Wisdom Rides of America 33 This Is Something New

2020,2020, IssueIssue IIIIII

CONTENTS

#MIDWAYMAG FEATURES 55 YEARS 08 FIRESTONE FINANCIAL STILL BELIEVES

IN THE BARN 21 USE THE TIME TO IMPROVE PROCESSES AND DOCUMENTATION

DAVID WIERZBINSKI 25 LOOKING HOMEWARD

WISDOM RIDES OF AMERICA 33 THIS IS SOMETHING NEW

WHERE WILL OUR HISTORY GO? 41 48 ON A FINAL NOTE ON THE COVER: The Mulligan Wheel of Kastl Amusements at the FOX NFL Fan Experience on the beach in Miami, Florida for Super Bowl LIV February 2020. Photo courtesy of Kastl Amusements.

Publisher Writers Photographers Photographers Design Consultant © 2020 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 Drew Tewksbury Buddy Barlow Scooter Korek Kistin Jordan photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior Kyler Smith 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 Sydney Blue Timothy S. Allen by copyright law. For permission requests, write to the publisher, addressed, Attention: Sharon Barlow Doc Rivera Daniel Olwert MIDWAY MAGAZINE Rich Gockelman Photography Permissions Coordinator, at the address below. Business Manager Sydney Blue Social Media FOR SUBSCRIPTIONS, Midway Magazine Printing 2020 ISSUE IV Buddy Barlow Dickie Brooks Director ADDRESS CHANGES, P.O. Box 1165 Progress Printing Mark Hunter Kannapolis, NC 28082 Alex Barlow & CUSTOMER SERVICE 704-925-1325 Web Design Thomas Hagerty midwaymagazineusa.com Midway Marketing mailto:[email protected] MIDWAY MOMENT The cover of MIDWAY Magazine this issue is the Mulligan Wheel owned by Kastl Amusements. Themed The Masked Singer to promote FOX’s hit reality series, it was a standout addition to the NFL Fan Experience for Super Bowl LIV in Miami Florida. With all that has happened, it’s truly difficult to remember this was only a little over six months ago. Six months, and our whole world has changed. David Wierzbinski, the young man who took this wheel so many miles and oversaw its setup and operation, is no longer with us, but the gaping whole he left in the hearts of so many who knew and loved him is. Indeed, the pain and anxiety brought on by the trials of 2020 could almost be considered overwhelming to some.

In a conversation I had with Rich Gockelman, he talked about the incredible guts and determination of the people in this industry, the guts and determination they showed after the Great Recession of 2008, the guts and determination that have always brought them through the seasons of horrible storms or intense heat. It was that same guts and determination that David Wierzbinski showed when he left the safe and steady job of truck driving to return to a life he loved on the midway; the guts and determination of Jared Davis of Wisdom Rides of America to launch a new line of rides during a season of such uncertainty, and the guts and determination of Firestone Financial to continue to invest time and resources into an industry in which they believe so strongly. For me, that guts and determination is what fuels my faith that this industry will emerge from 2020 with the strength and flair that has trademarked it for decades.

Certainly, it has been difficult to hold onto any kind of faith in 2020, and yet, I’m reminded of the many times my Dad would ask me if I knew the definition of faith. The definition he was looking for was “the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” As the doors of 2020 continue to slam closed and we look forward to 2021, I beg you to hold onto those things you hope for but cannot yet see. While it is the guts and determination that fuels the faith, it is the faith itself that will truly bring us through.

Welcome to MIDWAY Magazine!

2020, ISSUE IV | MIDWAY MAGAZINE | 7 YEARS FIRESTONE FINANCIAL

STILL BELIEVES By: Sharon Barlow

8 | MIDWAY MAGAZINE | 2020, ISSUE IV 2020, ISSUE IV | MIDWAY MAGAZINE | 9 Photo by Dickie Brooks On March 13, 2020, the Kingdom Story Company for relief from payments they had no means of making. followed up their 2018 hit, I Can Only Imagine, with the By 2020, however, Firestone Financial is celebrating 55 story of Christian singer Jeremy Camp titled after his years of experience in helping industries through the hit single, I Still Believe. The movie chronicles the life difficulties, and the mobile amusement industry is one in of Jeremy and his young wife, Melissa, as she battles which they very much still believe. ovarian cancer. Despite their seemingly endless faith, Melissa succumbs to her Since its inception in 1965 as initially disease. Encouraged by a note left by an independent finance company, Melissa urging him to continue writing, Firestone Financial has been lending to Jeremy Camp writes his hit proclaiming his the amusement industry adding carnivals commitment regardless of the struggles to their extensive clientele almost 25 years he has experienced. Mere days after the ago. “We didn’t come into this space as a release of I Still Believe, movie theaters, bank looking to do business in it,” shares gyms, amusement parks, fairgrounds, and Michael Smith, Executive Vice President other large events and venues succumbed and Chief Operating Officer. “We came to another disease, COVID-19, an insidious as an independent finance company virus previously never experienced in the United States who really saw this as a place where we could provide that began sending thousands to hospitals. Industries assistance and help and grow. And now as we mark our like the mobile amusement industry were halted in their 55th anniversary, I think we have done that.” tracks, and show owners, laboring under an ever-growing mountain of debt, looked to their finance companies Today, Firestone Financial is an affiliate of Berkshire

10 | MIDWAY MAGAZINE | 2020, ISSUE IV Bank with $268,000,000 in loans outstanding, and more than half of that figure is represented by repeat business. Rich Gockelman, Commercial Account Executive, attributes Firestone's success in winning repeat business to their willingness to partner with their clients through all the industry ups “WE CAME AS AN and downs. “If you look back on 55 years of operation, we’ve been with our INDEPENDENT FINANCE carnival customers through the good times and the bad. And now, it really brings it home to where things are with COVID-19.” COMPANY WHO REALLY SAW THIS AS A PLACE WHERE WE “It’s these intangibles that customers want to consider when shopping COULD PROVIDE ASSISTANCE for a lender,” he adds. “They need to look past all the teaser rates. Before COVID-19, the economy was doing very well. More banks were getting into AND HELP AND GROW. AND carnival lending, looking for new ways to align themselves with Main Street. NOW AS WE MARK OUR 55TH They want to connect with the average working person, and one of the best ANNIVERSARY, I THINK WE ways to do that is through the carnival. Nobody touches the working man and woman more than the carnival industry does. So, what’s going to happen HAVE DONE THAT.” now? Anyone new to carnival lending is just not prepared for the kind of ups and downs the industry experiences. But Firestone is. We’ve seen it, from the economic downturn in the post-9/11 world, the global recession of 2008, the horrible stretches of bad weather over the years, weather disasters, and fuel price increases. All these things impact the operating cost structure of the carnival. Firestone has always been there to be able to work with people and help them get through whatever challenges they are facing. So, as a customer, you should really want to know your lender’s depth of experience in working with someone like yourself. I think 55 years speaks for itself.”

Photo by Dickie Brooks

2020, ISSUE IV | MIDWAY MAGAZINE | 11 According to Michael, Firestone’s depth of experience has been gleaned from their 55-year commitment to thoroughly understanding their business partners. “We take a unique approach in how we do things,” he explains. “With a typical lender or bank, customers come with a specific project, and the lender evaluates whether they want to write the loan. Firestone takes a different approach. We target specific industries and marketplaces, and then take a deep dive into them.

“Our goal,” he adds “is to understand what our customers are going through and the needs of their businesses. We take a 360 degree look at their businesses and industry trends and forecasts to partner with our customers in ways a traditional lender can’t. We are supporters of our specialty markets in every way – from specialized lending solutions to supporting charitable organizations to acting as connectors for our customers to other business services they need. We act as their advisors. We want to have these conversations and know what’s going on with our customers. You won’t find this level of service from other lenders.”

“We are truly ingrained in every aspect of our customers’ businesses,” Michael continues. “I think that’s what makes our 55th anniversary so meaningful. We’re able to celebrate their successes while also supporting our customers through their current challenges.”

For Rich, those conversations with their customers need to be initiated at the crossroads. “Nothing is in a straight line, not the stock market, the economy, or this COVID-19,” he explains. “So many things are happening, and you have to be willing to meet the customer where and when they need it - understanding their current business needs, not just our customer’s positon when they initially applied for the loan. We’ll work together to help them maintain the loan and make their payments.”

The Firestone Financial commitment, however, goes far beyond simply understanding those needs. It includes being able and willing to offer very real relief when it is needed most. “With the support of our parent company, Berkshire Bank, we’ve been able to offer support to help companies, small businesses in particular, through this problem with COVID,” Michael shares. “As an organization, we’ve written 4,900 Paycheck Protection Photo by Mark Hunter Program loans for over $715,000,000 in the last four months which is a lot of money put into small businesses to help keep them afloat and keep their employees tied to the business.” “WE ARE TRULY INGRAINED IN EVERY ASPECT OF OUR CUSTOMERS’ BUSINESSES,” “We also have over 4,000 loans with some form of payment relief. And we continue to work with our customers as the pandemic and shutdowns are dragging on much longer than anyone anticipated. We will provide assistance wherever we can.”

“It’s our commitment to the carnival industry,” Rich adds.

12 | MIDWAY MAGAZINE | 2020, ISSUE IV 2020, ISSUE IV | MIDWAY MAGAZINE | 13 Photo by Mark Hunter “We provided three months of loan payment deferrals and survive by working with the industry until the and weren’t collecting revenue. That’s not something economy began to turn itself around. More importantly, Berkshire Bank or Firestone takes lightly, but it’s part of we learned how determined our customers are. They eat, being a long-term lender in the carnival industry. You sleep, and breathe their business year round. And they have to be committed and understand the financial have the guts and determination to fight through their sacrifice our customer base is experiencing. They’re biggest challenges.” hurting. We want to be there with them.” That “guts and determination” of the carnival industry Rich is proud to say the pandemic of 2020 is not the during the recession of 2008 became the rationale first time Firestone Financial has stood beside its carnival Michael needed to gain the support of Berkshire Bank to customers. “The global recession of 2008 was actually a provide the relief the industry needs to survive in 2020 high point for us as a lender,” he admits. “Firestone wasn’t owned by Berkshire Bank, so it was a challenge for everyone. Multibillion dollar publicly traded companies went out of business. Some of them were just victims of larger forces that couldn’t be changed. Firestone stayed committed to the carnival industry. We were able to persevere

14 | MIDWAY MAGAZINE | 2020, ISSUE IV 2020, ISSUE IV | MIDWAY MAGAZINE | 15 16 | MIDWAY MAGAZINE | 2020, ISSUE IV Photo by Stefan Hinz as well as continue to move forward. “I saw firsthand business in that space as possible.” how our customers worked with us,” he says. “Many of them are still around and were thriving before March of “The carnival industry is part of the American culture,” this year. We anticipate they’ll not only be back to that Rich adds. “When I go to the midways, I see all types of level and continue to be successful, but that Firestone people there. There are working folks who can’t take will continue to be their lender of choice because of the their family to Disney, but they can come to the fair for support and guidance we were able to offer now.” a day. The joy, the smiles on their faces, and how they’re together really brings home what the carnival industry Michael continues, “Berkshire Bank is really passionate does” about helping customers and supportive of Firestone’s work within the carnival industry. Because of this, we’re The mobile amusement industry has certainly been able to lend in areas that expand Berkshire’s footprint, challenged to find the rewards in 2020 when in fact the both geographically and into different industries.” year’s events have been enough to defy even the strongest of faith. Yet, Firestone Financial is determined to dedicate Certainly, that passion for helping customers has only their 55th anniversary to celebrating the past and future fueled Firestone’s commitment to the travel amusement successes of their carnival customers, and despite the industry. “Our commitment to that marketplace hasn’t countless unforeseen circumstances and events, they wavered during this time,” Michael says. “It’s definitely will remain committed to the industry in which they still unique. There are not a lot of banks that view this believe. marketplace as attractive, but it’s something we’re committed to. We want to continue to do as much

Let’s get the tough stuff out of the way. This all stinks. Our lives have been put on hold, our business’ shuttered, and our livelihood has been shut off. This pandemic has altered all we know and has sadly cost many of us in our industry more than just our incomes, but for some their lives. God bless all the friends and family we have collectively lost to this awful virus. I pray that this all changes soon and we can then be back on the road and spreading smiles all over this great land. DREW TEWKSBURY

Over the past few months as our clients and friends have been stuck at home with equipment in the barn, many have asked about what they should be doing with the downtime. I have offered a few ideas that could pay great dividends for your company once we can open back up.

Spend time reviewing all your documentation. Identify and work to convert paper to digital record for safe 1 keeping.

When was the last time you updated your inspection program? 2 Have you considered digital forms and data storage for the daily, weekly, and monthly inspection reports? Do your reports reflect any changes in the industry in regards to inspections? Are they efficient and easy to use?

3 When was the last time you reviewed your maintenance program? 4 When was the last time you updated your employee training program? Is your program digital? Can it be handed down easily to the next generation of supervisors and managers? Can the training program be managed remotely? Can you hold refresher training programs with remote staff now? 5 How long has it been since you updated your employee handbook and corporate guidelines? Are they representative of the current state of “Social Awareness?” Is your company addressing social issues within your handbook?

These are just a few ideas, but they could take weeks Drew Tewksbury is the Director of Sales & Marketing of or months to do properly. I encourage you to take McGowan Allied Specialty Insurance. A NAARSO-certified advantage of the time you have now to work on the little safety and ride inspector, Drew brings the carnival industry things that make a big difference down the road. a refreshing new perspective on safety and insurance. Be safe, be well and I hope to see you all very soon. Drew can be contacted at (440)263-1882 or by email at Drew [email protected]

2020, ISSUE IV | MIDWAY MAGAZINE | 21 22 | MIDWAY MAGAZINE | 2020, ISSUE IV

24 | MIDWAY MAGAZINE | 2020, ISSUE IV "Look homeward Angel now, and melt with ruth: And, O ye Dolphins, waft the hapless youth." -John Milton, Lycidas

David Wierzbinski

L kg Homeward By: Sharon Barlow

Since 1929 when Thomas Wolfe published his first book, (Literary Traveler) It has the literary classic, Look Homeward Angel, scholars have been almost a century debated the meaning of the title. Taken from John Milton’s since Thomas Wolfe titled poem, Lycidas, written for a friend taken from this life much his book and more than to young, the words are seemingly personified in the marble 400 years since John statue of an angel that many claim to have been Wolfe’s Milton penned his eulogy muse and a central figure in his story of struggle. The angel for Edward King, and yet which stands in a cemetery near Wolfe’s hometown of the words can still strike Asheville, North Carolina, is said to be looking East or back a chord particularly in the to the beginning while another scholar suggests that Wolfe family of David Wierzbinski whose family watched him first meant “we are all angels, fallen in the gravity of life, and life struggle to return to his beginnings and the life he loved is the struggle for wings, the struggle to get back home.” before unexpectedly and tragically falling in the gravity of

2020, ISSUE IV | MIDWAY MAGAZINE | 25 life and finding his wings. Wierzbinski family refused to give up on a life on the midway, passing their love on to their children. “I started touring David was just a young man of seventeen growing up with my dad when I was about 12 years old on Badger State in Wisconsin, when he first wrote of his home the carnival Shows,” Lawrence recalls. “When I was 14, I became a ride midway in a scholarship essay entitled, “My Reflections.” He boy with the show. I worked on a Ferris wheel.” humbly described the tradition of the carnival business with which he was already well acquainted. “Tradition is another “My two older sisters, David, and I grew up around Badger thing that makes the business so special. My father’s father State Shows,” Kay adds. “Later, when I was a teenager, we was in the business. He passed the trade down to my father, moved over to A & P Shows, but we’ve always been on the which is now being passed down to me. With that I am carnival. In the early 80’s, my dad bought a traveling arcade. also passed down dedication and good work ethics, which Both David and I worked every summer from the time we makes me never give up in anything I do.” were little either running the games or in the arcade. I think giving out change would have probably been one of our first In fact, the Wierzbinski family tradition in the carnival jobs. There are pictures of us with little aprons on. That’s industry stretches back more than a century according to also where we learned our work ethic.” Lawrence Wierzbinski, David’s father. “My uncle got out of the service in 1918,” he shares. “He became a wheel man The work ethic, however, was only a small part of what for Johnny J. Jones Expositions, the biggest railroad show David gleaned from the midway. It was there that he also in the country.” developed his enduring love of people. “It is the little things about the carnival that make us never want to leave,” he Although it was never fulltime at that point, their writes. “The appealing things are the bright lights, familiar involvement continued through the Depression era. “Our music, smell of freshly popped popcorn and probably more grandpa and his brother were in middle management in than anything it is the people involved. The people who we the auto industry,” shares David’s sister, Kay Kastl, owner of spend all our hot summer days with, sharing secrets and Kastl Amusements. “During the Depression, they were laid having a good time with. These people are not just friends off, but they had a neighbor with a carnival who asked them they are family.” to bring their families and travel with them. So, they started operating games, and that’s basically how my grandpa and “It’s so funny that David’s whole life emulated that,” Kay his brother fed their families.” comments. “He treated everybody the same, from fair managers all the way down to the guy who pushes the “They traveled in Wisconsin, Minnesota, and upper buttons on the rides. He treated them all the same.” Michigan,” Kay continues. “They built their games from the ground up, and they even used to make their own stock with David carried his relationships, his friendships, far past the plaster.” midway. “In other jobs,” he continues, “you may talk on a friendly basis with someone and may even keep in touch over While life in Wisconsin eventually returned to normal, the the phone, but it goes no further than that. When your day is

26 | MIDWAY MAGAZINE | 2020, ISSUE IV up, and your job is over, your friendship we had grown up on Badger State take care of his family,” Kay confides. is put on hold. In the carnival business, Shows which was owned by Annie “He drove trucks in the Wisconsin and when the work-day ends, friendships Kastl’s grandfather and uncle for years Illinois area for 20 plus years.” just begin. When thecarnival people and years, my parents insisted I look travel from show to show, they never her up on Ray Cammack Shows. So, I For someone accustomed to the stop being friends with the people started helping on the weekends. Then freedom of the carnival midway, 20 they have met. In a way the carnival David came out and worked with RCS years confined to the cab of a truck business and the people involved are in the games with Annie. I guess we all surely felt like a lifetime. David turned one big happy family. Bound together go back to our roots.” his life homeward, going to work for by the mere thought of pleasing others his sister, Kay, and her husband, Frank, and bringing to many families across Seemingly firmly rooted, David got on the midway of Kastl Amusements. the country, entertainment that is married, and he and his wife welcomed “Being in a truck every day was very enjoyed by all ages.” their first child, Whitney. When faced monotonous and very lonely,” Kay with the choice of continuing with the admits. “He was in the midst of his “David was very, very popular life he loved or supporting his family second divorce, and circumstances had because people just really liked him,” in a traditional manner, those lessons changed in his life. He saw he needed Kay shares. “He stayed in contact with from the midway once again influenced to get out. He had a calling basically.” a lot of his friends from high school. his decision. “The one most important That’s just the type of person he was.” thing that it has taught me is no matter “Kastl Amusements’ does a lot of what you do, the most important thing rentals,” she continues. “So, we put A star athlete, David attended the in the world to remember is your family David in charge of a rental. He was like University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, but and friends. From that I have learned to an extension of Frank and I because he continued to look homeward to the have an unselfish attitude,” he shares. we could trust him. He handled some midway. Kay recalls, “After I graduated David left the midway and accepted a of our high-profile rentals like the new from college, I was working in property position as a professional truckdriver. movie, Birds of Prey, that came out in management when my company February. We did all the amusements transferred me to Los Angeles. Since “David did what he needed to do to that were in that movie.”

Photo by Stefan Hinz Once again on the midway, David’s ‘Are you a Packer fan?’ David said, ‘Yes, At no time did that light shine brighter engaging smile and personality I’m from Wisconsin. I’m a Packer and than during Super Bowl LIV in February reemerged proving to be a huge asset a Brewer fan.’ The guy said, ‘I am too. 2020 when the Kastl Amusement’s to Kastl Amusements. “David would I went to college at the University of Mulligan Wheel played a major role in have been a great, great front man,” Wisconsin-Oshkosh.’ It turns out they the FOX NFL Fan Experience in Miami Kay exclaims. “For a big show, he were there at the same time.” Florida. “David’s biggest thrill, I think, would have been a huge asset. For us, was taking the gondola wheel to the he was a huge asset, but he was my “David was so happy,” Kay adds. Super Bowl,” Lawrence shares. brother. He could have commanded a “This man with a pretty important $150,000 for the job he could do, but he role knew his name and treated him “He was our liaison with the reps didn’t know his own self-worth.” like a normal person. He didn’t see from FOX,” Kay says, “again, someone him as a carnival person, but David’s we could trust. He was there during Or, perhaps David had simply learned whole thing was to always project the the whole operation. We were set up early on, there are more important carnival industry in a good light.” on the sand in South Beach right next things than money. “To me, it is not to where FOX had their big stages set just a business, or a seasonable job,” he writes, “it is a lifestyle. It is what we do, not for money, but because we enjoy SCAN HERE/CLICK HERE it.” See the trailer for Warner Brothers’ Birds of Prey

One of the things David seemed to enjoy most was interacting with people from all walks of life. “It didn’t matter who he talked to,” Lawrence shares. “He was always very personable. He could talk to a movie director or an MVP athlete as well as any ride boy on the lot. He never differentiated people.”

“David was on the set of the Warner Brothers’ Birds of Prey movie, and at first, he may have been a little uncomfortable,” he continues. “He was wearing a Green Bay Packers hat when the assistant director started talking to him. He looked at David and asked,

28 | MIDWAY MAGAZINE | 2020, ISSUE IV 2020, ISSUE IV | MIDWAY MAGAZINE | 29 up for their live broadcasts.” David. I guess their football team stunk because my brother said, ‘Welcome! We’re going to be really good at basketball.’ Unfortunately, after Super Bowl LIV, the carnival lights David just made him feel welcome and comfortable. They across the country began to turn off as COVID-19 stopped remained friends all their lives. Friendship was so important the industry in its tracks. David returned to truck driving to him.” to continue to meet his obligations and support his family. “Some people renege on their obligations,” Kay admits. Certainly, David did not wait until the end of his life to “David didn’t. It’s what our parents taught us.” discover the importance of friendship. He learned it as a young man on the midway. “I have learned not to judge Early on the morning of May 29 on State Road 60 near people by their appearance, but by what is inside,” he writes. Mulberry Florida, the bright light that was David Wierzbinski “This includes no matter what you do in life and where you was extinguished forever as the truck he was driving was move to, never forget the people in your life who got you involved in a multi-vehicle accident. Only the day before, there. Those people who have-always been there for you, his father Lawrence had discovered his son’s essay reflecting which can only be one type of person, carnival people!” on the life and home he loved. While written so many years before, it still said so much about the man David was. As the Like the friend of the great poet, John Milton, David family still grieves, Kay finds comfort in the memories others Wierzbinski was indeed taken from this life much to young. have shared. “Most of the comfort I got was actually from If indeed as scholars suggest, life is the struggle for wings, his high school friends saying how much of a great guy he the struggle to get back home, we can all take comfort in was,” she says. “One of his friends relayed a story to me of knowing David no longer needs to look homeward. He is how he was new at the school, and he played football with home. He is on the midway.

THIS IS SOMETHING NEW! By: Sharon Barlow

What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun. -Solomon Photo by Thomas Hagerty

Centuries ago, as King Solomon reflected on his life and Wisdom Rides of America in October 2018, Jared Davis has accomplishments, he asked himself “Is there anything of welcomed the challenge of making his own mark on the which one can say, ‘Look! This is something new’?” While midway. “You can only spin people in a circle so many ways,” Solomon was revered for his great wisdom, few have ever he laughs. “We have spun people in a circle in a lot of ways. truly grasped the prudence of his writings. As the centuries It’s a challenge to create a new circle, but I am always open have catapulted through the iron age to the machine age to new ideas, new concepts, and feedback from customers. and the nuclear age and the space age before landing in The best ideas come from looking outside the box, throwing the information age, inventors and manufacturers have away all your predetermined notions and things you know struggled to prove Solomon wrong by pushing the limits of to be true. Then the best ideas begin to flow.” physics and engineering to the very edge. In the amusement industry great examples of these efforts line the midways of Perhaps one of Jared’s best ideas came from the carnivals and parks with rides designed to swing riders higher combination of listening to feedback from customers and and faster as they spin, flip, and twist. One manufacturer, then debunking the notion that the best rides also had to however, is recognizing this ancient wisdom as they examine be expensive as Wisdom Rides of America is launching a the rides proven to thrill and make money and strive to take new line of large observation wheels in 2020. “So, what what has been done and make it better. They are Wisdom we’re doing is we’re working on expanding our product line Rides of America. to provide additional major rides that we haven’t before,” Jared explains. “We’re working in partnership with another For almost 50 years, the name Wisdom has proven to manufacturer to offer designs for 50, 75, or 100- meter wheels be the smart choice for carnival owners and independent that have already been proven around the world. We’re just ride operators. With more than 40 unique designs to their focusing our knowledge and experience on manufacturing credit, Wisdom is recognized throughout the amusement in a more economical fashion so that the midsize carnival industry for their Sizzlers, Gravitrons, Coasters, Himalayas, or park that can’t afford the five million dollar wheels from and more recently the futuristic Y-Factor, all with the most Europe can stay relevant and compete in their market creative themes, brilliant light packages, high rider capacity, without a massive investment.” portability, and ease of set-up. Since assuming the helm of

Photo by Thomas Hagerty Photo by Stefan Hinz Photo by Thomas Hagerty

34 | MIDWAY MAGAZINE | 2020, ISSUE IV “YOU CAN ONLY SPIN PEOPLE IN A CIRCLE SO MANY WAYS,” HE LAUGHS, “WE HAVE SPUN PEOPLE IN A CIRCLE IN A LOT OF WAYS.”

2020, ISSUE IV | MIDWAY MAGAZINE | 35 “We will be able to be extremely aggressive in pricing,” he continues, “while supplying a product that isn’t necessarily as readily available for three quarters to half the price of what other manufacturers are offering. Plus, it’s American made by an American company with American service, American tech support, and American installation.”

As the interest for the Wisdom Wheel grows, the first installations are projected for early 2021, although Jared is not delaying until the trade shows to showcase his new line. He shares, “I’m working right now on having some things here on site before the end part of the year where we’ll be able to fly people here to view them at the factory. The goal is to have at least six different pieces available to be viewed.”

The Wisdom Wheels, however, will not be the only new Wisdom rides available for viewing as Jared also plans to introduce a new line of coasters. “The second phase of the whole process,” Jared explains, “is a product line that’s stepped up from our family-type coasters, more of a thrill ride or an attraction-type coaster. We have some great designs in the works that will have a big splash and a small footprint, both looping and suspension-type, and be available as both portable and park models.”

While Jared is almost two years into the process, he is careful not to allow the excitement of introducing something new to the market distract him from the feature he considers most critical, quality. “There was a lot of things to work through to make something this big happen,” he admits. “The other thing is, we’ve been fortunate to be extremely busy in the factory. If it deters from our current product line and making sure we’re putting out the quality I want, if it distracts from that, then it’s not worth doing.”

Certainly, Jared has allowed nothing to deter from his current product line as he has invested heavily in innovations in the rides show owners rely on for their portability and profitability beginning with the Sizzler. Since purchasing the rights in 1973, Wisdom has made the ever-popular Sizzler a cornerstone in their product line. Like many older rides, it had become overshadowed on the midway by the flash of newer rides. Adding more than “WE WANTED TO UP THE ANTE ON 1,000 lights to the sweeps and the fiberglass cars as well as THE LIGHTING AND CHANGE THE updating the hydraulic system, Wisdom has recreated a ride that THEME,” HE ADDS. “WE DIDN’T will continue to stand the test of time. Themed the Axis, the first new Sizzler debuted in 2019 on the midway of Wade Shows, but WANT JUST ANOTHER HIMALAYA Jared is so convinced of the viability and profitability of this ride, OR MUSIC EXPRESS. WE WANTED he is offering a $100,000 trade-in value on any similar ride.

SOMETHING DIFFERENT. SO, JIM The innovations, however, do not stop there. When Butler HALL, WHO MANAGES OUR WINTER Amusements decided to update their midway with a new music QUARTERS, WORKED WITH JARED ON ride, they looked no further than Wisdom Rides of America. “We needed another Himalaya,” admits Lance Moyer with Butler THE NAME AND LIGHTING PACKAGE, Amusements. “We had a big three-trailer Music Express, and it just AND IT JUST CAME OUT FANTASTIC. wasn’t grossing any more money than our one-truck Himalaya EVERYBODY WHO CAME OUT TO we already had. So, we wanted to upgrade, add another one- truck Himalaya, and save on fuel and trucking.” INDIO JUST FELL IN LOVE WITH IT.” The new Wisdom Himalaya themed the Hawaiian Express and then we start again. When we’re doing a fair a week, debuted in 2020 on the midway of Butler Amusements the Alpine Bobs is too labor intensive to use at every event, at the Riverside County Fair and Date Festival in Indio, but the demand for a flat spinning ride such as that is quite California. “Jared really upped the game,” Lance exclaims. high. Everybody wants to ride the Himalaya. That’s why we “He upgraded the drive system from a hydraulic drive selected the Wisdom Himalaya. We went with the Music system that’s on our old one to an electronic drive system Express theme and made it a little different than some of which is a big upgrade. I think they did a great job with the the other rides already operating in the state of Michigan.” mechanical upgrades, but the lighting package and the theming is truly spectacular.” “From the general public’s point of view,” Jamie continues, “it’s a really neat spectacular ride. I think you can’t beat “We wanted to up the ante on the lighting and change the it for the flash, the presentation, and the portability. Plus, theme,” he adds. “We didn’t want just another Himalaya Jared’s made upgrades on it. The marquee is now a sheet or Music Express. We wanted something different. So, Jim metal that’s wrapped, and the lighting is RGB bulbs that Hall, who manages our winter quarters, worked with Jared I believe came from Showmen Supplies. We have some on the name and lighting package, and it just came out unique colors in our color palette that most shows don’t fantastic. Everybody who came out to Indio just fell in love use, so we worked with the design team at Waterloo Tent with it.” to make sure everything matched up, and it did. We’re just disappointed we can’t operate in 2020, but we’re looking The second new Music Express for 2020 was delivered to forward to 2021 and starting a fresh season.” the winter quarters of the Skerbeck Entertainment Group in May, but with a route confined primarily to Michigan and While Solomon in his infinite wisdom claimed there was Northern Indiana, show owner, Jamie Skerbeck does not nothing new under the sun, perhaps he failed to account believe he will be able to debut it on the midway until 2021. for Jared Davis’s willingness to toss out all predetermined “We have something to look at,” he laughs, “but it will be notions and look outside the box or the ingenuity and on the truck this season. Obviously, when we start back up creativity of an experienced ride designer like Mark next spring, we’ll have it ready to go.” Blumhagen of Rides4U or the determination of Len Soled of Rides4U to constantly bring something new to the mobile Still, the anticipation builds. “I’m sure we’re going to love amusement industry. Regardless, Wisdom Rides of America it,” Jamie shares. “We have a Chance Alpine Bobs which is a is introducing the new Whirlpool possibly before the end of two-truck ride. The tub action is a little different on a Bobs. 2020. “You know,” Mark shares, “every few years you see a It swings. We wanted something more like the Himalaya- concept for a ride that tries to duplicate a pinball machine style, but also, having a two-truck ride, we really needed with vehicles going up a chain incline and then rolling back one that was more affordable. We do a lot of fairs that are down a little serpentine maze or obstacle course. When you six-day fairs whereby we get one day off to move and set up, do the pinball thing though, you only have one car going at

2020, ISSUE IV | MIDWAY MAGAZINE | 37 a time, bouncing off obstructions, and never reacting with the other cars at all. Well, this one would. Everybody will bounce off each other and roll around in an unpredictable action. You will have the unpredictable action of a tilt-a- whirl combined with the excitement of a bumper car.”

“So, it starts out level,” he adds, “and then it dips. The trailer runs parallel to the midway, so it may just tip four or five degrees, just enough so all the cars roll to the bottom. There are little scallops around the edge to kind of pick the cars up as a turntable is turning and take them back up to the top. If you look at it like a clock, the cars may get to about the two o’clock position and then they roll out of the scallops and head back downhill colliding with all the others. It will just be one of those things where you come off laughing like heck and get back on again. No two rides will be alike, so you’re going to get a repeat appeal to it.”

Mark projects the Whirlpool will be approximately the same size as a tilt-a-whirl and move on one semi-trailer. “There’s really nothing to lift but the fence,” he laughs. “It should take two men only about 45 minutes to set up. I think it will gross what a 10-car tilt-a-whirl would.”

With a price point below $499,000, Mark thinks the Whirlpool will satisfy a real need in the industry. “We need pieces that will last forever,” he claims, “not be a flash in the pan and then lose their appeal. I think this is a pretty trouble-free device. It’s just something fresh!”

It seems the term fresh is one that Jared Davis is striving to ensure can be applied to the entire Wisdom Rides of America product line. As he continues to take what has been done and make it better, perhaps he is proving ancient wisdom wrong, and show owners everywhere can point to their midways and say, “Look! This is something new!”

The recorded history of the traveling carnival is ambitious immigrants, coming to the United States fascinating to me as well as many others who have at a young age with nothing but a dream. Some could an inherent love of this business. It is filled with not even read or write. The things that set them apart imagination and legendary characters, both good from others, however, was a unique combination of and bad, who were in many cases larger than life. The imagination, tenacity, and an ability to recognize an biographies of the old showmen of a century ago are opportunity when they saw one. Many had the insight rich with human drama, humorous tales, and colorful to recognize the opportunities that they witnessed at stories that paint a picture of their time on this planet the Chicago World’s Fair in 1893 which is considered by in an era that we can scarcely imagine in the twenty- many carnival historians as the genesis of the traveling first century. In many cases, these people were show industry in America.

2020, ISSUE IV | MIDWAY MAGAZINE | 41 Much of what we know about these people we have gleaned from systematically digging through the old photographs, documents, and records that chronicled their lives over a century ago. It can be an arduous task at times and quite time-consuming culling out the pieces of a person’s life from the threads they leave behind. While a great deal of it has been lost due to the unfortunate circumstances of time, much of the information still survives today because it was documentation recorded on paper. Perhaps one of the greatest assets of our time was the advent of handheld cameras and daylight loaded film that put the miracle of photography in everyone’s hands and helped record the history for the future generations who would later come behind these people. Census records, newspaper and magazine articles, and personal letters and photographs are still around after a century of being stored away in a dusty filing cabinet or a trunk that was put away in an attic, barn, or basement then forgotten. Many of these items have recently been made available by the miracle of the personal computer which has allowed us to save many crumbling documents and faded photographs and even restore them to ‘like new’ condition and share them online with everyone through sites like Google and Facebook.

But this is, as are most things in life, a two-edged sword. The electronic wonders of the twenty-first century that have so wonderfully preserved those vestiges of our past may well spell the end of our future historic footprint. Nobody takes photographs with a film loaded camera anymore. In fact, just buying film and having it commercially developed, while a simple and popular undertaking in the past, has now become virtually nonexistent. Today, we have become accustomed to being barraged with hundreds of daily digital images, regularly streaming photos of someone’s lunch, cute furry animals, political memes or slick advertising posing as interesting imagery that we scarcely even glance at. It is the ocular garbage we have humorously labeled ‘Spam,’ and thankfully, we can discard it easily with a keystroke for the visual nuisance that it has become.

Most of the photos we see in our computer feed are sent instantly by a cell phone camera. Unfortunately, however, a cell phone photo does not stand the test of time. Relatively cheap devices, cell phones are replaced regularly for many reasons. Often when they malfunction (as all equipment is prone to do) their photos go to the electronic graveyard with them. Of course, we can store pictures on other devices like Memory Sticks and photo Sim Cards, but as technology advances these products quickly become replaced by the ‘newest, greatest most modern’ advancements, making them obsolete.

How many of us still record video tapes? Or, even watch

42 | MIDWAY MAGAZINE | 2020, ISSUE IV the countless VHS tapes we now have in boxes gathering forever. Although many may hate to admit it, we all know dust on the VCR’s that were the absolute highpoint of that we’re all just one sophisticated computer hack or technology just a few years ago? And video tape images insidious virus away from electronic oblivion. disintegrate over the years making them useless for historical documentation. As for the plastic DVR disc’s xxWe no longer use paper to correspond with one that followed them…well many newer computers, another either. “Snail mail” has become a thing of the especially laptops or other hand-held devices, in an past. Most of us do not even know the going price of attempt to make them lighter and more portable, no a postage stamp today, but we can Skype, Email and longer even have a DVD or CD player. Additionally, as Tweet with the greatest proficiency. Bills are paid on- we have all experienced at one time or another, when a line, and we regularly talk to each other by text message computer goes down it often does so without warning, and dutifully delete our inboxes when they get full. There unexpectedly. Without a backup drive plugged into it, are no tangible letters or correspondence to save in the we run the risk of losing everything on its hard drive archives. No personal record of our lives permanently

2020, ISSUE IV | MIDWAY MAGAZINE | 43 remains in this electronic age.

We’re so conscious of internet piracy in today’s world that we use heightened password cryptology and elaborate, specially designed software to ensure that nobody will ever see or electronically steal our stuff. Even the United States government with all their ultra- sophisticated technology can’t crack the password protection on a modern I-Phone. …guaranteeing that NOBODY probably will ever see it.

Who then will discover the historical gems of who we are today and what we did as a collective industry a hundred years from now? Who will marvel over how we dealt with this modern-day plague called COVID-19 affecting our showbusiness world today? Or wonder as to how we’ll come together in the future in these scary social times affecting our tight showbiz society to deal with one-another in a more positive and humane way? Our personal stories and midway tales. Our colorful jackpots of glory, achievement, and tragedy yet to be lived and told. Will there be any “trail” of visual breadcrumbs for the next historians to follow, or will it all disappear into the ‘Cloud’ or whatever electronic invention comes along next in this buzzing abstract maze of ones and zeros we do not really understand but have so readily embraced as our way of life?

Happiness Psalm 1

Everyone wants to be happy. We long for happiness. Just do where he lingers. Lastly, the happy man is careful where a simple search on the internet for inspiring quotes about he sits in agreement. He knows that investigation leads to happiness and you’ll find plenty of pithy attempts at finding participation and results in celebration. Therefore, he resolves happiness. We legislate happiness. Our very Declaration of to avoid the way of the world. Independence prescribes “the pursuit of happiness” as one of the chief aims of this more perfect union. We labor for The Way of the Word happiness. All men seek. Everything we do, whether eating Rather, the happy man, according to Psalm 1, pursues the way breakfast or going to the gym, is aimed at ultimately seeking of the Word: “but his delight is in the law of the Lord and on his greater happiness. law he meditates day and night.” (Psalm 1:2). That is, he knows that sin is a lie and always fails to deliver. So he fixates his However, most of us lack happiness. We’re fearful. Anxious. mind and heart on unshakeable truth and trusts that though Unfulfilled. Melancholy. Happiness eludes. This is why the this way is narrow, it leads to life, joy, and peace. Therefore, he Bible, and in particular the book of Psalms, is loved by so seeks for joy and delight in the Word of God. He reads it daily. many. The Psalms begin with a declaration: “Happy is the He studies it often. He meditates, or ponders, reflects, and man…” (Psalm 1:1). It proceeds to explains two primary paths applies it, day and night. He lives in the presence of God by to happiness: the way of the world and the way of the Word. living all of life with reference to Him.

The Way of the World Choose This Day The world promises great happiness. Just watch TV for five So I implore you: Choose this day which path you will pursue. minutes and you’ll have countless advertisements promising The way of the world may be wide, but its way is wayward. you more happiness if only you buy their product. Indeed, The way of the Word may be narrow, but its proven. Give every program presents a worldview of the good life. Yet, yourself to Christ and His Word. Decide today to pick up the somehow, many if not most are unhappy. Mansions abound Bible. If you need a good place to start, choose the Gospel with unhappy tenants. Successful titans of industry are According to Mark and begin slowly reading. Ask questions. miserable in their corner offices. The way of the world is Get answers from your pastor or feel free to reach out to me evidently wayward. ([email protected]).

God knows this and in Psalm 1 presents the happy man as Together, let’s walk in the way of the Word. one who avoids this wide and wayward way: “Happy is the Unspeakable joy awaits. man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, not sits in the seat of scoffers” (Psalm 1:1). That is, the happy man is careful where he gets his counsel. Kyler Smith is the He does not flirt with unbiblical counsel or alternative Family Discipleship Pastor at worldviews. Moreover, the happy man is careful where he Hickory Grove Baptist Church, stands. He knows that habits shape identity and is careful Charlotte, NC