Knott’s Preserved Blog

Real ghosts in Ghost Town, and some books of note

Hi all - and many apologies - it’s been a few weeks between updates. We are pushing hard to get USS open - so bear with me!

I really love the cover to this souvenir 78 rpm record - the audio isn’t spooky - but the cover art sure is. It’s even got a Rainbow Caverns Mine Train poster feel to it...

I’ve always enjoyed Ghost Town - but despite the name, it has always been about celebrating the history of the vanished west, as opposed to anything truly scary. That all changed in 1973, when the Farm hosted it’s first Halloween Haunt. I’ve added a page about it here. I’m especially glad to get John Waite’s name out there - he had a lot to do with setting the tone of the scares in the Hurlbut ride-through attractions, which differ from the elaborate mazes of Halloween Haunt in many ways.

In case you didn’t know (and chances are that you do if you are reading this blog) - there are several other books about and related to Knott’s Berry Farm out there - and they are all worth checking out. Sure, there isn’t the plethora of books like there are about the Disney theme parks - but enough to whet your appetite for more. The newer ones can be found easily enough, but you may have to go to Ebay or Albris to track down some of the older titles. Happy hunting!

A Live Ghost Town - Frank R. Norris (1950)

In my opinion, this is the first “book” about Knott’s - as I classify the various souvenir booklets in a different category. It is only partially about the Farm, giving equal ink to stories of the old west as well. It is somewhat difficult to find.

The Knott’s Berry Farm Burro in Ghost Town - Jean Klinordlinger, illustrated by Peter Alvarado (1955)

Obviously, more of a children’s book than a history of the Farm. It’s a charming story, similar to a Little Golden Book. The illustrations by Peter Alvarado are very nice - it is well worth seeking out for his work alone.

Fabulous Farmer - Roger Holmes and Paul Bailey (1956)

The first book to really promote the mythos behind Walter and the propagation of the Boysenberry. It is also the first one to mention Paul von Klieben’s importance to the Farm, culminating with some good information about purchasing Calico. A very good read - and actively promoted at the Farm in its day. Many copies are signed by Walter - reason enough to track it down.

Walter Knott - Twentieth Century Pioneer - Norman Nygaard (1965)

Printed through the evangelical publishing house Zondervan, this book covers much of the same territory as Fabulous Farmer, focusing mainly on Walter’s early days. It has a few good black and white photos.

Walter Knott - Keeper of the Flame - Helen Kooiman (1973)

For years, this was the main biography available on Walter Knott - also actively promoted by the Farm in it’s day. Taking the history up to the 1970s, Kooiman interviewed many of Walter’s employees - most notably Bud Hurlbut. The book ends with the Knott family looking towards the future, with new projects on the boards like ‘Gypsy Camp.’ Still somewhat easy to find.

The Knott Story - Terry Tebbs (1992)

It took 19 years for another book about Knott’s to be published - this time by the Marchant Mint Library, who included a stamped coin embedded in the cover. Likely conceived by Virginia Knott, as it was available for several years in her gift shop, along with her autograph. Includes information about Robin Hall and Terry van Gorder’s plans for Camp Snoopy at the Mall of America. Also was issued in a limited edition, with a deep blue cover.

Walter Knott and his Knott’s Berry Farm - Stephen Gould (1998)

I know absolutely nothing about this title! I only stumbled upon it doing research for this update. All I know is that it was (likely) privately published (a Google search of RB Productions gives a street address, but no website), and is 48 pages. Does anyone out there have more information?

Born Standing Up - Steve Martin (2007)

Just an overall excellent autobiography - but more importantly, gives a good sense of what it was like to work at Knott’s Berry Farm’s Bird Cage Theatre in the 1960s. Highly recommended.

Early Amusement Parks of Orange County - Richard Harris (2008)

Former Hurlbut employee Richard Harris shares images from both his collection and the Orange County Archives. Includes some very rare images of other obscure Orange County parks, including Knott’s neighbor Movie World Cars of the Stars and Movieland Wax Museum. You can find his blog here.

Knott’s Berry Farm: The Early Years - Jay Jennings (2009)

Knott’s historian (and Museum owner!) Jay Jennings look at early Farm history - from its earliest days, until the end of the 1960s. Includes some very rare images from both the Orange County Archives and his personal collection. His blog, featuring many valuable pieces of Knott’s ephemera can be found here. Jay tells me his next book will be on Dave Bradley’s Beverly Park, which sounds great. There simply isn’t much information available on this small, but significant amusement park.

Cordelia Knott - Pioneering Business Woman - Christiane Salts (2009)

I don’t have this one yet (as I am on the other side of the earth here on Sentosa) - but I am very glad to see someone focusing just on Cordelia. If it wasn’t for her ingenuity and steadfastness with Walter, Knott’s Berry Farm would have stayed just that - a Farm and nothing more. She really deserves the credit for making Knott’s a success when the Knott family was just trying to get by. I hope I can get a copy soon! Salt’s website can be found here.

Whew! OK - hope that makes up for being a few weeks MIA. And those of you who have asked me about Universal Studios Singapore - you can find some good photos of what we are working on here.

- C.M.

Friday, January 22, 2010

‘a trip thru... Knott’s Berry Farm Ghost Town - souvenir 7” record - circa 1959.

Courtesy Jay Jennings.

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