# What is this carnival attraction called? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 3, 2025, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-carnival-attraction-called/1021658 "2025-08-03T13:35:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2025, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-carnival-attraction-called/1021658/1 "2025-08-03T13:35:00Z")
Imagine a central axis that contains the machinery that powers the ride. A number of spokes (say, four for the purpose of this thread) emanate out from the central axis. At then end of each spoke is another central axis around which the ride vehicles spin. So as the ride moves, riders are spun in smaller circles within a bigger one. Also, the spokes move up and down vertically. What is this called? ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2025, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-carnival-attraction-called/1021658/2 "2025-08-03T13:41:20Z")
A Jump and Smile? [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/ODaUEGvuBQY/maxresdefault.jpg) ](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/ODaUEGvuBQY/maxresdefault.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2025, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-carnival-attraction-called/1021658/3 "2025-08-03T13:45:44Z")
The [Cyclone](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scrambler_(ride)#Cyclone) variant of the Scrambler? ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2025, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-carnival-attraction-called/1021658/4 "2025-08-03T13:46:11Z")
Or an Octopus? [Octopus (ride) from Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Octopus_(ride)) ---
**Author:** ![Schnitte](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/schnitte/32/9033_2.png) [@Schnitte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Schnitte)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2025, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-carnival-attraction-called/1021658/5 "2025-08-03T13:46:48Z")
I know the same basic concept under the name of [Breakdance](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Breakdance_(ride)), but there the axes for the smaller circles sit on a rotating plate rather than arms. > **[File:Breakdance-Mueller Corny.jpg](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Breakdance-Mueller_Corny.jpg)** > > Click on a date/time to view the file as it appeared at that time. > You cannot overwrite this file. The following 2 pages use this file: > The following other wikis use this file: ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2025, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-carnival-attraction-called/1021658/6 "2025-08-03T14:02:39Z")
A [vertical‑hub radial ride](https://theunofficialguides.com/2020/11/18/the-world-of-theme-park-rides-part-i/) ---
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2025, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-carnival-attraction-called/1021658/7 "2025-08-03T14:08:06Z")
I think the Scrambler is closest to what I’m thinking of. ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2025, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-carnival-attraction-called/1021658/8 "2025-08-03T15:11:57Z")
Circles within circles could be the teacups: > **[Teacups](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teacups)** > > Teacups, or spinning teacups, is a type of amusement ride characterized by teacup-shaped spinning vehicles atop a turntable-like floor, which may also spin. > Typically, each set of six teacups has a center bearing mounted underneath, similar to a car wheel bearing mounted on a circular floor capable of turning 360°. The circular floor of the cup sits on a larger turntable-like floor. This is driven by a motor through a starting device; the ride when started spins slowly and then speeds up as the ... ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2025, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-carnival-attraction-called/1021658/9 "2025-08-03T15:17:27Z")
Worked carnivals in the past, and very few rides have ever had only one name. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2025, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-carnival-attraction-called/1021658/10 "2025-08-03T15:21:55Z")
I rode one of those at a state fair. It was the Black Widow. It had appropriate paint and decoration. Man I hated that thing. Dreamed about it for weeks, afterwards. ---
**Author:** ![Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/marvin_the_martian/32/2898_2.png) [@Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marvin_the_Martian)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2025, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-carnival-attraction-called/1021658/11 "2025-08-03T18:14:50Z")
Scramblers I have ridden do not have arms that move up and down. Octopus/Monster like in @hogarth ’s post does have arms that move up and down but also have cars that spin on their axes. They also have to be loaded/unloaded in two stages, since when half the arms are in the bottom position the other half are in the top position. This is key to the last time I rode one of the torture devices. Mrs. Martian (well before she was Mrs. Martian) had a summer job at Dorney Park. I went to see her and, since the park was slow, they gave her the afternoon off and a couple of all-day ride passes. When we got on the monster, the operator (who of course knew Mrs. Martian) would not let us off for at least six or seven rides. Seemed like an hour. Haven’t been on one since. I’ll do any roller coaster in the world, but no more circle rides. ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2025, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-carnival-attraction-called/1021658/12 "2025-08-03T19:21:29Z")
> [@Marvin\_the\_Martian](#): > > When we got on the monster, the operator (who of course knew Mrs. Martian) would not let us off for at least six or seven rides. Seemed like an hour. Haven’t been on one since. I’ll do any roller coaster in the world, but no more circle rides. My experience on the Octopus: I went with a friend to the local fair (on a hot day) and we went extra early to get an “early bird” price on entry. Since there weren’t many customers, the operator of the Octopus “treated” us to an extra-long version of the ride. By the time I got off, I felt nauseous and my extremities felt numb; I’m guessing it was sunstroke combined with being spun around and around. Fun times! ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2025, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-carnival-attraction-called/1021658/13 "2025-08-03T22:45:52Z")
It lacks what I’d call spokes but the Zipper has the spin within the spin. The cars are are free to rotate and a coordinated team could rock it into a spin while the ride was otherwise off for loading. ---
**Author:** ![Reeses\_Monkey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reeses_monkey/32/2885_2.png) [@Reeses\_Monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeses_Monkey)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2025, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-carnival-attraction-called/1021658/14 "2025-08-03T23:04:58Z")
At Kennywood Park in Pittsburgh it was called the Monongahela Monster but I’ve also heard it called the Spider. ---
**Author:** ![Kron](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kron/32/12444_2.png) [@Kron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kron)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2025, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-carnival-attraction-called/1021658/15 "2025-08-03T23:55:06Z")
> [@Marvin\_the\_Martian](#): > > I’ll do any roller coaster in the world, but no more circle rides. Me in a nutshell! ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2025, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-carnival-attraction-called/1021658/16 "2025-08-04T00:02:16Z")
I’ve seen that ride! Better be a pretty large nutshell. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2025, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-carnival-attraction-called/1021658/17 "2025-08-04T03:01:12Z")
A similar but slightly tamer ride is the [Tilt-a-Whirl](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tilt-A-Whirl). ---
**Author:** ![FlikTheBlue](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fliktheblue/32/10972_2.png) [@FlikTheBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlikTheBlue)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2025, 12:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-carnival-attraction-called/1021658/18 "2025-08-04T12:07:47Z")
> [@hogarth](#): > > Or an Octopus? That’s the name that I know those types of rides as. ---
**Author:** ![P-man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/p-man/32/3606_2.png) [@P-man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/P-man)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2025, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-carnival-attraction-called/1021658/19 "2025-08-04T12:53:27Z")
I’ll take the octopus over the scrambler or tilt-a-whirl any time. The latter two jerk me around too much; the movement of octopi I’ve ridden has been much smoother. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2025, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-carnival-attraction-called/1021658/20 "2025-08-04T13:48:08Z")
We call them generically “The Hurler”. [Insert barfy emoji]🤢 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-carnival-attraction-called/1021658.md?page=2)