Original image caption
Laffing Sal is one of several animatronic characters that were built primarily to attract carnival and amusement park patrons to funhouses and dark rides throughout the United States. Its movements were accompanied by a raucous laugh that sometimes frightened small children and annoyed adults.
Originally from San Francisco Playland that closed in 1972
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
Opened in 1907
California's oldest surviving Amusement Park
I rewatched The Lost Boys last night. It is dated but still fun to watch. It brought back a lot of great memories of spending time in Santa Cruz over the years.
The beach was a destination for railroads and trolleys from 1875. From 1927 to 1959, Southern Pacific Railroad ran Suntan Special excursion trains to the beach from San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose every summer Sunday and holiday.
Photographs 2007©David C. HIll
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
Opened in 1907
California's oldest surviving Amusement Park
I rewatched The Lost Boys last night. The movie is dated but still fun to watch. It brought back a lot of great memories of spending time in Santa Cruz over the years.
Original image caption
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
Opened in 1907
California's oldest surviving Amusement Park
I rewatched The Lost Boys last night. It is dated but still fun to watch. It brought back a lot of great memories of spending time in Santa Cruz over the years.
The beach was a destination for railroads and trolleys from 1875. From 1927 to 1959, Southern Pacific Railroad ran Suntan Special excursion trains to the beach from San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose every summer Sunday and holiday.
Photographs 2007©David C. HIll
Original image caption
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
Opened in 1907
California's oldest surviving Amusement Park
I rewatched The Lost Boys last night. It is dated but still fun to watch. It brought back a lot of great memories of spending time in Santa Cruz over the years.
The beach was a destination for railroads and trolleys from 1875. From 1927 to 1959, Southern Pacific Railroad ran Suntan Special excursion trains to the beach from San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose every summer Sunday and holiday.
Photographs 2007©David C. HIll
Original image caption
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
Opened in 1907
California's oldest surviving Amusement Park
I rewatched The Lost Boys last night. It is dated but still fun to watch. It brought back a lot of great memories of spending time in Santa Cruz over the years.
The beach was a destination for railroads and trolleys from 1875. From 1927 to 1959, Southern Pacific Railroad ran Suntan Special excursion trains to the beach from San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose every summer Sunday and holiday.
Photographs 2007©David C. HIll
Original image caption
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
Opened in 1907
California's oldest surviving Amusement Park
I rewatched The Lost Boys last night. It is dated but still fun to watch. It brought back a lot of great memories of spending time in Santa Cruz over the years.
The beach was a destination for railroads and trolleys from 1875. From 1927 to 1959, Southern Pacific Railroad ran Suntan Special excursion trains to the beach from San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose every summer Sunday and holiday.
Photographs 2007©David C. HIll
The Boardwalk's roots go back to 1865 when John Leibrandt opened a public bathhouse near the mouth of the San Lorenzo River. Other bathhouses followed and scores of tourists began visiting Santa Cruz to enjoy the highly-touted natural medicine of bathing in saltwater.
The Giant Dipper roller coaster and Looff Carousel are both National Historic Landmarks and the entire Boardwalk property is a California Historic Landmark.
The beach was a destination for railroads and trolleys from 1875. From 1927 to 1959, Southern Pacific Railroad ran Suntan Special excursion trains to the beach from San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose every summer Sunday and holiday.
Photographs 2007©David C. HIll
Originally shared on Explore San Jose · March 4, 2021