John C. Allen
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John C. Allen (May 21, 1907 - August 17, 1979) was a roller coaster designer who was responsible for the revival of wooden roller coasters which began in the 1970s. He attended Temple University. He started working for the Philadelphia Toboggan Company in 1934 as a coaster operator and rose to become president of the company by 1954. He has designed over 25 coasters and has made significant contributions to roller coaster technology. He once said, "You don't need a degree in engineering to design roller coasters, you need a degree in psychology."
[edit] Surviving John Allen Coasters
| Name | Location | Built |
|---|---|---|
| Jet Flyer/Sea Dragon | Gording Zoo Park/Wyandot Lake | 1956 |
| Skyliner | Lakemont Park | 1960 |
| Starliner | Miracle Strip Park | 1963 |
| Giant Coaster | Paragon Park | 1963 |
| Blue Streak | Cedar Point | 1964 |
| Swamp Fox | Grand Strand Park/Family Kingdom | 1966 |
| Cannonball | Lake Winnepesaukah | 1967 |
| Shooting Star | Lakeside Park | 1968 |
| Zingo | Bell's Amusement Park | 1968 |
| Racer | King's Island | 1972 |
| Scooby Doo/Beastie | King's Island | 1972 |
| Great American Scream Machine | Six Flags Over Georgia | 1973 |
| Rebel Yell | King's Dominion | 1975 |
| Scooby Doo/Scooby Doo Ghoster Coaster | King's Dominion | 1975 |
| Screamin' Eagle | Six Flags St. Louis | 1976 |
