For Southern Californians, the thought of Knott's Berry Farm in Buena Park probably conjures up certain memories depending on their age. For older people, perhaps it's from wandering Ghost Town or waiting for three hours to eat at Mrs. Knott's Chicken Dinner Restaurant. Younger folks might remember the first time they hopped on the Calico Mountain Mine Ride or got spooked at Knott's Scary Farm. The new book Knott's Preserved tells the story of how Walter and Cordelia Knott's roadside berry stand gradually transformed into a major theme park. Larry Mantle takes a nostalgic walk through the history of Knott's Berry Farm with the book's authors.
Guests:
Christopher Merritt, co-author of Knott's Preserved: From Boysenberry to Theme Park, The History of Knott's Berry Farm (Angel City Press). He is an artist and designer working in the theme park industry. He is an art director for the Dreamworks Zone at Universal Studios Singapore. Merritt grew up in Southern California and visited Knott's Berry Farm and Disneyland throughout his childhood.
J. Eric Lynxwiler, co-author of Knott's Preserved: From Boysenberry to Theme Park, The History of Knott's Berry Farm. He grew up in Southern California and spent one school year working at Knott’s Berry Farm’s shooting gallery while earning his degree in urban anthropology at UCLA.