It's spring 1980 in the grounds of an amusement park in Vernon, New Jersey.

Standing at the top of a steep hill, 44-year-old Jean Mulbehill, pulls a crisp $100

bill from his wallet and hands it to a nervous-looking young man named Frank.

Gene is the owner of Action Park, one of the most popular attractions in the state.

Frank is his employee, and today he's earning a bonus by acting as a guinea pig for Gene's latest attraction.

Pocketing the money from Gene, Frank climbs through a hatch

and into a giant orb 10 feet in diameter. Behind it, a rudimentary track zigzags down the mountain.

Gene helps Frank get secured into his seat at the center of the orb. Then he closes Frank inside.

As Frank is rolled to his starting position, Gene heads down the hill to where his son and a local safety inspector are waiting.

Gene calls this new ride, the ball within a ball. The orb will roll down the track at speed, but the rider inside will remain upright as the world flies by.

And if all goes well, Frank will safely come to a stop at the end

of the track. But at Action Park, things don't always go according to plan.

Gene gives a shout and the orb is released. But within moments of Frank beginning his journey

downhill, the ball stops rolling and starts bouncing before breaking free of its track entirely.

The ball gathers speed, careening down the hill toward Gene, his son, and the safety inspector.

They leap out of the way just in time.

Then the orb bounces past them and heads across a road that runs through the middle of the park.

Finally, it comes to a stop in a boating lane.

As park employees dive into the water to rescue poor Frank, Gene turns toward the safety inspector

who is stunned by what he's just witnessed. Gene tries to put on a brave face, but he's

pretty sure the inspector will not be signing off on this ride.

The ball within a ball will never open to the general public.

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