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[Old Guy]

I think I brought this up elsewhere but I know where two of the stages are now. One is at the Ralph Foster at SOTO, the other you can still ride if you want to go to Rawhide Arizona Theme park south of Phoenix. It's an even hotter ride there! Are we still on the same thread?

[History Buff]

A talking stage coach would be strange.  I could see the talking rock indian, but that would never be politically-correct enough today.  Were they interactive or just recorded messages like the RR Bucket?

Actually I was thinking about things along this line, last week, when we encountered a couple of the talking trash cans at Disney.  The guys who run those have the BEST job at Disney.  They were hilarious.  If you haven't see these, you have to search for talking trash can on YouTube.  I was trying to think of something like that for SDC.

[Old Guy]

the stage coach had eyes! the shades were lids that covered them. The buterfield sdc stage logo surved as the mouth and flaped open and closed as music and the story played for the kids. Scarry stuff even to write about. OOOOOOhhhhh!!! It wasn't interactive, just a time killer while the group wated for the stage to come. It was a very low capacity and high insurance/labor intensive attraction. Little wonder it was one of the first of the old attractions to close down. I'm suprised it lasted as long as it did. there was a real commitment back then to keep the history and theme alive.

[Zephon]

My first memory of SDC is also of walking across the swinging bridge to get into the park, about 1962, I think.  But my history with the park goes back farther than that.  I was conceived on my mother and father's honeymoon in 1952, for which they journeyed to .....Marvel Cave Park and Rockaway Beach.  Rockaway Beach, although pretty run down today, was quite the happening spot in the 50's and early 60's.  Anyway, something about that conception must have linked me to the place because I have been working here most of my adult life, over 30 years.

Old Guy, I have enjoyed reading your posts, especially about the history of SDC.  They bring back so many memories, stuff I had long forgotten.  And then, they also start to all run together, such that I'm not sure what happened when.  In another thread you talked about the casts of shows signing the walls of the Playhouse for many years--well my name was on that wall numerous times and I used to go back to it often for reminders of what I was doing when.  It nearly killed me when they painted it over.  Someone should have at least taken pictures of it.  For the life of me, I can't guess who you are, but I'll bet I know you.  I'm pretty sure I'm in one of betaMike's Saloon pictures.  I was a bartender in the late 70's, early 80's.

Anyway, keep up the good work with the informal history of the park.  I have visited this site a couple of times, but this is the first time I've posted.  I will have to come back more often.

[History Buff]

Zephon, you certainly sound like one of us.  Welcome aboard, and please share more about the early history as you remember it.  We've talked about the saloon show in other threads and specific performers.  Do you have any stories to tell about your time there?

[Zephon]

Well.......those were different times back then, a lot wilder, and a lot naughtier.  We did things in those days that you could never get away with now.  I probably shouldn't say too much. 

But one time in the Saloon, Carry came busting in the door and one of the bartenders, in a very effeminate voice, marched up to her and said "Now Carry, don't get your panties in a tangle."  He didn't last very much longer in there.

I was the town marshal for one season in the early 80's.  Had a great time deputizing kids and playing with them.  I would have the kids recite the "oath of office" before handing out a badge, part of which included making them promise to be good and obey their parents "to the best of their ability."  Sometimes I'd make them take a test to see if they were qualified to be a deputy. I would ask them things like "what color is red?"  At first some of them were stumped, trying to describe the color red to me, but when they pointed it out to me or said it's like an apple, they passed.  I don't believe the last few marshals have given that kind of attention to the kids, and that's a real shame.  Mornings I would deputize and greet people, then in the afternoon I would go down to Tom Sawyer's Landing and play with kids in the ball room and whatnot.  Sometimes I would pick a family and just spend the afternoon walking around with them, riding rides and such.  Remember the "Little Deputies Show" that happened at 4pm in front of Hannah's Ice Cream Parlor?  And then there was the flirting.  Of course I was much younger and single.  One time I picked on a young lady of about 17 or 18 years, who had on a pretty, flowered outfit.  I issued her a ticket for wearing pajamas in public and handcuffed her to a tree while I "interrogated" her for a few minutes.  Then, to my horror, I discovered that I didn't have the key with me.  I had left it in another pair of pants at home.  Oh man, did I feel bad and embarrassed.  I explained to her what was going on, that I had to run up to the OMP and buy another set of cuffs just to get the key; we didn't have a spare in the office.  So she waited patiently, handcuffed to a tree with a couple of friends to keep her company, until I returned about 10 minutes later and let her loose.  Luckily for me, she was very good-natured about it, not mad at all.   

Ahh, the memories.  Maybe more later.

[History Buff]

I imagine employees are not supposed to flirt or exercise acts of bondage on guests these days.

Some of us even noticed a noose in a video that Old Guy linked in another thread.  I suppose it's no longer acceptable to execute unruly guests any more either.

If you have any more stories like these, please tell them.  This is great stuff.

[shavethewhales]

I imagine employees are not supposed to flirt or exercise acts of bondage on guests these days.

It's a damn shame.


That was an excellent story Zephon, thanks so much for posting that.

[Old Guy]

Hey Zephon:
Yes, you do know me but we traveled in different circles at the park, so not really well. and I believe you were in the "Blue and the Grey", were you not?
I'll give you some hints about me. The only song I ever wrote for the city you sang in the musical feud.
"singing, you call that singing
I've heard a pine knot in a saw mill sound like that".....etc.
I spent more time than anyone else riding the big wheel bike around main street as well.
Need more hints?

[betamike]

I keep wondering if I have run into you guys as well over the years at the cafeteria or town halls, or whatnot.  Hmmmm.  Anonymity has its advantages.  hahaha

[Old Guy]

quite likely Mike. I worked in your part of town

[betamike]

Dang nabbit!  This kind of thing drives me nuts.  Of course, I couldn't ask any of my sources there as I'm sure you didn't go by the nickname of "Old Guy" there.   

[Zephon]

I'm stumped, Old Guy.  I can't figure out who you are.  I know Vahldick and Calloway used to ride the big wheel around quite a bit, but we were in the same circle.  I used to ride it some myself, what a hoot.  Knowing you wrote that song doesn't ring the bell for me.  I guess I'll need another hint.  Or two.  Yes, I was in The Blue and the Gray, so you must have me figured out.

[Old Guy]

Thats me. A mystery wrapped in an inigma. O.K. One more BIG hint. I'm in this picture
http://www.flickr.com/photos/skinnytie/2542998188/in/set-72157601729928940/
By circle, I mean indoor and outdoor entertainment. I was always an outdoor guy and never had a lot of time to associate with the indoor crews much. You were also in the "Echos from the Hollow" show too as I recall.

[History Buff]

I figured it out, but I never would have guessed you were Sally Beale!!!