Super Bob / Matterhorn
Quick Facts (Super Bob)
Manufacturer(s): principally Sobema
Debut year: mid 1970s
First UK produced: n/a
Last UK produced: n/a
Total UK number: 25
Summary: Updated version of the Switchback, based on the simple 'hill
and valley' roundabout. The UK saw success with the Ark and Waltzer while
the Super Bob and its Alpine decor found favour in Europe. These European
machines eventually made their way onto the UK fairs, though the large
'back-flash' with the rides was soon re-directed towards more contemporary
themes, paving the way for modern fairground art.
Quick Facts (Matterhorn)
Manufacturer(s): Sobema, Reverchon
Debut year: 1980
First UK produced: n/a
Last UK produced: n/a
Total UK number: 25
Summary: Again, a revamp of the Mont Blanc ride, retaining popularity
on the Continent, and eventually taking root over here. The cars swing
out (and in) on an axle, the swinging motion boosted by the hill and valley
of the machine. Speed is of the essence, combined with a stunning 'back-flash'.
click here for machine
list Both of these rides support the idea that not everything
on the fairground is necessarily new, just re-invented at the right crucial
moment(s) in time. However, the Super Bob and Matterhorn, taken together,
provide an interesting piece of cultural history on both fairground art
and the 80s decade.
The Super Bob is a basic two-hill roundabout (in Germany,
a 'Berg and Talbahn') with a condensed set of cars, and its evolution
is part of the machines including Switchbacks, Arks, Autodromes, etc.
All of these machines were 'of their time' in terms of what they offered
the customer - a chance to experience something beyond the average person's
capability or financial means - for instance the first Motor Car Switchbacks
came at a time when only the elite few could afford a real car, and the
Autodromes offered rides in pristine, swanky cars. Similarly the Super
Bob gives the customer a chance to experience both the thrill of a dangerous
mountain sport, and the prestige of an alpine activity reserved for the
better off. The Matterhorn was a similar concern - however this ride was
clearly rooted in the 1930s Mont Blanc novelty ride (all but disappeared
by the 1980s). Both the Matterhorn and Super Bob had the advantage of
a high riding capacity whilst still retaining all the necessary cultural
and 'thrill seeking' aspects to convince the public to have a go.
The artwork on these machines depicted functional scenes
of alpine frivolities and exciting high-speed sports, the backflash shaped
to resemble distant and dangerous mountain peaks. By the 1980s, when these
machines began to arrive in the UK, the skiing holiday was partly established
as a cultural norm available to most average-earning families, and not
so much the preserve of the 'James Bond set' of the 60s and 70s. Added
to this was the craze of 'apres-ski' sweeping the country, with 'yeti-boots',
garish knitwear and tight tracksuits all the rage, featuring prolifically
in videos by 80s bands such as Wham! The large backflashes soon became
out of date, as the accelerated culture of the 80s took hold, and in many
ways ushered in the current generation of air-brush artists and artwork.
The whole work of art was now explosive and non-repetitive, as opposed
to traditional repeating designs on Arks and Waltzers, and gradually the
airbrushed figures and singularities replaced the techniques of marbling
and scrolling. Film references featured heavily on these rides - Ghostbusters
and Terminator - followed by a swift move to horror references. Michael
Jackson's zombie video for 'Thriller' provided a crucial bridging point
between popular music and a burgeoning film genre, and quickly the dark
and visceral film works of Wes Craven (Freddy's Revenge) and Clive Barker
(Hellraiser) gave rise to some graphic and gristly scenes painted on backflashes.
By the end of the 90s the re-theming of these rides was in decline, the
airbrush artists now pushing the boundaries with Miami
artwork, but both the Super Bob and Matterhorn still remain popular
machines.
Jacksons 'Early' Machines
Jacksons of Congleton provide the 'missing links' between
the old and the re-invented for both the Super Bob and Matterhorn. The
company were famous for their efforts to develop novelty platform rides,
many of which were prototyped at the Jacksons concession at Southport
Amusement Park. Their ingenious 'Stratocruiser', built in 1960 for Raymond
Armstrong was travelled for a few years as a prototype Matterhorn, before
re-emerging in 1983, and then being converted to a Super Bob (the machine
is now with Joey Wilson). Similarly their 'Cresta Run' - operated by the
Jackson family at Southport - was rebuilt in 1983 as a Matterhorn, and
is now travelled by Wally Shufflebottom.
Another important early ride is Marshall's 'L'Everest'
- a huge machine imported and operated through the 1970s primarily at
Blackpool, and currently a preservation project. This is an indication
that Matterhorn type rides have always thrived on the Continent...
Stratocruiser, Loughborough 1960.
Stratocruiser (car detail), Loughborough 1960.
L'Everest - a huge machine - currently a huge preservation project.
Cresta Run, Southport, 1978.
The Current Generation Super Bobs
One of the earliest, and certainly most famous, Super
Bobs was purchased for Margate's Dreamland Park and then travelled from
1975 by the Ravenscroft family. This machine, bought in 1983 by Freddie
Stokes and still travelled by him has had a sequence of vibrant decorations,
including many years as the famous 'Pop Express', followed by 'Tornado
Express', and currently in a fully-roofed guise with a Paul Wright decor
as 'Super Bob'. The machine was perhaps most famous for its large central
portrait of Tom Jones - now airbrushed out.
Another impressive machine was imported by Jimmy Beach
in 1986 - the 'Sideral 2000' - which initially featured a very high back
section, quickly cut down. This machine is now with William Bradley, and
is impressively decorated as 'Demon Chase'.
Modern versions made by companies such as Sobema were
imported throughout the late 1980s and 1990s, with a few older versions
joining these. Many of these were themed as 'Bidule' - the French translation
(given by Google) is 'Thingummy' - and it is said that the French showman
who designed the Bidule chose a name that was deliberately vague and playful,
proving that the French penchant for philosophy extends even on to the
fairground!
Freddie Stokes' Super Bob, with Tom Jones intact, Knutsford, 1985.
Lovett's exotically themed 'Tahiti' ride.
Cogger's Turbo Bidule - lost in translation!
Beach's Sideral 2000, 1986, huge back hill evident.
The Current Generation Matterhorns
The first Continental Matterhorns were a batch of Reverchon
machines all destined for coastal resorts. The approximate order and dates
were as follows: Pat Evans (Porthcawl) in 1980, Robinson (Rhyl) 1980,
Botton Brothers (Skegness) 1981, Jimmy Booth (Barry Island) 1981 and Blackpool
Pleasure Beach in 1982. All of these machines featured similar jagged
backdrops with snow-sport action scenes, and all of them were later re-themed.
Pat Evans sold his Matterhorn to Raymond Codona, who quickly sold it on
to Claude Cooper at Whitley Bay where it became 'Superbobs', and was then
re-themed with John Birch to 'Hell Creator'. The Rhyl Matterhorn remains
in place, though it has been re-themed to Terminator. The Skegness machine
moved to Southsea, had a spell at Tramore, and is now with Rae Armstrong-Wilson
as 'Screamer'. Jimmy Booth's machine was the first Matterhorn to travel,
opening under the Pat Collins guise in 1982 at fairs such as Loughborough,
it remained at Barry up until 1986, its present fate unknown. The Blackpool
machine moved to Minehead Butlins and is now travelled as 'Music Express'
by Charlie Ive.
Rhyl, 1980.
Skegness, 1981.
Jimmy Booth's Matterhorn at a crowded Loughborough, 1981.
Other manufacturers of Matterhorns include Sobema and
SDC, with the Sobema machines often having a large central decorative
gantry. The Sobema machines gained a dominance in the mid 80s with Joey
Manning acting as an agent and ensuring these fast and functional machines
became a popular choice. Examples include George Heath (1983) later themed
'Mega City' , Willie Wilson (1984) later themed 'Terminator' and featuring
superb artwork by Paul Wright, Stanley Thurston (1984) themed 'Thriller'
and later themed 'Judgment Day', Freddy Rose (1984) fitted with top structure,
since exported, Perrin Stevens (1984) later themed 'Alpine Express' and
travelled by Albert Holland, Joey Manning (1985) travelled for many years
by Michael Wallis as the famous 'Ghostbuster', Miller (Billing) (1986)
themed 'Hellraiser', Martin Holland (1988) themed as Michael Jackson's
'Thriller', William Sheldon (1990) later themed 'Hellraiser', Joey Manning
(1991) themed 'Midnight Express' (and travelled in Ireland by the Cullen
family), James Rogers (1991) themed 'Freddy's Revenge', John Silcock (1992)
themed 'Thriller Express', and Anthony Harris (1994) themed 'Midnight
Express'.
Paul Wright artwork on Robinson's Terminator Matterhorn, 2004.
Michael Jackson as the 'Thriller' zombie - the ultimate in plastic surgery?
Ghostbuster, Hull, 1985 - Who You Gonna Call?
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