INSIDE: Al Weber, Apex make market inroads TM & ©2016 Amusement Today, Inc. See pages 30-31 February 2016 | Vol. 19 • Issue 11 www.amusementtoday.com 15 new exhibitors have signed up 2016 IISF Trade Show and Extravaganza looking strong AT: Pam Sherborne fun houses. Gina Guglielmi, one to Butler Amusements Denny's Electronics' Jim [email protected] Intermark Ride Group, is and another to Mr. Ed's Mag- Allen said in mid-January GIBSONTON, Fla. — Te- representing Gosetto and ical Midways, at the Gibtown that his company hadn't resa Rimes, part of the pro- will be at the show. show. made final plans for the Gib- duction team responsible for "We will be focusing on Ramon Rosario, Zam- town show, but knew they putting on the International our dark rides and fun hous- turing and Waterloo Tent and perla, said his company has would be exhibiting newer Independent Showmen's es for the carnival business," Tarp. had a very busy year and will products such as their small, Foundation (IISF) Trade she said. "We also are focus- Len Soled of Rides 4-U be glad to be at the Gibson- roundish turbo lights. Show and Extravaganza, ing on our new portable fam- said the IISF event has al- ton show. Zamperla plans to "We have them in six could barely find a mo- ily spin coaster and Dance ways been good for him. It exhibit a Balloon Fiesta, the LED and nine LED," Allen ment during January as she Party interactive ride." is sort of a last chance order 36-foot-tall ride that debuted said. "We have new control- tweaked the scheduling of Exhibitors to the trade opportunity for some shows. at IAAPA Expo. The compa- lers to go with them." educational sessions, booked show run the gamut of prod- "Sometimes, if they go ny also will have on display Allen said business is vendors for booths during ucts for the mobile amuse- ahead and order at this show, an Air Race, a kiddie version busy. the trade show, and helped ment operators, from food they will get it before the 4th of the Sky Race ride, and a "In the last seven days, with attendance registration. concession companies to of July," Soled said. Happy Swing. we have added five new The IISF is the founda- novelty, trailer, ride and Of course, that is not al- Bob's Space Racers' Tony products to our plate," he tion arm of the International game manufacturing compa- ways the case. Soled said last Cassata said his company said. Independent Showmen's As- nies. year was sort of a stressful will bring a Whopper Water The IISF Trade Show will sociation. The club grounds Some of the ride compa- year because some ride man- race game, trailer mounted, run 11 a.m.-6 p.m., Tuesday, in Gibsonton host the trade nies include Eli Bridge Co., ufacturers overbooked their and a water race game in the Feb. 9 through Friday, Feb. show and most of the activi- Wisdom Rides, A.R.M., Bat- production. company's lineup configu- 12. Saturday, Feb. 13, times ties associated with it. tech Enterprises, Majestic "I like to deliver and I like ration. There also will be a are 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. Rimes said, in mid-Jan- Manufacturing and Zam- to deliver on time," he said. "I Fishing Hole game on dis- The week also will in- uary, booth and attendance perla. think I was able to hold onto play at the booth. clude an array of educational registration for this year's In addition, ride broker- to about 99.9 percent of it last "Our business has been sessions and nightly social event, set for Feb. 9-13 on age companies Rides 4-U year, but it was a stressful going very well," Cassata events. club grounds in Gibsonton, and Ital International will be year." said. "There just has not been Activities on the books in appeared to be on par for the on hand, both representing Soled represents KMG, enough hours in the day to mid-January included: Super 2015 event. companies that provide new SBF/Visa and S&S World- take care of all our business. Bowl Party and Trade Show "We are actually a little rides as well as selling used wide rides. For Gibsonton, It looks like the industry is Kick-Off Party, Sunday, Feb. bit ahead of last year," Rimes rides. he plans to show SBF/Visa's doing well." 7; Big Hearted Jerry's Me- said. "The inside booth space Other exhibiting compa- Compact Spinning Coaster, Berk's Enterprises will morial Golf Tournament, is just about full, maybe five nies include Bob's Space Rac- Air Show, Drop 'n Twist and feature more new products Monday, Feb. 8; Museum or six booths short of that. ers, Dobco Enterprises, Gold Groovy Bus. He also will than they ever have, said Building Fund Dinner and "We have 15 new exhibi- Medal Products, Berk's En- have an S&S Worldwide Frog spokesperson Beth Sanders. Jamboree Fundraiser, Feb. tors," she said. "They are only terprise, Rhode Island Nov- Hopper, a ride that continues Some of those new products 10; Richie's Ragin' Cajun renting 'onesies' but they are elty, Classic Toy Company, to do well in the industry. include six differently de- Banquet and Ball, Feb. 11; Ca- new and that is good." BJ Toy Company, Chestnut KMG, he said, is backed signed 32-ounce Mini Tanks, sino Night Fundraiser for the One of those first-time ex- Identity Apparel, Hitch- up for two years for new pro- Zombie Cups, Tap Towers, Museum, Feb. 12; Memorial hibitors is Gosetto, manufac- Hiker Manufacturing, Owen duction, but he will be able to and a new Family Entertain- Service with Mass to Follow, turer of rides, dark rides and Trailers, Schantz Manufac- deliver two new Inversions, ment Package. Feb. 13. Dated material. material. Dated RUSH! NEWSPAPER POSTMASTER: PLEASE 25, 2016 Jan. Mailed Monday, PERMIT # 2069 # PERMIT FT. WORTH TX WORTH FT. PAID US POSTAGE US PRSRT STD PRSRT 2 AMUSEMENT TODAY February 2016 NEWSTALK EDITORIAL: Gary Slade, [email protected] FLINT’S VIEW: Bubba Flint IISF attendees fine tune for 2016 As the amusement industry winter season is fully underway, we are re- minded of the work that is still ahead as both parks and carnival operators gear up for the upcoming 2016 season. The 2016 IISF Trade Show and Ex- Slade travaganza, Feb. 9-13, in Gibsonton, Fla. is one of the final opportunities owners and operators will have to fine tune their 2016 plans. As we've seen in the past, some carnival owners will be on hand to shop for used ride equipment, or in some cases, may try to do a last minute ride pur- chase with the hopes of a July 4 delivery for their road units. Others will attend to see if they can land a good deal on a new ride that is on display at the show, while some are in attendance to accept deliv- ery of their new ride piece that is proudly on display. The same goes for interested parties who have come to Gibtown to shop for new games and new conces- INDUSTRY OPINION: Dean Lamanna, [email protected] sion trailers. Inside the display area, we see many small park Enhanced park security is sensible, embraceable policy It’s a conundrum with which park opera- announced enhanced park and gate se- operators, and numerous state fairs, attend the show tors have wrestled quietly: How much security curity. Disney, initially, is screening guests to shop for their games department prizes and selec- is enough? And how best to meet the public’s randomly using walk-through detectors; tion of plush. safety expectations while maintaining an envi- Universal and SeaWorld are using wands. ronment of fun and escape? The companies downplayed their The Gibtown show also provides attendees plenty Becoming more urgent in recent years fol- moves in the media. of time to network. Time and time again, we get at- lowing acts of horrific violence committed at “We continually review our compre- tendees coming to the AT booth asking for help in movie theaters and other venues, these ques- hensive approach to security and are imple- tions were thrust to the forefront in late 2015 by Lamanna menting additional security measures, as trying to locate an individual, a contact to a current the terrorist attacks in Paris and San Bernardi- appropriate,” said Disney in a statement. supplier or even another operator that has a certain no, Calif. Creeping, collective agoraphobia turned Communications from Universal and SeaWorld, into bona fide, widespread unease. while also emphasizing a long-standing commitment type of ride — in an effort to contact them and dis- Stateside, San Bernardino was particularly trou- to safety, suggested that their own stepped-up secu- cuss maintenance on that particular ride. bling not only for its notoriety as the worst act of rity was being implemented on an experimental and/ Some are fresh back from one of the recently terrorism in the U.S. since 9/11, but its proximity to or seasonal basis. Southern California’s major cities and theme parks. This public relations approach was designed to concluded safety seminars and are quick to share new In addition to the general awareness of regu- quell any panic. Yet perhaps the language needn’t safety knowledge they have learned. lar employees, virtually all parks rely on surveillance have been so coy, as park visitors have long known equipment and security personnel, both uniformed what is at stake — and they will accept, even welcome, The parks and the traveling shows may be silent and undercover.