Laff in the Dark: Behind the Scenes of an Amusement Park Dark Ride

For those of you who have fond or fuzzy memories of the former Rocky Point Park's House of Horrors dark ride (1963-1995), WSBE Rhode Island PBS is airing a documentary produced by George Lacross (also promotion specialist at The Providence Journal) about an old-school operating dark ride.

More than a decade ago, George took his love for writing ProJo TV commercials to the next level by committing to a second career, producing a series of DVD documentaries with business partner Bill Luca. Laff in the Dark is the first DVD documentary (released July 2008) that George produced with Bill.

Laff in the Dark is about the Haunted House dark ride at Knoebels Amusement Resort in Elysburg, PA. The ride is similar to the former local House of Horrors with its low-tech scares. Laff in the Dark will air as part of the WSBE ongoing series, Rhode Island Stories (air dates and times below).

Knoebels Haunted House has been thrilling dark ride fans for more than 30 years. In Laff In The Dark, you'll walk the track through the eerie corridors of this classic ride on a guided tour led by Knoebels Haunted House supervisor Dave Wynn. Also featured are interviews with park president Dick Knoebel, who shares details about the design and construction history of the Haunted House, and
John Fetterman, designer of Knoebels Twister coaster and one of the first operators of the Haunted House ride.


You'll also learn about the cars and sound effects, and take two full rides - first, in the dark and then with the lights on.

So, if you have ever wondered what's behind the scenes of an amusement park dark ride, tune in to Laff in the Dark:

WSBE Rhode Island PBS (36.1)

Saturday, 2/11 at 7:00 p.m.
Sunday, 2/12 at 11:00 p.m.

WSBE Learn (36.2)

Thursday, 2/23 at 10:00 p.m.
Saturday, 2/25 at 4:00 p.m.

Covered Bridges and Rocky Point - A Little Yesterday Coming Tomorrow

During the 19th and early part of the 20th centuries, New England was home to almost 1000 covered bridges. Today, there are less than 200 in the six state region. In Covered Bridges of New England, award-winning cinematographer Jim Karpeichik takes us on a cinematic tour of more than 75 remaining bridges - filmed in all seasons - and takes a look back at many more covered bridges that are now gone from our landscape.

There is an excellent, informative review of Covered Bridges of New England by Michael Janusonis, film critic and arts writer for The Providence Journal.

We're proud to present the Rhode Island television premiere of Covered Bridges of New England on Wednesday, March 2 at 7:30 p.m. Jim Karpeichik will be in the studio with WSBE Rhode Island PBS President David Piccerelli, and talk is likely to include some behind the scenes stories about the making of the film.

Then at 9 p.m., "Come with your family, come with your friends - that's the Rocky Point tradition, 'cuz it's summertime again!"

Tune in for documentary that captures the magic - and mourns the loss - of the quintessentially Rhode Island summer landmark for amusement for more than 150 years. You Must Be This Tall: The Story of Rocky Point Park uses vintage photographs and first-person accounts of Rocky Point Park, told by those who lived, worked, and played there. Award-winning filmmaker David Bettencourt will be in our studio.

Rumor has it, David is bringing along a couple of secret guests - fans of Rocky Point Park. Just who will these guests be? Tune in to find out!

Meanwhile, backstage at the studio, the folks from B&M Catering Company will keep our volunteers well-fed, with a special dinner menu reminiscent of Rocky Point favorites. (Thank you!)

"We've Got Your Summer at Rocky Point"

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Missing Rocky Point Park? Let WSBE Rhode Island PBS help cure some of those nostalgic summer blues this July with local filmmaker David Bettencourt’s award winning documentary You Must Be This Tall: The Story of Rocky Point Park.

The feature-length  film, airing Saturday, July 3rd at 7:00 P.M. and again on Sunday, July 4 at 11 P.M., looks at Rocky Point’s 150-year history, from its prominent place in New England summers to the ghost town it has now become.

Every summer for decades, generations of New Englanders flocked to Rocky Point Park - the amusement park and shore dinner hall once situated on Warwick Neck, along the coast of the Narragansett Bay - for a game of Sunday baseball, for a picnic, for a rock-n-roll concert, or to ride on the Tilt-a-Whirl.
 
Then, in 1996, the park closed. With its rides sold off, the park sat for years as a ghost town, scheduled for demolition and primed for the construction of condominiums.

You Must Be This Tall: The Story of Rocky Point Park is told entirely by the people who lived there, who worked there, and who spent every summer at the park. The film uses archival footage, family photos, and memorabilia from the park, as well as photographs taken for this film of the inside of ruined buildings and the grounds of the former amusement park.

From the Shore Dinner Hall to the Midway, from blizzards to iconic rides, no aspect of the Rocky Point Park experience is overlooked. You Must Be This Tall: The Story of Rocky Point Park takes viewers on a rollercoaster ride all its own.


FUN FACTS ABOUT ROCKY POINT PARK

--- In 1847, Captain William Winslow and his passengers aboard the Argo landed at the area known as Rocky Point to enjoy a Sunday picnic.

--- The 19th President of the United States, Rutherford B. Hayes, visited Rocky Point Park and became the first president to make a telephone call. He talked briefly on this new invention with Alexander Graham Bell, who was 13 miles away in Providence.

--- George Herman “Babe” Ruth played numerous baseball games at Rocky Point while playing for the Providence Grays.

--- The park was completely destroyed by the Great Hurricane of 1938. It took years to re-build.

--- The park was again destroyed by Hurricane Carol in 1954. Owner Vincent Ferla spent over $100,000 to re-build it. At its re-opening, traffic is so bad that it holds up major roads in Warwick and Cranston.

--- Rocky Point had six major roller coasters in its history:

1. The Flying Turns
2. The Wildcat
3. The Cyclone
4. The Comet Junior
5. The Up ‘n’ Atom
6. The Corkscrew

-- The Cyclone, sold off at a ride auction in 1996, is currently running at Sandspit-Cavendish, an amusement park on Prince Edward Island, Canada.

-- The Corkscrew was bought, moved and re-named “The Wild Thing.” It currently runs at a theme park outside of Seattle in Federal Way, Washington.