Fred Mahana had a special talent for creating
an atmosphere in every enterprise he was involved in. He loved
what he did and surrounded himself with some very talented
artists who helped bring his ideas to reality. Everyone involved
put something into his projects, but Fred was the visionary
and the spark that started it. Whether he was making you believe
you were in an upside-down ship or on a planet inhabited by
apes
he loved to push the envelope
to see just how
far he could go to make them scream. If you were on a Freddy
Mahana ride you were always at risk of getting frightened,
confused, soaked, or even showered with blood. Fred Mahana
passed away in 1999 but his adventures on the Wildwood Boardwalk
will long be remembered as some of the most innovative attractions
of all time.
I want to thank Andrew and Sylvia Mahana
(Freddy's son and wife) for the giving of their time, trust
and kindness. Without their help I would never have been able
to complete this article. Thanks also to Jack Langston for
taking the time to share his memories. And to Fred, a final
salute - thank you for all of the scares and thrills you gave
to me and countless others. Your contributions to the Wildwood
Boardwalk will always be remembered.
~ Photographs used in this article are from the Mahana
Family Collection and used with permission ~
Be sure to visit the official Fred Mahana
website at www.fredmahana.com
Copyright 2004