Laffing Sal

E39995

Laffing Sal is a historic, animatronic laughing woman figure from early 20th-century amusement parks, now preserved as a popular attraction at San Francisco’s Musée Mécanique.

Aliases (2)
  • Laffin’ Sal ×1
  • Laughing Sal ×1

Statements (43)
Predicate Object
instanceOf amusement park attraction
animatronic figure
mechanical laughing figure
associatedPeriod 1930s American amusement culture
associatedWith boardwalk amusement parks
funhouses
penny arcades
category historic amusement device
mechanical automaton
culturalSignificance historic symbol of vintage American amusement parks
era early 20th century
exhibitedAt Fisherman’s Wharf
exhibitedAtCity San Francisco
gender female
hasAudience amusement park historians
tourists
hasFeature looped recorded laughter
mechanized body movement
open-mouthed grin
hasNameVariant Laffin’ Sal
Laughing Sal
hasReputation creepy amusement figure
nostalgic attraction
locatedIn Musée Mécanique
locatedInCity San Francisco
locatedInCountry United States
locatedInState California
material fabric clothing
mechanical components
notableFor continuous loud mechanical laughter
use in early 20th-century amusement parks
operatedBy Musée Mécanique staff
originalUse entrance figure for funhouses
partOfCollection Musée Mécanique collection
poweredBy electric motor
preservationStatus restored and maintained
preservedAs museum exhibit
soundType recorded laughter loop
subjectOf articles about historic amusement devices
local San Francisco folklore
usedFor attracting visitors to funhouses
entertainment
visualStyle clown-like woman

Referenced by (3)
Subject (surface form when different) Predicate
Laffing Sal ("Laughing Sal")
Laffing Sal ("Laffin’ Sal")
hasNameVariant
Musée Mécanique
notableExhibit

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