Helter skelter (ride)

A helter skelter is an amusement ride with a slide built in a spiral around a high tower. Users climb up inside the tower and slide down the outside, usually on a mat or hessian (burlap) sack. Typically, the ride will be of wooden construction and, in the case of fairground versions, designed to be disassembled to facilitate transportation between sites. The term is primarily used in the United Kingdom.

A helter skelter at the Royal Norfolk Show, near Easton, Norfolk, England

History

The term "helter-skelter" was first recorded in the United Kingdom at Hull Fair in October 1905, taking its name from the much older adverb meaning "in confused, disorderly haste". Other recorded names for the slide include: Canadian slide, alpine glide, lighthouse slip, slipping the slip, and glacier slip.[1]

The ride inspired the Beatles song of the same name, which was interpreted by cult leader Charles Manson as a message predicting inter-racial war in the United States. Manson titled his vision of this uprising scenario after the song. This in turn lent its name to the non-fiction book by Vincent Bugliosi and Curt Gentry.

This ride appears in the RollerCoaster Tycoon series of video games, Thrillville: Off the Rails as well as in Lego City Undercover.

gollark: Done.
gollark: ... what?
gollark: Activating orbital laser strike.
gollark: CHECKMATE, THEISTS!
gollark: It has actually been tested (with azithromycin or something weirdly spelt like that) in hospitals for effectiveness, but it seems like there's basically weak to no evidence it helps.

See also

References
  1. Hull Daily Mail - Monday 9 October 1905


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