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re: Did you ride the Miss River Gondola built for 84 World's Fair?
Posted on 7/25/15 at 10:12 pm to Crow Pie
Posted on 7/25/15 at 10:12 pm to Crow Pie
Rode it when I was 3 or 4. Very vague memories. But it was intended to be permanent. But operationally it was a money pit. The towers stayed up for years afterwards before finally being taken down.
0
Posted on 7/25/15 at 10:18 pm to Crow Pie
quote:
..it was "under engineered
I still remember this well from back then: my cousin had a conversation with one of the main engineers who helped design the thing. The guy said he wouldn't even ride it because they did not build it to the standards that were established - they just did whatever they had to in order to get the thing up and running in time.
Every time I hear something about the World's Fair, that is always the first thing that pops into my mind.
Posted on 7/25/15 at 10:18 pm to Crow Pie
quote:Its builder never intended it for long-term use.
Why didn't they keep it as a tourist attraction
If you rode it, you could tell it was a flimsy operation.
It was cool while it lasted, though, and I enjoyed seeing the towers over the river in subsequent years after its use.
Now, building a real gondola for genuine transport might be a pretty good idea. I don't know why it never got a more permanent replacement.
Posted on 7/25/15 at 10:19 pm to ellunchboxo
Yes about two dozen times got stuck twice
Posted on 7/25/15 at 10:30 pm to Crow Pie
Rode it with my 3rd grade classmates
Posted on 7/25/15 at 10:44 pm to SamuelClemens
I think there was a long thread on this a year or so ago. Fun reading.
Posted on 7/25/15 at 10:52 pm to Crow Pie
You do bring up an interesting topic about the 1984 World's Fair, though.
Historically, at least in financial terms, it was one of the worst ever. I think it's still the only one to ever go bankrupt. New Orleans, in hindsight, made a few considerable errors.
For one, it failed to feature a major technological theme, as other world's fairs were notable for. Yes, it had the Enterprise, but that was a minor attraction compared to some of the marvels that had distinguished previous fairs.
It also went up against the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles, which was sure to vacuum up a ton of the international tourist business.
However, what the World's Fair did and meant to New Orleans was invaluable. The city had been dying a slow death for numerous reasons in the previous decades. The Fair reinvigorated the downtown area at a time when the rest of the city was declining. Although many New Orleanians weren't happy with the aesthetic changes, particularly along historic Canal Street, it still pulled in people from the geographical region that would sustain the city as a worthwhile destination in subsequent years.
The fruits of the World's Fair actually weren't truly realized until the revitalization of the Warehouse District, in part from the WWII museum housed in a World's Fair relic, and the re-gentrification of that area following Hurricane Katrina.
The 1984 World's Fair in New Orleans was viewed as a national embarrassment at the time. But, ultimately, it helped preserve the city for years to come.
Historically, at least in financial terms, it was one of the worst ever. I think it's still the only one to ever go bankrupt. New Orleans, in hindsight, made a few considerable errors.
For one, it failed to feature a major technological theme, as other world's fairs were notable for. Yes, it had the Enterprise, but that was a minor attraction compared to some of the marvels that had distinguished previous fairs.
It also went up against the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles, which was sure to vacuum up a ton of the international tourist business.
However, what the World's Fair did and meant to New Orleans was invaluable. The city had been dying a slow death for numerous reasons in the previous decades. The Fair reinvigorated the downtown area at a time when the rest of the city was declining. Although many New Orleanians weren't happy with the aesthetic changes, particularly along historic Canal Street, it still pulled in people from the geographical region that would sustain the city as a worthwhile destination in subsequent years.
The fruits of the World's Fair actually weren't truly realized until the revitalization of the Warehouse District, in part from the WWII museum housed in a World's Fair relic, and the re-gentrification of that area following Hurricane Katrina.
The 1984 World's Fair in New Orleans was viewed as a national embarrassment at the time. But, ultimately, it helped preserve the city for years to come.
This post was edited on 7/25/15 at 11:04 pm
Posted on 7/25/15 at 11:03 pm to Crow Pie
I remember my teenage buddy and his older brother rocking back and forth as we were crossing and all the other people were pissed... it was making that "wong-wha-wha-wha-wha-wha" sound
Posted on 7/25/15 at 11:07 pm to Crow Pie
I was 7 when I rode on it. I remember thinking it was gonna fall in the river.
Posted on 7/25/15 at 11:10 pm to Crow Pie
Wasn't born so no
Posted on 7/25/15 at 11:12 pm to LSUgusto
quote:
in part from the WWII museum housed in a World's Fair relic
The WWII museum started in an old World's Fair building? I didn't know that.
Posted on 7/25/15 at 11:23 pm to Crow Pie
It wasn't cost effective. Fun if you were 5 years old. But NOLA attracts 21+.
Whores are fun. Kiddie rides are not.
Whores are fun. Kiddie rides are not.
Posted on 7/25/15 at 11:25 pm to Crow Pie
Yah it was scary. My biggest memory from that world's fair was it was at the pinnacle of Michael Jackson's popularity you'd hear his songs constantly there I was 5/6
Posted on 7/25/15 at 11:25 pm to LSUgusto
Yeah my old condo was one of the main buildings
Posted on 7/25/15 at 11:26 pm to LSUgusto
quote:
However, what the World's Fair did and meant to New Orleans was invaluable. The city had been dying a slow death for numerous reasons in the previous decades. The Fair reinvigorated the downtown area at a time when the rest of the city was declining.
quote:
The fruits of the World's Fair actually weren't truly realized until the revitalization of the Warehouse District
yep...the intangible effects of the Superdome and the Fair are many for that great American city.
This post was edited on 7/25/15 at 11:27 pm
Posted on 7/26/15 at 12:00 am to Crow Pie
4 times.
Posted on 7/26/15 at 12:12 am to Crow Pie
That would scare the absolute crap out of me. You would have to pay me to even consider it.
Posted on 7/26/15 at 12:14 am to Crow Pie
(no message)
This post was edited on 7/26/15 at 12:16 am
Posted on 7/26/15 at 12:23 am to Crow Pie
The numerous gondola-by shootings raised safety concerns.
Posted on 7/26/15 at 12:28 am to Topwater Trout
quote:
Yep. We tried shaking it and about made a classmate cry
You couldn't have dragged me on that damn thing.
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