Midnight seances, glow-in-the-dark ghosts, and a gorilla that always breaks loose—our journey into haunted-house history starts where theater met sideshow and never looked back. We trace the first British walkthroughs of the 1930s, the packed spook shows that turned movie palaces into after-hours carnivals, and the scrappy showmen who transformed empty storefronts into seasonal scream factories. From the U.K. to postwar Japan, if you love theme parks, horror design, or the mechanics of...

Halloween didn’t just arrive at theme parks; it was engineered, rehearsed, and unleashed from a fog-soaked street in Buena Park. We dive into the wild origin story of Knott’s Scary Farm, tracing the DNA from mid-century horror hosts to the first freestanding mazes, the invention of roaming monsters, and the culture of sliders sparking their way through Calico. It’s a saga packed with scrappy ingenuity, late-night TV legend, and a berry (boysen) farm that accidentally became the Godfather of h...

Ray Bradbury had a fascination with themed entertainment since he first attended the 1939 New York World's Fair, but was it merely as a casual observer or did he actually get his hands dirty? We invited noted Ray Bradbury scholar, Dr. Phil Nichols, to talk about it all: Ray's relationship with Walt Disney, his fascination with urban design, his work on EPCOT Center, and even how Ray might very well be responsible for the concept of a food court. We even got to hear about some attraction conce...

Whether he was disappointed with how his work for EPCOT Center turned out or he was simply inspired to do it again, Ray Bradbury created his own vision of a theme park: The Great Electric Time Maze. Impractical, economically unviable and centered around completely untethered Blue Sky concepts, this midwestern phantasia of a park is right up our alley! Join us as we zoom through time, battle dinosaurs with our Electro-Guns, narrowly escape from the Mechanical Hounds and drown in the Sea ...

Star Trek is an enduring contradiction. It's strong progressive ideals are often at odds with the fiscal reality of the entertainment business, and its presence in theme parks are no exception. But the morality of Star Trek, more often than not, wins out. Pete and Kelly take a look at the franchise's complicated history - from Lucille Ball to Las Vegas to a remarkable Elvis impersonator in upstate New York - and finds profound meaning in the times that America's most resilient science fiction...

Pete takes mercy on Kelly, who's been under the weather, and does the heavy lifting on our follow-up to last season's "Rude Mechanicals - Jungle Cruise: The Early Years." Bill Evans is back to see the fruition of the project he began over 35 years prior. His dream becomes a reality in the best way! Disney doubles down on immersion with unintended consequences! The jungle grows, transforms, and becomes something even more mysterious as it tries to embrace the Forbidden Eye of Mara! Join us! ...

It's a brief, Mid-summer (Don't get in the bear!) minisode. Ever wondered what's really happening with Disneyland Forward? Dive into this revealing mini-episode where we crack open the truth behind Disney's highly publicized expansion plans in Anaheim. https://boardwalktimes.net/disneylandforward-what-exactly-is-it-3f4c79bf93c4 A new full episode in a few weeks! Thanks for listening! We'd love it if you would give us a review on your podcast platform of choice. They're really helpful...

Jaws was a lynchpin to Universal's theme park success, both in California and Florida. It was also one of the biggest headaches the parks ever dealt with. Join us for the return of the J-Bang(!!!) as we pick apart what happened, follow the recriminations and discuss some amazing behind-the-scenes theme park designers who worked on this ambitious, and occasionally reckless, attraction. It's so much Jaws goodness that you're gonna need a bigger boat. =====================================...

We contend that there is nothing more patriotic than being conned into believing that water runs uphill. Step into a world where the laws of physics seemingly take a vacation as we explore America's beloved gravity-defying roadside attractions. From the Santa Cruz Mystery Spot to Confusion Hill nestled in California's redwoods, these quirky destinations have been baffling and delighting travelers since the '40s. The long and cloudy history of Gravity Shacks/Confusion Hills/Mystery Spots are ...

We're wrapping up our first season of theme park adventures with a look back at what we've accomplished and a peek at what's coming in Season 2. From humble beginnings as a "way for our partners to get rid of us for a few hours every week," we're so thrilled at what this has become. Today is a wrap-up featuring some of what we've covered, current news and a peek at where we're going: • Latest update on Evermore Park – the purchase deal has fallen through after disputes over what was include...

Step with us into Tomorrowland, that curious realm where yesterday's futures linger in an increasingly static present. Why do Disney fans profess deep love for a land they rarely prioritize visiting? The answer lies in Tomorrowland's remarkable journey from hasty afterthought to kinetic wonderland to its current static identity crisis. Our live audience at the Howard Johnson's "Suite of the Retro Future" helps us dissect what made Tomorrowland truly magical - not science fantasy, but genuine...

Step back into the age of sword and sorcery as we unravel the untold story of Universal Studios' most dangerous and innovative attraction: the Conan the Barbarian Sword and Sorcery Spectacular. This legendary stunt show wasn't just entertainment—it was a revolution that forever changed how theme parks approach live experiences. From Robert E. Howard's complex literary character to Frank Frazetta's iconic artistic vision and Arnold Schwarzenegger's silver screen portrayal, we trace Conan's ev...

Join us for part two of the strangest story we've told thus far. The 1990s launch with a particularly charming story about jet packs, The Rocketeer. But then Kinnie Gibson, Brad Barker, Larry Stanley and Bill Suitor return to pick up a story that involves assault, murder, kidnapping and a giant flying beer can. Strap in! And remember, when the helmet vibrates, you only have 14 seconds to find a place to land! ============================================================ Notes: Rondo Hatten -...

What if I told you that the man who flew above Disneyland's Tomorrowland in the 1960s wasn't on wires, but strapped to actual jet engines? The remarkable true story of the rocket belt at Disney parks is more fascinating—and bizarre—than you might imagine. Kelly and Pete explore the surprising origins of personal flight technology, beginning with Wendell Moore of Bell Aeronautics, who adapted stabilization jets from Chuck Yeager's sound barrier-breaking X-1 aircraft into a wearable rocket pac...

A quick note between talking about the Prince of Darkness and the Darkness of the Future! Full episode coming very soon. Thanks for listening! We'd love it if you would give us a cheeky little review on your podcast platform of choice. They're really helpful. Come visit our Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/1511094196139406 or drop us a note to comments@lowdown-plus-up.com and let us know any questions or comments about how YOU would like to plus-something-up! We are a Boa...

In part two of Transylvanian Tumbleweeds we explore the legacy of Dracula-themed attractions, particularly focusing on the Castle Dracula experience at Universal Studios. We discuss the concept of the "JayBang" introduced by Jay Stein and the challenges faced as audience tastes shifted, leading to innovative adaptations in modern amusement parks. • Exploration of Universal Studios' background • Delving into the concept of "JayBang" • Nostalgia surrounding Castle Dracula • T...

In part one of our exploration of the Transylvanian tyrant turned tourist trap, we break down some of Dracula's origins. Don't worry, this is not going to be that same old "Dracula is based on Vlad the Impaler" lecture that you've already heard. It's much stranger than that. And much more wonderful. Then we start to place the good Count into some of his earliest theme park appearances. Part 2 should be up next week! Thanks for listening! We'd love it if you would give us a cheeky little revi...

Ken Bruce spent 16 years researching and writing about the most important piece of theme park pop art ever made: Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room. The resulting book not only tells the history of that attraction, but serves to show how its story is the story of how we see the modern theme park as a whole.Ken was kind enough to spend some time talking with us about his book and the stories and myths surrounding Walt Disney's most personal attraction which, over six decades later, is still del...

An opening day attraction in both Disneyland and Walt Disney World, Mr. Toad is surprising fan favorite given that it plays like an outtake of a film that not that many people have seen and ends in punishment.We love it.Join us for an exploration of the ride that started Claude Coats' theme park career: Mr. Toad's Wild Ride!Thanks for listening!We'd love it if you would give us a cheeky little review on your podcast platform of choice. They're really helpful.Come visit our Facebook group at h...

It's one of the quirkiest theme park attractions of all time. Disneyland, for the first time ever, took on pure science fiction and hit it out of the park. It was like riding through an episode of "Outer Limits" or "Twilight Zone" (and was notably influenced by "Twilight Zone" writer Richard Matheson) and was unique in its effective simplicity and brilliance of design.Join us as we revisit one of our favorite attractions of all time, Monsanto's "Adventure Thru Inner Space!" “For though y...