Messages

16

SDC Memories/ Park History / Re: SDC YouTube video 1960

« on: April 09, 2014, 04:23:12 PM »

Nice video, thanks!

17

Random Talk / Re: New SDC Fan coming soon...

« on: April 09, 2014, 04:11:58 PM »

HAPPY! HAPPY! HAPPY! 

18

General Silver Dollar City Talk / Re: Worldfest '14

« on: April 07, 2014, 09:37:29 PM »

Thanks for the World Fest report! (Have you had a chance to post Carrie Nation Saloon Show photos yet?) We appreciate your work, Swoosh!

19

Random Talk / Re: Another Celebrity Death

« on: April 07, 2014, 03:47:23 PM »

True Mickey Rooney story:  A few years ago, he appeared in Branson as part of the game show program at one of the theaters. He was a celebrity guest on the game show, he played for weeks at a time, maybe a few seasons.  Anyway, He and his wife go into Sadie's Sideboard Restaurant, which at the time was managed by my brother. They quietly eat their dinner, nobody pays any special attention to them. At the check out counter, Mickey Rooney starts a conversation with the lady in front of him while my brother takes her money. Things turn to entertainment and movies...Rooney said "I make pictures." The lady asked who he was and did not recognize his name. Rooney asks my brother, "have you ever heard of me?" My brother says, "yeah, you're Mickey Rooney, you used to be the biggest box office draw in the world, like Tom Cruise is now." My brother tells the lady, Mr. Rooney was a personal friend of Judy Garland, too. Then my brother tells him he was great in "The Black Stallion," and how it was one of his favorite movies. Rooney, his ego stroked, pays for his dinner and happily leaves with his wife. Rooney could not stand the fact that no one recognized him, and was very satisfied with my brother's response. My brother said Rooney was a nice guy, with a great sense of humor. I personally cannot make it through "Boys Town" without crying, even today. Rooney was a ham, and had an ego, but he was a great star. REST IN PEACE, Mickey!

20

General Silver Dollar City Talk / Re: Silver Dollar City E-bay finds

« on: April 06, 2014, 06:46:34 PM »

I've got one of those patches in my collection. Seems like the Crabb Family tape was late, late 80s or early 90s.

21

Construction/Rumors / Re: SDC's 2015 Project

« on: April 06, 2014, 06:45:30 PM »

Thanks for the report, Swoosh. I do pine for the days when construction was done completely in winter months and the public never saw it. However, impossible to do today with the expanded season.

22

Construction/Rumors / Re: SDC's 2015 Project

« on: April 05, 2014, 11:53:32 AM »

I think the chute the chute rides originated at places like Coney Island way back in the 1910's or 1920's when there was no air conditioning. It was a pretty big thrill to get out of the concrete jungle down to the beach and get wet on a chute the chute ride. Fun way of staying cool in the hot summer time.

23

Branson Talk / Re: Interesting blog about Ozarks history.

« on: April 05, 2014, 11:49:54 AM »

Thanks for posting this site. Yes, I have heard of him. I have looked at his book, and it's pretty good. I stumbled upon his Website some time ago and looked it over, but then forgot about it. Thanks for putting it here, it will further expose his work to a niche audience that will be interested in it!

24

Construction/Rumors / Re: SDC's 2015 Project

« on: April 04, 2014, 04:28:28 PM »

Roaring Falls is a chute the chute ride...pretty plain jane. If you want to move it somewhere, put it in the park in Georgia. Who knows, it might fit Dollywood.

25

Branson Talk / Re: Shepherd of the Hills play will be back this year!!.

« on: April 04, 2014, 04:26:55 PM »

GOOD NEWS! I think I am going to make sure I see the play this year. It will be the first time since, (gulp) 1983!

26

General Silver Dollar City Talk / Worldfest '14

« on: April 01, 2014, 07:01:03 PM »

Saw the first ads for Worldfest on local TV here in NW AR today. It's about time for cranking things up a bit on park...

27

Other Parks / Re: new modern flume to check out

« on: March 31, 2014, 08:21:40 PM »

WOW! Big ride...

28

SDC Memories/ Park History / Re: SDC YouTube video 1960

« on: March 30, 2014, 09:23:53 PM »

In the early days, the train was a smaller one than the trains used today. It was easier to run the train in the opposite direction on the tracks because of the grade. The robbery skit was initially added so the train could stop and build up steam for the return trip. The road you see is Highway 76. The tracks run pretty much the same route they do today, but the trees were smaller, and underbrush was cut down, and there were no big board fences like there are today, that's why you see the highway so well. Sometime in the 1990's, they actually re-routed a section of Highway 76, moving the road back away from the park a bit from the intersection with Indian Point Road and westward a short distance. By moving the highway, it gave SDC space to put in the back side of Grand Exposition. The old road bed is now an employee parking lot. If you do a Google Maps check, look at that area of the park, and you will notice the old pathway of Highway 76, and the employee parking lot by Red/Gold Hall...you will see what I'm talking about.

29

Branson Talk / Re: Report show that The Landing is a success..

« on: March 27, 2014, 05:25:56 PM »

Sanddunerider...you are right, it would include all the SDC attractions in Branson, and yes, to me that would be about half of what I thought it would be. But over the years they cut a lot of positions at the park, so it might be 2000 Bransonwide. Go figure. The folks in charge now cut staff to the point it can be rough for the ones working. Last Christmas, a gal working at the hot dog stand next to Wagonworks had a line quite a ways back and did everything on her own, no backup. I was ashamed to see that. Today though profit first, no un-necessary jobs that the company has to pay for. I'm being a bit extreme, I know, but sometimes I think the PTB today don't quite "get it" all the time.

30

Random Talk / Re: Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art

« on: March 27, 2014, 05:21:18 PM »

Alice has a history...I saw her brother, the one that runs Arvest, at a Bentonville BBQ about a year ago. He and his wife, chowing down on ribs, just like anyone else. He was friendly and gave me a smile when I looked their way.