Skyway--Disneyland History-511

Description: Direct Link: http://www.dldhistory.com/link2us.asp?ID=4719 The first ride of this kind to be built in the United States. The cable was 2,400 feet long with 44 gondolas. For dangerous situations, in the mid-1970s Disneyland installed speakers on the Skyway towers and microphones in the stations. By depressing the "All Ride" switch, operators could give announcements or warnings "from on high." Hosts were to use the device for emergencies only, since upon hearing a deep voice suddenly resounding from the sky, guests typically froze in terror. As such, the device became known as "the God Switch." The buckets reached a height of 60 feet. The drive mechanism was in the Fantasyland side with a 35 thousand pound ballast on the Tomorrowland side to keep the cable tight. Skyway was built by Von Roll Iron Works of Bern Switzerland. The first gondolas had fiberglass patio chairs bolted in them. Complete video of Disneyland's Skyway at DLDHistory.com