SDCFans - The Unofficial Fan Site For Silver Dollar City
Silver Dollar City & Celebration City Discussion => SDC Memories/ Park History => Topic started by: KBCraig on August 25, 2012, 02:51:28 AM
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I was reading a local paper's online edition near where I'm moving to, and saw that a group of Pennyfarthing enthusiasts had shown up at a local event.
That jogged my memory, and unless I'm sadly mistaken, SDC Main Street in the '70s included the occasional Citizen on a Pennyfarthing bicycle.
Junior? Rube?
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This picture is from the SDC 50th anniversary album and says the 1970's.
(http://i1063.photobucket.com/albums/t505/pintrader/50th-70s-TallBike_lg.jpg)
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At one time, SDC had at least two of those "big wheel" bicycles. I remember D.A. Calloway and John Corbin Goldsberry were both pretty good at riding those things across the town square. Guests enjoyed watching "citizens" ride them, too. I was invited, but declined, to ride those bikes by John. I didn't want to fall on my butt on the town square in front of everyone. There is a trick to getting on and off them, and to keeping them under control. My guess is the bikes are long gone, but I cannot say for sure. Thanks for helping stir some fond memories.
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GONE? Oh Junior you simply need to seek and you shall find! As of 2 years ago, one bike was still next to the ice cream parlor, and the other was down near the train depot.
(http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu218/rubedugans/bike_edited-2.jpg)
I remember as recently as the early 90's one of the bikes being used around the square (during the gaslight square era they were used by the street troupe).
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I used to ride one of them around the square as well. The one that you see TR riding in the above picture was most recently used at the end of the DCC show, with a stage tech riding it across the stage just before the final number. It became unsafe when issues arose with the spokes, so they purchased a new one a couple of seasons ago.
The biggest concern with riding one is that, with your feet on the pedals, your legs must be long enough to reach your butt.
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My buddy saw one fall off a truck on the highway, a day later it was still there...now he rides it around the neighborhood and historic Main Street in St. Charles MO just for fun to see the looks he gets from people!
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Here's me by one of the pennyfarthings, c. 1983.(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Uo4AFvxcj54/Vfxb2zQj1aI/AAAAAAAACCk/68K8tsI_hS8/w872-h709-no/penny%2Bfarthing.jpg)
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A Day on Gaslight Square.
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Hey there, Old Guy! It has been a while.
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Me. The late 80's. Biker Dude.
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That's awesome, Old Guy!