain Rd./151st, Edmonton Arcade (Name Unknown) - TD Square/The Core, Calgary Arcade (Name Unknown) - Thorncliffe Shopping Centre, Edmonton Arcade (Name Unknown) - Westmount Mall, Edmonton Mini Golf (Name Unknown) - Nose Hill/Stoney Trail NW, Calgary Dark Attractions, Wax Museums and Exhibits Canadian Wax Gallery - Banff Crystal Labyrinth - Dragon's Tale, West Edmonton Mall, Edmonton Fantasyland/Galaxyland Express/Monopoly Railroad - Fantasyland/Galaxyland, West Edmonton Mall, Edmonton Fort Edmonton Park Funhouse - 1920's Midway & Exhibition, Fort Edmonton Park, Edmonton Haunted Hotel - Calaway Park, Calgary Lazer Maze - West Edmonton Mall, Edmonton Merlin's Haunted Laboratory - Fantasyland/Galaxyland, West Edmonton Mall, Edmonton Museum of Fear and Wonder - Bergen Quirks in the Works - Fantasyland/Galaxyland, West Edmonton Mall, Edmonton Sea Life Caverns - Marine Life, West Edmonton Mall, Edmonton Specialty Hotels and Gift Shops Best Western Plus Port O'Call - Calgary Deerfoot Inn & Casino - Calgary Douglas Fir Resort - Banff Dino's RV Nest/Dinosaur RV Park & Cabins - Drumheller Fantasyland Hotel - West Edmonton Mall, Edmonton Holiday Inn Lethbridge - Lethbridge Theatres, Bowling Alleys and Miscellaneous The Alley - Fort McMurray Ambassador Bowling Centre - Lacombe The Banquet - Edmonton The Banquet - Fort McMurray Ben's Bowling & Billiards - Brooks Blue Star Bowling Lanes - Peace River Bonnie Doon Bowling Lanes - Edmonton The Bowl 5 Pin 10 Pin House - Olds The Bowling Alley - Valleyview Bowling Depot - Calgary Bowling Stones Ten Pin Entertainment Centre - Grande Prairie Bowl Valley - Banff Bronx Bowl - Edmonton Chinook Bowladrome - Calgary Chinook Lanes - Pincher Creek Cochrane Lanes - Cochrane Deep Sea Adventure - West Edmonton Mall, Edmonton Ed's Bowling - West Edmonton Mall, Edmonton Edson Bowl - Edson Enilda Bowl - High Prairie Fatboys Bowling - Hythe Fort Lanes Bowling - Fort Saskatchewan Galaxy Bowling & Pizza - Park Meadows Mall, Lethbridge Gateway Lanes - Edmonton The Gutter - Red Deer Heartland Bowling - Stettler Heritage Lanes - Red Deer High River Sunset Drive In - High River High Rollers Bowling - Banff Hillside Lanes - Three Hills HJ's 5 Pin Bowling - Grande Prairie Holiday Bowl - Lethbridge House of Skate - Calgary Innisfail Bowling Lanes - Innisfail Jurassic Laser Tag & Arcades - Drumheller King Pins Bowling & Game Room - Bonnyville K-J Bowl - Edmonton Laser City - Calgary Laser City - Edmonton Laser City South Calgary - Calgary LaZer Runner - Edmonton Leduc Lanes - Leduc Leisure Lanes - Ponoka Lloyd Lanes - Lloydminster Lucky Strike Bowling - Lac la Biche Marina Bowling Center - Cold Lake Millennium Lanes - Okotoks Motor Nights Edmonton - Beaumont Panorama Lanes - Medicine Hat Paradise Lanes - Calgary Parellel Lanes - St. Paul The Pin - Taber Planet Lazer - Edmonton Plaza Bowling - Edmonton Railside Bowl - Red Deer Railside Bowl - Sylvan Lake The Rocket - Viking Rocky Lanes - Rocky Mountain House Rollers Roller Rink - Edmonton Scotiabank Theatre - West Edmonton Mall, Edmonton Shamrock Lanes - Airdrie Sherwood Bowl - Sherwood Park (Edmonton) Silver City - West Edmonton Mall, Edmonton Smoky Lanes - Girouxville Splitsville Glamorgan - Calgary Splitsville Highfield - Calgary Splitsville Meridian - Calgary SR2 Motion Simulator - Fantasyland/Galaxyland, West Edmonton Mall, Edmonton St. Albert Bowling Centre - St. Albert Striker Lanes - Vermilion Striker's Alley - Rimbey Tabb Lanes & Lounge - Camrose Town of Raymond Drive-In - Raymond Turbo Ride Theatre/Galaxy Quest - Fantasyland/Galaxyland, West Edmonton Mall, Edmonton Unchaga Lanes - Fairview Underground Bowling & Rec Room - Hinton Uptown Alley - Fort McMurray Vegreville Bowling Lanes - Vegreville Wainwright Bowling Centre - Wainwright Western Lanes - Wetaskiwin World's Largest Dinosaur - Drumheller Themed Restaurants, Bars and Stores Cafe Orleans - Bourbon Street, West Edmonton Mall, Edmonton The Disney Store - CrossIron Mills, Rocky View The Disney Store - Kingsway Mall, Edmonton The Disney Store - Market Mall, Calgary The Disney Store - South Centre Mall, Calgary The Disney Store - West Edmonton Mall, Edmonton Fantasyland Nightclub - West Edmonton Mall, Edmonton The Fossil Shop - Drumheller Hard Rock Cafe - Bourbon Street, West Edmonton Mall, Edmonton Hard Rock Cafe - Calgary Julio's Barrio - Calgary Julio's Barrio (82nd Ave. NW location) - Edmonton Julio's Barrio (WEM location) - Bourbon Street, West Edmonton Mall, Edmonton Jungle Jim's - Bourbon Street, West Edmonton Mall, Edmonton The Old Spaghetti Factory - Bourbon Street, West Edmonton Mall, Edmonton Planet Hollywood - West Edmonton Mall, Edmonton Water Parks and Attractions Bonzai Waterslide Park - Calgary Discovery Canyon - River Bend Golf & Recreation Area, Red Deer Douglas Fir Water Park - Douglas Fir Resort, Banff Londonderry Fitness and Leisure Centre - Edmonton Mariner's Cove Water Park - Holiday Inn Lethbridge, Lethbridge Mill Woods Rec Centre - Edmonton Oasis River Country Water Park - Sheraton Cavalier Calgary Hotel, Calgary Riverside Waterslide - Medicine Hat Southland Leisure Centre - Calgary Village Square Leisure Centre - Calgary Wild Rapids - Sylvan Lake Wild Waters - Edmonton World Waterpark - West Edmonton Mall, Edmonton
- Amusement and Theme Parks | Amusement History
Amusement and Theme Parks Niagara Region Many don't realize that amusement parks and theme parks are actually two different things. A theme park is themed to one or several subjects, and may or may not contain any actual rides. An amusement park however always contains rides, but has either little or no theming. With several evolving into one another over the years, both are listed on this page for convenience. Canadia - Niagara Falls Crystal Beach Amusement Park - Crystal Beach Indian Village - Niagara Falls Maple Leaf Village - Niagara Falls Marineland - Niagara Falls Prudhomme's Landing - Lincoln Pyramid Place - Niagara Falls Skylon Indoor Amusement Park - Niagara Falls Storybook Land - Niagara Falls Tivoli Miniature World/Miniature Golf - Lincoln (Later moved to Niagara Falls) Tower View Amusement Park - Niagara Falls Greater Toronto Area Canada's Wonderland - Vaughn Centreville Amusement Park - Toronto Cullen Gardens and Miniature Village - Whitby Fantasy Fair - Woodbine Centre, Etobicoke (Toronto) Ontario Place - Toronto Sunnyside Amusement Park - Toronto Lake Huron and Georgian Bay Castle Village Enchanted Kingdom - Balm Beach/Midland Dinosaur Valley - Wasaga Beach Grand Bend Amusement Park - Grand Bend Playland Park - Wasaga Beach Sauble Beach Fun World - Sauble Beach Ontario - Other Areas Boblo Island Amusement Park - Amherstburg Santa's Village - Bracebridge Storybook Gardens - London Storyland - Renfrew Wild Zone - Wheels Inn, Chatham Alberta Barney's Adventure Park - Drumheller Calaway Park - Calgary Fantasyland/Galaxyland - West Edmonton Mall, Edmonton Funland Amusement Park - Drumheller Heritage Park - Calgary 1920s Midway & Exhibition - Fort Edmonton Park, Edmonton Whitemud Amusement Park - Edmonton Manitoba and Saskatchewan Kiddieland - Regina, SK Playland - Grand Marais, MB Sunset Park - Regina, SK Tinkertown Family Fun Park - Springfield (Winnipeg), MB British Columbia (and Northern Canada) Bedrock City/Dinotown - Chilliwack Bedrock City - Kelowna Cultus Lake Adventure Park - Cultus Lake Dyck's Dinosaur Park - Maple Ridge Fantasy Gardens/Fantasy Garden World - Richmond Happyland/Playland at the PNE - Vancouver Rattlesnake Canyon - Osoyoos Quebec Belmont Park - Montreal La Ronde - Montreal Mega Parc - Galeries de la Capitale, Quebec City Le Village du Pere Noel (The Village of Father Christmas/Santa's Village) - Val-David Atlantic Canada (East of Quebec) Atlantic Playland/Atlantic Splash Adventure - Lucasville, NS Axtion - St. John's, NL Crystal Palace - Champlain Place, Moncton, NB Magic Mountain - Magnetic Hill (Moncton), NB Magic Valley Fun Park - Greenhill, NS Rainbow Valley - Cavendish Beach, P.E.I. Sandspit Cavendish Beach - Cavendish Beach, P.E.I. Shining Waters Family Fun Park - Hunter River (Cavendish Beach), P.E.I. Upper Clements Park(s) - Upper Clements, NS
- Quebec | Amusement History
Quebec Comprising the top half of the Quebec City-Windsor corridor that runs through Quebec and Ontario containing the majority of Canada's residents, lower Quebec is particularly well-populated with attractions. The province also contains many vacation resorts in areas such as The Laurentians, fueling it's tourism industry. Bowling Alleys (Salons de Quilles) are extremely popular in Quebec as well. Amusement and Theme Parks Belmont Park - Montreal La Ronde - Montreal Mega Parc - Galeries de la Capitale, Quebec City Le Village du Pere Noel (The Village of Father Christmas/Santa's Village) - Val-David Arcades, Mini Golf and F.E.C.s Amusement Casino - St. Laurent Blvd., Montreal Amusements L-Z - S aint- Catherine St. W. , Montreal Amusement 2000 Plus - Blvd. Saint-Martin O., Laval Bar Billiard Blou - Boul. Henri-Bourassa, Quebec City Bar Billard le Huit - Bd. Greber, Gatineau Bar Billard Micky's - Chem. de la Riviere-Cachee, Boisbrand Bar Billard Notre Dame - Notre-Dame St. W., Montreal Bar Billard Scoop - Mont-Royal Ave. E., Montreal Bar Billard Super 8 - Boulevard Maloney E., Gatineau Bar Billard Terminus - Rue Jean-Proulx, Gatineau Bar Flush Billard - Bd. Cartier, Beloeil Bar Le Shooter - Rue King E., Sherbrooke Bar Salon Billard De Cowansville - Rue de la Riviere, Cowansville Bar Snooker Billard - Blvd. Laurentien, Montreal Bar Sporalie Billiard - Bd. de l'Ormiere, Quebec City Belleys Billard - Notre-Dame St. E., Victoriaville Billiard Centre-Ville - Rue Racine E., Chicoutimi Billard Des Pro - Boulevard des Laurentides, Laval Billard L'Effet/Dooly's - Av. de l'Hotel-Dieu, Sorel-Tracy Billard Exclusif - Ch. de Chambly, Longueuil Billard Fats - Saint-Cathereine St. W., Montreal Billiard Lounge L'Abasie - Rue Fusey, Trois-Rivieres Billard Maximum - Bd. Cousineau, Saint-Hubert (Longueuil) Billard Shooters - Sources Blvd., Pierrefonds (Pointe-Claire) Billard Stixx - Rue de la Place du Commerce, Brossard (Longueuil) Billard Terminus - Rue Jean-Proulx, Gatineau Billiard Vegas - Place Levis, Levis Bogeys Billard - Boul. Cremazie E., Montreal Le Casino/Amusements 2000 Plus - S aint- Catherine St. W. , Montreal Casino Royale - Saint-Catherine St. W., Montreal Centre d'amusements Palais - Avenue du Parc, Montreal Centre d'amusement Place Jack - Decarie Blvd., Montreal Club de Billiard L'Impact - Boulevard Sir Wilfred Laurier, Mont-Saint-Hilaire Cristal Billard - Boulevard Jean-XXIII, Trois-Rivieres Crystal Palace - S aint- Catherine St. W. , Montreal Cybermind V.R. Centre - La Ronde, Montreal Daniel Amusement - S aint- Catherine St. W. , Montreal Dooly's - Bd. Talbot, Chicoutimi Dooly's - Le Promenades de Levis, Levis Dooly's - Rue Daniel-Johnson O., Saint-Hyacinthe eSidze Billiards - Rue des Chenes O., Quebec City The Flix Billard - Rue Court, Gatineau F orum Amusements - S aint- Catherine St. W./Fort , Montreal Fun Plaza - Belmont Park, Montreal Generation Golf - Mirabel Glo-Golf Aventures - Coaticook Golf Dorval Mini-Putt - Dorval (Pointe-Claire) International Billard - Rue Saint-Dominique, Jonquiere International Centre d'Amusements - S aint- Catherine St. W. , Montreal Jeux Electroniques - La Ronde, Montreal Johnny's Bar Billards - Pierrefonds Blvd., Pierrefonds (Pointe-Claire) Joliette Arcade - Rue Lajoie, Longueuil Kahnawake Mini Putt - Kahnawake L'arcadium 268 - Saint-Catherine St. W./Bleury, Montreal Livrpool Bar - Bd. Harwood, Vaudreuil-Dorion Metamorphia - S aint- Catherine St., Montreal Mini-Golf Lac Des Pins - Franklin Mini Golf La Minerve - Les Laurentides Regional County Municipality MiniGolf Victo - Victoriaville Mini-Putt Baie-Saint-Paul - Petit-Riviere-Saint-Francois Mini-Putt Beauport - Quebec City Mini-Putt De Gatineau - Gatineau Mini-Putt De L'amiante - Black Lake Mini-Putt Lac-Delage - Lac-Delage Mini-Putt Shawinigan-Sud - Shawinigan-Sud Mini-Putt Valleyfield - Salaberry-de-Valleyfield Mini-Putt Vanier - Quebec City Montreal Amusements - Montreal La Perie Noire - Mont-Laurier Putting Edge Centropolis - Laval Putting Edge Downtown - Montreal Restaurant Mini-Golf - Prevost Putting Edge Spheretech - Montreal Resto Billard Snooker La Bande Au Coin - Rue Green, Saint-Lambert (Longueuil) Rigolfeur - Saint-Jerome Rigolfeur De Gatineau - Gatineau Rigolfeur Ste. Julie - Sainte-Julie Salon de Billard Heriot - Rue Heriot, Drummondville Salon de Billiard Loretteville - Rue-Louis IX, Quebec City Salon de Billiard Le Triangle - Place Laval, Quebec City Le Skratch Laval - Bd. Cure-Labelle, Laval The 755 - Rue Vachon, Trois-Rivieres Shery's Amusements - Cote-Saint-Luc Rd., Montreal Silver Amusements/Palais du Vidéo - St Laurent Blvd., Montreal Spot Billiard - Rue St Germain E., Rimouski S T Amusements - Les Terrasses/Montreal Eaton Centre, Montreal Video Palais Amusements - S aint- Catherine St. W./Drummond , Montreal Village DunnD's/Minigolf Chelsea - Chelsea Zone 15 - Laval Arcade (Name Unknown) - Alexis Nihon, Montreal Arcade (Name Unknown) - Complexe Desjardins, Montreal Arcade (Name Unknown) - Concordia University Shops, Montreal Arcade (Name Unknown) - Cote-des-Neiges (later moved to St. Laurent Blvd.), Montreal Arcade (Name Unknown) - Peel Subway Station, Montreal Arcade (Name Unknown) - Place Bonaventure, Montreal Arcade (Name Unknown, seperate from above) - Place Bonaventure, Montreal Arcade (Name Unknown) - Promenade de Gatineau, Gatineau Arcade (Name Unknown) - Saint-Catherine St. W./Guy, Montreal Arcade (Name Unknown) - Saint-Catherine St. W./University, Montreal Arcade (Name Unknown) - Station Gare Centrale, Montreal Dark Attractions, Wax Museums and Exhibits Flight to Mars - La Ronde, Montreal Grand Orient (Salem Aleikum) - La Ronde, Montreal Haunted House - Belmont Park, Montreal Laff-in-the-Dark - Belmont Park, Montreal Lost River - Belmont Park, Montreal Magic Carpet - Belmont Park, Montreal Le Moulin de le Sorcerier (Witch's Mill) - La Ronde, Montreal Musee de Cire - Quebec City Musée Grévin - Montreal Eaton Centre, Montreal Specialty Hotels and Gift Shops Hotel Valcartier (and Hotel de Glace) - Valcartier Vacation Village, Saint-Gabriel-de-Valcartier Theatres, Bowling Alleys and Miscellaneous Anik Bowling Hall - Gatineau Atelier Quilles Trois-Rivieres - Trois-Rivieres Bool - Saguenay Boule-O-Drome - Levis Bowling and Billard Lounge Sher-Mont - Sherbrooke Bowling Automatic Valois Lanes - Pointe-Claire Bowling G Plus (Rue Bannantyne location) - Montreal Bowling G Plus (Grenet St. location) - Montreal Bowling G Plus (Rue Saint-Jacques location) - Montreal Bowling G Plus (Rue Saint-Zotique E. location) - Montreal Bowling G Plus (Shevchenko Blvd. location) - Montreal Bowl-O-Drome - Pierrefonds (Pointe-Claire) Centre De Loisirs Joseph Niro - Chicoutimi Centre de Quilles 440 - Laval Centre de Quilles St-Luc - Alma Centre Recreatif Stanstead - Stanstead Cinema Starcite - Gatineau Cine-Parc Belle Neige - Val-Morin Cine-Parc Cine dans L'Pre - Baie-Saint-Paul Cine-Parc Oroford - Sherbrooke Cine-Parc St.-Hilaire - Mont-Saint-Hilaire Cooperative de Solidarite du Quillorama de la Minganie - Havre-Saint-Pierre Le Croquenotes (Wolf Pack 5) - La Ronde, Montreal Le Dallo Bowling Alley - Chicoutimi Darling Bowling - Montreal District 1 Lasertag - Longueuil District 1 Lasertag - Mirabel Drive-In Saint-Eustache - Saint-Eustache La Grosse Quille - Dolbeau-Mistassini Kingpin Bowling Alley - Sherbrooke Laser Action - Mascouche Laurentian Lanes - Montreal Le Marshall Billard, Bowling, Bar - Quebec City Pro-Quilles - Plessisville Quilles Loisirs Normandin - Normandin Quilles Moderne - Montreal Quilles Princeville - Princeville Quilles St-Gregoire - Becancour Quillorama Frontenac - Quebec City Quillorama Granby - Granby Quillorama Marieville - Marieville Quillorama Richmond - Richmond Royaume Des Quilles - Granby Saint-Pascal Bowling Room - Quebec City Salle de Quille Beloeil - Beloeil Salle de Quille Black Lake - Black Lake Salle de Quille Danis - Gatineau Salle de Quille Fleury - Montreal Salle de Quille King Pin De Buckingham - Gatineau Salle de Quille Le Riverain - Sainte-Catherine Salle de Quille Masson - Gatineau Salle de Quilles Paris - Gatineau Salon Nord-Quilles - Sept-Iles Salon de Quilles Bellevue Enr. - Quebec City Salon de Quilles BG Laval - Laval Salon de Quilles Centre Domaine - Montreal Salon de Quilles Champion - Greenfield Park (Longueuil) Salon de Quilles L'Entracte - Beloeil Salon de Quilles Fortin-Tremblay - L'Ascension-de-Notre-Seigneur Salon de Quilles Greber - Gatineau Salon de Quilles Horizon - Quebec City Salon Quilles Lac St. Charles - Lac-Saint-Charles Salon de Quilles Le Riviera - Coaticook Salon de Quilles Le 300 - Sorel-Tracy Salon de Quilles Le Triple de Charlesbourg - Quebec City Salon de Quilles La Place - Saint-Nicephore Salon de Quilles Laval - Laval Salon de Quilles Laval - Quebec City Salon de Quilles Memphre - Magog Salon de Quilles Pincourt - Pincourt Salon de Quilles Portneuf - Portneuf Salon de Quilles Rive-Sud - Longueuil Salon de Quilles Saint-Hyacinthe - Saint-Hyacinthe Salon de Quilles St.-Christophe - Cowansville Salon de Quilles St.-Etienne - Saint-Etienne-de-Lauzon Salon de Quilles St.-Nicholas - Saint-Nicholas Salon de Quilles le Temple - Quebec City Salon de Quilles Val-Belair - Quebec City Themed Restaurants, Bars and Stores Hard Rock Cafe - Montreal Planet Hollywood - Montreal Water Parks and Attractions AMAZOO - Granby Zoo, Granby Atlantide Water Park - Sainte-Calixte Camping Aqua Parc St-Pie - Saint-Pie Les Glissades D'eau - Le Village du Pere Noel (The Village of Father Christmas/Santa's Village), Val-David Mont Cascades - Cantley Valcartier Vacation Village - Saint-Gabriel-de-Valcartier
- Playmate Exhibits | Amusement History
Playmate Exhibits Attraction Type: Exhibit Location: Drake Hotel and Bar, Niagara Falls, Ontario Years Operational: 1975-late 1970's Designer(s): Costello Productions One of Niagara's most obscure and downright bizarre attractions (both of which are really saying something) was the Playmate Exhibits, a sex museum (yes, you read that correctly) located in the Drake Hotel and Bar at 5677 Victoria Ave. It opened in 1975 on the ground floor in what was formerly additional bar space, and was designed by Costello Productions. With so little information available on this attraction, it's hard to say what it actually contained or how risqué the scenes depicted really were, however the sole brochure that has surfaced for the attraction touts it as "Sex at its Funniest!" It's likely the attraction was relatively tame in actuality, as it didn't cause much of a splash or uproar of any kind in the city, and quickly faded into obscurity. While the attraction certainly seems like a strange choice of subject to build a museum on, here is some background information that may explain this bizarre museum's existence. The museum can be faintly seen in the middle of this image of Victoria Ave. in 1977, with large "Playmate Exhibits" signs on the roof and front of the Drake. The Drake Hotel and Bar in the 1960's. The Drake Hotel and Bar opened in the early-60s after it took over the 1950s-era Grey Griffin Inn, and by the 70s had become a favorite watering hole with both travelling bikers and the local bar crowd. It was also infamous for not checking ID and serving alcohol to minors, which made the bar especially popular with teenagers, boys specifically. Fun side note: they had a "Pong" machine in the bar the year it released in 1972, making it perhaps the first video game in the Falls. Niagara Falls is also known as the "Honeymoon Capital of the World", and while this persists today mostly in the form of expensive and exclusive high-end experiences, it was a lot more budget back in the 70s, with most honeymoon offerings at the time being more of the heart-shaped tub and coin-operated shaking bed variety. Al Reid owned the Drake Hotel and was apparently quite the character himself. When your business is popular with bikers and rowdy teenage boys, and also located in the world's most popular spot for honeymooners and newlyweds, adding a comedy museum about sex somehow starts to seem like a logical option. While maybe looking good on paper, it's safe to assume the attraction didn't perform very well. The lack of documentation, people who remember it, and even promotional material point to it being a commercial flop. While being always popular with honeymooners, Niagara Falls (especially the Clifton Hill area) always has been and will be a predominantly family destination, which probably explains why the museum didn't last. The location also couldn't have helped, as Victoria Ave. between Clifton Hill and Ferry Rd. is usually busy with tourists, but Victoria Ave. in the other direction, although still technically part of the Clifton Hill area until Bender St., is substantially less trafficked. This is the same problem the original Castle Dracula location on Victoria Ave. faced, which opened a year earlier just a few doors down. Castle Dracula couldn't last in its original spot despite being a spectacular attraction that changed the area and the greater amusement industry as whole, whereas the Playmate Exhibits, obviously, was not. In the attraction's defense it was probably witty, humorous, and (if the other Costello Productions works are any indication) incredibly well designed/put together. The problems with the museum likely lay more on the business and concept side of things. While Castle Dracula still had the impact to move to Clifton Hill proper in 1977 (albeit downsized), the Playmate Exhibits would never rise from the dead like the Count did, and closed in 1979 when Reid sold the hotel. The former museum space was converted back to more bar space, and the Drake itself closed in the mid-80s when it was converted into Big Anthony's restaurant, named after Tony Parisi, the wrestler who bought the building from Reid. The hotel remained upstairs, now under a different name. This is likely when the room expansion was out the back of the building was added, making the hotel portion entered off Ellen Ave. around the back. The building is currently home to Virsa Fine Indian Cuisine on the first floor (after being a variety of restaurants over the years) and the hotel portion is named The Falls Family Lodge. Virsa Fine Indian Cuisine along Victoria Ave. and the Falls Family Lodge in behind occupying the building today.
- Tower of London Wax Museum | Amusement History
Tower of London Wax Museum Attraction Type: Wax Museum Location: Darling Motel, Niagara Falls, Ontario Year(s) Operational: May-September 26, 1976 Designer(s): Waxattract , Universal Android The Tower of London Wax Museum was perhaps one of (if not) Niagara's shortest lived attractions. That being said, it sits in a uniquely important spot in history due to being closely intertwined with both the House of Frankenstein and Castle Dracula in unique ways. It opened in late spring of 1976, purchasing a portion of the collection of the former Royal London Wax Museum on Falls Ave., which had closed in 1975. The Royal London was a Waxattract -built attraction co-owned between Waxattract's Robert Dunham and the Iannuzelli family, who owned the Hilltop Motel that they would commission Dunham to build the House of Frankenstein atop less than a year after the Royal London opened. The Royal London had also featured figures and scenery from local artist Bruce Randall and his Universal Android company as well. The attraction's sign, 1976. (Top): The building later home to the Tower of London as it appeared before the museum. (Bottom): The building being remodeled into a castle for the new attraction. (Right): The royal stagecoach in the attraction's front window, 1976. The Tower of London would utilize the circa 1925 building at the front of the Darling Motel plot on Clifton Hill. The building had housed a restaurant on the main floor as well as the motel offices (and cabin court offices before that) on the second since it's construction. The basement had later been dug out to add a gift shop below. The motel was formerly owned by the Reinhardt family, but was purchased by the Cade family in 1976. It's unknown how much of the structure was used for the new wax museum. The basement gift shop remained, and the restaurant was removed for the entire first floor to become museum space, however if any museum existed in the former motel offices upstairs and the offices relocated remains a mystery. Even if it did occupy two floors, the collection in the museum likely wasn't the entire contents of the Royal London, as the space that attraction occupied had been much larger. The building was remodeled to feature a castle facade, complete with turrets and archways. On September 26th, 1976, just a few months after the attraction opened, flames were seen coming from the side of the building in an alleyway between it and the Niagara Clifton Motel, which was promptly evacuated. Shortly after the flames erupted at 1 A.M., a large explosion blew the front window of the attraction out completely, sending broken glass sailing across the street. Fire Sgt. Raymond Crown remarked that "It was a good thing nobody was walking past or they would have been killed." One firefighter even had to be hospitalized and taken off the scene on a stretcher for smoke inhalation while battling the blaze. During the fire, firefighters also apparently had to fight off local teenagers who kept trying to dart in the front window to steal fake jewels off the figures in the lobby. Imagine running into a building engulfed in flames to steal a plastic crown jewel? The power of realistic figure design I suppose. Flames shot 25 feet into the air in a two-alarm fire that completely gutted the building, however the firefighters' quick response prevented the historic 1925 building's structure from being lost. (Left): A firefighter gets removed from the scene of the blaze on a stretcher. (Right): The Queen peers with melancholy from her once-royal, now smoldering stagecoach in the aftermath of the fire. Astonishingly, the structure could be saved, and after the fire was put out, the building was boarded up and left abandoned for the remainder of the year and into early 1977. The fire was deemed extremely suspicious, with detectives heavily hinting the explosion which accelerated the fire was the deliberate result of some sort of propellant, however nothing ever publically materialized of this. Damage was estimated at $250,000, with $150,000 of that coming from the contents alone. The owners said they were insured and initially said they planned to rebuild, but unsurprisingly, they eventually decided to sell the land instead. Take all that information as you will and come to your own conclusions, but there are rumors floating out there. Even more surprising than the structure's survival is the survival of the plywood castle facade and towers. It was this that would serve as the basis for Castle Dracula's iconic castle facade once the attraction would move there in 1977 from it's original home on Victoria Ave. It was when Castle Dracula moved in that the Darling Motel closed. What remained of the motel's historic cabins were demolished, so all that was left was the two story motel building running along the back of the property, and the former Tower of London building at the front of the property facing Clifton Hill. A new structure was built connecting the two in the middle, to create one long two story building running from the front to the back of the property. This can be clearly seen from satellite images as well as from the Skywheel looking down. The castle being remodeled in early 1977. The fact that Castle Dracula's bones date back to 1925 is shocking enough, but when coupled with the fact that the building has survived a raging fire as well, it becomes downright unbelievable. There's a poetic irony to the building being filled with relocated Waxattract figures from a defunct nearby attraction during the Tower of London's short run, and the exact same thing happening again when the building was resurrected as Castle Dracula, the Waxattract figures from the original incarnation of that attraction being relocated there. We can only hope the building, (which has finally received a renovation after years of neglect due to Castle Dracula's new owners), lasts for a second century. The castle as it appears today, no longer home to the Queen, but to the Count.