FANTASYLAND PREVIEW — PAGES 16-17 © TM Vol. 16 • Issue 11 FEBRUARY 2013 Vendors, show organizers both optimistic for 2013 Gibtown show STORY: Pam Sherborne nicely for the likes of KMG, just cess,” she said. [email protected] one of the ride manufactur- Myers said it seems the ers Soled represents. He also tradeshow has been getting GIBSONTON, Fla. — Len represents S&S and SBF/Visa a little smaller over the past Soled, Rides-4-U, Somerville, and sales have been going well years. N.J., is riding a good high in with those ride manufacturers. “But, it is really just the ride sales as he goes into the He is indeed optimistic for the IISF exhibitor way things are changing,” she 44th International Indepen- Gibsonton show as well as for listing...Page 6 said. “People can just click on dent Showmen’s Association the upcoming 2013 seson. the internet and get anything (IISA) Super Extravaganza and “Production schedules are Flying Elephant and Dog Ride. they want. Also, ride manufac- Trade Show set for Feb. 5-9, definitely filling in for KMG Those two rides hadn’t been turers don’t really build a ride Gibsonton, Fla. for the 2013 and 2014 years,” sold when Soled spoke with until they have one ordered. It And, no doubt Super Ex- Soled said. “I will bring two AT in mid-January, but he used to be they would bring travaganza and Trade Show KMG Speed rides to Gibtown hoped they would be before rides to the show and take bids organizers continue to be opti- this year. One is going to Ray the Gibsonton show started. on them. But, the ones brought mistic while they plan for a big Cammack Shows and the other Mai Wisdom, Wisdom In- to the show now are already turnout. They are expecting to to NAME. I will have an SBF/ dustries, Merino, Colo., hopes purchased by someone. It is have more than 300 different Visa Flying School at Gibtown that many of their customers the same for concession trailer exhibits at the show including that is going to Beauce Carni- that were worried about elec- manufacturers. They don’t rides, food supplies and equip- val. I will bring a Groovy Bus tion results and the imple- build one unless they have it ment, concession trailers, elec- that is going to Luehrs’ Ideal mentation of President Barack ordered. trical supplies, insurance com- Rides and a S&S Frog Hopper Obama’s health care plan last “Times are just changing panies, novelty items, plush that is going to Alpine Amuse- fall have gotten past that wor- for everyone,” she said. “But, toys, jewelry and much more. ments.” ry and are feeling more opti- Gibtown is a big social event Soled said production He also was planning to mistic as she and her husband, for us. It always has been and schedules have been filling in bring two other SBF/Visa rides, Victor Wisdom, put the finish- it always will be.” ing touches to their Gibsonton Events trip. And, there are plenty of so- “Talking to our custom- cial events scheduled through- ers last fall, we know many of out the week of the Super Ex- them were worried,” Wisdom travaganza and Trade Show. said. “We are hoping that there Some of those events will get will be a good turnout at Gib- under way Sun., Feb. 3, such sonton and that everyone has as the annual Super Bowl and gotten past the elections.” Kick-Off Party. Gloria Myers, Myers In- On Mon., Feb. 4, the “Big ternational Midways, will take Hearted Jerry’s” Memorial over as president of the IISA Golf Tournament is set and a in Feb. 12, right after the event Showmen’s Shrine Meeting is is over. She will take the reins also scheduled. Len Soled, Rides-4-U, Somer- Albert Frieden, Battech Entertainment, Salem, Ore., will from Mark Popovich, who The Museum Build Fund ville, N.J., will take two KMG exhibit his motorcycle ride at the Gibsonton Extravaganza served last year. Dinner and Jamboree is set for Speed rides to the IISA Ex- and Trade Show. The new ride is still in production and the Myers said the clubs’ re- Wed., Feb. 6. Then, on Thurs., travaganza and Trade Show first one has been purchased by P.B.J. Happee Days Shows. cent events have been very suc- Feb. 7 is Mark’s (Popovich) set for Feb. 5-9, Gibsonton, Frienden has designed the ride with a sidecar so that two cessful. The latest was the Bike Banquet and Ball. On Sat., Feb. Fla. One will go to Ray Cam- older children can ride together or a younger child can ride Fest held last month. It was the 9 is the Final Drawings for mack Shows and the other with an adult in the sidecar. 10th year for that event. Scholarship, Cemetery and La- to NAME. COURTESY BATTECH ENTERTAINMENT “It was a very big suc- 4See GIBTOWN, page 4 COURTESY RIDES-4-U CONTINUING SUBSCRIBE TO COVERAGE: Dated material. material. Dated AMUSEMENT TODAY SUPERSTORM RUSH! SANDY NEWSPAPER SEE PAGES 32-33 POSTMASTER: PLEASE January Thrusday 24, 2013 Mailed (817) 460-7220 PERMIT # 2069 # PERMIT FT. WORTH TX WORTH FT. com PAID amusementtoday US POSTAGE US PRSRT STD PRSRT COURTESY CASINO BEACH PIER 2 AMUSEMENT TODAY February 2013 NEWSTALK OPINIONS CARTOON LETTERS AT CONTACTS EDITORIAL: Gary Slade, [email protected] CARTOON: Bubba Flint The charm returns to Knott’s As theme parks change management styles, it’s easy to see parks get into a mode where they focus in on the big new market- able attraction. That thought process will sometimes leave the older, more established attractions somewhat forgotten. Yet, those old favorites continue to crank out their steady Slade hourly capacity, all the while age on the attrac- tion begins to move in. Then, all its takes is one move by corporate, to place a manager back in a park where their career began, and all of a sudden, new eyes are seeing the park today all while remem- bering the park the way it used to be. Such was the case when Raffi Kaprelyan made the move from Canada’s Wonderland back to his home park Knott’s Berry Farm recently. As park VP & GM, and living under the shadow of Disneyland, Raffi has made it a point to bring some of the old time “charm” back to his beloved Knott’s Berry Farm. It started with the rehab of the park’s historic Ghost Town section that saw black asphalt walkways replaced with new themed/stamped concrete walkways and sideways. EDITORIAL: Andrew Mellor, [email protected] New facades were built onto the building fronts and period costumed street entertainers were added to interactwith the Milestone anniversaries coming thick and fast park guests. The rehab of the historic section has been noth- ing short of perfection. In any walk of life things gevity of organizations within the business — Now Raffi is at it again with the announcement that the come and go and the business and of the industry itself. park is underway on a complete rehab of their family favorite, arena is no exception. Organi- A few examples spring to mind. Disney’s the Timber Mountain Log Ride. zations of all shapes and sizes Epcot kicked off its 30th anniversary celebra- Opened in 1969, this Arrow-built ride was the creation go through good and bad tions in October last year (I remember driving of the late Bud Hurlbut who also built the park’s Calico Mine times, prosperous and not so past the building site in November 1980), while Ride. Bud created a mega-themed log ride complete with prosperous years, with some on the other side of the pond, Disneyland Paris falling by the wayside for a va- marked its 20th anniversary (can you believe mountain, logging animation and timber storyline. The ride Mellor was way ahead of its time. Proof is by the 98.9 million rides riety of reasons while others it!) in 2012 too. A little further north, Efteling that have been given to date. continue to succeed for many, in The Netherlands marked its 60th birthday in many years. May last year, while this year, the Dutch venue Animation experts Garner Holt Productions have been So it is in the amusement and theme park Slagharen Theme Park and Resort will celebrate brought in to bring Arrow’s 13th log ride back to its original industry. Ever since parks have been in opera- its 50th anniversary. glory and much more. tion there have been those that have come and As far as manufacturers and suppliers are Congratulations to Raffi and his team for taking care gone and others that have survived to this day, concerned, John H. Rundle in the U.K. will mark of the little details and not forgetting their park roots. The while as well as the parks there are a number of its 100th. anniversary in 2013 while ride inspec- “charm” is returning — one attraction at a time. manufacturers and suppliers around the world tion company LTC, also in the U.K., celebrates —Gary Slade who can also look back on many years of success its 25th. In Italy, Dotto Trains marked 50 years of with satisfaction at what they have achieved. production in 2012 while back in the U.S., Jack The maturity of the attractions industry, Rouse Associates marked its 25th anniversary at Gary Slade is the founder and publisher of Amusement particularly in the northern hemisphere, is being the end of the year.