Ferris Wheel | Scott A. Lukas and the History of Theme Parks | 2
American Innovations
Wondery
4.6 • 4.1K Ratings
🗓️ 4 June 2020
⏱️ 30 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
George Ferris aspired to build a structure for the 1893 World's Fair that could rival Paris's Eiffel Tower. And when the Ferris wheel debuted, newspapers hailed it as the eighth wonder of the world.
The grandeur and success of the Ferris wheel paved the way for future theme parks. These fantastical spaces have become symbols of leisure and fun throughout the United States and offered innovators like George Ferris a chance to showcase attractions that pushed the boundaries of what's possible.
On this episode, Steven speaks with Scott A. Lukas, an anthropologist, theme park consultant, and author of the books “Theme Park” and “The Immersive Worlds Handbook: Designing Theme Parks and Consumer Spaces.” Steven and Scott discuss the uniquely American history of theme parks and the ways they’ve influenced all kinds of public spaces.
Here are some of the parks and rides – old and new – mentioned in this conversation:
- Coney Island, NY: https://theweek.com/captured/624918/vintage-photos-from-coney-island-yesteryear
- Kennywood Park, West Mifflin, PA: https://www.wtae.com/article/in-photos-kennywood-park-then-and-now/7403416#
- The Void, Las Vegas, NV: https://www.thevoid.com/
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Hey, Prime Members, you can listen to American Innovations, |
| 0:03.6 | Add Free on Amazon Music, download the app today. |
| 0:07.0 | From Wondry, I'm Stephen Johnson, and this is American Innovations. |
| 0:30.0 | In our last episode, George Ferris aspired to build a structure for the 1893 World's |
| 0:44.5 | Fair that could rival Paris' Eiffel Tower. |
| 0:48.0 | He dreamed up a wheel that could carry over a thousand people, twenty stories high. |
| 0:53.3 | Most people dismissed his idea as impossible, but Ferris persisted. |
| 0:58.0 | And when the Ferris wheel debuted at the World's Fair, newspapers hailed it as the eighth |
| 1:02.4 | wonder of the world. |
| 1:04.1 | The grandeur and success of the Ferris wheel paved the way for future theme parks. |
| 1:09.4 | These fantastical spaces have become symbols of leisure and fun throughout the United States, |
| 1:15.3 | and offered innovators like George Ferris a chance to showcase attractions that push |
| 1:20.2 | the boundaries of what's possible. |
| 1:22.7 | On this episode, I'm speaking with Scott Lucas, an anthropologist, writer, and theme park |
| 1:27.5 | consultant. |
| 1:28.5 | Lucas is here to talk about the Ferris wheel and its early imitations, but also the history |
| 1:33.4 | of theme parks and how their influence can be seen in all kinds of public spaces. |
| 1:42.5 | Since his death in 2009, the world has struggled with how Michael Jackson should be remembered, |
| 1:47.8 | as the King of Pop or as a monster. |
| 1:50.3 | I'm Leon Nefak. |
| 1:51.5 | My new podcast Think Twice, Michael Jackson, offers a new perspective on the art and |
| 1:56.8 | the artist. |
... |
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