From the St. Louis Post-Dispatch on April 8, 1976:
A few hundred superlatives have been used to describe The Screamin' Eagle, new giant roller coaster at Six Flags Over Mid-America, and a few weeks ago some stalwart souls with strong stomachs braved the first test run.
The $3,000,000 Screamin' Eagle is the latest addition to Six Flags; it will be ready for action at the opening of the 1976 season Saturday.
Billed as the world's longest, tallest and fastest, The Screamin' Eagle covers five acres, attains a height of 110 feet and has a maximum speed of more than 62 miles per hour. Designer John Allen Gleefully points out that at certain spots riders will be unable to sccream because they will be breathless. That's because they are plunging down a 92-foot incline -- and that's another record breaker.
In all, riders on The Screamin' Eagle will travel 3872 feet, will soar and swoop over 12 lifts and 11 lows, twisting and untwisting on the figure eight ride.
The only power lift is the first that takes riders the first 500 feet from the station to the top of the coaster. After that it's all by gravity.