In 1971, Magic Mountain amusement park opened in Valencia, California. In its first year, the park enlisted the Warner Brothers Looney Tunes to greet visitors. By 1972, Magic Mountain had its own unique mascots, the Trolls.
In addition to the Trolls, there was also a Wizard.
The Wizard was kind of a jerk.
Magic Mountain is a big, beautiful mountain of fun!
The mountain Trolls were mere minutes away from Hollywood.
And yes, you could meet the Wizard and the fuzzy Trolls in person.
Magic Mountain's mascots look a little bit like the love children of The Muppets and H.R. Pufnstuf.
The 1970s were a groovy time to be a long-haired, hippie Troll.
As time marched on, Magic Mountain added more and more thrills. And the Trolls were everywhere.
This monstrosity is a Magic Mountain Troll Snow Globe that also tells you what day it is.
The Orange Troll is named Bloop and the Girl Troll is named Bleep (I think).
There was also a "teeter totter in a bottle" for Magic Mountain.
This type of gaudy souvenir still exists today---just visit any big tourist trap shop in Florida.
Let's check out what is new in 1974.
Wait an Internet Trollin' minute! Bloop had his own ride!?!
Yup, the wonderfully named Big Bloop!
Bloop the Troll was the focus of much of the merchandise.
Cuddle with a cute (?) plush Bloop, lovingly made with features applied using a hot glue gun.
Being so close to Hollywood, Magic Mountain has been used in countless movies and TV shows.
The funniest use of Magic Mountain was probably in the 1991 opening credits for the ABC show Step By Step. The show's creators turned the parking lot into a (very fake) lake.
Magic Mountain was also the star of National Lampoon's Vacation in 1983.
If you want to go to the real Walley World, go to Magic Mountain.
The Wizard and Bloop enjoy Magic Mountain's rides, most of which were made by Arrow Development.
Bloop the Troll has a certain charm to him.
Are you a member of the Troll Patrol?
Bloop is adorable, in a blobby sort of way.
The hills are alive with the sound of screaming (people on roller coasters).
Biker Gang Troll Bloop wants you to drink beer from a Magic Mountain Stein.
It'll put hair on your chest and everywhere else.
Is the Wizard supposed to be a good guy or a bad guy?
The Wizard is kinda creepy.
Bloop is a mellow sort of fellow.
Have you ever heard of a pizza restaurant called Mellow Mushroom? I feel like Bloop could get a job there.
Magic Mountain was developed by Newhall Land and Farming Company.
In addition to rides, Magic Mountain became famous for its shows. In the early days, the park's amphitheater hosted performances by Jimmy Durante, Helen Reddy, and Rich Little (if you are young and reading this, you may not know who these people are, but they were all big in the 70s).
I know that Aerosmith played at Magic Mountain at some point. They mention it during the "Back in the Saddle" song on their "A Little South of Sanity" Live Album.
In 1979, Magic Mountain was sold to Six Flags.
The park became "Six Flags Magic Mountain" in 1980.
The Trolls survived the takeover---for a few years. Then their world was turned upside down.
In 1985, the Warner Brothers Looney Tunes characters became the mascots for Six Flags parks. The Trolls and the Wizard magically vanished. It is rather ironic that the Looney Tunes were at Magic Mountain in the first year of the park's operation.
The rise and fall of the Trolls at Magic Mountain is not an unusual story in the world of amusement park mascots. In the recent past, Hanna Barbera and Nickelodeon characters were evicted from the former Paramount Parks chain (Kings Island, Kings Dominion, Carowinds, California's Great America, and Canada's Wonderland).
As it turns out, the sneaky Trolls weren't completely evicted from Six Flags Magic Mountain.
As of May of 2013, this Troll continues having a magical time on the exit sign for Magic Mountain's Bumper Cars. Thanks to TokyoMagic! at MeetTheWorldInProgressland.blogspot.com for the picture!
Dan, the Wizard wasn't supposed to be a bad guy....although he kind of looks the part in those drawings. There was a gigantic "walk-around" character of him in the park that was cuter and cuddlier than he appeared on that merchandise. I miss the Trolls. There is one sign that remains in the park after all these years that still has Bloop on it....it's the exit sign for the Sandblasters/Bumper Cars. Oh and the Wizard had his very own "land" called the Wizard's Village. When he and the trolls were evicted, his area became Bugs Bunny World.
ReplyDeleteI never knew that at one time Magic Mountain's mascot were trolls. That is until about maybe 7 or 8 years ago. A friend and I were at Magic Mountain and we get near the bumper cars. As we were walking past the bumper car building, he stops and points out the troll in a bumper car drawing on a sign. He then mentions a little bit about the trolls and their history with the Park. I was surprised that the picture of the troll had survived after all these years, even after the Loony Toons became the Parks mascots.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if it's still there. I haven't been back to that Park in some time.
Hey TokyoMagic! and MintCrocodile! I posted both your replies at the same time, both mentioning the bumper car sign with the Troll. Count me as a big fan of these unique characters, even the sometimes shady looking Wizard.
ReplyDeleteMintCrocodile, it was still there as of May of 2013! Dan, I took a pic of the sign during that visit. I'll find it and send it to you!
ReplyDeleteTokyoMagic!: Great! Thank you! I will finish the Troll story with it!
ReplyDelete