2020 TRADE SHOW ISSUE | MIDWAY MAGAZINE | 7 the Fall of 2019 Marked 150 Years of Entertainment, Exhibits, and Success for the South Carolina State Fair in Columbia
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TM TM MIMIMIMIDDDDWWWWAAAAYYYY 20202020 Trade Trade Show Show Issue Issue CONTENTS #MIDWAYMAG FEATURES 08 SOUTH CAROLINA STATE FAIR 2019 PRIZE WINNING MEMORIES 27 THE BEST QUESTION I HAVE BEEN ASKED… 31 WHO IS BLAKE HUSTON? 41 TALES FROM THE ROAD TEARFUL DEMISE OF JOHN DILLINGER’S CAR 49 TOY STORY 57 REDEFINING INSURANCE ON THE COVER: 64 ON A FINAL NOTE North American Midway Entertainment’s new Bussink wheel themed the Celebration Wheel flying high over the midway at the 2019 South Carolina State Fair. Photo by Scooter Korek. Publisher Writers Photographers Photographers Design Consultant © 2018 by Midway Magazine. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including Midway Marketing Kevin Freese Buddy Barlow Scooter Korek Kistin Jordan photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior Drew Tewksbury Stefan Hinz written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in Editor Historian Layout & Design critical reviews and certain reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted Kyler Smith Timothy S. Allen by copyright law. For permission requests, write to the publisher, addressed, Attention: Sharon Barlow Doc Rivera Daniel Olwert MIDWAY MAGAZINE Sydney Blue Photography Permissions Coordinator, at the address below. Business Manager Sydney Blue Social Media FOR SUBSCRIPTIONS, Midway Magazine Printing 2020 TRADE SHOW Buddy Barlow Bill Harrison Director ADDRESS CHANGES, P.O. Box 1165 Progress Printing Kannapolis, NC 28082 ISSUE Alex Barlow & CUSTOMER SERVICE 704-925-1325 Web Design midwaymagazineusa.com Midway Marketing mailto:[email protected] MIDWAY MOMENT Did you truly ever think we would make it to 2020? It seems like yesterday we were celebrating the turn of the century and only a few minutes ago that we were flying high over the midway of North American Midway Entertainment at the 2019 South Carolina State Fair. Like most people I guess, before I can truly commit to a new year and a new decade, I am compelled to take stock of the one I just completed. The decade certainly had a profound and lasting impact on my life. I made a drastic career change, and I was introduced to what I consider the most fascinating industry I could ever imagine along with the amazing people who make it move. Yes, my friends I am talking about you! I would be less than honest if I said 2019 was all I hoped it would be. There were disappointments and things that did not come together as they should, but I can still say with pride that my staff and I poured our hearts and souls into every issue of MIDWAY Magazine. I am beyond excited to see what 2020 holds for us as we continue to bring our very best to the travel amusement industry, an industry that is beyond compare. While the industry is now another year older, I hope you will enjoy a story of a great young man, Blake Huston. Blake is always hesitant to talk about himself, but he has no difficulty in sharing just a few things about what makes North American Midway Entertainment so great. Similarly, Nancy Smith of the South Carolina State Fair has no difficulty in sharing what makes her fair great. Of course, part of that is North American Midway Entertainment. I particularly hope you enjoy the story of the South Carolina State Fair. It was written by a newcomer to the industry who has always had a passion for the excitement of the midway. Her name is Sydney Blue, and I hope we will have more stories from her in 2020. As much as I enjoy the voice of youth, I equally enjoy the voice of wisdom and experience. My heart was truly touched by Doc Rivera’s account of his early years. His stories never fail to capture the imagination, and they always evoke an emotional response. This month I am simply amazed at his courage and perhaps desperation to continue living the life of his own choosing. Also living the life of their own choosing are Rick D’Aprile and Gene Berger who have now launched Amusement Entertainment Amusement Risk Insurance Associates or simply AERIA. They are all about relationships, and you will not want to miss their story. For all my game concessionaires, if you were not at IAAPA in 2019, you may have missed the big news. Caravan Softoys and Big T Toys are now one and the same offering great toys with even better service. Please be sure to read the story, and then seek them out at the 2020 IISF Trade Show. XXI also hope that you will seek MIDWAY Magazine out at this year’s trade show. Buddy and I cannot wait to see you and share all the great things you can expect from MIDWAY Magazine in 2020! 2020 TRADE SHOW ISSUE | MIDWAY MAGAZINE | 7 The Fall of 2019 marked 150 years of entertainment, exhibits, and success for the South Carolina State Fair in Columbia. Much of which would have been impossible without the dedication of the South Carolina State Fair General Manager, Nancy Smith and her staff. “I guess I have fair in my blood” she shares. “I’ve been involved with the South Carolina State Fair in some way, shape or form for 35 years now.” Photo by: Sydney Blue Nancy’s involvement dates back to when she would pretty quickly. You either have it or you don’t.” take breaks from her real job to work in the home and crafts department in the Moore building. There, she Over the next several years, Nancy’s position evolved judged cakes and remembers caramel always being from judge to superintendent until one day after the her favorite. “I just really fell in love with it. I think fair fair in 1999, Gary Goodman, who was the General is either in your blood or it’s not, and you know that Manager at that time, offered her a full-time job. Her 8 | MIDWAY MAGAZINE | 2020 TRADE SHOW ISSUE THE SOUTH CAROLINA STATE FAIR 2019 PRIZE-WINNING MEMORIES By: Sydney Blue Photo by Sydney Blue position included but was not limited to, booking entertainment and exhibits, while also shaping marketing and advertising efforts. She even created a sponsorship program of her own, and this success led her to a position as Assistant Manager, which she held from 2007 to 2017. Having attended the fair all her life, Nancy has seen it transform into what it is better known as today. 2020 TRADE SHOW ISSUE | MIDWAY MAGAZINE | 9 Photo by Scooter Korek “I remember coming when there was sawdust on the from that direction, and the entire grounds now sport a grounds and the buildings and things of that nature were new blacktop. According to Nancy, change is important. old,” she recalls, “but I think we look better now than we “I’ve seen a lot of change, and I think it’s all in keeping have ever looked.” with the 4H motto of ‘making the best better.’” Much of this transformation was initiated in 2009 with While the South Carolina State Fair has completed an the renovation of a 35-acre parking lot that is leased to extensive a list of practical updates, they continue to rely the University of South Carolina during football season. on North American Midway Entertainment for an equally What used to be dirt has now been decorated with 250 extensive list of rides, food, and games to offer patrons trees, asphalt, and grass, making it the perfect spot for their 150th anniversary celebration. “The rides and for tailgating. “That’s one of the first things patrons the carnival overall looked really good this year,” Nancy see when they enter the grounds,” Nancy says. “So, it’s exclaims. “The layout was great with our new Technical really important that their experience is an enjoyable or Park Star Dancer and the new Chance double decker positive one, so they’ll want to come back.” carousel. We have different and new kiddie rides, all overshadowed by the new big wheel.” To make the grounds even more aesthetically pleasing, the cyclone fencing that once surrounded the fairgrounds XXIndeed, North American Midway Entertainment’s was replaced with wrought iron, and a fountain was new Bussink Observation Wheel, themed the 150th added to the Rosewood Drive entrance. In 2016, the Celebration Wheel, made its debut at the South Carolina Goodman building, a 38,000 square foot building utilized State Fair. At 150 feet tall, the Celebration Wheels has 36 for fair and facility rentals, was constructed. A sidewalk gondolas that seat six people each. was added to Bluff Road for the safety of those entering 10 | MIDWAY MAGAZINE | 2020 TRADE SHOW ISSUE “THE LAYOUT WAS GREAT WITH OUR NEW TECHNICAL PARK STAR DANCER AND THE NEW CHANCE DOUBLE DECKER CAROUSEL. WE HAVE DIFFERENT AND NEW KIDDIE RIDES, ALL OVERSHADOWED BY THE NEW BIG WHEEL." 2020 TRADE SHOW ISSUE | MIDWAY MAGAZINE | 11 Photo by: Scooter Korek New rides, however, were not the the root of the fair, and we can never Originally located on Elmwood only new thing patrons found at overemphasize that too much. Pig Avenue, Columbia’s downtown the 2019 fair. “We changed all of racing, a potter, blacksmiths, broom streets held the carnival, and during our entertainment venues,” Nancy making, leather making and a walk the winter months, the fairgrounds shares. “We have a new 48-foot big thru museum remind our patrons housed racehorses along with their top tent with a free circus taking about the agricultural history of the owners.