are maglevs successors of this?
Yes, with electromagnets.
Hovertrain
In general terms, the maglev simply replaced the hover pads with electromagnets. 
what is the getty center in los angeles It is a campus of the Getty Museum and other programs of the Getty Trust. does it have a garage? Yes, it has a visitors' parking garage. is there a research institute as well? Yes, the Getty Research Institute. has it ever faced any natural calalmities? Yes, earthquakes. are there any special forms of transportation available here? Yes, a three-car, cable-pulled hovertrain people mover. what sort of a train is this? A hovertrain is a type of high-speed train that replaces conventional steel wheels with hovercraft lift pads, and the conventional railway bed with a paved road-like surface, known as the "track" or "guideway".
wiki:24241163
Hovertrain [SEP] Hovertrains give way to maglev
Through the same period, Laithwaite had invented a new form of the LIM that provided both lift and forward thrust, and could be built over a passive track like the conventional LIMs. In either case, only magnets in the immediate vicinity of the train would have to be turned on, which appeared to offer much lower overall energy needs than the hovertrain. In general terms, the maglev simply replaced the hover pads with electromagnets. Removing the motors and fans and replacing the pads with magnets reduced vehicle weight by about 15%. This change meant that the relatively low payload fraction of the hovercraft was greatly increased, theoretically doubling it.