KIRMES & Park REVUE (English) Special Ikarus (Vorschau)

IN MEMORIAM
On July 7 th 2011, Gottlieb Löffelhardt,
founder of Phantasialand,
passed away at the age of 76
years in Brühl, after a long illness.
With his death, the industry
has lost a showman of the old
school, held in the highest esteem
by all within the professional
sphere, who succeeded
unfailingly in realizing all his visions,
and did so within so many
sectors of the amusement industry.
With the numerous ride attractions
that he presented either
on the fairgrounds or in his own
amusement parks, he enthralled
millions of people throughout
his life, bringing them unforgettable
and truly distinctive hours
of entertainment – be it in Germany,
Brazil, or Italy.
Text: Andre Blunck
Photos: Archive Blunck, Archive Löffelhardt,
Archive KPR, IAAPA
The young Gottlieb Löffelhardt
with his father and the “Höllental-Express”
GOTTLIEB LÖFFELHARDT
Gottlieb Löffelhardt was born in Berlin on December
25 th , 1934. As the christian name
“Gottlieb” had been handed down from generation
to generation within the showman dynasty of Löffelhardt
ever since 1851, he already ranked as the
fourth “Gottlieb”, also called “Sohni” by many. His
father Gottlieb Löffelhardt was a Wall of Death rider,
just as were his brothers Peter and Franz. He began
his career himself in the very same capacity as a
rider on the Hugo Haase Wall of Death, which he
took over himself later on, and where he met his future
wife Hertha, whom he married in 1932. The
young Löffelhardt family settled down in Berlin Treptow.
In 1936, his father added
the first ride, “Raketenfahrt zum
Mond”, to the Wall of Death. Due
to its great success, he purchased
yet another attraction,
namely the “Großglocknerbahn”
shortly afterwards. Both
attractions were toured in the
Gottlieb Löffelhardt during one of his last
public appearances: In Rome in October 2010
Berlin region, and in the eastern regions of Germany.
With the Second World War approaching, the Löffelhardts
started a second career so to speak, by
founding a haulage firm. Despite the terrible war, the
haulage company worked at full capacity, whereas
the two rides and the Wall of Death were closed
down. In this way, the Löffelhardts were able to survive
the war. In 1948 they moved their offices to
Hamburg, giving up the haulage firm and concentrating
on the showman business. The Wall of Death
was reactivated and a Ghost Ride called “Höllental
Express” was purchased.
At the age of 18, he made the first major decision in
his career and joined his parents' firm in 1950. His
father offered him two options; either a salary of
2,500 marks as a manager or 70 marks “pocket
money” and a 30 percent share in the property of
the family. Gottlieb Löffelhardt chose the 30 percent
and became a partner in the family enterprise. As
business boomed, further attractions were purchased
in the following years, an additional multistorey
Ghost Ride taken over from Austria, and a
dodgem track from Zierer. One of the two Ghost
Rides was elaborately rebuilt into the “Globetrotter”
by Anton Schwarzkopf in Münsterhausen.
Next, the manufacturer Mack was contracted to
build the racy “Fahrt zum Mars” Ghost Ride. At this
point in time, if not sooner, the future core competency
of the Löffelhardt operations was clearly discernible:
Ghost Rides. In 1955, a daring step was
taken and the “Düsenspirale” ordered from
Schwarzkopf. The project was however, almost a financial
disaster. The time-consuming construction of
the complex and heavy construction was marred by
numerous delays, almost ruining both Löffelhardt
and Schwarzkopf. When it eventually joined the tour,
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