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

Franz Schwarzkopf had to come along as chief engineer
in order to ensure the build up and dismantling,
as well as the operation of the clumsy “Düsenspirale”.
After these troublesome experiences, business
relations between Schwarzkopf and Löffelhardt
were put on hold for the first time. Over the
years, the existing “Globetrotter” was repeatedly redesigned
and thrilled its passengers as the “Orient
Express”, or as “Spukschloss” to the very end of its
service. Looking back, Löffelhardt summarised it
thus: “Among all the Ghost Rides we owned, the
‘Spukschloss’ was the most successful."
In 1963 Löffelhardt took over the “Geisternacht im
Urwald” from Willenborg. In the meantime, a number
of attractions were operated as partnerships
and with relatives as leaseholders, such as Walter
Löffelhardt or Christel Löffelhardt, who together with
her husband Paul Stratemans, operated a Ghost
Ride on a contract basis in order to purchase it at a
later date.
During the period of Germany's so-called economic
miracle, the booming enterprise benefited from the
sound understanding between father and son Gottlieb.
They continued to invest in attractive and appealing
ride attractions, such as a “Jaguar” Musik-
Express and the “Luftwipper” from the Mack firm
from Waldkirch. When the latest ride attractions from
the Klaus firm from Memmingen were in strong demand
a little later, the “Hula Hoop”, “Tolle Jolle“,
“Mondtaxi”, and an Allround were operated under
the management of the “Löffelhardt Betriebe”. As
competition for profitable events, such as the
Cannstatt Wasen, Munich Oktoberfest or Bremer
Freimarkt became increasingly fierce, Gottlieb Löffelhardt
searched for a 'competitive edge' and discovered
the system of the Scandinavian Tivolis,
whereupon he organized permanent sites for a
number of his operations in Copenhagen, Gothenburg
and Stockholm. According to a closed swap
system, rides such as the “Hula Hopp” were built up
for a whole season, so the attraction paid for itself
over an extended period of time. Löffelhardt operated
within this distinctive system up until 1965.
On December 16 th 1960, Gottlieb Löffelhardt married
Astrid Ercoli, the daughter of an Italian-German
showman. At the same time, the 25 th anniversary of
the “Löffelhardt Betriebe” was celebrated. In 1964
their son Robert Gottlieb Löffelhardt was born, followed
by their daughter Astrid in 1969. Gottlieb Löffelhardt's
chance meeting with the puppeteer
Richard Schmidt at the world-famous Berlin Wintergarten
Varieté had far-reaching consequences. In
many conversations about how
to use the lovingly and elaborately
carved puppets and stage
scenery, particularly after the decline
of the great film era, they ultimately
came up with the crucial
question: “Why not found a fairytale
theme park?” The idea of
Phantasialand was born! While
Richard Schmidt made the first
figures and scenes in a vacant
chair factory, Löffelhardt was in
charge of the commercial promotion.
The decision in favour of
Brühl was not entirely coincidental,
as Schmidt lived in Brühl,
where he knew everybody, from
the Mayor to the director of the
bank. The new park of the two
visionaries was built on the former
brown coal field, “Berggeist”.
On the very day of the
opening, Brühl’s former Mayor
Robert Ehl warned them; “...
don’t go bankrupt too soon!”
His worries were unfounded
though, as 400,000 visitors were
welcomed to Phantasialand
even in the first season. Gottlieb
Löffelhardt recalled: “The visitors
virtually besieged the park even
“Globetrotter” and “Düsenspirale”
Löffelhardt rides:
“Luftwipper”, “Hula Hoop”, and
the “Mondtaxi”
on opening day on April 30 th 67