Knott’s Bear-y Tales | The History of Knott's Beloved Attraction

Name: Knott’s Bear-y Tales | The History of Knott's Beloved Attraction
Start: 2025-04-30T07:00:00-07:00
End: 2025-04-30T09:00:00-07:00
Location: 3201 Riverside Dr, Los Angeles, CA, United States, California 90027

Schedule

Wed Apr 30 2025 at 07:00 am to 09:00 am

UTC-07:00

Location

3201 Riverside Dr, Los Angeles, CA, United States, California 90027 | Los Angeles, CA

EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT CODE:
EARLYBIRDKNOTTS
Use this code at checkout for $2 off your ticket if used before Saturday, April 26th!
ABOUT THE BOOK:
"Knott's Bear-y Tales: The Complete History of the Whimsical Attraction"
Designer and artist Rolly Crump found his way to Knott’s Berry Farm in Buena Park, California, at the invitation of Marion Knott. This book is her story as well as his. Knott was the first female head of a great American theme park, built by her father and mother decades before. Crump was escaping the shadow of his previous employer and looking for an opportunity to spread his wings as a designer. Together these unlikely friends developed and organized a crew of talented artists to build a wild dark ride unlike anything seen (or smelled) before — Knott’s Bear-y Tales! This is the first book to ever tackle the subject, through the interviews and artwork of those who were there.
ABOUT THE PRESENTATION:
With photos, illustrations, video and the ride's original musical soundtrack, Christopher Merritt and Eric Lynxwiler will transport you into a dark ride unlike any other. From the imagination of designer Rolly Crump, Knott's Bear-y Tales was a wild ride that only existed at Knott's Berry Farm of eleven years, but left its mark on every Southern California child who had the pleasure of experiencing it.
"Welcome one and welcome all folks
To a family fair for all folks
Riding on Knott’s Bear-y Tales Ride.
We’ll go back to the Roaring Twenties,
And you’ll come out a-roaring plenty,
When you see what the bruins are brewin’ inside."
"Knott's Bear-y Tales: The Complete History of the Whimsical Attraction" will be available for purchase and book signing, following the presentation.
Along with the authors, Chris Crump, son of Rolly Crump & previous LABC presenter himself, will be in attendance at the presentation & signing. Following his father's legacy, Chris Crump he worked as a Production Designer and Executive at Walt Disney Imagineering, from the early 1980s until his retirement in 2016.
ABOUT THE SPEAKERS:
Southern California native, Christopher Merritt, has over 30 years of ride and show design experience, creating theme park attractions and environments around the world. He has served as an Art Director and Production Designer at theme parks located in California, Florida, Tokyo, Singapore, and Shanghai. In 2010, with Eric Lynxwiler, Merritt’s Knott’s Berry Farm history book, Knott’s Preserved, was published to critical acclaim. Four years later, Merritt released Pacific Ocean Park: The Rise and Fall of Los Angeles’ Space Age Nautical Pleasure Pier, with co-author Domenic Priore. After five years of research and design, co-authoring with Pete Docter, the coffee table book Marc Davis in His Own Words: Imagineering the Disney Theme Parks was released in 2019. Merritt currently lives in Southern California.
Urban Anthropologist J. Eric Lynxwiler is a Knott's Berry Farm historian and a co-author of Knott’s Preserved: From Boysenberry to Theme Park, The History of Knott’s Berry Farm, with Chris Merritt. While attending UCLA, he spent one school year behind the counter of Knott’s original, electric shooting gallery and works today as a graphic designer on Farm signage, merchandise, and the series of Knott’s Berry Market preserves. Lynxwiler has been a volunteer and Neon Cruise guide for the Museum of Neon Art in Glendale, California, for 25 years. He has also co-authored books on the history of neon signs in Los Angeles and the history of Wilshire Boulevard for Angel City Press.
https://www.labreakfastclub.com/event-details/knotts-beary-tales
ABOUT THE CLUB: Founded in 1925, the Los Angeles Breakfast Club still thrives with food, friendship, and fun. Our meetings are held in our clubhouse, Friendship Auditorium, located at 3201 Riverside Drive, near the corner of Los Feliz Boulevard, in Griffith Park. Best described as a variety show, attendees enjoy a catered breakfast, silly songs, club traditions, and an interesting presentation from a guest speaker.
https://www.labreakfastclub.com
TICKETS: Sales on labreakfastclub.com close 48 hours before breakfast. Non-members are $35 ($33 with Early Bird coupon code before the Saturday prior to the event) and Members receive a discount when logged into their Membership Portal.
Please arrive between 6:45 - 7:00 AM sharp! Doors close at 7:15 AM. Your admission includes a buffet breakfast, enjoyment of our 99-year-old club traditions, plus a special presentation from our Speaker of the Week!
HEALTH & SAFETY: Surgical disposable face masks or medical-grade masks (i.e., KN95, KF94, N95) are strongly recommended when not eating or drinking, especially during the cold and flu season, and will be provided on request.
ANIMALS: Only Service Animals as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act are allowed indoors at this venue. Please keep pets and emotional support animals safely at home.