Laughing Sal was a larger‑than‑life mechanical figure that stood in front of the fun house at Palisades Amusement Park from 1945 until 1963. She stood well over 6 feet tall and was made of papier-mâché. While Sally's belly jiggled, a 78 RPM record continuously played a maniacal laugh that echoed across the midway.
Hearing the happy sounds of laughter, patrons were lured to the fun house and encouraged to buy a ticket and join in the fun.
For the price of one admission ticket, you were treated to dozens of attractions such as the distorting mirrors, a dark room, a mirror-lined maze that was nearly impossible to navigate, the Magic Carpet bench that collapsed as soon as you got comfortable and sent you on a conveyor belt journey to the lower level, a tilted room that made it hard to walk, the Barrel of Fun and many more surprises. Jets of air blew women's skirts high in the air, much to the delight of onlooking gawkers.
Laughing Sal, with her blond hair and polka‑dot dress, sold in 1994 at a Sotheby's auction for $6,900.
