Entertainment around the park

Hannabelle · January 07, 2014, 08:24:00 PM

Now I have already talked to some people about some entertainment the park would do at the city and I would love to hear some more memories from others.
I recall someone telling me about skits in front of the train station and also a man had a bear cub with a muzzle and you were able to pet the bear. Not sure sure if the bear is true but lets hear some fun stuff that used to happen.

One of my favorites is the pig calling contest for a free bag of pork rinds. Seeing city folk try to call a pig compared to a pig farmer. Priceless!

qwed94 · January 08, 2014, 03:41:21 AM

yeah-OK. I see what you are saying. Give me a little more time to think of what "state fair like" contest I would like to see (if any).

Junior · January 08, 2014, 04:43:57 AM

Early '80s there was a leatherworker at the leather shop, and he'd dress in full buckskins each day. He would bring, on occasion, his two pet ferrets (SP?) and they were quite the crowd pleaser. Problem is, every now and then they would nip a kids fingers.
-
At some point, management decided to cut things that they decided were not necessary anymore...line entertainment...greeting line each morning and evening at Hospitality House...street feuds (most of them)...characters roaming the streets doing ad lib things with guests...back in my day each ride had a greeter whose job it was to talk with guests and joke around with them while they waited in line. The PTB cut these things because the bottom line is increase profit and keep everything in the black. What they accountants don't see is how important those things are in CREATING MEMORIES WORTH REPEATING. It was stuff like that that made SDC stand out as a theme park from the rest of the parks. Those little interactions are the gold nuggets and gems of a family vacation, that wind up being the funny little stories and heartwarming encounters families remember about their trip. Here is mine:

In 1970, I was 7 years old. Our family visited the park for the first time. On our way out of the park on day two, some of the Hatfield/McCoy players approached my brother and I, and had a little funny conversation with us, and Zeke Hatfield presented my brother and me with a bullet shell used in one of the street skits. He showed us how you could blow into the shell and make a whistling sound. WOW! HOW COOL! We thanked him, and out we went through the Hospitality House, Marketplace, and to the parking lot, my brother and I already fighting over who got to hold the bullet and blow into it. My brother had it in his hands as we got into the car. Soon as the doors were shut, he blew into it! Mom's hand was extended, she demanded it go into her purse until we got home (St. Louis suburbs.) We pouted all the way. For the next few days we showed all the neighborhood kids the bullet and how it could whistle. After a while, we kept the bullet in our dresser, sometimes it got thrown into the toy box. In 1977 when we made our next family trip, times had changed. There was a new area of the park called the Deepwoods we had to explore with this cool new ride called the diving bell. Had a great time on park those two days as well. The buggy wheel of fortune was still there, and the area of the park where the saloon and fire in the hole were was not new (built in'73) but it was new to us so we experienced FITH for the first time and loved it. Then in 1978, my parents were transferred in the healthcare business they worked at to a new town...BRANSON! The deep impressions of those two first vacation trips led me to the administration office to apply for a job, and at age 15, I was hired! Worked there 7 seasons in restaurants, concessions, rides and attractions. Yes, the reason I wanted to work there is because I wanted to entertain folks and give them special attention like I was given with my brother that first time. So, as "Junior Dugan" I kept the memory of that encounter and the bullet that whistled in my memory as I went about entertaining guests. Who knows how many thousands of people I had a personal encounter with. A little personal contact with the guests can make a big difference in their experience.

History Buff · January 08, 2014, 10:08:51 AM

And the obvious question is....where's the bullet now?

Junior · January 08, 2014, 04:48:18 PM

The bullet is in a storage box in the top of the closet in my spare bedroom which doubles as a library! It is there along with other SDC items like two small leather bags that contain SDC coins used as a prop at the diving bell, a bo'sun's whistle, an old pocket watch, a scrimshaw pendant, and some old bandanas, a "Junior" shirt, and a few other items kept from my employment days at SDC. Yes, I am a sentimental old dude!

mhguy77 · January 09, 2014, 08:30:24 PM

Great write up. I agree 100%. The interactions and the banter are what made this little park special. To be honest I don't remember the cave as a boy but I do remember the old folks making yo-yos and how they would stamp your name into them. That is what made SDC special. Most of this is gone now. One day they will do a 180 and realize they have lost the heart of the customer. You were there during a great time.

History Buff · January 09, 2014, 08:48:42 PM

The character of the park was demonstrated in the characters of the park.

No offense to Terry et al, but they do not do justice to the memories of those players of the 1970s and 80s. I mean the Rainmaker, Shad, and the family feuds. Again, I call upon the PTB to not schedule street performers, but to train them in the fine art of improv and interaction with the guests. Hire people who can be fully trusted to remain appropriate. Universal Studios does this with excellence, and even Disney does it with such things as their talking trash cans. I dare someone not to laugh at some of the preshows and street performers at Universal. A little study would produce some terrific stuff with trademarked characters at SDC.

Swoosh · January 09, 2014, 08:50:16 PM

Terry does a great job, but I don't think he should be the ONLY character roaming the park. Sure they have a few feuds on the square, but that is really the only time you see those characters.

Junior · January 10, 2014, 04:06:16 PM

I helped TRAIN Terry. He didn't really need any training. He's a drama major from SW MO State. (Now, Missouri State) He graduated college the year I graduated high school. I wound up helping train him because I'd already been on park two seasons. He does a great job...we need more of that old time stuff, I loved doing that. Guests LOVED it. Nothing like personal interaction. Here is another story:

It's 1979, all my float trip workers are on break. I have a big line of folks. The dock is half full. Little kid is crying and screaming, afraid to get in the boat. Mom and dad are telling him everything is alright, but he's not buying it. I get on the microphone on the dispatch stand. I tell the kid I'm an old river rat (I was 17 at the time!) I have a MAGIC HAT that keeps me safe when I'm on the river. I'll let him wear it if he gets in the boat, but I want the MAGIC HAT back when he returns from his trip. He calms down, the family loads the boat, and as the boat clears the dock, the entire crowd in line who witnessed the exchange explode in cheers and applause! Seven minutes later, the kid comes around with his parents, he is all smiles, having a good time! Dad and mom are happy, dad hands me back the hat. The kid skips down the path to his next fun adventure. MEMORIES WORTH REPEATING. That is what SDC 2014 needs more of. Not Bragging on myself, mind you, I had a co-worker do that same trick with another kid a previous day. Share the love, pass it on!

Hannabelle · January 11, 2014, 02:05:10 PM

Keep the stories coming guys I love hearing them!
Junior the story about the bullet reminds me of something I do everyonce in awhile at work.
I would take the tops of acorns and show kids and adults how to whistle with an acorn. I would then give them the acorn top.
Such a simple momento but fun memories.

Preachin_Bill · January 20, 2014, 11:13:54 PM

So what's it gonna take to get the PTB to put Junior in charge of street entertainment at SDC? I can hope, right?

Junior · January 21, 2014, 05:27:44 AM

Aw, shucks, guys!

It would be fun, it would be a challenge. However, I'm a dinosaur. When the PTB consider doing new things on park, they don't even consider bringing back a dinosaur. I'm still a little too critical and mouthy for them. It was fun while it lasted, though!

History Buff · January 21, 2014, 05:01:05 PM

I don't know you personally, Junior, but you and I could turn the place upside down as street entertainers. I did a little bit of that work at The Wilds in El Reno, OK, before their bankruptcy.

Junior · January 21, 2014, 06:01:21 PM

Well, if the money was there, I'd seriously consider it. But I'd like a guarantee from the PTB that I could do EXACTLY the same stuff I did over 30 years ago...and throw in some new stuff. As for the street entertainment, we could probably do a pretty good job. It would beat what happens there now, but the current troupe members are not to blame...their hands are tied, they are doing what they are told like good kiddies (employees) should. They do well with what it is they are allowed to do. Ah, but it could be sooooo much more!

History Buff · January 21, 2014, 08:19:07 PM

I work for the government, so I understand completely.