Click on any photo to see an expanded version.



Before the sound deadening materials were added no matter where you were in the Fairgrounds or mall whenever the Chicago Loop headed on the coasters looping track you could hear it.  The closer you were to the ride the louder it was.



What Old Chicago did was to add enough sound absorbing material to cover twenty-seven football fields in the boxes and pennants that were placed strategically above the Fairgrounds.  Before the 1.25 million square feet of sound absorbing material was added a sound would bounce around for twelve seconds before it died.  As a result of all of this work the noise generated by Old Chicago's rides were reduced sixty precent.



Beyond making the Old Chicago Fairgrounds more livable with all of the work to reduce sound one of the best ways to bring people to a amusement park is by adding new rides.  The Monster of the Midway was a new experience but not necessarily a new ride.



The Monster of the Midway was Old Chicago's Scrambler ride enclosed with lighting, sounds, and special effects.



This July 9, 1978 article in the Battle Creek Enquirer spells out some of what was going into bringing Old Chicago to it's full potential.  Retail was a big issue with several similar stores selling the exact same product and and the park drawing more younger adults than the older female demographic that is the bread and butter for most shopping centers.



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Paul B. Drabek