Luna Park in St Kilda, Melbourne, is the first of the four Luna Parks built across Australia. Opened in 1912, it only took a few decades before stories of a resident ghost began to circulate.
Known as the 'Joker Ghost', this mischievous prankster had a habit of terrifying people on the rollercoaster, and appearing suddenly in the Ferris Wheel cages. But all too suddenly the appearances stopped.
Who was this 'Joker Ghost'?
Known as the 'Joker Ghost', this mischievous prankster had a habit of terrifying people on the rollercoaster, and appearing suddenly in the Ferris Wheel cages. But all too suddenly the appearances stopped.
Who was this 'Joker Ghost'?
The 'Joker Ghost'
Luna Park in the 1940's, about the time the legends began. Although Luna Park in Sydney is well known for the Ghost Train fire tragedy that took place in 1979, killing 6 children and one adult, Luna Park Melbourne is very well known for its resident 'joker' ghost.
A quick search through various books and media stories about Luna Park in Melbourne reveals the tale of a strange figure, who would suddenly appear in front of oncoming cars on the Scenic Railway Rollercoaster. This mischievous character would also suddenly appear inside the cages on the ferris wheel, startling all who witnessed it.
As far as can be ascertained, the joker ghost started his appearances somewhere in the 1940's, and even then this rough estimate is very tenuous. We only know of this date as forums from the 1990's put the sightings down to 'about 50 years ago'.
Who could this joker ghost be?
Some of the witnesses accused the park management of being behind the trick, as a publicity stunt, but the park denied all knowledge. Making a person suddenly appear and disappear on a ride would be quite a tricky, especially at the lofty heights the ferris wheel can tackle.
If we take a look at the parks history, maybe that will reveal to us a few clues as to the Joker Ghosts identity.
A quick search through various books and media stories about Luna Park in Melbourne reveals the tale of a strange figure, who would suddenly appear in front of oncoming cars on the Scenic Railway Rollercoaster. This mischievous character would also suddenly appear inside the cages on the ferris wheel, startling all who witnessed it.
As far as can be ascertained, the joker ghost started his appearances somewhere in the 1940's, and even then this rough estimate is very tenuous. We only know of this date as forums from the 1990's put the sightings down to 'about 50 years ago'.
Who could this joker ghost be?
Some of the witnesses accused the park management of being behind the trick, as a publicity stunt, but the park denied all knowledge. Making a person suddenly appear and disappear on a ride would be quite a tricky, especially at the lofty heights the ferris wheel can tackle.
If we take a look at the parks history, maybe that will reveal to us a few clues as to the Joker Ghosts identity.
Australia's First Luna Park
Luna Park under construction in 1912. European Settlement began in the area known today as St Kilda in 1840. At the time, the terrain was boggy swampland, and in its earliest years was used as a rubbish dump. Several years later the swamp was filled in, and in 1884 became crown land reserved for public recreational use.
In 1906, Mr Erle Sigismond Salambo was granted the lease, and on 2nd November that same year, opened Dreamland, St Kildas first amusement park. Dreamland did not do as well as Salambo had expected, and even with its many amusements, slot machines, novelty band and very elaborate towers, minarest and pagodas was closed down within a year of opening operations. Dreamland was soon demolished, and the land went unused for the next five years.
In 1911, J.D. Williams Amusement Company secured a ten year lease on the land for use as a 'Steeplechase Park', similar to the one on Coney Island in the US. Besides the artificial horse ride that surrounded the boundaries, the park incorporated many attractions including picture theatres, a roller skating rink, and would also feature motor shows. Unfortunately the company had to abandon the artificial horse track, as it was deemed unsafe, and after losing this main attraction a new plan was needed: Luna Park ltd. was formed.
Luna Park in St Kilda was the first of the Australian Luna Parks, and was opened December 13, 1912, when 22,000 people passed through the mouth of 'Mr Moon' and life 'Just for Fun' had begun. The park had many attractions, including the Scenic Rail Rollercoaster with a track almost a mile in length (the oldest continually operating roller coaster in the world), that bordered the parks boundaries.
Since its opening night, the park has run almost continually up until todaym but like most amusement parks Luna is not without its accidents resulting in death.
In 1906, Mr Erle Sigismond Salambo was granted the lease, and on 2nd November that same year, opened Dreamland, St Kildas first amusement park. Dreamland did not do as well as Salambo had expected, and even with its many amusements, slot machines, novelty band and very elaborate towers, minarest and pagodas was closed down within a year of opening operations. Dreamland was soon demolished, and the land went unused for the next five years.
In 1911, J.D. Williams Amusement Company secured a ten year lease on the land for use as a 'Steeplechase Park', similar to the one on Coney Island in the US. Besides the artificial horse ride that surrounded the boundaries, the park incorporated many attractions including picture theatres, a roller skating rink, and would also feature motor shows. Unfortunately the company had to abandon the artificial horse track, as it was deemed unsafe, and after losing this main attraction a new plan was needed: Luna Park ltd. was formed.
Luna Park in St Kilda was the first of the Australian Luna Parks, and was opened December 13, 1912, when 22,000 people passed through the mouth of 'Mr Moon' and life 'Just for Fun' had begun. The park had many attractions, including the Scenic Rail Rollercoaster with a track almost a mile in length (the oldest continually operating roller coaster in the world), that bordered the parks boundaries.
Since its opening night, the park has run almost continually up until todaym but like most amusement parks Luna is not without its accidents resulting in death.
Tragedy and Death
Report from December 20, 1913. December 16, 1913 Snake Charmer Henry Deline was taken to the Alfred Hospital in a comatose state, after being bit in the throat by one of his Tiger Snakes during a performance. Deline, being a veteran of snakebites, (being bitten twice before in the previous two weeks) tried telling the doctors how he had cured himself the previous times. Unfortunately the doctors could not understand much of what he had to say.
Mr Clarence Hurst was killed on the Scenic Railway Rollercoaster in January 1926, after he turned around to speak to someone behind him. As he was half hanging out of the car his head was struck by one of the coasters supports. The man next to him grabbed hold of his legs to stop him from falling out, but Hurst was already dead.
The Big Dipper was another of the parks rollercoaster’s, and in March of 1935 it too saw a fatality. Mr M Dyer, 21, fell out of the car at the highest point of the ride, and fell 74 feet to his death. He died of multiple broken bones, internal injuries and a severed leg.
The following year, Harry Maltby died, when he fell out of one trolley car to be struck by another
Mr Clarence Hurst was killed on the Scenic Railway Rollercoaster in January 1926, after he turned around to speak to someone behind him. As he was half hanging out of the car his head was struck by one of the coasters supports. The man next to him grabbed hold of his legs to stop him from falling out, but Hurst was already dead.
The Big Dipper was another of the parks rollercoaster’s, and in March of 1935 it too saw a fatality. Mr M Dyer, 21, fell out of the car at the highest point of the ride, and fell 74 feet to his death. He died of multiple broken bones, internal injuries and a severed leg.
The following year, Harry Maltby died, when he fell out of one trolley car to be struck by another
The Most Curious of Deaths
Newspaper headline. 1940 saw the most curious of all the parks deaths. Mrs Elizabeth Patrick was walking out of the park and along the street when she suddenly complained that she was going to collapse. Her final words to her husband Earnest Patrick were 'Get me out quick, I'm fainting.' before promptly hitting the pavement.
At the time Elizabeth Patrick had fainted, a Luna Park superintendant was collecting ticket money from the cashiers aided by three park attendants. One of the attendants, Keith Eagle, left the group in order to tell three youths to move on and leave the park after they had made a disturbance. The leader of the three youths, Edward Paulin, told Eagle that they were doing no wrong, and why should they leave. Eagle pulled out his firearm (carried when the park was full and he was escorting money transportation) and fired a shot. Edward Paulin threw two bottles at Eagle, who fired another shot.
This second shot hit a person witnessing the events in the hand. After firing this second shot Eagle handed his firearm to another of the park attendants, Alexander Porter, who shot himself in the leg when putting it into his pocket.
Three shots were fired that night and three people were hit. The first shot had in fact hit, and killed, Elizabeth Patrick. Her husband, only learning of this when a doctor at the hospital had told him his wife had been shot!
The result of the following trial was that death was due to misadventure, and the only thing Eagle was guilty of was carelessness (just short of criminal negligence). The park changed its method of escorting money shortly after.
It would seem anything can happen at Luna Park.
At the time Elizabeth Patrick had fainted, a Luna Park superintendant was collecting ticket money from the cashiers aided by three park attendants. One of the attendants, Keith Eagle, left the group in order to tell three youths to move on and leave the park after they had made a disturbance. The leader of the three youths, Edward Paulin, told Eagle that they were doing no wrong, and why should they leave. Eagle pulled out his firearm (carried when the park was full and he was escorting money transportation) and fired a shot. Edward Paulin threw two bottles at Eagle, who fired another shot.
This second shot hit a person witnessing the events in the hand. After firing this second shot Eagle handed his firearm to another of the park attendants, Alexander Porter, who shot himself in the leg when putting it into his pocket.
Three shots were fired that night and three people were hit. The first shot had in fact hit, and killed, Elizabeth Patrick. Her husband, only learning of this when a doctor at the hospital had told him his wife had been shot!
The result of the following trial was that death was due to misadventure, and the only thing Eagle was guilty of was carelessness (just short of criminal negligence). The park changed its method of escorting money shortly after.
It would seem anything can happen at Luna Park.
So... What About the Ghost?
Luna Park sunset. As for the Joker Ghost, well, it is said by some that his appearances stopped within the year, while others claim that he is still around. The park does not generally make mention of their celebrity apparition, except at around Halloween time. Perhaps they do continue his legend as a publicity stunt after all?
Ashley Hall 2012
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