Phantasmagoria at Bell's

[hugo1000faces]

Hi folks,

Just wanted to let you all know that I posted a collection of newly surfaced photos and information on Bell's classic dark ride, the Phantasmagoria.  Bell's employee Kyle J. Wood contributed materials that span from the day the ride opened up until the day it was demolished last June.  See it all here...
http://tinyurl.com/2d2ffn

Also, last January I shared photos of a walk-through, lights-on tour I took of the Phantaz...
http://tinyurl.com/3bpaqd

And if you still want more, I also wrote up my own strange history with the attraction here...
http://tinyurl.com/38m2s7

Have a Tulsa-rrific day!

[AMP]

Cool, I spoted two people I know in those photos of the riders.  I emailed them their photos.

Hope it does not shock them too much seeing their selves that long ago. LOL

Great Site, lots of really hard work!

I enjoyed it tremendously.

[Breadburner]

Tears to my eyes....Cant believe its gone.....Another lesson learned in my life......"The only constant in life is change".....How true.......Thank you for the pics....

[Rowdy]

Just wondering where in South Tulsa it will be located...

[sgrizzle]

quote:Originally posted by Rowdy

Just wondering where in South Tulsa it will be located...

I was wondering if that was current or old rumor.

[hugo1000faces]

AMP- Ha!  I was crossing my fingers in hopes that someone might recognize somebody in those photos.  That's great that you did!  I'd love to know their reactions.  Anyway, I'm happy to hear you enjoyed the site.

Breadburner- I know just how you feel.  You're very welcome.

Regarding the South Tulsa info, that was told to me in February by the Bell's chief electrician Buddy S.  However I don't know if that's still valid.

[iplaw]

I always hated that damned bus...it was so loud!  

Lots of great memories on that ride...too bad things have to change, sometimes for the worst.

[mr.jaynes]

quote:Originally posted by hugo1000faces

Hi folks,

Just wanted to let you all know that I posted a collection of newly surfaced photos and information on Bell's classic dark ride, the Phantasmagoria.  Bell's employee Kyle J. Wood contributed materials that span from the day the ride opened up until the day it was demolished last June.  See it all here...
http://tinyurl.com/2d2ffn

Also, last January I shared photos of a walk-through, lights-on tour I took of the Phantaz...
http://tinyurl.com/3bpaqd

And if you still want more, I also wrote up my own strange history with the attraction here...
http://tinyurl.com/38m2s7

Have a Tulsa-rrific day!

In retrospect, there was some measure of campiness to that ride-so bad it was good!

[Rowdy]

quote:Originally posted by mr.jaynes

quote:Originally posted by hugo1000faces

Hi folks,

Just wanted to let you all know that I posted a collection of newly surfaced photos and information on Bell's classic dark ride, the Phantasmagoria.  Bell's employee Kyle J. Wood contributed materials that span from the day the ride opened up until the day it was demolished last June.  See it all here...
http://tinyurl.com/2d2ffn

Also, last January I shared photos of a walk-through, lights-on tour I took of the Phantaz...
http://tinyurl.com/3bpaqd

And if you still want more, I also wrote up my own strange history with the attraction here...
http://tinyurl.com/38m2s7

Have a Tulsa-rrific day!

In retrospect, there was some measure of campiness to that ride-so bad it was good!

How true.

[Conan71]

I guess I was somewhat ambivalent about the whole situation until I drove by as they were nearing completion of the demo and spoke to Bob Bell briefly as he warned me about getting nails in my tires.  Seeing him trudge off and looking at years of the Bell's hardwork reduced uncerimoniously, and pretty much un-apologetically to rubble.

Surveying the carnage made me sad and angry.

[Shavethewhales]

Wow, great stuff. If I had know that it would be destroyed like this, I would have ridden that sucker over and over again during my many trips there. It's great that those who worked so hard on that beauty are getting the recognition they deserve.

Anyhow, have you talked to Bob or Robby lately? I've been wondering what they've been up to. They said weeks ago that they might make an announcement on their situation, but nothing ever came of it. Do they know that their website domain expired?

[MichaelC]

I noticed that website deal too.  They moved it here:

http://www.teamled.com/bells/

Maybe Bell's got some donated server space.

[hugo1000faces]

Conan, I appreciate that moment you had with Robby. Buddy told me that when the eviction notice arrived he and Robby were strolling down the midway together.  It was a normal November morning and they were just discussing the days agenda.  Then someone approached with an envelope.

Mr. Jaynes and Rowdy- Yeah, by the time I started riding, camp factor was about all it had going for it. I still got into it, but I would have loved to see it in '73 when all the tricks were fresh and functional. It was a five minute ride with a shiny, new thrill every fifteen seconds.  There were probably a couple golden years when it was actually 'so good it's good.'

Shavethewhales- I know what you mean.  It seemed like it would be around forever.  Now I think of all the times I was in the park and didn't even ride the thing.  
I haven't been in contact with Robby or the other Bells gang since early Spring.  Now I'm curious about the web domain thing too.