City - Cincinnati OH - Tickle me 1909 Doormat

Colorized photo from 1909 Original title: The Tickler Photographer: Detroit Publishing Location: Chester Park, Spring Grove Avenue & Mitchell Ave, Cincinnati, OH This is the Tickler, now not as rough as last season. It consisted of a downward slant, to which barriers allowed a round cart covered in a bumper, had brass rails on top, and velvet seats, to roll down on its casters. Bumping and spinning all the way down. There was a bin for hats, to which I'm not sure if they were collected as they flew off or if you stored them there to retrieve in the end. The patrons would walk up the stairs and sit in the car and it would take them up on a chain, like a roller coaster ride. It was invented by William F Mangels, in the early 1900's. It was described as the first amusement ride designed to Jostle, Jolt and Jounce its riders about in their seats while the ride was in motion. They didn't mention why they named it the tickler, I assume its because it was funny watching people scream. Willam Mangels (1867-1958) was hailed as the "Wizard of 8th Street", he wanted to design machines instead of fixing other people's rides. He was actually the inventor of the device that makes carousel horses go up and down, they still use that thing today. His company had a manager, Frederic Thompson, he would tell customers that they would need a barrel to take all the money they will make with this ride. In the contract, the location where the ride was installed in would receive 20% of gross sales. And he was right, in the first year it grossed $42,000 in 1908 ($1.1 million today). The ride cost $6000 ($170,500 today), to install. But due to the novelty, it became boring to people and it declined over the years, this ride was something you can find at almost any amusement park, it wasn't just this one location. This location, was Chester Park, located in Cincinnati, OH. It opened in 1875, starting as a horse racing track, the name Chester was in fact the name of the owner's horse. The land was bought by the Cincinnati street railway co, in 1896, with an idea of an amusement park that they will bring people too. They turned the track into a lake, added a colonial style clubhouse, and set up attractions such as the Tickler, the Blue Streak coaster and the Hilarity Hall Fun house. The park was as popular as Coney Island, only more accessible. As you had to take a steamboat to go there (from Ohio). People could just hop right onto a street car and go there. The park closed in 1935, they had problems with money and had to close when they couldn't afford the water bill (the lake was filled with city water). While it was closed, the area was still named Chester Park, though I believe the pool was in use ran by the city till the mid 1950's. Then the Greater Cincinnati Water Works built its offices on the site in 1957, there is a plaque dedicated to this park on their property. Oh and you'll notice that fun little sign. I was able to find a postcard showing the original version. Imagine those loops tighter, where there was no roll space, just turns. You were basically a pinball going down a small intestine. There were two side by side running two groups at once. It's not known if this ride had two sets or not, but I can only imagine the lawsuits... Also this ride was responsible for a large fire in 1911. Where a short under the ride caught fire. Burning the ride, park and a part of a lumber yard down. A dozens were injured no one was killed.