• Home
  • Find Us
  • Contests
  • Resources
  • How’d They Do That (soon)
  • ♠
Behind the Themes
  • Theme Parks
    • 20th Century Parks
      • 20th Century Fox World
    • Alton Towers
      • Alton Towers
    • Busch Gardens Parks
      • Busch Gardens
    • Disney Parks
      • Walt Disney World
      • Disneyland
      • Disney California Adventure
      • Shanghai Disney
      • Hong Kong Disneyland
      • Downtown Disney
      • Disney Springs
      • Disneyland Paris
    • Holiday World
    • Knott’s Berrry Farm
      • Knott’s Berry Farm
    • Movie World
      • Movie World
    • Paramount Studios Parks
      • Paramount Studios
    • Sea World Parks
      • SeaWorld Orlando
      • SeaWorld San Diego
    • Six Flags Parks
      • Six Flags Magic Mountain
      • Six Flags Over America
      • Six Flags Over Georgia
      • Six Flags Over Texas
    • Thorp Park
    • Universal Studios Parks
      • Universal Parks
      • Universal Hollywood
      • Universal Orlando
      • Universal Japan
      • Universal Singapore
    • Warner Bros Parks
      • Warner Bros
    • Wet n Wild Parks
      • Wet’n’Wild Sydney
  • Themed Topics
    • Cosplay & Costuming
    • Gaming and Gamification
    • Haunts and Halloween Installations
    • Historical Installations
    • Museums and Art Installations
    • Reviews
    • Theatres and Performance
    • Themed Hotels and Themed Living Spaces
    • Themed Restaurants, Bars and Cafes
  • Themed Images
    • Disney Galleries
      • Disneyland
        • Adventureland
        • Critter Country
        • Fantasyland
        • Fireworks & Shows
        • Halloween Time
        • Mickey’s Toontown
        • New Orleans Square
        • Tomorrowland
      • California Adventure
        • A Bug’s Land
        • Cars Land
        • Grizzly Peak
        • Hollywood Land
        • Paradise Pier
        • Pixar Play Parade
      • Disneyland Paris
      • Walt Disney World
        • Animal Kingdom
        • Epcot
        • Hollywood Studios
        • Magic Kingdom
          • Adventureland
          • Fantasyland
          • Tomorrowland
        • Hotels
          • Wilderness Lodge
    • The Hobbit Premier
      • The Hobbit Premier – Embassy Theater Theming
      • The Hobbit Premier – Red Carpet Event
    • Johnny Frasier-Allen’s – The Gloaming
    • Universal Studios Orlando
      • HHN 23
    • Islands of Adventure
      • Wizarding World of Harry Potter
  • 10 Questions
    • Dave Cobb – Thinkwell Group
    • Greg Broadmore – Weta Workshop
    • Izabella Venter – Escape Mate
    • Kathryn Woodcock – Ryerson University
    • Lara Hanneman: Knott’s Berry Farm
    • Shawn McCoy of JRA
  • BtT Live
No Result
View All Result
  • Theme Parks
    • 20th Century Parks
      • 20th Century Fox World
    • Alton Towers
      • Alton Towers
    • Busch Gardens Parks
      • Busch Gardens
    • Disney Parks
      • Walt Disney World
      • Disneyland
      • Disney California Adventure
      • Shanghai Disney
      • Hong Kong Disneyland
      • Downtown Disney
      • Disney Springs
      • Disneyland Paris
    • Holiday World
    • Knott’s Berrry Farm
      • Knott’s Berry Farm
    • Movie World
      • Movie World
    • Paramount Studios Parks
      • Paramount Studios
    • Sea World Parks
      • SeaWorld Orlando
      • SeaWorld San Diego
    • Six Flags Parks
      • Six Flags Magic Mountain
      • Six Flags Over America
      • Six Flags Over Georgia
      • Six Flags Over Texas
    • Thorp Park
    • Universal Studios Parks
      • Universal Parks
      • Universal Hollywood
      • Universal Orlando
      • Universal Japan
      • Universal Singapore
    • Warner Bros Parks
      • Warner Bros
    • Wet n Wild Parks
      • Wet’n’Wild Sydney
  • Themed Topics
    • Cosplay & Costuming
    • Gaming and Gamification
    • Haunts and Halloween Installations
    • Historical Installations
    • Museums and Art Installations
    • Reviews
    • Theatres and Performance
    • Themed Hotels and Themed Living Spaces
    • Themed Restaurants, Bars and Cafes
  • Themed Images
    • Disney Galleries
      • Disneyland
        • Adventureland
        • Critter Country
        • Fantasyland
        • Fireworks & Shows
        • Halloween Time
        • Mickey’s Toontown
        • New Orleans Square
        • Tomorrowland
      • California Adventure
        • A Bug’s Land
        • Cars Land
        • Grizzly Peak
        • Hollywood Land
        • Paradise Pier
        • Pixar Play Parade
      • Disneyland Paris
      • Walt Disney World
        • Animal Kingdom
        • Epcot
        • Hollywood Studios
        • Magic Kingdom
          • Adventureland
          • Fantasyland
          • Tomorrowland
        • Hotels
          • Wilderness Lodge
    • The Hobbit Premier
      • The Hobbit Premier – Embassy Theater Theming
      • The Hobbit Premier – Red Carpet Event
    • Johnny Frasier-Allen’s – The Gloaming
    • Universal Studios Orlando
      • HHN 23
    • Islands of Adventure
      • Wizarding World of Harry Potter
  • 10 Questions
    • Dave Cobb – Thinkwell Group
    • Greg Broadmore – Weta Workshop
    • Izabella Venter – Escape Mate
    • Kathryn Woodcock – Ryerson University
    • Lara Hanneman: Knott’s Berry Farm
    • Shawn McCoy of JRA
  • BtT Live
No Result
View All Result
Behind the Themes
No Result
View All Result
Home Historical Installations

Daddy, where do roller-coasters come from?

Daddy, where do roller-coasters come from?

Well Jimmy, sit down and let me tell you all about Catherine the Great. Yekaterina Alexeevna, also known as Catherine II or Catherine the Great was the most renowned and the longest-ruling female leader of Russia. Her rule, which is known as the Catherinian Era was also considered to be the Russian Empires Golden Age. During this time, a favourite winter past time of the Russian aristocracy were called “ice slides”. These slides consisted of two towers roughly 600ft (182.88m) apart, each with 70ft ladders which patrons would climb to reach the top. Once there, they would limb aboard sleds and be released to slide down long ramps at high speeds to the opposite tower and back.

 

Not content with waiting till winter despite how long it lasted in Russia, the Great lady had the sleds commissioned with wheels and the towers and slides with rails in 1784, allowing them to be use during the non-winter months at her palace, when snow and ice were; if you will pardon the pun… Thin on the ground.

 

Years later in 1817, Belleville Mountain in Paris became the first ones to lock the wheels to the track via the axils; similar to the current model used today. Following on that, the French also developed the first system to pull the riders back up the track for a restart as well as the first loop which was created in 1846.

 

So there you go Timmy. Now when you ride California Screamin or El Toro, you can thank Catherine the Great.

 

Thanks dad… Now about that horse legend?

 

That will have to wait till you are older Timmy.

 

Share this:

  • Share
  • Email
  • Share on Tumblr
  • Pin It
ShareTweetPinShareShareSendSend
Disney Food Blog
Previous Post

Where Imagination Comes From?

Next Post

You want to stay where? Pt. 1

Next Post

You want to stay where? Pt. 1

Recommended

Millenium Falcon installation in Disneyland

In the Near Future in a Galaxy Not So Far Away

4 years ago
To Carry or Not To Carry

To Carry or Not To Carry

4 years ago

AucklandGeddon 2018 Part 2

4 years ago

Popular Stories

  • Wet n Wild Coming to Sydney

    Wet n Wild Coming to Sydney

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • A Changing of the Guard?

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Get Well Soon…

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • You Call That a Roller Coaster?

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • To the dungeon with you…

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0

Connect with us

Insta-BtT

Follow BtT

  • Remembering Halloween winchestermysteryhouse halloween historic pumpkin haunted
  • Please help support our friends conartist mag with their Kickstarter campaign Hey guys Thank you everyone who has supported us so far on kickstarter if you havent please head on over and show your support Reminder that kickstarter is the only way to secure your copy of issue 8 Featuring the fabulous yayahan Cover photo by steamkittens kickstarter kickstartercampaign cosplay cosplayer cosplaytheworld cosplayersofig cosplayersofinstagram conartist conartistmagazine cosplaymagazine
  • Are you ready for MARY Poppins waltdisneyworld waltdisneyworld wdw disney imagineering themepark orlando waltdisney dvcmember epcot Photos by behindthethemes See more at www behindthethemes com
  • Disney Parks has released and official announcement dispelling the apparent rumours of the waltdisneyworld Tiki Birds taking flight in the near future In the post Thomas Smith Editorial Content Director of Disney Parks wrote We re sorry that our fans are being fed incorrect information by unscrupulous sources While toucan play at that game we deal in facts here at the Disney Parks Blog Although we won t address every rumor we want to set the record straight there are no plans for our feathered friends to fly the coop any time soon We re constantly evolving our stories but these birds will continue entertaining our guests at the Magic Kingdom Park just as they have done since 1971 So rest at ease Tiki fans the birds are staying put Also as we have stated many times before but again don t believe anything you read until the official releases as they are almost always speculation waltdisneyworld disneyland waltdisneyworld wdw disney imagineering themepark orlando waltdisney dvcmember tikibirds mk rumour enchantedtikiroom Photos by behindthethemes See more at www behindthethemes com
  • Repost from universalorlando Take a look beyond the grounds of Hogwarts on Hagrid s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure opening at WizardingWorldOrlando on June 13 Head to our Instagram Story to learn more about this adventure
  • Have you seen the details about Savi s Workshop where the Gatherers will assist you in building your own lightsaber The Themes you will be able you choose from are There are four themes of lightsabers that guests can build Peace and Justice Salvaged from fallen Jedi temples and crashed starships these lightsaber pieces were created for Force wielders of the Republic era The simple designs reflect the commitment to the devout life of those whom they were created by the Jedi Order the once guardians of peace and justice in the galaxy Power and Control Reclaimed from the ashes of the rumored Sith homeworld and abandoned Sith temples these lightsaber pieces were originally forged by the Sith of their time Characterized by sharp and strong forms these pieces showcase the brutality and relentlessness of the Sith s insatiable desire for power and control Elemental Nature As we have been told The Force is an energy field created by all living things it surrounds us penetrates us and binds the galaxy together These lightsaber pieces are born of that same Force They are as unique as the user and as the elements of nature the wood from a Brylark tree a bone of the Cartusion whale or even a tooth from a Rancor Protection and Defense Cultivated from a time forgotten these earliest lightsaber pieces contain designs and inscriptions that are shrouded in mystery Believed to be created for protection and defense conferring anonymity and symbolizing emotional detachment a lightsaber made from these pieces reconnects the user with the most ancient wellspring of the Force
  • Remembering the life actors at the Rivers of Light show in Animal Kingdom waltdisneyworld waltdisneyworld wdw disney imagineering themepark orlando waltdisney dvcmember ak animalkingdom riversoflight ak Photos by behindthethemes See more at www behindthethemes com
  • Happy May the 4th from your friends at behindthethemes How are you celebrating this weekend starwars maythefourthbewithyou stormtrooper
  • Have you seen the cover of the next Disney Twenty Three Magazine It will showcase Galaxy s Edge-Black Spire Outpost Just look at that detail We cannot wait starwars d23 disney disneyland waltdisneyworld imagineering blackspireoutpost galaxysedge
  • This is the entire parade route through Shanghai Disneyland from end to end I have photos of the floats and costumes from the parade as well but for enjoy a kinda smooth kindy jaggedy timelapse captured on my Osmo Mobile - flokkuthra shanghaidisneyland mickeysstorybookexpress shanghai disney disneyparade disneyparades dji djiosmomobile
Instagram Facebook Twitter Youtube Pinterest

Happening soon...

  • Events are coming soon, stay tuned!

BtT Privacy policy

Click here to read our Privacy policy

Perfect Quotes

  • “Those who were cowards never started, and those who were weak were lost on the way, but the brave find a home in every land.” Walter Knott
    Knott's Berry Farm

Count on BtT

  • 579 Fans
  • 313 Followers
  • 365 Followers
  • 2.3k Subscribers

© 2018 Behind the Themes

No Result
View All Result
  • #11860 (no title)
  • Behind the Themes – Privacy Policy
  • blog
  • BtT on Tour
  • BtT Videos
  • Contact
  • Contests
  • Dave Cobb – Thinkwell Group
  • Find Us
  • Greg Broadmore – Weta Workshop
  • Home 1
  • Home 2
  • Home 3
  • Home 4
  • Home 5
  • Home3
  • HomeDemo
  • How to?
  • Izabella Venter – Escape Mate
  • Kathryn Woodcock – Ryerson University
  • Lara Hanneman: Knott’s Berry Farm
  • Log Out
  • Login
  • Lost Password
  • Register
  • Reset Password
  • Shawn McCoy of JRA
  • test to delete
  • Theming Resources

© 2018 Behind the Themes

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.
loadingCancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.