You Rode a WHAT? Online Quiz | Entertainment Other

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. This carnival sideshow emerged in the early 1900s with the birth of motorized vehicles. Riders/drivers (of motorcycles or cars) entertained onlookers by attempting death-defying laps on an almost completely vertical surface. What is it?

Answer: The Wall of Death

It is roar of the engines, it is the rush of the wind, it is the thrill of impending injury or worse, it is centrifugal force at its finest! Richard Thompson even wrote a song about it and said, "it's the nearest to being alive. Oh, let me take my chances on the Wall of Death". Apparently, there were times that included "audience participation" - not just the stunt drives.

In some countries this was called The Well of Death.

2. One fun feature that is more often seen in stationary locations like amusement parks is one that has rooms which may be mirrored, tilted, darkened or use other optical illusions to befuddle all those who enter. What is this place called?

Answer: A funhouse

A funhouse may have one or some or all of the features that some of its similar facilities have. Thus, one may be called House of Mirrors or Crooked House or Lost City. Even though carnival and amusement park rides that have incorporated illusions into their trips, a true funhouse is still one in which the participant is walking and experiencing all at his or her own pace. That seems to be a big part of the gratification.

3. People have always found fascination with celestial bodies. What ride with a very common name could be found in many, many versions yet all called the same - a nod to the ride taking you to "outer space" - even as early as the 1950s?

Answer: Rocket

The Rocket or Rocket Ship or Space Ship Rocket or any of a dozen other similar names could be found in as many configurations. There were very tame kiddie rides with each rocket "ship" holding one or even two seats and being suspended from beams that allowed it to turn in a circle - similar in movement to a carousel.

The same name was given to rides that were even more complex and thrilling. But still wanted the rider to experience that out of this world adventure.

4. A type of roller coaster that uses small cars for its passengers - usually with a seating capacity of up to four people - rather than a length of cars hooked together has a particular name. What small rodent has loaned its name to this amusement park favorite?

Answer: Mouse

The Mouse ride or Wild Mouse or Crazy Mouse or (even!) Mad Mouse has been described as "not for the faint hearted" due to its ability to make tight turns and quick movements. Just like a mouse! As of the 2010s some the early wooden versions of these Mouse rides were still (safely!) in use throughout the world.

Another feature of the Mouse is its use of cars that are wider than its track (since each cars is relatively short), giving the riders an extra feeling of suspension along with the motion and movement of the car.

5. This feature at fairs, carnivals and amusement parks was a ready-to-go opportunity of couples to steal a few minutes alone, together, in the dark and, yet, be carried safely from start to finish. What is this ride that has found its way into almost every format of pop culture?

Answer: Tunnel of Love

Books, movies, plays, songs, albums all have borne the name "The Tunnel of Love", maybe due to its carnal (and, I did not misspell carnival!) implications. At its creation The Tunnel of Love could refer to a boat ride along a predetermined stream of water or a train ride along a track. Usually each car (for the implication of privacy) would hold two people.

The ride may feature some frightening scenes or displays along the path which would give the riders even more excuse for close physical contact.

6. With nothing sacred, carnivals, fairs and amusement parks can even borrow from Biblical writings to create entertainment. What combination walk-through attraction, ride and fun house takes its name from the book of Genesis?

Answer: Noah's Ark

From the outside Noah's Ark was constructed to look exactly like the name would suggest - a big boat with all kinds of animals on board. Each location took on its own individuality. Some were more of the fun house, walk through design with various sounds, air blasts and a maze of optical illusions.

Other Noah's Ark were designed to rock, sway or move as if they were a sea - complete with other nautical simulations. Due to its complex and (relative) costly construction there have never been very many of them but all have been great fun.

7. This ride has many names but its basic construction is various seats are mounted on a circular platform that turns (or, rotates). Most often there is musical accompaniment to the ride. Some are called merry-go-round, roundabout and galloper. What other name?

Answer: Carousel

One of the oldest known rides for entertainment is the carousel. It can be seen in many forms. Its seats can range from simple benches to elaborate mounts, often shaped to resemble animals, real or fictional. Even the direction that the carousel rotates on its platform may differ from place to place. And, the discussion as to what IS the proper term for the ride can be extensive.

8. As with so many of the rides at fairs and parks the roller coaster can be known by various names. What is the name that refers to the roller coaster ride that gives a nod to one of its earliest features?

Answer: Switchback

Roller coasters were often designed with their passenger cars linked together and, thus, the length of cars were called trains. An early feature of some roller coaster borrowed a trick from railway trains and switched the tracks during the course of the ride - mimicking an actual railroad switch.

This was designed to be a thrilling maneuver either by where or when it happened during the ride. It was easy to begin to refer to these roller coasters as switchbacks.

9. There were often side shows at circus, carnivals, county fairs and similar events that featured people or other beings with most unusual characteristics. These were most often called "freak shows". One show may have featured a woman with hypertrichosis. Which one?

Answer: The bearded lady

Whenever someone or something is different it often brings curiosity, ridicule or even fear. Or, that may spark compassion, concern and complacency. Public display for profit seemed easy - not just for these bearded ladies but anyone or anything enough out of the ordinary to garner (paid!) attention.

The more popular the "freak shows" became the more demand there was for the ostentatious and the more likely that there were some who were fake.

10. Caravels, fairs and amusements parks often featured games of skill or chance or strength disguised in many entertaining formats. One of these games was as simple as hitting a board with a mallet. The way to measure the participant's strength gave the game its name. What was it?

Answer: Ring the Bell

A simple display of brute strength. No strategy, agility or particular skill would be necessary; just be able to clobber a board with a hammer. The force of the strike would then drive a pointer up a vertical, metered scale to show the strength of the participant. If someone could get the pointer all the way to the top of the scale a bell would ring and, more than likely, a prize would be won. Or, at the very least the acknowledgment of such strength was resonated.

Source: Author cowboybluedog

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor kyleisalive before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.

You Rode a WHAT? Trivia Quiz

This quiz is about rides, shows and/or activities that either are or have been a part of carnivals, county fairs and traveling circus. Some names may be colloquial or obscure. Other names may refer to unusual or antiquated carnival rides/shows.

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