CNE Rides & Games – Explore The Midway of the Past

The Midway is a big draw, and while there have been rides and games at The Ex for over a century, one big name that comes to mind is Conklin Shows. In 1937, the world-famous travelling amusement company began providing and operating the games and rides that thrilled at the Canadian National Exhibition.

For over six decades, Conklin brought CNE-goers of all ages excitement and fun on rides like the Polar Express, CHUM Wild Cat, the Tornado, Swing Tower, and the Zipper. Today, those same great rides and games are provided by North American Midway Entertainment, the company that purchased Conklin Shows in 2004.

Classic Rides at The Ex

The Flyer: Patty Conklin of Conklin Shows was contracted to build the roller coaster, which made its debut in 1953. It was designed by Joe McKee of NYC and was said to be the “fastest in the world” (at the time) and could reach speeds up to 65 miles or 104 km per hour. The mighty roller coaster cost $200,000 to construct and was 796 m or 2,612 ft long. The Flyer was in operation for 39 years and thrilled more than 9 million riders. It was demolished in 1992.

Alpine Way: Built in 1966, the ride featured two aerial lines of suspended cable cars over 30 m or 100 ft above The Midway. The ride was torn down in 1994 to make way for the Enercare Centre. In 2012, the Sky Ride made its debut at The Ex, and it transports visitors over 12 m or 40 ft in the air across Exhibition grounds.

Ferris Wheel: The modern Ferris Wheel was invented by a civil engineer named George Washington Gale Ferris Jr. Mr Ferris’s wheel made its debut at the World’s Columbian Exposition held in Chigaco in 1893. The wheel stood 264 ft or 80 m high and had 36 cars which could each hold 60 people. During the 19-week expo, also known as the Chicago World’s Fair, over 1.4 million people paid 50¢ to enjoy a 20-minute ride.

Wild Mouse: This one was once thought of as the scariest ride. The small cars take erratic, tight, flat turns from way up high then plunging. It got to some pretty high speeds on the drop.

The Rotor: Riders defied gravity in this ride that used centrifugal force. It was over 15 m or 50 ft high and was first introduced in 1953. Once the upright barrel ride was up to a full speed of 33 revolutions per minute, the floor dropped, and riders were left stuck to the wall. When the ride was finished, the revolutions slowed, allowing riders to gradually slide down the wall to the floor. Those that didn’t want to ride could watch from atop.

Sky Diver Ferris Wheel: This one tipped riders through crazy barrel rolls.

Tilt-A-Whirl: The random yet predictable chaos of this ride was invented in 1926 by Herbert Sellner. A woodworker by trade, Mr Sellner mounted a swivel chair on a table in his kitchen. He then rocked it back and forth with his son in the chair. The child was so delighted with the ride that he went on to create the Tilt-A-Whirl, inspired by the simple kitchen experiment. The Tilt-A-Whirl was first debuted at the 1927 Minnesota State Fair, and to this day, the ride is a staple at amusement parks worldwide.

The Midway Games & Prizes

Games like Whac-A-Mole, Water Race, Skee Ball, Duck Pond, Balloon Darts, One in Wins, and Ring-A-Bottle tempt walkers-by with the pride of winning a coveted plush toy. And, the harder the game, the bigger the prize. But before the stuffed animals, lucky winners at fairs in the early 1900s were awarded food, hats, plaster statues, and cigarettes. In the 1930s, during the Great Depression, grocery items like ham, sugar, or tins of coffee were given as prizes since necessities were more important.

During the more recent CNEs, it takes twenty-six tractor-trailer trucks to deliver 270,000 stuffed toys for prizes each year. Some of the most popular plush prizes are Pikachu, Smurfs and the Barvarian Bear.

The History of Stuffed Toys

The origins of stuffed toys are thought to have begun in Germany by a businesswoman named Margarete Steiff. When Margarete was a child, she contracted polio which left her legs paralyzed. She overcame her challenges and became a skilled seamstress. Ms Steiff operated a shop where she sold felt clothing and household items she made. In the 1870s, Margarete found a pattern for a small stuffed elephant in a magazine. She made one for her shop and used it as a pincushion. She noticed when customers came to her shop, their children loved playing with it as a toy.

Ms Steiff began producing the tiny elephants as toys; by the mid-1880s, her company had sold over 5,000 of them. The Steiff Company that Margarete founded over 140 years ago is still in business today, making all kinds of plush toys.

Shell Tower

While it’s not a ride, the tower had a great observation deck. It was unveiled in 1955 and featured a huge analog clock that could be seen from a distance. In the early 70s, it became the Bulova Tower, and the clock was upgraded to digital. The tower was demolished in 1985.

Did You Know?

• From 1942 to 1946, the CNE was not in operation as Exhibition grounds were in military use during World War II. So in 1942 and 1943, Patty Conklin took his rides and games to Riverdale Park and presented the “Fair for Britain.”
• There are over 60 rides on The Midway and more than 110 games.
• See how fashion has changed throughout the years at the CNE and on The Midway.

CNE Rides & Games Photos

SOURCE

• CNE Heritage
• Vintage Photos: City of Toronto Archives & CNE Heritage