The park appeared in 1971, in Ibirapuera […]
Have you ever imagined a 24-hour amusement park with tickets costing $1 a ride?
Maybe you’re not from that era, but that’s how Playcenter was born, initially, in the Ginásio do Ibirapuera region of São Paulo. Founded by Marcelo Gutglas in 1971, this pioneer of Brazil’s amusement park industry had arcades, slides and Brazil’s first metal roller coaster.
But, two years later, the five thousand square meters would be too small for that “place where everything happens”.
It was on Friday 27 July 1973 that the park acquired new dimensions and was inaugurated on a plot of 30 thousand m², in Barra Funda, “in the middle of nowhere, in the middle of the Marginal do Tietê”, in the words of the founder, attracting visitors from all parts of the country in what would become known as “Brazil’s first major amusement park”.
Playing on new features such as the giant Colossus roller coaster, the Haunted Castle and the Monga optical illusion show would change the concept of entertainment for Brazilians. When it reopened, for example, the park hosted 40,000 people in a single weekend, and only closed its doors at two in the morning.
But Gutglas’ plans had no limits, and in the following years, Play, as the park was affectionately called, received attractions such as the 15-meter-tall King Kong doll, opened by the actress of the 1976 film of the same name, Jessica Lange; Bozo the clown show for 30 thousand people; and Eva, a fiber doll, with which the visitor embarked on a “fantastic journey into the human body”.
Not to mention the international artists who have passed through there, such as Michael Jackson and the musical group Menudo.
Closed on July 9, 2012, Playcenter welcomed approximately 60 million people in nearly four decades of operation in Barra Funda.
In January 2018, Playcenter Family was opened, at Shopping Aricanduva, in the east of Sao Paulo, as a park internal with 5 thousand m² and a ceiling height of 14 meters. With family-friendly attractions like the Auto Pista carts and Pirate Boat, the place also caters to nostalgic adults.
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Superjet
Of Italian origin, this roller coaster was one of the attractions when the Playcenter opened in 1973 and remained in operation until 1998.
The route was 520 meters long and its highest point was 16 meters high, from where the chariots fell at speeds of up to 80 km/h.
More roller coasters
Throughout its history, the park has hosted other attractions of its kind, such as Colossus, the first with looping double, and the Boomerang, with backstroke circuit.
Monga
Inaugurated in 1977, it was one of the most successful attractions of the Playcenter, which operated in a warehouse with sets featuring illusions and light effects, in which a woman was transformed into a gorilla.
In November 2007 the attraction was redesigned and named “O Mistério da Monga”, with a new plot and even more sophisticated scenography.
Viking
Since its opening in the early 1980s, this boat has been another Playcenter sensation.
With a capacity of 54 people, the ride reached 13.5 meters in height and remained in operation until the park closed in 2012.
Vigil
Covering an area of 15,000 m², this giant doll made of fibreglass, acrylic and foam was another successful attraction at the park between 1984 and 1989.
The attraction consisted of a visit inside Eva, where it was possible to see her human organs, including the fetus of the child she was expecting.
Mini sled
Also known as Splashinho, in reference to the adult version, the attraction had eight boats circulating through a channel of flowing water that ended in a free fall.
Enchanted Mountain
This was one of those attractions where visitors easily spent two hours queuing to get in. Per hour, the ride received up to 700 people.
Inaugurated in 1980, on an area of 3 thousand m², this water circuit was created on boats in the shape of tree trunks that passed through various themed scenes, such as a chocolate factory and Snow White’s garden.
When he was at the park in 1993, singer Michael Jackson wanted to buy the attraction to install it in his Neverland Ranch, in California (USA). But, fortunately for us, the owner of the Playcenter did not sell the toy, which operated until it closed due to a fire in 2005.
Nights of terror
Inaugurated in 1988, inspired by a park in Los Angeles, the event gave a new face to the park, starting at 9pm, with decorations, characters and the Espanto Labyrinth, a scenic area with sets and a cast of 160 actors make up.
Will Playcenter return?
In a note released to the press on February 20, the chocolate company Cacau Show announced the purchase and sale contract for all the brands and assets of the Playcenter group, the value of the deal was not disclosed.
According to the report, the decision to sell exclusively to Cacau Show came about due to the identification of shared values and purpose between the two companies.
“We were sure of it [Alê Costa] he would be the ideal person to carry forward the legacy and pioneering spirit of Playcenter in the amusement park segment in Brazil,” described Marcelo Gutglas, founder of the Playcenter group.
As reported by the newspaper O Globo, in its edition of Wednesday 21 February, the chocolate manufacturer should take over the food and beverage sector of the acquired brand’s parks.
“We look forward to integrating the Playcenter Group into the Cacau Show family. During our first 35 years of history, cocoa and chocolate have always been present in our brand and, now, our show goes beyond our product” , celebrated Alê Costa, founder and CEO of the company.
However, the deal is still under review by the Administrative Council for Economic Defense (CADE) and, until formal approval from the regulatory body, the companies continue to operate independently.
* sources: Playcenter Family and the book “Playcenter: the place where it all happened”, by Maurício Nunes.
Source: Terra
Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.
