WQED's Rick Sebak Returns To 1988 For New Kennywood Documentary

PITTSBURGH, PA - More than 30 years after its debut, “Kennywood Memories” remains one of the most popular entries in WQED-TV’s Pittsburgh History Series. Rick Sebak returns to 1988 for his latest documentary, “That Kennywood Summer,” which uses footage shot during “Kennywood Memories.”

The fifth program in Sebak’s kickstarted “Nebby” series, “That Kennywood Summer” debuts Jan. 24 at 8 p.m.

The documentary includes several interviews that did not make it into the original “Kennywood Memories,” but also includes new sound bites from classic characters like ride operator Beth Snodgrass at the Wave Swinger and maintenance man Geno Chamboredon at the Thunderbolt.

“Back in that summer of 1988, we made 24 trips to Kennywood Park to shoot the original and we got a lot of great moments,“ Sebak said in a statement. “But we also left significant stuff on the proverbial editing room floor.”

Sebak said it’s “astounding” to return to the Kennywood of 31 years ago.

“All the little kids in the footage would be in their mid-30s now, and it’s startling to see a world where no one is holding a cell phone,” he said. “There are of course a lot of mullets, lots of permed hair, goofy outfits, and some men wore awfully short shorts that summer.”

Image via WQED.

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