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USA Today
3 days ago
- USA Today
America's carousels are spinning out of existence. There's a fight to save them.
America's carousels are spinning out of existence. There's a fight to save them. Experts estimate that as many as 3,500 wooden carousels were built at the turn of the 20th century – and only 150 are left. Show Caption Hide Caption Top three travel trends for summer 2025 Airbnb shares data behind the top summer destinations and motivators for 2025. WASHINGTON – On a humid Saturday afternoon in the shadow of the Washington National Cathedral, Esme Ohlsen sat atop a colorful wooden horse and waved to her mother and grandmother as she and a dozen smiling children spun around and around. It was a moment the young girl had eagerly awaited ever since learning that the cathedral's two-day fundraising event would feature a merry-go-round. 'I like how fast it went,' the 9-year-old said over the sound of an antique Wurlitzer organ playing "The Carousel Waltz." She added, 'I wish it went up and down.' What Esme didn't know was the antique wooden carousel she rode is one of a rare group of merry-go-rounds built at the turn of the 20th century and still spinning more than 100 years later. Experts estimate that as many as 3,500 carousels were built by a handful of American companies and artisans between the 1880s and the 1930s. Today, about 150 remain and only a fraction of those are still operational. "It's pretty amazing," said Patrick Wentzel, the president of the National Carousel Association. "These rides are the only antiques that you can not only touch but throw your leg over and ride." These rotating historical artifacts are the survivors of decades of economic, social and technological upheavals that destroyed the majority of their peers, from the Great Depression and the invention of the roller coaster to an antique carousel frenzy that saw countless carousels broken apart and sold piecemeal. Faced with what appeared to be a looming extinction, nonprofits, local governments, museums and other groups stepped in to save the last of the great American carousels. These operators pay artisans and specialized mechanics top dollar to maintain and refurbish the century-old rides, all in an effort to preserve their original design and craftsmanship. Though financially burdensome, today's carousel caretakers have made it their mission to preserve what remains of the golden age of U.S. carousel production. 'It's completely financially indefensible,' said Carol Kelleher, a member of the All Hallows Guild, which maintains the carousel at the National Cathedral. 'But we want to keep it the way it was.' A brief history of carousels in the United States Merry-go-rounds originated in Europe but didn't gain popularity in the U.S. until the late 1800s when artisans from Germany and England capitalized on the country's vast, untouched forests. These carvers – many of them classically trained – hand-chiseled and painted intricate designs that often evoked memories of their homelands. Meanwhile, cities and small towns were developing parks and looking for attractions to draw crowds. Vibrant, spinning carousels became a perfect centerpiece. To meet rising demand, companies sprang up and began churning out rides – smaller versions for traveling carnivals and larger ones for town squares and amusement parks. However, the carousel boom that began at the turn of the 20th century came to an abrupt end. The rapid decline was touched off by World War l and punctuated by the Great Depression. 'Parks were closing down and no one was buying carousels anymore,' Wentzel said. 'That pretty much killed everything.' After World War II, carousels saw a modest revival as new companies began making them from cast aluminum and, later, fiberglass – the materials used in most modern carousels today. Hundreds of these easier-to-manufacture rides appeared in suburban parks across postwar America. But unlike their wooden predecessors, these lacked the craftsmanship and individuality that defined the earlier era. Collectors took notice, and by the 1970s and '80s wooden carousel animals began appearing at auctions as operators discovered they could make more money selling individual horses than maintaining entire rides. For carousel enthusiasts, this was devastating. 'Carousel figures were selling for $40,000 apiece,' Wentzel said, recalling how beloved, historic carousels were dismantled for profit. 'It was really tragic.' A movement to preserve what's left As antique carousels were dismantled or left to deteriorate, the National Carousel Association formed to advocate for their preservation. The group eventually found success as local governments, museums and nonprofits joined the cause, often maintaining carousels at a steep financial loss. 'We haven't sold any carousels for 20 years now,' Wentzel said. Today, these historic rides can be found in parks, playgrounds and museums across the country, though few remain fully original. Many have replaced steam engines with electric motors, swapped out pipe organs for modern sound systems and installed straps and ramps for wheelchair accessibility. Kelleher, who helps maintain the carousel at the National Cathedral, said the ride has seen several major restorations over the past 60 years, including a 1990s campaign where donors adopted and redesigned the animals. In 2021, the guild hired a company for a multi-year project to touch up all 22 of the ride's animals. 'It's a huge undertaking,' Kelleher said, noting that it costs between $6,000 and $8,000 to restore each animal. In New Philadelphia, Ohio, a 1928 carousel is the centerpiece of Tuscora Park. Like the carousel in Washington, it underwent a major renovation in the 1990s, including a new paint job and the installation of a $53,000 motor. Richard Geib, president of the nonprofit, RTY Inc., which oversees the ride, says it's well worth the money to make sure the people of New Philadelphia can enjoy the carousel as he and his family have for decades. 'I have pictures of me on that carousel with my grandparents, and now my grandkids are helping to operate it,' he said. 'It's almost like a member of our family and it's like that for a lot of people in town.' The craftsmen keeping traditional carousels alive The grassroots movement to restore and maintain antique carousels created a steady stream of work for a small group of skilled artisans. One of the leading companies in this field is Carousels and Carvings, based in Marion, Ohio. Its workers have refurbished some of the country's most beloved merry-go-rounds, including the carousel at the Washington National Cathedral. Former cabinetmaker Todd Goings, known as 'the carousel doctor,' founded the company in the 1990s as advocacy to restore antique carousels was in full steam. What started as a foray into carousel repairs turned into his life's work. Today, Goings and his 20 employees maintain dozens of carousels across the country, repainting animals, upgrading mechanical systems and performing routine maintenance. They have also begun building their own carousels from scratch inside the company's 35,000 foot warehouse in Marion. 'I can't speak for everyone, but we are busier than ever,' he said. Still, Goings has had to confront an existential threat to his business: the aging workforce of carousel craftsmen. About five years ago, he realized most of his employees were over 60 and some were well into their 70s. To secure the future of his trade, he began hiring and training what he sees as a new generation of artisans, including his son, whom he hopes will eventually take over the family business. 'The shop has a good feeling about the future now,' he said. 'We're no longer counting the years to the end.' 'Something magical' On May 3, a long line of families waited eagerly for a turn on the historic carousel outside the Washington National Cathedral, which is only operational for two days out of the year. Among the bustling crowd was 81-year-old Katherine Wardlaw, who attended the event with her family. Wardlaw said she was never able to ride carousels herself but grew to love them through her granddaughter Emily. For Emily, who was nonverbal and struggled with mobility, the carousel was the one ride she could enjoy safely. Until her death at age 25, Emily would beg to be taken to the carousel at the mall near her home in Columbia, Maryland. 'She would go round and round – she was so happy,' Wardlaw recalled. 'It was one of the few things that brought her joy, to come with granny and ride the carousel.' Others echoed the sentiment, often tying carousels to their own childhood memories. Sarah Ohlsen, who brought her son and daughter to the fundraising event at the cathedral, said she grew up riding the over-100-year-old carousel at Hersheypark in Pennsylvania. What makes the ride special, she said, is both the whimsy of the animals and its accessibility. 'Anyone can go on them,' she said. 'And it doesn't matter how old you are – people just love getting on a horse.' That enduring appeal is part of what keeps Goings and others committed to their restoration work. For them – and the countless people who've enjoyed a ride on a merry-go-round – carousels are more than mechanical novelties. 'It could seem kind of pointless – a bunch of animals going around in a circle,' Goings said. 'But when you get on, the magic comes. The lights turn on, the music plays, people laugh – and suddenly, there's something magical."
USA Today
25-05-2025
- USA Today
America's carousels are spinning out of existence. There's a fight to save them.
America's carousels are spinning out of existence. There's a fight to save them. Experts estimate that as many as 3,500 wooden carousels were built at the turn of the 20th century – and only 150 are left. Show Caption Hide Caption Top three travel trends for summer 2025 Airbnb shares data behind the top summer destinations and motivators for 2025. WASHINGTON – On a humid Saturday afternoon in the shadow of the Washington National Cathedral, Esme Ohlsen sat atop a colorful wooden horse and waved to her mother and grandmother as she and a dozen smiling children spun around and around. It was a moment the young girl had eagerly awaited ever since learning that the cathedral's two-day fundraising event would feature a merry-go-round. 'I like how fast it went,' the 9-year-old said over the sound of an antique Wurlitzer organ playing "The Carousel Waltz." She added, 'I wish it went up and down.' What Esme didn't know was the antique wooden carousel she rode is one of a rare group of merry-go-rounds built at the turn of the 20th century and still spinning more than 100 years later. Experts estimate that as many as 3,500 carousels were built by a handful of American companies and artisans between the 1880s and the 1930s. Today, about 150 remain and only a fraction of those are still operational. "It's pretty amazing," said Patrick Wentzel, the president of the National Carousel Association. "These rides are the only antiques that you can not only touch but throw your leg over and ride." These rotating historical artifacts are the survivors of decades of economic, social and technological upheavals that destroyed the majority of their peers, from the Great Depression and the invention of the roller coaster to an antique carousel frenzy that saw countless carousels broken apart and sold piecemeal. Faced with what appeared to be a looming extinction, nonprofits, local governments, museums and other groups stepped in to save the last of the great American carousels. These operators pay artisans and specialized mechanics top dollar to maintain and refurbish the century-old rides, all in an effort to preserve their original design and craftsmanship. Though financially burdensome, today's carousel caretakers have made it their mission to preserve what remains of the golden age of U.S. carousel production. 'It's completely financially indefensible,' said Carol Kelleher, a member of the All Hallows Guild, which maintains the carousel at the National Cathedral. 'But we want to keep it the way it was.' A brief history of carousels in the United States Merry-go-rounds originated in Europe but didn't gain popularity in the U.S. until the late 1800s when artisans from Germany and England capitalized on the country's vast, untouched forests. These carvers – many of them classically trained – hand-chiseled and painted intricate designs that often evoked memories of their homelands. Meanwhile, cities and small towns were developing parks and looking for attractions to draw crowds. Vibrant, spinning carousels became a perfect centerpiece. To meet rising demand, companies sprang up and began churning out rides – smaller versions for traveling carnivals and larger ones for town squares and amusement parks. However, the carousel boom that began at the turn of the 20th century came to an abrupt end. The rapid decline was touched off by World War l and punctuated by the Great Depression. 'Parks were closing down and no one was buying carousels anymore,' Wentzel said. 'That pretty much killed everything.' After World War II, carousels saw a modest revival as new companies began making them from cast aluminum and, later, fiberglass – the materials used in most modern carousels today. Hundreds of these easier-to-manufacture rides appeared in suburban parks across postwar America. But unlike their wooden predecessors, these lacked the craftsmanship and individuality that defined the earlier era. Collectors took notice, and by the 1970s and '80s wooden carousel animals began appearing at auctions as operators discovered they could make more money selling individual horses than maintaining entire rides. For carousel enthusiasts, this was devastating. 'Carousel figures were selling for $40,000 apiece,' Wentzel said, recalling how beloved, historic carousels were dismantled for profit. 'It was really tragic.' A movement to preserve what's left As antique carousels were dismantled or left to deteriorate, the National Carousel Association formed to advocate for their preservation. The group eventually found success as local governments, museums and nonprofits joined the cause, often maintaining carousels at a steep financial loss. 'We haven't sold any carousels for 20 years now,' Wentzel said. Today, these historic rides can be found in parks, playgrounds and museums across the country, though few remain fully original. Many have replaced steam engines with electric motors, swapped out pipe organs for modern sound systems and installed straps and ramps for wheelchair accessibility. Kelleher, who helps maintain the carousel at the National Cathedral, said the ride has seen several major restorations over the past 60 years, including a 1990s campaign where donors adopted and redesigned the animals. In 2021, the guild hired a company for a multi-year project to touch up all 22 of the ride's animals. 'It's a huge undertaking,' Kelleher said, noting that it costs between $6,000 and $8,000 to restore each animal. In New Philadelphia, Ohio, a 1928 carousel is the centerpiece of Tuscora Park. Like the carousel in Washington, it underwent a major renovation in the 1990s, including a new paint job and the installation of a $53,000 motor. Richard Geib, president of the nonprofit, RTY Inc., which oversees the ride, says it's well worth the money to make sure the people of New Philadelphia can enjoy the carousel as he and his family have for decades. 'I have pictures of me on that carousel with my grandparents, and now my grandkids are helping to operate it,' he said. 'It's almost like a member of our family and it's like that for a lot of people in town.' The craftsmen keeping traditional carousels alive The grassroots movement to restore and maintain antique carousels created a steady stream of work for a small group of skilled artisans. One of the leading companies in this field is Carousels and Carvings, based in Marion, Ohio. Its workers have refurbished some of the country's most beloved merry-go-rounds, including the carousel at the Washington National Cathedral. Former cabinetmaker Todd Goings, known as 'the carousel doctor,' founded the company in the 1990s as advocacy to restore antique carousels was in full steam. What started as a foray into carousel repairs turned into his life's work. Today, Goings and his 20 employees maintain dozens of carousels across the country, repainting animals, upgrading mechanical systems and performing routine maintenance. They have also begun building their own carousels from scratch inside the company's 35,000 foot warehouse in Marion. 'I can't speak for everyone, but we are busier than ever,' he said. Still, Goings has had to confront an existential threat to his business: the aging workforce of carousel craftsmen. About five years ago, he realized most of his employees were over 60 and some were well into their 70s. To secure the future of his trade, he began hiring and training what he sees as a new generation of artisans, including his son, whom he hopes will eventually take over the family business. 'The shop has a good feeling about the future now,' he said. 'We're no longer counting the years to the end.' 'Something magical' On May 3, a long line of families waited eagerly for a turn on the historic carousel outside the Washington National Cathedral, which is only operational for two days out of the year. Among the bustling crowd was 81-year-old Katherine Wardlaw, who attended the event with her family. Wardlaw said she was never able to ride carousels herself but grew to love them through her granddaughter Emily. For Emily, who was nonverbal and struggled with mobility, the carousel was the one ride she could enjoy safely. Until her death at age 25, Emily would beg to be taken to the carousel at the mall near her home in Columbia, Maryland. 'She would go round and round – she was so happy,' Wardlaw recalled. 'It was one of the few things that brought her joy, to come with granny and ride the carousel.' Others echoed the sentiment, often tying carousels to their own childhood memories. Sarah Ohlsen, who brought her son and daughter to the fundraising event at the cathedral, said she grew up riding the over-100-year-old carousel at Hersheypark in Pennsylvania. What makes the ride special, she said, is both the whimsy of the animals and its accessibility. 'Anyone can go on them,' she said. 'And it doesn't matter how old you are – people just love getting on a horse.' That enduring appeal is part of what keeps Goings and others committed to their restoration work. For them – and the countless people who've enjoyed a ride on a merry-go-round – carousels are more than mechanical novelties. 'It could seem kind of pointless – a bunch of animals going around in a circle,' Goings said. 'But when you get on, the magic comes. The lights turn on, the music plays, people laugh – and suddenly, there's something magical."
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Local Rotary Clubs prepare for Band Organ Rally and Carousel Festival
ENDICOTT, N.Y. (WIVT/WBGH) – Local Rotary Clubs are joining together to expand an annual celebration of our area's carousels and the music that once accompanied them. This summer, the Rotary Carousel and Band Organ Week will highlight both the historic, free carousels that Endicott-Johnson Shoe Company founder George F Johnson gifted to our community, as well as the Wurlitzer band organs that filled them with music. In recent years, the Endicott and Endwell Rotaries have been acquiring and restoring three organs to replace the ones that originally entertained carousel riders. Last year, a band organ rally accompanied the annual Johnson City Carousel Festival at CFJ Park. This year, the rally will take place at Spiedie Fest, welcoming in ten large band organs from outside our area, 20 smaller crank organs, and a tent with displays about the history of our carousels and George F. 'It's a great example of mechanical genius, these organs. We'll have ours on display. There's many different types and sizes. They were made to accompany carousels. They're loud so that they can be heard over the sound of the carousel,' said Smith. Carousel and Band Organ Week will run for eight days, beginning at the JC Carousel Festival on Saturday July 26. Then the band organ rally takes place during Spiedie Fest from August 1 through the 3. In between, Smith says representatives from various Rotary Clubs will hold events at their local carousels, and some of the portable band organs will travel to different locations as well. NY lawmakers push AI safety bills Elementary students join Mayor Kraham for first carousel ride of the season Local Rotary Clubs prepare for Band Organ Rally and Carousel Festival Binghamton High School recognized for musical excellence BLAST raises awareness for mental health with latest show 'Next to Normal' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Daily Mail
26-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Incredible photos show how planes were once luxury playgrounds that even included dancefloors
In the early 1970s, Air Canada made aviation history - not with a new route, but with a dancefloor. As the Boeing 747 ushered in the age of wide-body jets with spacious upper decks, airlines around the world scrambled to turn commercial airliners into flying lounges. For a brief moment the sky wasn't just the limit - it was the dancefloor. In 1971, Air Canada went all-in on disco, transforming the upper deck of its new 747s into a fully functional dancefloor, mirrored wall included. For about a year, passengers flying between Toronto and Europe could step into the airline's mile-high dance club. 'It was all so gracious,' recalled flight attendant Heather Tregaskes in a 2004 interview with the Toronto Star. 'We even had a mirrored wall and a dancefloor, and sometimes stewardesses would even dance with customers.' Air Canada's disco experiment was part of a larger trend: luxury lounges in the sky. Not to be outdone, United Airlines rolled out its own airborne lounge aboard its 747s, branding it the 'Friendship Room'. Located in the iconic upper deck, this space featured swivel chairs, cocktail tables, and plush seating where passengers could enjoy drinks and quiet conversation. The name played off United's long-running 'Fly the Friendly Skies' slogan, and the lounge reinforced the idea that flying could be not just efficient - but elegant. American Airlines added its own twist by installing a piano bar in the rear main cabin of its 747-100s - though the 'piano' was actually a 64-key Wurlitzer electronic organ. The airline introduced this Piano Bar lounge in August 1971 on its transcontinental LAX-to-JFK flights, famously launching it with a special performance by Frank Sinatra Jr. To accommodate the piano bar, American removed about 50 seats from the aircraft, making this lively corner accessible to coach passengers. The electronic piano was chosen for its durability in the face of cabin vibrations and turbulence, though maintaining it wasn't easy: Wurlitzer technicians like Don Morningstar often had to fix sticky keys and broken reeds, sometimes caused by spilled drinks. Today, you can see one of these legendary Wurlitzers at the American Airlines C.R. Smith Museum in Fort Worth, Texas. By the 1980s, Continental Airlines took in-flight entertainment up another notch with its famed 'Pub Flights' on DC-10s serving routes to Chicago, Denver and Houston. These sky-high pubs featured a full-service bar with flight attendants doubling as bartenders, a unique electronic game called Pub Pong, and plenty of snacks, including complimentary popcorn. Passengers could mingle in the bar area, play games, or watch double-feature movies, newsreels, and cartoons. The laid-back pub environment made flying more sociable and interactive. Australia's Qantas Airlines joined the trend with its Captain Cook Lounge, a retro nautical bar nestled just behind the cockpit on its earliest 747s. While the 747 is often credited with democratizing travel, Qantas' upper-deck lounge turned the 'hump' into a private, upper-class sanctuary. First class passengers could enjoy an intimate space for 15, a stand-up bar, and full cabin service with drinks, snacks, and even cigarettes (in the days before smoking bans). The lounge was decorated in the bold colors and swirling patterns of the '70s, complete with ship's wheels, lanterns, and faux wood dividers. Its name honored both design trends and the 200th anniversary of Captain James Cook's arrival in Australia The planes of yesteryear with their flashy entertainment are a far cry from economy cabins today The lounge was decorated in the bold colors and swirling patterns of the '70s, complete with ship's wheels, lanterns, and faux wood dividers. Its name honored both design trends and the 200th anniversary of Captain James Cook's arrival in Australia. Eventually, airlines realized that the space taken up by pianos, pubs, and dance floors was more profitable as additional passenger seating. By the late 1970s and early 1980s, most of these luxe lounges had been removed, grounded by profit margins and shifting priorities. But the spirit of the airborne disco didn't disappear entirely - it just found a new home on the ground. In 1977, that same groovy energy touched down in Rochester, New York, with the opening of Club 747: a sprawling, aviation-themed nightclub modeled after the jumbo jet. Created by Buffalo entrepreneur Jim Cosentino, the venue delivered the full flight fantasy, complete with a replica fuselage entrance, 'boarding passes,' jetliner-style seating, and a DJ booth set in a faux cockpit. Created by Buffalo entrepreneur Jim Cosentino, the venue wasn't just airplane-inspired - it was full-blown flight fantasy Video screens played footage of plane takeoffs and landings, and the dance floor was pure Saturday Night Fever - just without the turbulence. Club 747 became a local legend, offering nearly a decade of disco decadence for revelers - no boarding pass or airfare required.
News24
24-04-2025
- Entertainment
- News24
Freddie Mercury's sister forked out R75m to buy her brother's possessions at auction
The younger sister of Queen's Freddie Mercury, Kashmira Bulsara, spent £3 million (R74,5m) to keep her brother's belongings out of the hands of strangers. Freddie's confidante and former fiancée, Mary Austin (74), who received the lion's share of his estate after his death at 45 in 1991, provided 1 400 items that had belonged to the Queen frontman for auction by Sotheby's in 2023. 'Of course Kashmira appreciates how adored Freddie was across the world, but she was saddened to think of some of his sentimental belongings not being with his loved ones,' a source told The Sun. The auction, titled Freddie Mercury: A World of His Own, closed with sales of £40m, far higher than the expected £11m. It drew more than 140 000 visitors and buyers from more than 50 countries. Items for sale included handwritten lyrics and some of Freddie's famous stage costumes, as well as his moustache comb, champagne bottles from his cellar and paintings that once adorned his home including works by Salvador Dali and Pablo Picasso. READ MORE | SEE THE PICS: Freddie Mercury's 'glorious memory box' home is up for sale Kashimira (73), a businesswoman and philanthropist, successfully bid on her big brother's Wurlitzer model 850 jukebox which had been in his home, a hand-painted waistcoat featuring portraits of his cats, a military-style jacket designed for his 39th birthday and the draft lyrics of Queen's 1974 classic Killer Queen. While Kashmira spent more than she'd anticipated at the auction, she was happy with the belongings she'd bought, the source said. Freddie and Mary met in 1969 and dated for several years until they were engaged in 1973. They broke off their engagement in 1976 after he came out as gay, but remained close friends until his death. 'The only friend I've got is Mary, and I don't want anybody else. To me, she was my common-law wife. To me, it was a marriage. We believe in each other; that's enough for me,' Freddie said in an interview. Most of his estate, including his Kensington mansion, was left to Mary. Kashmira was also at Freddie's side in his last days, along with Freddie's longtime partner, Jim Hutton, who passed away in 2010. Kashmira isn't the first relative of a celebrity to buy their possessions at auction. Julian Lennon, son of late Beatles star John and his first wife, Cynthia, claimed in a 1999 interview that he had to buy back his father's letters and postcards – as well as ones Julian had sent him – after John's second wife, Yoko Ono, reportedly refused to give them to him.
