My great Aunt & Uncle lived a few miles away from Knotts & they use to take me and my sister there all the time between 1968-74. I grew up in Bellflower in the 70's & 80's so I didn't live that far & used to go there a lot up until about 1990. I know its nothing like it was plus I live in South Carolina now so those are just great memories of definitely a better time. 😌
OMGosh, I truly can't thank you enough for posting this! I was born right across the street in 1961 & my brother in 1960. We grew up going to the "Berry Farm" & a lot of our teenaged neighbors & senior citizens had part-time jobs working there on the carousel, rides, plays, restaurants & in the Old West-style saloon (no liquor was sold there, of course). As a matter of fact, one of our closest friends was on one of their postcards of the saloons & I think still IS, from the 1960's, bc he so looked the part. He was also a co-worker of my Dad's at Hughes Aircraft & only worked there for the fun of it. He gave us kids the giant pickles & sarsaparilla (root beer) while we waited for the "robbers" to show up. We went to the puppet shows all the time & often to Sunday church services. EVERY school had a field trip to Independence Hall, too! We had a lot of 8mm film of the farm, but it got lost in an auction of a storage facility that my brother had & he was too embarrassed to tell me or ask for money. He passed away a few years ago, far too young & I miss him terribly. This brought back such wonderful memories! Again, Thank YOU for posting. You've really given me a priceless gift. Many Blessings to You & Yours!
I hear you. I've lived here in the Santa tract since 1961. Us kids played over at the Berry Farm all summer and after school (Walter Knott School on La Palma Ave.)
This is how I will continue to remember Knotts Berry Farm from my first visits around this time to just after the expansion to compete unnecessarily with Ride Parks with the installation of Montezumas revenge and modernization removing classic period elements. The opening scene of the volcano was always a fascination to me because in that light colored box shaped mound to the left is a small animated mechanical devil at work in hell cranking a device that made the volcano rumble and smoke. I watched it so often it is a permanent memory I will never forget.
AT THAT TIME BACK IN THE EARLY 60' THEY HAD THE TALLEST BULL (HOLSTEIN BREED) SUPPOSEDLY IN THE KNOWN WORLD THERE. I ALSO REMEMBER PANNING FOR GOLD. IT WAS REAL EXCITING AT THAT TIME. GAS WAS CHEAP AND YOU COULD DRIVE ALL OVER THE PLACE. THEY HAD DRIVE-INN MOVIES, HUGE ICE CREAM CONES FOR 10 CENTS, DRIVE UP TO YELLOWSTONE GO CAMPING, VISIT OLD FAITHFUL, VISIT DEADWOOD IN THE DAKOTA AN BLACK HILLS, SHOOT DOWN TO VEGAS, THIS IS WHEN YOU COULD AFFORD A VACATION. TAKE YA ABOUT A MONTH. WHAT A BLAST ! GROWING UP IN AMERICA. NOW LOOK AT IT ?
Royalty free stock footage available at: bit.ly/GCPond5
Exactly how I want to remember it. How I weep for the world we lost.
My great Aunt & Uncle lived a few miles away from Knotts & they use to take me and my sister there all the time between 1968-74. I grew up in Bellflower in the 70's & 80's so I didn't live that far & used to go there a lot up until about 1990. I know its nothing like it was plus I live in South Carolina now so those are just great memories of definitely a better time. 😌
My dad was the hero/villian at the Bird Cage Theater before it went to crap. I miss this time...at least was still good in 90s
BRING BACK SOME FOND MEMORIES !
OMGosh, I truly can't thank you enough for posting this! I was born right across the street in 1961 & my brother in 1960. We grew up going to the "Berry Farm" & a lot of our teenaged neighbors & senior citizens had part-time jobs working there on the carousel, rides, plays, restaurants & in the Old West-style saloon (no liquor was sold there, of course). As a matter of fact, one of our closest friends was on one of their postcards of the saloons & I think still IS, from the 1960's, bc he so looked the part. He was also a co-worker of my Dad's at Hughes Aircraft & only worked there for the fun of it. He gave us kids the giant pickles & sarsaparilla (root beer) while we waited for the "robbers" to show up. We went to the puppet shows all the time & often to Sunday church services. EVERY school had a field trip to Independence Hall, too!
We had a lot of 8mm film of the farm, but it got lost in an auction of a storage facility that my brother had & he was too embarrassed to tell me or ask for money. He passed away a few years ago, far too young & I miss him terribly. This brought back such wonderful memories! Again, Thank YOU for posting. You've really given me a priceless gift.
Many Blessings to You & Yours!
I hear you. I've lived here in the Santa tract since 1961. Us kids played over at the Berry Farm all summer and after school (Walter Knott School on La Palma Ave.)
This is how I will continue to remember Knotts Berry Farm from my first visits around this time to just after the expansion to compete unnecessarily with Ride Parks with the installation of Montezumas revenge and modernization removing classic period elements. The opening scene of the volcano was always a fascination to me because in that light colored box shaped mound to the left is a small animated mechanical devil at work in hell cranking a device that made the volcano rumble and smoke. I watched it so often it is a permanent memory I will never forget.
Thanks for sharing
That's so cool.I remember panning for gold and feeding the seals.
Glad you enjoyed it.
AT THAT TIME BACK IN THE EARLY 60' THEY HAD THE TALLEST BULL (HOLSTEIN BREED) SUPPOSEDLY IN THE KNOWN WORLD THERE. I ALSO REMEMBER PANNING FOR GOLD. IT WAS REAL EXCITING AT THAT TIME. GAS WAS CHEAP AND YOU COULD DRIVE ALL OVER THE PLACE. THEY HAD DRIVE-INN MOVIES, HUGE ICE CREAM CONES FOR 10 CENTS, DRIVE UP TO YELLOWSTONE GO CAMPING, VISIT OLD FAITHFUL, VISIT DEADWOOD IN THE DAKOTA AN BLACK HILLS, SHOOT DOWN TO VEGAS, THIS IS WHEN YOU COULD AFFORD A VACATION. TAKE YA ABOUT A MONTH. WHAT A BLAST ! GROWING UP IN AMERICA. NOW LOOK AT IT ?
Loved this footage. Thank you for sharing.
Thanks
That's really sharp! Must have been a very good camera with good film.
For an 8mm it definitely must have been.
Wait! Where’s all the fighting and disrespectful kids??