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Moving past bankruptcy the new management of Old Chicago brought in Angus Wynne Jr. to turn the faltering Fairgrounds around.  You might not know who Angus Wynne Jr. was but if you have ever been to a Six Flags you have been to his creation.  In 1961 Angus opened Six Flags Over Texas between Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas.  That park with a pay one price admission along with the opening of Disneyland the decade prior lit the fuse for the massive theme park building boom that took the country by storm well into the 1980's. 



What Angus was brought in to do was to use his theme park expertise to address the Old Chicago Fairgrounds shortcomings with a six million dollar expansion.



Studies had shown that Old Chicago was popular among teens and young adults but had issues attracting alder adults, families, and young children.



After more than forty years my heart still skips a beat taking in this view of Old Chicago at the top of the spiral walkway down into the Fairgrounds.  I might have started out walking down the ramp but by the bottom I was always running as I couldn't wait to get on all of those ride.



Part of the six million dollar expansion of the Old Chicago Fairgrounds went high above the Chicago Loop with the addition of sound deadening materials to reduce the deafening decibel levels of an amusement park in a box.



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Paul B. Drabek