The Spiro Tower, a period brochure seen via Emporis.com
PNE Annual Report, 1968, via the PNE.
Page 165 of "100 Years of Fun" the retrospective book on the PNE.
Amateur photo of the Spiro Tower, photographer unknown, via the PNE.
Night photo of the Spiro Tower, photographer unknown, via the PNE.
Photo of the Spiro Tower, photographer unknown, via the PNE.
The Spiro Tower, seen above in a period flyer via Emporis.com. I don’t normally feature photographs, but in this case, given the relative obscurity of this item, I’m including anything I can gather! Facts about the tower, built 1968, demolished 1979, from Emporis:
- Diameter of tower: 8 feet 2 inches.
- Capacity of gondola: 60 persons.
- Traveling speed: 295 feet per minute.
- Rotations of gondola per trip: 3.
- The tower was Swiss design and manufactured and imported from West Germany.
- Built by Mercedes-Benz who placed their logo on the top at installation (removed later for advertising space).
- Tower was located just inside the main Playland entrance gate on Hastings Street.
- The structure’s purpose during its 11 year existence was as an observation tower/amusement ride.
- Traveling height of the 2-level cabin: 216 feet.
- Tower was opened the same year Spiro Agnew was elected US Vice President (Richard Nixon’s running mate), so many people mispronounced its name as SPEAR-RO Tower instead of SPY-RO.
Also seen above is page 165 of 100 Years of Fun, the retrospective book on the PNE. The PNE sent me some additional images, including their 1968 Annual Report which featured the tower on the front cover. From this annual report, the footnote text on the back cover stated:
A spectacular 300-foot high elevator ride into space was the exciting high point for visitors to Playland during the 1968 Pacific National Exhibition. Gently rotating three times on the way up and down, the picture windows allowed each passenger an uninterrupted panoramic view of not only the 184 “Acres of Fun”, but of the most beautiful city in Canada—from atop the new, exciting and unique Spiro-Tower.
There’s got to be more great photos of this tower/from this tower in your parents and grandparents photo albums! Here’s a great panoramic shot from Harold H Johnston for instance. Keep an eye out for them, and post them soon!