Ultimate Mall fountain
We sure didn't have fountains like this in malls when I was growing up! They've certainly come a long way (for better or worse, depending on how you look at things). But then again, this might be getting just a little into overkill territory here. :D
Anyway, this is not vintage, just a video clip I came across on YouTube, of an amazing choreographed fountain in Aberdeen Mall, in Richmond, British Columbia. The waters are dancing to "What a Feeling", from Flashdance. I think it's kind of cool myself. Of course, it might get annoying if you're trying to shop and it goes off to much. Wonder how often they actually run it like this? If you worked there you might get sick of it real fast, too, heh.
Note: Video is Flash format. If you don't see it, you must temporarily disable your ad-blocking programs.
posted by Keith @ 7/14/2006
6 Comments:
Must have looked even cooler at night, when it's dark!
There's a similar "musical" fountain at The Grove in L.A. although it's smaller and plays "classier" music. Everyone gathers around it and claps when the performance is done, as if the fountain can hear them!
Does Canada not rule?
Huge malls and classy fountains.
Scott
This is the kind of thing I think my town needs, but I bet knowbody would wanna flip the bill for it! :-(
This fountain reminds me of the old fountain at the South Bay Galleria in Redondo Beach Ca. They took it out to add more seating.
That's one of Michael Przystawic's "Waltzing Waters" shows. Specifically, it's the full-feature Liquid Fireworks type. These things really live up to their name, though I think they look better in the dark. The layout of the lights allows them to turn on five or six different water sprays (in most but not all cases one spray is repeated all the way across the fountain, so I mean five or six groups) and light each group in a completely different color. These shows have moving nozzles that can do a number of different things, without using servo controls - it's just a ridiculously simple array of mechanical links and pushrods attached to two waterproof motors. Plus the rotating sprays, which spin around like a lawn sprinkler.
There are other Przystawic shows in a Pennsylvania megaplex furniture store (the name escapes me, but it's in ttheir Jelly Belly town - yes, I'm serious) at Camp Snoopy in the Mall Of America (badly displayed) at Disneyland (Fantasy Waters, now closed) at Shell Factory in Florida, at Bessamer Court in Philly, and in Branson (older show, 70s or so) If you want a look at their roots, see the show from the late 50s at Moody Gardens on Galveston Island, but beware: it was sold to Moody by a third party and is in terrible shape, in fact it may not even run any more. My last visit (2000) I was able to walk on the pipes to examine them with Moody's engineer, but Mr. Przystawic visited recently and says it's trashed now. Very sad.
Post a Comment
<< Home