TM Celebrating Our 15th Year Vol. 15 • Issue 12 MARCH 2012 Busch Gardens Tampa Bay 2012 Amusement Expo introduces new ice show officials have high expectations TAMPA, Fla. — Busch Gardens Park President Jim Gardens Tampa Bay contin- Dean. “Iceploration reintro- STORY: Pam Sherborne It;” and “Cleaning and Main- ues its tradition of delivering duces the ice show to our [email protected] taining Your FEC and Attrac- Broadway-style stage spec- most loyal fans while bring- tions – Would Your Location taculars with its next genera- ing together the things Busch LAS VEGAS, Nev. — In Get a Four-Star Rating?” tion ice show, Iceploration. Gardens stage productions early February, American The Wednesday sessions Launched Feb. 2, a cast do best: world-class enter- Amusement Machine Associ- will wrap up at 12:30 with of 20 brings to life an all-new tainment with top-notch ation (AAMA) President John Awards Presentation and the adventure filled with world- skaters, amazing costumes, Schultz said numbers of ex- Ribbon Cutting Ceremony class skaters, more than 75 original music, larger-than- hibitors and registrants for the with 306 booths. In 2011, there into the trade show. original costumes, amazing life puppets and even animal upcoming Amusement Expo, were 135 exhibitors with 312 The Industry Gala Recep- aerial performances, master stars.” set for March 14-16, were run- booths. tion is set for 6:15-8:15 p.m. at puppetry and live animal Iceploration inspires ning ahead of 2011 for the Trade show organizers the Las Vegas Hotel. stars, with shows daily in audiences to “explore the same time period. fully expect to beat the 2011 The AMOA Breakfast the Moroccan Palace. world” on a 30-minute jour- “We have been working numbers this year. and membership meeting is “The grand scale of this ney to the four corners of hard to better our numbers,” “We have 22 brand new set for Thursday morning, show sets a new standard the earth. This multi-sensory Schultz said. “It seems to be exhibitors so far, too,” Schultz after which two educational of entertainment that further story, told through theatrical working.” said, in early February. “From sessions will be held on “Re- solidifies Busch Gardens skating and an all-new origi- The AAMA co-sponsors 2010 to 2011, we doubled the lationship Selling…Group as one of Florida’s premier nal score, is the collaboration Amusement Expo with the number of buyers on the trade Events,” and “Your Future... theme parks,” said Busch 4See BUSCH, page 4 Amusement and Music Op- show floor.” Looking into the FEC Industry erators Association (AMOA) The trade show schedule Crystal Ball.” and co-locates with the Na- is 1-6 p.m., Wed., March 13; There are no educational tional Bulk Vendor Associa- 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Thurs., March sessions scheduled for Friday tion (NBVA), which has its 15; and 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Friday, morning. exhibitors grouped together March 16. New this year for Amuse- within the same hall. Schultz Amusement Expo also ment Expo is a two-day Foun- said the NBVA would have presents an array of educa- dations Entertainment Uni- about 50 exhibitors. tional seminars, which are free versity being held by industry The trade show will be to attendees. On Wednesday, experts just prior, March 12-13. held at the Las Vegas (Nev.) March 13, those seminars run This program isn’t included in Convention Center. Its pur- throughout the morning hours the Amusement Expo regis- pose is to bring the coin-op so as not to interfere with the tration. However, registrants and entertainment industry trade show hours. Topics in- of the Foundations Entertain- members together with indus- clude such things as: “Gaming ment University will gain en- try manufacturers and suppli- on the Street;” “Using Social trance into the Amusement ers. Amusement Expo also of- Networking to Drive Busi- Expo trade show as well as its fers educational seminars and ness;” “Birthday Programs for educational seminars. networking opportunities. the Next Century;” “Securing “This will be an in-depth With a cast of 20 performaers and 75 costumes, the In 2009, the AAMA and Your Business;” “The Road to seminar completely directed new Iceploration at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay will help the AMOA had their own Self-Redemption;” “Five Most toward the FEC industry,” the park challenge for show votes in the annual Golden separate trade shows. In 2010, Important Business Principals Schultz said. Ticket voting. after making the decision to and Seven Primary Strategies This program is designed COURTESY BUSCH GARDENS co-sponsor the show, Schultz to Grow Your Business, Your to cover all aspects of plan- said there were 101 exhibitors Profits and Have Fun Doing 4See EXPO, page 5 SUBSCRIBE TO JOIN US IN SEPTEMBER! Dated material. material. Dated AMUSEMENT TODAY 2012 RUSH! NEWSPAPER TICKET P. POSTMASTER: PLEASE 24, 2012 February, Mailed Friday, (817) 460-7220 GOLDEN I. AWARDS PERMIT # 2069 # PERMIT V. SEPTEMBER 7-8, 2012 FT. WORTH TX WORTH FT. com BEST OF THE BEST! PAID amusementtoday US POSTAGE US PRSRT STD PRSRT GOLDENTICKETAWARDS.com 2 AMUSEMENT TODAY March 2012 NEWSTALK OPINIONS CARTOON LETTERS AT CONTACTS EDITORIAL: Gary Slade, [email protected] CARTOON: Bubba Flint Carnival museum a reality One man, with volunteers, can make a difference. We know this through the recent gener- ousity of Jim Frederiksen, owner of Frederiksen Industries in Tampa. When Jim saw the efforts by the carnival industry to build its long-awaiting carnival museum Slade beginning to stall out, he stepped up with a $1 million-plus donation to get the project back on the fast track. Three years ago the industry saw the museum’s two-story, 18,000 square-foot building across from the Gibtown show grounds taking shape. Last year, trade show attendees were invited to tour the inside of the building. Restrooms, the elevator to the second floor and other touches were still in the construction phase, but visitors were able to get a first hand look of what this building would soon become. This year, attendees were invited to visit during the five-day show and the International Independent Showman’s Museum even hosted one evening after show hours with an open house. The museum has come a long EDITORIAL: Andrew Mellor, [email protected] way since last year’s visit. It is now full of carnival history, displays, historic rides and ride vehicles as well as priceless Going back to my roots photos and other archives. The library and research area is taking shape, as is an area for archiving carnival history. As I write this column it’s ago and was regularly given messages to the time of the “Gibtown” pass on to others as he travelled around the Jim told AT that they had assembled a group of volun- trade show in Tampa, an event grounds. He hit upon the idea of a newspa- teers during the last six-months to donate their time two I have visited on a couple of per as a way for showmen and their families nights a week helping to get the museum ready for occasions in the past, although to stay in touch (through articles, advertising, Gibtown. That group of 30-plus individuals pulled off admittedly many years ago in etc.) and founded the World’s Fair in 1904 as nothing short of a miracle in making the museum a reality. my earlier days as a sub-editor a weekly, single sheet newspaper for the fair- Now with just a little more tweaking, Jim hopes the mu- Mellor and journalist in the amuse- ground community. seum will be ready to open to the public in the next few ment industry. The business, and the newspaper, grew months. However, the Gibtown show is one that I over the decades and I joined it in 1979 as a Amusement Today salutes Jim Frederiksen and his have a distinct empathy with in that it is run budding journalist and sub-editor, helping to team of volunteers that made their dream for a carnival by the International Independent Showmen’s produce a dedicated publication for the trav- museum a reality. Association (IISA) which serves in particular the elling fairground industry in the U.K., as well As industry support continues to come in for the prog- travelling carnival side of the business, a con- as, some time later, amusement parks, among ress being made by the National Roller Coaster Museum, nection with which I have through many year’s other things. We subsequently founded a one only has to look at the carnival museum as a successful working on the weekly World’s Fair newspaper theme park magazine (Park World, in 1985) plan worth duplicating. in the U.K., owned by four generations of my along with various other industry titles and so family up until around the mid 1990s. today I continue this Mellor “tradition,” albeit —Gary Slade It was AT publisher Gary Slade who sug- now on more of a freelance basis. gested this tale would be a good subject for I enjoy regaling the story of how I got Gary Slade is the founder and publisher of Amusement this column some time, to give readers a little involved in the business. I’m genuinely proud Today. His love for amusement parks began at age six background on how I became involved in the of my industry background and have enjoyed when he first visited Pontchartrain Beach Amusement business. Well, briefly, my great uncle used the many years of covering such a fun business Park and Six Flags Over Texas.