Ltd. Under the new management, winter closures were abandoned. As Luna Park was opened all year around there was no opportunity to carry out regular maintenance works on the rides. A version of the Rotor, the spinning machine invented by Professor Hoffmeister, which had been a big hit at the Festival of Britain in 1951, was erected in Luna Park. This worked by centrifugal force and remains in operation today. A man named Thompson came up with the idea for a ride named "A Trip to the Moon" at Coney Island, New York, in 1902 and this became the centrepiece of the world's first Luna Park. The increasing availability of television and motor cars in the late 1950s and early 1960s offered the public significant entertainment alternatives. Despite efforts by Hopkins (at that point Park Manager) to maintain public interest throughout the late 1950s and 1960s, including the installation of the Wild Mouse and the hiring of silhouette artist S. John Ross (who stayed at the park for thirty years), the park and the remaining six years of its lease were sold in 1969. New ownership A consortium named World Trade Centre Pty Ltd purchased the site and lease for $750,000. Hopkins and Barton, the last of the 'original showmen' that had built, run, and maintained the park, retired in 1970, leaving the park in the hands of the purchasing consortium. Soon after this, World Trade Centre Pty Ltd applied to construct a $50 million international trade centre on the Luna Park site, consisting of seven high-rise buildings, of exhibition space, and a heliport. This plan was rejected by the Government of New South Wales, and, after a reshuffle within the consortium, the decision was made to continue operation as an amusement park. Over the next few years, the new managers scrapped several of the old rides, replacing them with new, American-designed thrill rides. After consultation with Hanna-Barbera, Luna Park's slogan was temporarily changed from "Just for Fun" to "The Place where Happiness is". Another result of the consultation was the creation of a short-lived park mascot, 'Luna Bear - the Space Age Koala'. The park was opened year-round in 1972, removing the ride overhaul and maintenance period. In 1973 Martin Sharp and Peter Kingston undertook repainting works on the Park in the Pop Art Style which included a new expression on the entrance face which was repainted with a