Heights... Do you, or anyone else, remember a bad accident at Playland's race track that happened in the early 60's, I think it was? Maybe the very late 50's. I was there. During warm-ups, a wheel came off Blackie Lothringer's car coming into the first turn where the entrance to the raceway was. I was standing at a refreshment stand between the gate area and the race track, which had only a very small wall around it. I heard a loud bang and looked up in time to see the wheel come flying over ther wall...followed immediately by Blackie's car. I was about 50 feet from where the car landed. Three people were killed and many injured, as they were headed from the gate area to the stands. If I hadn't stopped for a Coke, I would probably been where the car came down. I have tried to find out if there is anything about this accident on the internet, but have not been successful.
The crash you are refering to happened in '59. One of the 3 people killed was one of the owners of Playland and unfortunately, he was the one owner who was passoinate about the park. This basicaly signaled the beginning of the end of the park since his siblings allowed it to fall into neglect and disrepair.
I found this out when I went to the library down town to research Playland. I found several news articles but zero photographs. Where can one find more pictures of Playland?
Historic Houston Amusement Parks & Places
in Historic Houston
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The crash you are refering to happened in '59. One of the 3 people killed was one of the owners of Playland and unfortunately, he was the one owner who was passoinate about the park. This basicaly signaled the beginning of the end of the park since his siblings allowed it to fall into neglect and disrepair.
I found this out when I went to the library down town to research Playland. I found several news articles but zero photographs. Where can one find more pictures of Playland?