Eworks Pro Lights Change the Whole Look of the Midway

EWORKS PRO LIGHTS CHANGE THE WHOLE LOOK OF THE MIDWAY

MyM decision to buy an EWorks Pro light “ ppackagea for my Chance Century Wheel wwas based ﬁrst on the testimonials of other show owners. Lars Koch came out personally and helped us install the lights in two working days. They require the least amount of maintenance of any light I have ever used, and they look fabulous. I was so pleased with my Century Wheel that I bought a whole new system for my ARM Rockstar. LED lights are one of the best things that has ever happened to the mobile amusement industry, and the EWorks Pro lights have changed the whole look of the midway.”

3939 ForsythForsyth Road, Winter Park, FL 327932792 USA Danny Ottaway 407-332-0151 | www.eworkspro.cowww.eworkspro.com Ottaway Amusement Company MADE IN THE USA CONTENTS

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THE MAN IN THE MIRROR 08 Dreamland Amusements 20 YOU CAN TEACH AN OLD DOG NEW TRICKS 23 KMG SPEEDS TOWARD GIBTOWN 33 IT'S ALL ABOUT THE SMILES 38 THE BACKSPIN 48 ON A FINAL NOTE Freedom from Fear ON THE COVER: Deggeller Attractions’ KMG Hydra at the 2017 Salem Fair in Salem, Virginia. Photo by Terry Aldhizer.

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 Terry Aldhizer Kistin Jordan photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior Drew Tewksbury Kevin Cantor written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in Editor Stefan Hinz Layout & Design critical reviews and certain reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted Kyler Smith Mark Hunter by copyright law. For permission requests, write to the publisher, addressed, Attention: Sharon Barlow Daniel Olwert MIDWAY MAGAZINE Timothy S. Allen William Wilson Permissions Coordinator, at the address below. Printing Photography Business Manager Chris Emory Social Media FOR SUBSCRIPTIONS, Midway Magazine TRADE SHOW Progress Printing Buddy Barlow Jeff Smallwood Director ADDRESS CHANGES, P.O. Box 1165 ISSUE 2019 Kannapolis, NC 28082 Web Design Venetia Alex Barlow & CUSTOMER SERVICE 704-925-1325 Midway Marketing Scooter Korek midwaymagazineusa.com mailto:[email protected] MIDWAY MOMENT WELCOME BACK TO MIDWAY!

I am thrilled to once again welcome you to MIDWAY Magazine, the publication where rides, fairs, festivals, foods, and games, converge to create fun! You, our readers, are our most honored guests because you are more than Sharon Barlow our readers, you are also our stories. You entertain. You inform and educate. You encourage. You make us smile. I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to share your stories every month.

When we launched MIDWAY Magazine six months ago, I’m sure there were probably some of you who thought we were living in a dreamland. I take great encouragement from many of you who were perhaps also accused of living in a dreamland when you launched your businesses. Two people I have developed an immense admiration for, Bob and Kathy DeStefano, even named their carnival Dreamland Amusements. Would you laugh if I told you when I first met Bob, I was more than a little intimidated by him? Seriously, for a girl who has spent her entire life south of the Mason-Dixon line, I wasn’t sure what to expect. After spending time with him and Kathy at the Columbus County Fair, I realized Bob is a man deeply committed to his family, his carnival, and his industry. He doesn’t look to others to initiate change. He looks to the man in the mirror.

As we all turn our attention to the 2019 IISF Tradeshow, I can’t tell you how thrilled I am to be part of an industry like none other. I personally cannot wait to see what is new and exciting for the upcoming year. I already know KMG and Majestic Manufacturing have some very exciting things to share, and I can assure you that if you continue to return to MIDWAY over the coming months you will discover many new things from our industry manufacturers.

I have a question for all of you. Can you teach an old dog new tricks? Drew Tewksbury thinks that you can, and he wants to do all he can to assist you with training or retraining your staff to help you provide the safest, most inviting midway you can.

Finally, many of you know that this letter is my favorite part of MIDWAY Magazine. I struggle sometimes, however, to share with you something that has value, something that in some way will enlighten you or perhaps lighten your load especially as you prepare to kick off 2019 in earnest. This month, I realized that I don’t have to. Please take a moment to turn to page 48, read On a Final Note, and be encouraged. Enjoy this issue of MIDWAY Magazine!

TRADE SHOW ISSUE 2019 | MIDWAY MAGAZINE | 7 I'm starting with the man in the mirror I'm asking him to change his ways And no message could have been any clearer If you want to make the world a better place Take a look at yourself, and then make a change

Photo by Kevin Cantor By Sharon Barlow

In January 1988, Michael Jackson released their successful carnival up and down the East the fourth single from his solo album, Bad. Coast and endeavor to instigate change for the Debuting at number one, Man in the Mirror improvement of an industry they love. became Michael’s anthem. Ironically, it was one of only two songs on the album that Many years before Bob could make an impact Michael did not write. The on the amusement song’s co-writer Siedah industry, the industry Garrett felt that Michael made an impact on him. recognized that, "The song “I was 16, and I needed was deeper than just the a job” he recalls. “The visual of a man looking carnival was a mile and at himself in the mirror. It a half from my house was that, juxtaposed with in Levittown on Long the idea of a man going Island. I went to look for deeper inside himself to a job. I got hired. I told change from within. To my dad that the carnival make a difference on the was coming back to the outside, you have to first other side of town, and start from within.” The mobile amusement I was going to look to travel with the carnival. industry includes many such men who have Being a supervisor for the Nassau County recognized that they have the means within Probation Department, he didn’t think that themselves to make a difference in the world was such a good idea. I got a lesson on who by bringing joy to the millions of people who appeared in front of him day in and day out enter their midway every year. Similarly, Bob and what happens to guys like me, blah, blah, DeStefano, owner of Dreamland Amusements, blah.” has adopted Man in the Mirror as something of his anthem as he and his wife, Kathy, navigate “I was helping on a Watkins Swing,” Bob continues. “I was just the local green kid, buckling people in, taking tickets, or whatever. One day, these two girls want to go on the ride. When I went to buckle one of them in, she said, ‘No, I can do it myself.’ I was working with a guy they called Swinger Bob, so I asked Swinger Bob, ‘Hey, who is that?’ He said, ‘Listen, whatever you do, don’t mess with her. She’s the boss’s daughter.’ I said, ‘No kidding.’”

“My parents, Charlie and Norma Wagner, owned a small show called Carnival Amusements,” Kathy adds. “When we came to Levittown, Bobby wanted a job for the week. A month later when we came back to a different section, he worked again. By September he actually asked me out.”

In 1984, Bob and Kathy DeStefano were married, but in addition to the impact Carnival Amusements made on his personal life, Bob is grateful for the impact it made on him professionally. “The show played just on Long Island and in the Hamptons for a few weeks from mid-April until the week after Labor Day. I remember there was an Italian Fest that called Charlie for the week following that. You would have thought the world was coming to an end that he might have to go out another week after the week after Labor Day,” Bob laughs.

He continues, “Besides themselves, one of the things I am very grateful for by being with them was that Charlie had concessions in Danbury, Connecticut, the Great Danbury State Fair. After Labor Day when he put the show away, he would get some game trailers ready, and in early October, we would go to Danbury. I’m really glad I had the opportunity to ever play that fair. It was amazing.”

The same year Bob and Kathy were married, Charlie and Norma sold Carnival Amusements. Once again, Bob was ready to make a change. “We had to decide what we wanted to do,” Kathy shares. “So, we took some of our wedding money and put a down payment on a Wisdom roller coaster, a small one. We partnered with another couple, and we just started getting jobs and buying equipment. From scratch, we just grew into Silver Dollar Shows.”

For 18 years, Bob and Kathy helped navigate Silver Dollar Shows throughout the Tri-State area of New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. In 2003, however, they made the difficult decision to invest in a more comprehensive route and their own

10 | MIDWAY MAGAZINE | TRADE SHOW ISSUE 2019 Photo by Jeff Bouldin Photo by Mark Hunter Photo by William Wilson

show. With big dreams, they created Dreamland Amusements Utilizing the strengths and reputation that he and Kathy and charted a course south. “The very first thing we did after had carefully honed during their tenure in the amusement forming Dreamland was look for a winter quarters in the industry, they began adding dates. “It certainly had its South,” Bob shares. “Knowing everything we were planning challenges,” Bob admits, “but initially, believe it or not, we got to do, we chose Delco, North Carolina, a small town halfway lucky with our website. Our website had gotten us a couple between Whiteville and Wilmington right on the line between of leads for events that we have had from 2003 until this day. Brunswick and Columbus counties. We are probably the last That actually happened, and, of course, there was a lot of building in Columbus County before crossing into Brunswick hard leg work and persistent phone calls to fair managers and or the first one coming from the other way, however, you want festival people who Kathy and I had met over the years.” to say it. That was our first move.” In addition to hard work and persistence, Bob and Kathy With the first move made, Bob continued to make the relied on a great deal of creativity to propel them in the changes that would take Dreamland Amusements from a direction they wanted. “Kathy and I have had fun creating localized show to a regional one by building a route that some of our own dates,” Bob shares. “Some have worked. would eventually stretch from Long Island, New York to South Some haven’t worked, but we’ve enjoyed it regardless. We Florida. “We could have named the show I-95 corridor,” Bob will take a shopping center date and turn in into more of an laughs. event. When we go to these events, we try to keep the dates

TRADE SHOW ISSUE 2019 | MIDWAY MAGAZINE | 11 consistent year after year. People successful for us.” to buy a show hat. At all our fairs, we actually look forward to the carnival. have fair hats made with the fair’s logo. They are excited.” As dates have been added and events We give our concessionaires the fair’s created, Dreamland Amusements has hat.” “We also like to add a little something experienced very little attrition. “We extra to it like Victoria Circus or really try to push ourselves,” Bob says, “Also, there’s a lot of loyalty in this Tommy’s World of Wonder Show,” Bob “and we give folks a quality midway. I business,” he adds. “I believe that continues. “So, it’s more than just our tend to fairs and festivals the way it has there’s a lot of loyalty, but we still try carnival for people to look forward to. always been, hands on.” to do a good job. If we ever lose a One of the major events we’ve created date, it’s probably not that we had a recently is the Long Island Fun Fest on “We like working very closely with competitor who took it. It’s that we the property of Suffolk Community our fairs,” Kathy shares. “That’s deserved to lose it, and that doesn’t College on Long Island. It’s an 11-day the way we are. On most shows, happen too often. What I mean is if you run we have in mid-June. It’s been very concessionaires would be required blow a spot, most likely you deserve to

Photo by William Wilson

12 | MIDWAY MAGAZINE | TRADE SHOW ISSUE 2019 lose it. There’s a crack in your armor. It’s always easy manager at the Ulster County Fair that I had a new ride to blame the other guy, but I like the song by Michael coming. I showed him the picture of the Street Fighter, Jackson, Man in the Mirror. It’s always hard to blame and I could see the look on his face. I said, ‘What? yourself, but that’s how you have to look at it.” Something wrong?’ He said, ‘Bob, the name, Street Fighter.’ Until he said it, I didn’t realize the negative Bob freely admits that there are several aspects of connotation to the name Street Fighter, but you know, his business where he is somewhat atypical. One of everybody has different buttons to push. So, then which is his ride purchases and theming. “I’m a little Kathy and I came up with the name Dream Catcher.” bit of a kook. I don’t like ride names that come from the manufacturer. Kathy and I prefer to come up “The Dream Catcher is a Rolls Royce,” Bob adds. with something different. For example, we “Technical Park, if a ride needs an eighth of an inch of purchased a new Technical Park steel, they use a quarter inch. That’s just what they do. Street Fighter. I was I can attest to the fact that my wife needs overweight telling the fair permits for every Technical Park ride we have. Perhaps that’s not a good thing when we’re working on transport, but it is what it is.” Photo by Buddy Barlow

In addition to the Dream Catcher, Dreamland Amusement them back from someone else. So, on one unit we have the fire has a cache of 45 rides that includes a unique blend of new engine and pony cart, and on the other, we have a fire engine spectaculars and carefully refurbished nostalgia dating back and boats.” to Carnival Amusements as well as a new Majestic Scooter that incorporates the latest in technology with a fitting tribute “When I bought them, they were pretty beat up,” Bob adds. to Charlie and Norma. “The bumper cars from Charlie and “We had them refurbished and trailer-mounted. The fire engine Norma’s show, Kathy inherited,” Bob shares. “It meant a lot to us is the one Kathy ran as a little girl. On one of them is a billboard being their ride. It was 25 years old, and it had been refurbished of Cathy when she was 16 or 17 running the ride.” once. I asked everyone what they wanted to do. We could put hundreds of thousands of dollars into it, and we would still He laughs, “She’s wearing a Danbury Fair jumpsuit, an orange have a 25-year old scooter. Vince Kudler from Majestic came jumpsuit like she’s in a penitentiary. It also has the history out to see us on the road, and we ordered a new one with the of the ride, and how the DeStefano’s hope children will have them Rock-N-Cars. Charlie and Norma on the jukebox was a bit memories of the ride like the one’s we have.” of surprise for everybody but me. I had Vince do that.” “The Mangels boat ride wasn’t part of Kathy’s dad’s rides, The Rock-N-Cars Scooter, however, is not the only tribute to but I wanted the boat ride,” Bob continues. “So, we bought the Charlie and Norma on the Dreamland Amusements midway. boat ride, and it needed a lot of TLC. At one point, Kathy asked Bob has a strong affinity for his Mangels kiddie rides. “The me, ‘How much money are you going to spend on this?’ It’s got Mangels rides were my father’s,” Kathy shares. “When he sold a lot of new things on it.” his show, the rides were dispersed everywhere. We bought

14 | MIDWAY MAGAZINE | TRADE SHOW ISSUE 2019 Bob credits his oldest daughter, Jaclyn, with shifting his focus Powers Great American Midways for inviting us into the Nassau from the kiddie rides to the more spectacular. “I remember Coliseum Fair and the North Carolina State Fair.” sitting in my truck with my daughter years ago in the infantile stages of Dreamland. She looked at me, and she said, ‘Daddy, “We also booked it at the Big E,” Kathy adds. you know you have a kiddie carnival, right? That’s what you have a kiddie carnival.’ I said, ‘No, Jaclyn, I don’t think so.’ She With 46 rides and a lucrative route that keeps the show moving said, ‘Well, you don’t have this. You don’t have that. You have 12 months out of the year, Dreamland Amusements employs all these kiddie rides. All you care about are those Mangel rides. almost 90 people including 25 H-2B laborers. Bob insists that it We don’t have a Zipper!’” is his key personnel who really set the show apart. “We’re very fortunate. You know its easy to buy rides. It’s easy to buy food Bob goes on, “The next day I called Tommy Coffing, and I stands. But, if you don’t have the right people, it is no good. bought a Zipper. We refurbished it, and it was actually a good Kathy’s nephew, Austin, for instance, he is 22 years old, and he’s move.” well, well beyond his years. He has been everything you could ask someone at that age to be plus. He runs our new coaster.” Another good move was the addition of a new Intermark roller coaster called Super Cyclone to the Dreamland Bob goes on, “We also have John Ott who has been with us Amusements’ midway in 2018. “We took delivery of the coaster since the inception of Dreamland. John is a fabricator. I don’t over the winter,” Bob says. “It debuted at the Florida State Fair want to say the best, but I’d put him up against just about with Wade Shows. We are very grateful to Frank Zaitshik for anybody in the country. As an owner of rides, it’s very difficult allowing us in the Florida State Fair as well as Corky Powers and to have enough confidence in somebody fixing or refurbishing a

TRADE SHOW ISSUE 2019 | MIDWAY MAGAZINE | 15 ride that they are doing it correctly or better than expected by the manufacturer. We have that confidence with the people we have. We have supervisors, Bob Belon and Donnie Bevans, and other people under them. We are very, very fortunate.”

Despite his good fortune, Bob readily admits that when he looks at the man in the mirror, he recognizes that there are changes needed to improve the industry that he could perhaps help instigate. “As a multi-state carnival, what drives us nuts is the inconsistencies,” he says. “What one state allows, another state doesn’t. In my opinion, the more third-party inspectors who get involved in this business, the better off we’re all going to be because it will bring more consistency.”

“Me personally as a carnival owner,” he adds, “I’m opposed to states that have a one-time inspection. I think it’s ludicrous. After trying for 10 years, Kathy and I are responsible for finally getting something done in the state of Vermont. 2019 will be the first time ever that a ride will have to be inspected before it plays in the state of Vermont. Unfortunately, it’s only one time, but it’s something. We are hoping that it will be expanded on in the future.”

Perhaps one aspect of Dreamland Amusements Bob hopes will never change is the opportunities it provides to be close to his three daughters, Jaclyn, Christina, and Kaitlin, a relationship that has had a major impact on the success of the show. “Up until they graduated high school, they would come out on the road with us,” Kathy shares, “and I would travel back and forth between the show and our home in Long Island. Now, Jaclyn, my oldest daughter, is involved, and in the last four or five years, Kaitlin, my youngest has become very much involved. Our middle daughter has a new baby, so she stays at home.”

Bob adds, “Jaclyn and her husband, Gerry Shoup, manage our second unit, and she has food stands on both units. Kaitlin has the popcorn and lemonade on our unit, and she does a fabulous job. When she first decided to go ahead with this, I was behind it, but I honestly was concerned that it was going to be the show owner’s kid and that we may have to cover for her a little bit. It could not be more opposite from that. I couldn’t be more proud of the way she runs that operation.”

“ Kaitlin has gone into it 110%,” Kathy admits. “She does do a fabulous job. She’s constantly getting compliments from health inspectors.”

The closeness of the DeStefano family is evident throughout Dreamland Amusements including in Bob’s email address. “I

16 | MIDWAY MAGAZINE | TRADE SHOW ISSUE 2019 have a story about that,” Bob laughs. “We were starting the that email address to Kathy and I." new company and getting the show ready when my media guy asked me my email address. I told him mythreegirlz@ Dreamland Amusements is truly a reflection of the love and aol.com. He said that wouldn’t work. I needed to be more commitment Bob and Kathy DeStefano have for their family, professional than that. I told him we deal with farmers and their carnival, and their industry. As they continue to grow Kiwanis and Lions and firemen and church groups. We deal and work to improve the industry, they know the first place to with family people. I never even considered changing it, and start is with the man in the mirror. now I can’t tell you how many people have made mention of

Photo by Jennifer Lawrence

TRADE SHOW ISSUE 2019 | MIDWAY MAGAZINE | 17

YOU CAN TEACH AN OLD DOG NEW TRICKS!

DREW TEWKSBURY

CAN YOU BELIEVE IT, THE DAYS ARE BEGINNING TO GET LONGER AND BEFORE YOU KNOW IT A BRAND NEW SEASON WILL BE UPON US. MOST PEOPLE GET GREY AND GLOOMY DURING JANUARY AND FEBRUARY.

I guess it is a mix of a biological and or strategies for keeping your operations a psychological stew of sulkiness that safe. It is also a time to work out the kinks comes upon us. I’m a bit different; I look at in your own internal training programs! this time as a renewal and a time to begin executing on those things that will make In a matter of week or months your team the New Year a success. One key thing will begin gathering and preparing for that I enjoy is all of the training events that the spring season. What training do you I participate in during the winter: IAAPA have planned for them? Maintenance? Events, NAARSO, NWSC, Gibtown, PA State Inspection? Accident management? Ride Safety School…the list goes on. operations? Hopefully you are checking off all of those as sessions for your entire So, I was thinking that this is also the staff, new and old alike. time that as owners and operators you should be sending your key people to the Consistent training helps to re-enforce same training sessions. Most of you do, ideas the concepts and tasks we learn and some of you don’t. It’s a great time to apply to our daily roles. We cannot rely on brush up on your craft and learn new ideas training we had a year ago and expect to be

20 | MIDWAY MAGAZINE | TRADE SHOW ISSUE 2019 able to pull from it completely. It needs to be constantly reinforced and re-imagined. You have a whole year between last year and now. What examples may have occurred during that year that you can use as ‘teachable’ moments for your staff? What did you learn as you talked with colleagues at various conferences or at training events you attended? How can you transfer that knowledge or those experiences to your staff? This is a critical time to make sure that your in-house training program is set up and ready to roll.

Training and education are on-going. Make the most of this time to prepare and fine tune your employee training programs so

Photo by Jeff Smallwood Photo by Jeff that once it is time to open, your staff is prepared, invigorated and ready to keep your guests and fellow employees as safe as they possibly can.

As always, should you need any help with any of these concepts or suggestion on training formats and content, please feel free to reach out to me at any time.

Enjoy the winter and prepare for the amazing 2019 season that is just around the corner. Be Safe - Drew Photo by Venetia Photo by Venetia

Drew Tewksbury is the Director and Senior Vice President of McGowan Amusement Group. A NAARSO- certified safety and ride inspector, Drew brings the carnival industry a refreshing new perspective on safety and insurance. Drew can be contacted at (440)263-1882 or by email at [email protected].

TRADE SHOW ISSUE 2019 | MIDWAY MAGAZINE | 21 22 | MIDWAY MAGAZINE | TRADE SHOW ISSUE 2019 KMG by Kevin Freese Speeds Towards Gibtown

Photo by Terry Aldhizer Photo by Timothy S. Allen

One judge of a successful ride is to lights are glowing. two-trailer ride is one of the latest count the number of them operating pendulum-based attractions to be on the road today. By that measure, The new Speed was ordered in built by the Dutch manufacturer. KMG’s soaring attraction Speed is 2017 by Andy and Jamie Deggeller of Gaining a reputation as one of the among the most popular rides to Deggeller Attractions and will fit well most popular rides on the Deggeller greet the midway in recent years. into the sleeker, more modernized midway, the ride features a full There are nearly fifty of them across midway the family has been shaping options package with added scenery the globe, delighting riders with its over the past several years. Named panels and a packed LED display. 3.5 G experience. The latest Speed Spaceport, the new attraction has a unit will arrive in Florida this winter unique intergalactic theme complete Like Hydra and Spaceport, many for display at the 2019 IISF Trade with backwall scenery. more KMG rides have made Show & Extravaganza in Gibtown. the overseas journey from the Stretching almost 132 feet tall, Spaceport is the second KMG Netherlands to the United States the attraction will be a prominent spectacular acquired by the over the past three decades—a great member of the ride skyline at the Deggeller family within the last two number of them passing through the February 5 – 8 event, especially at years. In 2017, they took delivery of Gibtown trade show gates before night when its state-of-the-art LED an Afterburner themed Hydra. The making it to their final destinations. Photo by Chris Emory

24 | MIDWAY MAGAZINE | TRADE SHOW ISSUE 2019 In 2019, KMG Rides celebrates its 30th year in business. of the Netherlands. His talents as a ride builder were The company was founded by Isje Kroon in 1989 and confirmed during his time in the factory, and he was soon incorporated two years later. A native of the Netherlands, beginning to develop ideas for his own rides. Isje came from a carnival family. His parents traveled across Europe with attractions such as a whirlgig swing The first ride that Isje fully developed on his own ride and a self-built Ferris wheel. Isje also owned rides was called the Tropical Trip—a style of ride that is still including a glass house called the Magic City. popular today and similar to Miami and Avalanche type attractions. Initially, Isje planned to build the Tropical Working with carnival rides from a young age, Isje had Trip solely for his carnival company. Touring with the always been mechanically inclined—helping hissfamily attraction brought him great success and attracted the not only in the operating of carnival rides but also building attention of other showmen. “Isje started getting orders them for their show. His experience brought him into for more Tropical Trip attractions from all over the world contact with a manufacturer based in the northern region after only one season touring with it,” says Peter Theunisz who has worked closely with KMG for many years and is a familiar face in Gibtown.

Isje transformed the winter quarters facility that he’d purchased in Neede—a community in the Gelderland province of the Netherlands—into a manufacturing plant, and he called his company KMG. The letters stand for Kermis Machinebouw Gaasendam and translate to Gaasendam Fair Attraction Construction Company with Gaasendam the surname of Isje’s wife—Joke Gaasendam.

Just as Isje followed in his family’s footsteps, his children have also remained in the business. Youngest son, Tonny, specializes in sound systems designed for attractions. He also travels with KMG’s large spectacular Mission Space, playing events in Europe like his parents and grandparents before him.

Isje’s eldest son, Albert, oversees operations at KMG today. He has been instrumental in developing many of KMG’s most popular pieces, including the Freak Out.

Photo by Chris Emory The impetus for the Freak Out than rebuilding it, he purchased and other pendulum-based a used KMG ride—the Discovery. attractions by KMG emerged from His relationship with the ride simply observing a playground manufacturer eventually led to a swing and seeking to replicate position at the company, officially that action in a ride. The specific taking up the role of international driving force behind the Freak sales manager around 2006. Out was to create a spectacular attraction that was easier to move Peter continues to work directly and setup at a more affordable with KMG today while also price than other pendulum rides expanding his role with them on the market. “When Albert first through his own company—Used began experimenting with a design Rides Europe—and a strong for the Freak Out, he used Legos to network of other global partners. visualize his ideas,” reveals Peter. The first link in this network was The first Freak Out was unveiled in connected in 2008 when KMG the Winter of 2002-2003. To date, reached out to Rides4U owned by there have been fifty-three of them Len Soled for representation in delivered to customers across the the United States. “We knew that map. Rides4U had a close relationship with many American show owners Peter is proud of the and ride operators,” says Peter. accomplishments that KMG “The partnership has worked out has made over its history in great.” the business, particularly the developments of the last ten In 2013, Len and Peter put their years. “There are currently thirty heads together to develop an employees working at the KMG international business similar to factory, ten of which have been Rides4U but with an emphasis on added in the last decade to meet the exchange of North American the demands of the business,” he and European attractions. The new says. “There are already more than venture was a success. “We can 300 KMG attractions in operation provide a variety of services and worldwide and that number is products between KMG, Rides4U, growing annually. A good service and Used Rides Europe,” states team that is employable all over Peter. the globe gives our customers the assurance that KMG can quickly This network has grown even more provide service on location. since 2013 as KMG has developed In addition, our highly-trained relationships with other industry- technical team is available seven related companies. “Products days a week for any help or advice.” like a new KMG ride; financing (OA Finance); repairs and service (Ride Like Albert Kroon, Peter was Lynx LLC, Battech Enterprises, and born into the carnival industry, Showmen Supplies); and trades though his parents were primarily for used equipment (Rides4U and game operators. After spending Used Rides Europe are available a period of time away from the because each partner provides its industry while attending school own specialty,” Peter explains. and operating an auto service business in his twenties, Peter x xAdditionally, since 2015, Peter returned to his roots. He founded has represented another great a wholesale game stock company Dutch manufacturer, Lamberink before purchasing his own ride. Ferris Wheels which was founded Unfortunately, Peter’s first by Isje’s sister, Kokkie Kroon. attraction—a merry-go-round— was destroyed by fire. Rather The specialty offered by KMG Photo by Stefan Hinz Photo by Chris Emory

Rides continues to delight and Jim Otterbacher will be the industry friends at the 2019 surprise its customers as the first American showman to take Gibtown trade show. The event is company enters its next decade. delivery of a Surf Ride when it also a good chance to speak with Among the accomplishments of arrives in late summer. It will be members of the industry that are 2018 was the sale of five new Surf themed EX-Factory. working hard to maintain and Rides—one of which is bound for strengthen the H-2B program— the United States later this year. In keeping with the tradition of an initiative that KMG and Used The attraction travels on one releasing a new ride every other Rides Europe care about deeply. trailer and takes only 30 minutes to year, KMG will introduce its latest In fact, both companies are setup with two people. Designed to attraction later in 2019. The ardent supporters of the Outdoor appeal to a wide range of midway upcoming piece is called X-Drive Amusement Business Association, guests, the Surf Ride has three pre- and a prototype of it will be the Showmen’s League, and IAAPA. programmed ride cycles that offer unveiled in September. “Really, the trade show is one of our different levels of thrill depending best chances to visit face-to-face on who’s aboard. Another first for KMG is coming in with so many of our customers and 2020 when the ride manufacturer friends at one time whether we talk The original Surf Ride was sold delivers the only 213-foot Speed to about new rides, industry issues, to German showman Mike Klinge Dutch showman Willy Ordelman. or just catching up,” says Peter. and themed X-Force. It premiered Known as Speed-32, the ride will in August of 2018. The second carry thirty-two passengers on While in some ways, the trade unit was delivered to Australian a double-sided bench of seats. A show offers that cherished chance showman Broderick Pavier. massive presence on the midway, to slow down for everyone involved Dubbed the Wipe Out, it debuted Speed-32 will travel on five trailers. in the industry, KMG is always at the Winter Wonderland Fair at about speed. With a combination Hyde Park, London before shipping xxFrom discussing these new of established attractions and to Australia. Mike also owns many projects to demonstrating the new rides on the way, there is no other KMG attractions including a Deggeller family’s new Spaceport- stopping for KMG. Speed, Inversion, Discovery, and themed Speed, KMG is looking Freak Out. forward to seeing all of their

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30 | MIDWAY MAGAZINE | TRADE SHOW ISSUE 2019

IT'S ALL ABOUT By Kevin Freese THE Photos by Scooter Korek SMILES

TRADE SHOW ISSUE 2019 | MIDWAY MAGAZINE | 33 What is your favorite thing about owning rides in the carnival business? It’s one of the most frequent questions that I’ve asked over my career covering the industry. The answer that I receive is always appropriate and usually has to do with the smiles that appear on the midway. There truly is nothing like the joy of the midway.

We often think of those smiles as they relate to children and families, but over the years I’ve had the chance to see the delight of the midway beaming on the faces of individuals with their own unique profiles and stories— those that overcome fears with a visit to the carnival when it rolls into town, those that turn back the hands of time by watching younger generations of parents and children on the midway, those that travel hundreds of miles with friends to experience the latest thrill at a state fairground.

Perhaps most personal for me is the story of my friend, a recent divorcee, who joined myself and a group of our friends on a midway in our hometown. We had to drag him with us, but it was as if all of his cares drifted away as he spun around on the Tilt-A-Whirl. A smile burst across his face. It may have only been temporary, yet it reminded him that smiles could exist again.

The carnival industry has often brought a smile to my own face—not only because of midway thrills but because of the people behind those thrills. I’ve smiled with amazement as I’ve witnessed the hard work ethic of a crew erecting a ride. I’ve smiled with confidence, aware that what I’ve observed in the industry has made

34 | MIDWAY MAGAZINE | TRADE SHOW ISSUE 2019 me more capable of handling many of the obstacles that everyday life has in store. I’ve smiled with a sense of comradery, grateful for the hospitality that so many in the industry display when I visit with them.

One of the things that’s always been important to me while reporting on the amusement business, specifically with MIDWAY Magazine, is offering smiles back to an industry which is in the field of making them. Whether it’s the opportunity we have to showcase individuals and carnival companies that deserve recognition for their approach toward the business or highlighting the companies that serve the industry by offering high-quality products and services—it is a joy to bring a smile to the subject of an article. It is also a pleasure when I hear that stories we’ve shared have deeply resonated with readers. There is no other industry in the world that deserves a smile more than the one that works so hard to create them.

As a writer for MIDWAY Magazine, I know there is one thing that the upcoming season will bring—another year of countless smiles at fairgrounds and other venues serviced by the industry across the country. I can’t wait to share the stories of those smiles with you once again.

According to Vince Kudler the idea for the Back Spin first began to germinate more Evergreens, the gorgeous trees and than three years ago as he considered other bushes that promise color and shade evergreens. “There are some rides that are regardless of the time of year, are always just rock-solid rides year after year after the flora of choice for gardeners and plant year,” he explains. “Rides like the Tilt-a- lovers who desire the beauty of lush green whirl, a Ferris wheel or a carousel have been foliage year end and year out. Ironically, there forever. Especially in the portable Mr. Kane Fernandez of E.K. Fernandez industry, all these rides, they just go in Shows applied the term evergreen to the circles, up, down, and everything else, but a carnival industry as the word became coaster is different. It’s on a track, and you synonymous with those rides like the Eli sit in a vehicle. We thought if we can put this Bridge Scrambler, the Sellner Tilt-a-whirl, on one trailer, and it’s a true coaster, and it’s the Wisdom Gravitron, and of course, the a spinning coaster, then that is something Majestic Scooter which every show owner our industry really needs. For the carnival chose because of the proven ability to owner, it’s unique, maybe something that bring people to the midway along with the next guy doesn’t have. It will be a the even more desirable green that mainstay because after all, a coaster is a signified success. As today’s ride market coaster. Why do people go to Cedar Point? is glutted with thrill rides that go higher, They go because they have 18 coasters.” spin faster, and turn upside down at terrifying rates and ride manufacturers Once the idea started spinning, Vince and throughout the world compete to bring Jeff began an extensive list of considerations. the most spectacular of the spectaculars “There were so many things to consider,” he to the midway, the savviest of carnival recalls. “We knew we wanted to fit it on a 53- owowners are looking beyond the quick foot trailer, but then there were all the other flash of color and the thrill that is quickly aspects such as how do you want it to be gone. They are setting their sights on the spotted on the midway? Do you want to back Back Spin by Majestic Manufacturing, a in and off the midway or do you want to pull spinning coaster that promises to take a in sideways? All these things were a factor. coveted position as an evergreen ride. Depending on weather conditions, you don’t

TRADE SHOW ISSUE 2019 | MIDWAY MAGAZINE | 39 want an operator to get stuck because coaster could never achieve evergreen anywhere.” they have to pull in. It’s better if they can status if they overlooked the number one back in off the midway. All those things catch word in the industry, safety. “Safety Vince goes on, “We considered this as needed to be taken into consideration. is such an important criterion today on we were designing the Back Spin. We And then we started penciling everything any ride,” Vince admits. “It should always offer our customers the option of having down.” be the number one consideration. We feel a spare pre-programmed logic controller really good about the shoulder restraint with the ride. If the programmable From simple concept drawings, the system in the tubs as it’s mechanical like controller ever goes out on the weekend, Back Spin began to take shape as a 3-D a ratchet. You hear the click, click, click all the operator simply needs to do is model. “The computer makes it so much until it’s down to the bottom. Then, the unplug from it and plug into the other easier,” Vince says, “especially with the only way to get out is when the ride comes controller. Then, they’re good to go. It 3-D modeling. When you take the time to a complete stop, and the operator gets them up and running. We just try to to build the pieces, you can twist them, pushes on a pedal to release it. It can’t keep things as simple as possible.” turn them, stack them, and since it’s all come open accidently. I feel it was well to scale you can tell what is going to fit or worth the wait because now we know With all the plans in place for the coaster not fit.” riders are in there for the duration.” Vince and Jeff were convinced was going to be a winner, they began to search in “You can’t account for everything, but In addition to safety, Vince and Jeff earnest for the first buyer, Steve Swika of it’s pretty close,” adds Chris Kudler who is carefully considered the other issue SwikaS Amusements. “Steve Swika was responsible for a large part of the drawing show owners face, an inconsistent the perfect person to buy the first coaster,” process. labor force. Vince explains, “We try to Vince admits. “He’s a hands-on guy who keep it very simple, and it’s not always has grown up in the industry. In fact, he’ll Vince continues, “We’ve been able to easy. For example, technology is great, tell you that over the years he and his do some things that if we hadn’t had the but you can’t always trust it. For years father bought the first of everything for a computer, we wouldn’t have thought we’ve resisted putting technological long time.” about. The 3-D modeling just gives you components into the equipment we a different vantage point. It’s incredible.” build whenever possible. We look at it While Steve Swika may have been realistically in that the technology is great the perfect first buyer, Vince is certain While the research and development when it’s new and it’s all working. When the Back Spin is the perfect ride for team of Majestic Manufacturing it doesn’t work, however, a show could be everybody. “It has a 50’ X 70’ footprint,” considered their coaster from every dead in the water. The ride is not going to he explains. “It’s a single train, so you possible point, they understood that their run, and those parts are not available just load and unload on the platform all at

“SAFETY IS SUCH AN IMPORTANT CRITERION TODAY ON ANY RIDE,” “WE’RE ALSO ADDING LED LIGHTED BANNERS THAT WILL BE ALMOST 40 FEET HIGH, SO IT WILL REALLY JUMP OUT ON THE MIDWAY.”

one time. You have a large age group that can ride it. The fact began planting and nurturing the seeds for the first evolution, that many people don’t realize is that when you start the ride, structurally the same but with so much more. In addition to the tubs start spinning in the station. There’s a motor under brilliant color, the Back Spin will now boast an abundance of each vehicle. They spin for ten seconds in the operator station. flash. “Like they say in the industry, flash is cash,” Vince laughs. As you spin, you see your friends behind you, and it’s the same “As we looked at it, we saw where we could add this lighting, when you go up the hill. The interaction just creates a lot of flash that up more, really make it pop that much more. The excitement.” cars come down through a tunnel when they go through the vortex. We’re lining the columns with LED lighting that will The Back Spin has a 16-person capacity and takes riders 25 flash as you go through so that it feels like you’re going twice feet into the air for a two-minute ride of their lives. Due to as fast.” the immense amount of forethought and planning, it easily passed all its engineering certification. “People have no idea “We’re also adding LED lighted banners that will be almost 40 what all goes into that,” Vince shares. “They have no idea of the feet high, so it will really jump out on the midway.” hours and thought we invest in every ride, but it’s a good thing because we want the ride to be safe.” “We’re going to put sound on it, too,” Jeff says. “It just makes it come alive.” xxxApproved and ready to spin into action, the Back Spin debuted at the I-X Indoor Amusement Park in March 2018 before As they were adding to the thrill and the aesthetics of the playing to large crowds and long lines throughout the route of Back Spin, Vince and Jeff continued to give attention to that SwikaS Amusements completing its season in Bloomsburg, final critical criteria to the carnival owner, ease of set-up and Pennsylvania where it played to over 400,000 people. “It’s teardown, incorporating many of the suggestions from Steve been a good piece,” Vince says. “Steve would send me pictures Swika. “We may have done this for years, but we don’t ever showing the long lines and the kids waiting in line to ride. He say we know what’s best all the time,” Vince admits. “We think booked it in with Amusements of America in Bloomsburg, and we know the industry and what’s going to work best, but the that’s one of the biggest fairs in Pennsylvania.” individual who goes out there and does it day in and day out, they look at things with a different mindset. Steve would see The Back Spin was well on its way to its goal of becoming things we didn’t see. He would call and tell me his ideas, and I an evergreen ride as it closed out its first season with SwikaS would realize he was right.” Amusements as a tremendous success. Majestic Manufacturing

TRADE SHOW ISSUE 2019 | MIDWAY MAGAZINE | 41 improved on the setup procedure and teardown time. It’s been an rides made it to the midway, and today there is much more evolution of ideas as well as good, constructive input from Steve. competition for the entertainment dollar. Carnivals scramble If you’re my perspective buyer, I’m going to ask you to consider to remain strong and healthy by bringing their patrons rides that the impact this ride is going to make. Your fair boards are going are more thrilling and more exciting than ever before. The Back to go crazy over this ride and want you to bring it back year after Spin Coaster from Majestic Manufacturing can provide those year. If you’re on tickets, you can pretty much count your money thrills and that excitement, and even more importantly, it can every year.” provide them year after year after year. The Back Spin Coaster is an evergreen ride. Certainly, decades have passed since those first evergreen