The Main Attraction Trivia Quiz

Answer: Chicago

Designed by George W. Ferris, a bridge builder from Pittsburgh, the first Ferris Wheel was built for the 1893 World's Fair in Chicago. Thirty six wooden cars held up to sixty riders each. Rides were fifty cents and a staggering total of $726,805 was taken during the duration of the World's Fair. This original Ferris Wheel was destroyed in 1906.

Answer: Coney Island

Originating in Europe where carved horses were mounted in a circle and towed around by horses, the first steam powered carousel was seen in 1876 at Coney Island. Carvers from Germany, Russia, Denmark and Italy created the most wonderful carved beasts, moving away from the traditional horse to lions, giraffes, zebras and even sea dragons.

The advent of steam power allowed an overhead crank to be added, which meant that the beasts went up and down as well as round and round.

Answer: Tom Thumb

From as early as the mid 1730's the so called "Freak Show" toured Europe, moving to America in in the early 1800's and remaining popular up until the 1940's. Many of the acts, such as Siamese Twins Millie and Christina Hilton, made a considerable sum of money appearing in these sideshows. Tom Thumb, real name Charles Stratton, was a distant relative of P.T. Barnum, with whom he did his first tour of America age 5.

In his career he appeared twice before Queen Victoria, and made a vast amount of money for both himself and his family, as well as P.T. Barnum.

He never grew to any more than 3ft. 3ins.

Answer: Aunt Sally

Aunt Sally was the figure of a head of an old woman with a clay pipe in her mouth mounted on a stick. The idea was to throw a stick and break the clay pipe. The head was later replaced with a ball on a stick, and the balls eventually became coconuts, while the throwing sticks became hard balls. Aunt Sally is still played as a pub game in parts of England.

The incorrect choices are all old English pub games.

Answer: Tornado Smith

Tornado Smith was born George William Smith in Suffolk, England. He first appeared on a Wall of Death in Sweden in 1930. By 1931 he was established at The Kursaal in Southend where he owned and operated a Wall of Death. He often took a lion, named Briton, round the wall on his handlebars and later, when she was fully grown, in a sidecar. He could often be seen taking the lion for a walk along Southend seafront. He was also the first to take a car on the Wall of Death.

Marjorie Dare was Tornado Smith's wife and rode the Wall with him.
Allan J Ford keeps the Wall of Death alive in the U.K.
Jerry de Roye was an early rider in the U.S.A.

Answer: Gravity Pleasure Road

Prior to 1885 roller coasters had consisted of a steep drop, climb to the top of a tower, switch to a return track and take the ride back. In 1885 Gravity Pleasure Road opened in Coney Island and was the first complete circuit coaster. By 1912 roller coasters had spread to pleasure and amusement parks all over the U.S. All the early ones were made of wood and many are still operating, with the oldest being a 1902 coaster called Leap The Dips at Lakemount Park, Pennsylvania.

Answer: Dick Turpin

Boxing booths were a popular sideshow at British fairgrounds for many years. Starting in the days of bare knuckle fighting they were a cradle for many great British champion boxers. Despite there being a tradition of black fighters on the fairgrounds there was a colour bar until 1940 which prevented many great fighters, such as Len Johnson, from fighting for the British Championship.

This was lifted in 1948, and Dick Turpin became the first black boxer to hold a British Championship when he defeated Vince Hawkins to take the middleweight championship.

Answer: 1930's

Because of their size and complexity Ghost Train rides were originally static, not travelling, side shows. The first ones in Britain were built by Orton and Spooner in the 1930's. The early ones were situated at amusement parks and seaside towns and consisted of a single level track with the train bursting through doors into new compartments, each one of which held a scary special effect.

As the ride evolved multiple levels were added, and the sophistication of the special effects improved with technology.

Answer: Tilt-A-Whirl

The Tilt-A-Whirl made its debut at the Minnesota State Fair in 1927. The original rides were constructed of wood, powered by gas, and had nine cars. Each car spun around a central pivot and tilt was provided by an undulating platform.The weight of the riders imparted randomness to the degree of spin and tilt.

The Waltzer is a more sophisticated form of the early ride, usually with seven cars, that can spin clockwise or counter clockwise. Tilt-A-Whirls are still manufactured in the U.S.A.

Answer: Lusse Auto-Skooter

The very first dodgem cars were made by Stoehrer, and they dominated the early history of the ride, but they were not very steerable. Lusse Brothers understood that part of the attraction of the ride was choosing who you collided with and worked on inventing a steerable car.

In 1922 they filed the first of their patents and by 1940 completely dominated the market. this lasted until the 1970's when European manufacturers began to provide competition.