Popeye

 Manufactured by Jolly Roger, this Popeye ride made its debut at the ATEI in January 1994.  The ride took the shape of a yellow boat with Popeye sitting opposite the rider.  His right arm was held across his chest with a can of spinach clasped in his hand.  The start button was located on the back of his right hand while a sound effect button, positioned on his chest, caused Popeye to laugh.  The ride originally played the Popeye theme tune when in action and was sold on a blue base with the Popeye logo on the side.  A Jolly Roger catalogue claims that the ride also "incorporated flashing lights"...I can only imagine this means the start and sound effect buttons?

The same boat design was used for Jolly Roger's Mr Blobby boat ride which was released at the same time.  Mr Blobby was a far more common ride in the UK, while Popeye was popular with the American market.

According to a Jolly Roger catalogue, the ride measured 47" x 27" 55".

Production of the ride ceased around 2000.


Pier Bandstand Amusements, Weymouth, May 2019.  Unfortunately, this unit had been badly refurbished, presumably when it was upgraded to 50p play.  The start button had been bypassed all together and, although the ride theoretically still gave "two" rides for the money, it skipped over the "one ride available" message to create one super long ride...albeit with a momentary pause in the middle.  The sound effect button also no longer worked.