Random Stuff Round-Up

History Buff · February 27, 2009, 05:48:39 PM

True. I'm too lazy to look up the link on the forums, but the ferris wheel and kiddie coaster were where the giant hole is today. The ferris wheel appeared to have a chain running to the water system, creating the illusion that it was water-powered. It was all of, what, 20 feet tall? and painted brown and tan. I never rode the thing since I had no children at the time.

tinmann620 · February 28, 2009, 06:41:43 AM

Many thanks! I wanted to make sure it wasn't some random "dream" memory, as my parents suggested. The only original map I have is dated 1972, and I've spent hours trying to find pictures of the ferris wheel online. (As time permits, I have been going through all the old posts on here, learning information as I go)

saladdays · March 02, 2009, 10:32:20 AM

I remember that Ferris wheel as well. I think I might have rode on it a couple of times when I was a kid.

SteamFreak · March 02, 2009, 12:32:22 PM

I wish HFC would aquire some more historical rides, such as steam powered carousels with the steam organs...yes I know what they're called, I just can't spell it. I think It would add a lot to preserving...or bringing back...the 1880's theme, I was pretty disapointed when they didn't try something like that for the GE.

History Buff · March 02, 2009, 03:56:19 PM

^Probably costs more to preserve the old stuff - calliopes, they're called - but most of the folks here would concur that that's what GE is missing - the sounds of a GE!

SteamFreak · March 02, 2009, 05:36:47 PM

That's how you spell it...can't spell my own name half the time. Oh and yes i'm sure it does...would just be...pretty gosh-dern cool.

shavethewhales · March 02, 2009, 08:55:30 PM

Speaking of random old stuff, bobber620 posted a bunch of awesome old park photos from the 80's-90's here: http://sdcfans.com/gallery.php?page=1&u=31

There's a lot of the Gandy Dancer, which I'd never gotten a proper view of before, shanty town, and in the last photo of the set you can see the old canoe ride behind the gandy dancer, with all the theming that went with it.

Thanks bobber!

SteamFreak · March 03, 2009, 08:33:59 AM

Some great pictures! The rainmaker pics were great. What play was pictured?

rubedugans · March 03, 2009, 09:56:56 AM

I LOVED SHANTYTOWN! Especially the beam you had to walk across that was suspended over Lake Silver. Granted, there was a net underneath it, and it was only about 5 ft up, and the beam itself was probably only 5 feet long,...It still felt adventerous! I go there to take pictures every time to do a then and now shot of the lake...We have a bunch , like Bobber, next to the same attractions. One we would always tale-like our yearly tin-types, was a photo of my and My sister (StlPhotoGal) next to the big "wheel" out in front of the play area @ Shantytown. It now sits in the same location in a food seating area.

saladdays · March 03, 2009, 10:18:41 AM

Shanty Town was awesome! Me and my brother would sometimes play a game on it where one of us would try to catch the other. But there were so many ways to go there, it wasn't always the easiest thing to do. I wish that thing was still there.

rubedugans · March 03, 2009, 10:54:36 AM

I found this one in my photos, This matches image 7 on page 2 of Bobbers gallery, same Cedar shingle making tractor, different paint job.

bobber620 · March 03, 2009, 11:44:37 AM

I'm not for sure what the name of the play was but it had something to do with the Hatfields and the McCoys and one or the other trying to scare the other out of a mansion it was in the mid eighties and was done at the RiverFront playhouse.If anyone else can remember the name let me know please thanks. The pic with me on the rope was an old zip line that was down in the RiverFest area that is i think in the general area of where gyser gulch is now. Glad everyone enjoyed the pics sorry about a few reprints didn't notice them until i posted them

bobber620 · March 03, 2009, 12:19:30 PM

I added a few more pics got some more duplicates sorry, when i loaded them they say one thing but come up another when you look at the gallery probably sumthin i'm doing wrong on my end, anyway enjoy

sdcforever · March 03, 2009, 01:46:48 PM

Thanks for the pics, bobber620! Brings back a lot of great memories, especially the picture of the old petting zoo.

Nice to see a lot of pics of the Gandy Dancer, and the old paddle boat ride on Lake Silver in the background featuring the Greedy Brothers. My favorite, I think, was the pic of you on the zip line. There's an old SDC commercial on this site featuring the zip line in action and the old canoe ride! Check it out here: http://sdcfans.com/videos.php?id=18

Zephon · March 03, 2009, 05:52:16 PM

Here's what I can fill in on the photos-

The play, The Hatfield Haint Show, was in the Riverfront Playhouse, might have been known as the Gaslight Theatre back then. The Hatfields bought a house that previously belonged to the McCoys and Grandpa McCoy tries to scare them out of it by "haunting" it. Jae McFerron (Zeke Hatfield on the bed) and Wayne Milnes (Grandpa McCoy at the organ) are in the pictures.
The featured act in Echo Hollow was The Dillards with Mercy Purvis (sitting off to the side in the chair).
The rainmaker was Ed Marshall.
The Marshal deputizing the kids was me. I sure had fun with that. I would have the kids take an oath of office, and if time allowed, even give them a little quiz to see if they were qualified to be deputies. Of course, they always were.

Those photos are great, thanks for posting them bobber.

Random Stuff Round-Up

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