My friends freak out if the line is outside the building. I try to explain things like high capacity rides and how the switchbacks probably aren't being used, etc. But all I get is blank stares. One of the many reasons that I love this site, I don't have to explain what pph stands for.

Photo #2 Beast

Uh... Kudos to the guy in the middle. Balancing myself on those ledgers would pretty much terrify me.

Do not stand! Keep hands and arms inside the car! Don't you read signs? Anyway, guess they changed the " Don't stand up" sign before.

That is an awesome photo.

The guy to the right has the cleanest clothes of the three. lol

That is one of the coolest photos I have seen in a while.

Who are those people, anyhow? Maintence crew? Painters?

^

WOW. Nice classic pictures thus far...

On The Vortex Pic:

That line looks awfully long...but if Vortex's capacity is anything like it is today back then, that line isn't as bad as it looks. Like the Diamondback line on opening day 2009...was supposed to be 6 hours, was only 3-4'ish.

On The Beast Pic:

I'm guessing this was shortly after the ride was first completed. I like that version of the "DO NOT STAND UP" sign better than the one the ride currently uses. I think it looks better.

My friends freak out if the line is outside the building. I try to explain things like high capacity rides and how the switchbacks probably aren't being used, etc. But all I get is blank stares. One of the many reasons that I love this site, I don't have to explain what pph stands for.

Ok I hate to ask but what does pph mean

People per hour, though I've always heard it as rph (riders per hour).

The Beast photo looks like it could be one of those old Tide commercials.

The guy on the right would be the supervisor, hence why his clothes are clean.

Probably from the grease they used to use to lubricate the tracks. Nowadays, graphite is used. I still think the feel of wooden coasters changed when the switch was made. Kentucky Kingdom switched long after Kings Island. Camden Park still hasn't switched.

And I'm not sure what, if anything, Great Adventure uses. Poor Rolling Thunder! SQUEAL! (Son of Beast sometimes did this,

too!)

Of course, the chain still gets grease/heavy oil.

The dirtiest ones are always the ones that are working the hardest they say lol. Well that's what my husband say. Who works construction.

And I beleive the people in the picture work for Baynum Painting. As you can tell from their website (http://www.baynumpainting.com/), they specialize in painting amusement park rides. That picture likely was taken in 1983, when Baynum first painted (or stained) The Beast.

It is easier to ask which ride at KI they have NOT painted. See the list on this page: http://www.baynumpainting.com/latestprojects.html

Bonus Photo!

Correct Robbie, Both photos are from 1989 when Beast was painted for it's 10th anniversary.

The very first ride I can remember building a multiple, superswitchback complex ( 30 plus rows) is Magnum.

Beast use to have a very complex queue line, more then it is today. We'll get to that in future updates. I like Beast

I remember when The Beast had the buzz bars, ie no lap bars, so that Do Not Stand sign had real meaning. Keep those photos coming Paul. They certainly will help me get through this long, cold winter.

i simply adore those last 2 photo's. keep them coming.

Photo #3 - Wings Diner 1994

^I still miss the old Columbia Palace at that location. My dad and I would always eat there and the fried chicken was great.

I miss Wings...not the decor or the name...just the lower prices!

As a bit of trivia, Wings was the first "Best Picture" Academy Award winner...yet it has never been out officially on DVD...it is finally being released on January 24th!

If we want to get particular... the first movie to win Best Picture(1931) was "Grand Hotel".. but Wings won an Oscar its first year for "Most Outstanding Production(1929)"

^I THOUGHT I was safe wording it like that here on an amusement park forum...

P.S. How far can we take this thread off course?!

Ahhh, don't ya miss the good ol' days when you could walk around everywhere chain smoking ciggybutts?

ME EITHER!!!

P.S. How far can we take this thread off course?!

Don't temp me, I'm a highly skilled conversation derailer

Ahhh, don't ya miss the good ol' days when you could walk around everywhere chain smoking ciggybutts?

ME EITHER!!!

if im not mistakin, just around that corner over there is a future smoking section.

Photo #4 - Winsome Witch's Cauldrons

P.S. How far can we take this thread off course?!

Let's see!

if im not mistakin, just around that corner over there is a future smoking section.

As a 20+ year 2 pack a day reformed smoker (5 years ciggie free, Yay air!) I'm really fine with the smoking sections in the park if people would just use them, but what drives me nuts are the people who feel entitled to share their bad habit with everyone else in the ride lines.

As Steve Martin once said, "Someone asked me, Mind if I smoke?.... I said, I don't know, do you mind if I fart?"

I now return you to your regularly scheduled topic.