Luna Park features silent black and white material shot for promotion of the Luna Park Fair in Auckland. In this footage, visitors to the park are seen enjoying the many attractions, including bumper carts (dodgem cars), a Ferris wheel, and scenic railway (roller coaster). In some shots, landmarks that are recognisable as the waterfront of central Auckland. Luna Parks are still operational and defunct all over the world. They are named after and partially based on the first Luna Park, which opened in 1903 on Coney Island. An estimated 10,000 people visited the Auckland park when it opened in 1926. It was dismantled and demolished in July 1931, due to a financial loss borne of the Great Depression. Pieces of the park were shipped to Luna Park in Sydney, Australia.
The venture was established by Henry Hayward of the Fuller Hayward Enterprises. The film proved unsuccessful in interesting the company and a print was never made. The scenic railway (big dipper) came from the Dunedin exhibition of 1925-1926 and was reassembled on the Auckland waterfront. (These notes from Ted Coubray correspondence.)
“This film was shot by my brother Fred. The interesting thing is that it was shot with a hand cranked camera. How Fred managed to keep his camera firm during the ups and downs on the Big Dipper is beyond me. The film was intended for advertising, as Luna Park (on the Auckland waterfront) was not going too well. It was eventually taken over in Sydney, Australia. I think that this film is the only record of this undertaking.” - Edwin Coubray
General view: A large castle created in light bulbs, and an illuminated sign that reads “Luna Park”. The doors to the park are visible at the bottom of the screen. Luna Park from a distance, but also a roller coaster and a ferris wheel are visible behind the Luna Park entrance.
General view: Several small boats glide down a man-made moat.
General view: Camera pans over Luna Park from up above.
General view: Boats glide down a man-made moat. One man leaps on from the side.
General view: Pairs swing around a covered court on old-style bumper cars. Including several fathers and their sons.
General view: Fair-goers on a rotating amusement ride.
General view: Luna Park from above. Visible advertising for “Ice Cold Drinks”, “Three Castles Cigarettes”, “Capstan Navy Cut Cigarettes & Tobacco”.’
General view: A man and a white horse are surrounded by a crowd.
General view: Inside the roller coaster trolley (the ride is called The Big Dipper). As the trolleys climb and fall, the landscape of the Auckland docks, Rangitoto, Waitematā Harbour, Kings Wharf, and North Shore are visible in the background.
General view: Luna Park from a rising ferris wheel. Park visitors spin on a rotating chair ride.
General view: Four boats emerge from a tunnel on the moat. The walls of the moat are decorated with waterfalls and flora including a fern. A brass band plays on a dining platform above.