John Miller (entrepreneur)
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John A. Miller (1874-1941) was an "...innovative and influential figure in the history of amusement parks." (Cartmell, Robert. The Incredible Scream Machine: A History of the Roller Coaster. Fairview Park, Ohio: Amusement Park Books, Inc., 1987.)
Miller was a genius. He was an inventor. He was a prolific designer and builder of roller coasters and other amusement devices and buildings. Miller was the "Thomas Edison" of roller coasters and is the father of today's coasters.
Remaining examples of John Miller's work include the Jack Rabbit and the Racer at Kennywood Park and the Big Dipper at Geauga Lake. Other famous coasters Miller Designed and built were, The Puritas Cyclone, Euclid beach's Aero Dips, and the Racing coaster.
One of the interesting features of Miller racing coasters is that they have one continuous track, and the train you were in would start on one side and finish on the other side. and vice versa. John Miller patented a device we all hear on coasters, the safety chain dog. The safety chain dog is a device that clicks and catches the cars in case the chain would snap and the train would not roll back down the lift hill. John Miller also worked on another famous ride, The Flying Turns with Bartlett.