Originally Posted By Schmitty Good Vibes O.K. I just watched the youtube video. I'm pretty sure the dark ride was called "Old San Francisco" just as shown on the sign, and the San Francisco Experience was the theater show where they put a lot of effort into having the floor shake as you watched the show. There was fog and lighting effects too.
Originally Posted By DBitz2 Somewhere in my ephemera, I have a neat old brochure on the attraction. Regrettably, I never got to see it in person.
Originally Posted By trekkeruss <<I'm pretty sure the dark ride was called "Old San Francisco" just as shown on the sign, and the San Francisco Experience was the theater show where they put a lot of effort into having the floor shake as you watched the show. There was fog and lighting effects too.>> Now this is sounding more familiar, and yet not. Honestly, now I beginning to wonder if I am mixing up my memories. I think I rode "Old San Francisco," but I don't remember a thing about it. The San Francisco Experience sounds familiar...was this a series of sorts? Because I remember seeing a theater show called The London Experience that also had special effects, and I just read there may have been a New York Experience. All of these shows seemed to have opened and closed at roughly the same time.
Originally Posted By wonderingalice Hmmmmm... Just watched the video. I rode the little cable car, but I don't remember the dolls. And the earthquake and fire scenes were very dramatic - not such small scale. I was 14 at the time and recall those scenes pretty clearly. This video looks like something different other than the ride vehicles.
Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA I thought the same thing, wonderingalice. But I think this is one and the same. Pretty cheesy looking, isn't it?
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan Can it be that it was all so simple then, or has time rewritten every line?
Originally Posted By wonderingalice It sure is, Jim. I honestly remember it being very dark and hot (like the end of "Toad") with pretty vivid flames and rumbling. Just doesn't "fit" at all with those blah dollies. Maybe if more footage is out there somewhere... LOL 2oony... Are we THAT old??
Originally Posted By DBitz2 >>P.S. While this piece does claim that the attraction was created by Sid and Marty Krofft, there is not a single mention of it in any Krofft bios or fan tributes. Very odd...<< Since I just recently moved and not everything is put away yet, my box of old theme park brochures is more accessible than it usually is. I'll see if I can find the booklet. I seem to recall that it tells the story behind the creation of the attraction in addition to telling what the attraction was about. Perhaps it will have info on the Croft Brothers alleged participation. On a side note, when I was a kid growing up in Texas, Sid and Marty Croft produced the puppet shows at Six Flags over Texas for several years. I have very fond memories of those fabulous puppet shows.
Originally Posted By DBitz2 I thought something looked funny. That should have been "Kroft". That's what happens when you post in haste!
Originally Posted By Df67 This song was written by Charles Fox and Norman gimbel who also wrote killing me softly and many other songs such as the theme songs to happy days and Laverne and shirley . I happen to have a copy of the song and would be willing to post it on YouTube if there was interest. I know this because my dad is Charles fox . It was great ride which I had been on many times.
Originally Posted By juicer Very interesting that your dad cowrote the song - I remember seeing a 45rpm for sale at the ticket booth. That would be great if you could post it on youtube! Thank you
Originally Posted By Bob Paris 1 AWESOME! Only JUST the other day did I google and FINALLY learn what "Schlemeel, Sclmozzle, Hotz-en-tots-(whatever)incorporated" actually mean! Oh and Gen Y and Gen Stupid can be forgiven for having NO IDEA what I am talking about!!!
Originally Posted By rvrinsea The San Francisco Experience was the multi-media show in the then newly renovated Ghiradelli Square - while "old San Francisco" was the dark ride - no the figures were relatively small - I rode the dark ride the first or second week it was open, I believe, this was 1971 - at the end of the ride there were interviewers quizzing you about the audio, character motion, etc. It is curious that the Kortt's bios never mention this ride, but I distinctly remember the Krott tie-in as well. Anyone have any idea when this attraction closed.
Originally Posted By DBitz2 Over the weekend, while looking for something else, I found the little booklet and a brochure that I had! The name of the attraction was "The Enchanted World of Old San Francisco". The show scenes and character figures were visualized and crated by Sid and Marty Krofft as I had thought. The ride system was by Arrow. The attraction opened in 1971. I don't know when it closed. The postmark on the envelope I have was from 1983. The attraction looks like something Disney fans would have enjoyed. The booklet mentions that it was influenced by Disneyland's Small World. (Although the figures are mostly adults with some children included.) I have scanned the booklet and brochure to PDF. I'm happy to email them to anyone who would like to see them. You may email me at DBitz7958 at America Online dot com. Please put "Old San Francisco Attraction" in the subject line.
Originally Posted By Dabob2 "and I just read there may have been a New York Experience. All of these shows seemed to have opened and closed at roughly the same time." There was definitely a "New York Experience" in the McGraw-Hill Building on 6th in the 70's/early 80's. Very similar to the SF experience. On the ride--yes, it looks cheesy, but remember that dark rides ALWAYS work better in person than on video. So perhaps it wasn't QUITE as cheesy as it looks here. Cuz on video that's some prime Velveeta.
