Messages

3961

Branson Talk / Re: Hee Haw Theater

« on: January 08, 2010, 01:16:58 PM »

Misty Rowe, appeared in 1981. Kenny Price, appeared many, many times 81-83. Ms. Baker never did perform there, she may have come by for a visit, but I don't remember. One "star" that did come by on a night I took off was Leslie Neilson, the guy in the Airplane! and Police Squad! comedy films. I regretted missing him, as Airplane! was a huge hit film during the time I worked at Hee Haw. Neilson came by one night to sit backstage and watch the show with my boss, Tom Lutz. I don't know if he  popped on stage to wave to the crowd, but I know he did not perform. One Hee Haw star that came by to see a show but did not perform was Gaylord Sartain. He later went on to be in a string of hit movies like Fried Green Tomatoes (The husband of Kathy Bates), The Outsiders (Guy at Hospital who told Ralph Macchio not to smoke), Mississippi Burning (Sheriff) and many more. He turned out to be a fabulous dramatic actor.

3962

Other Parks / Re: Jessie James Territory

« on: January 08, 2010, 08:34:32 AM »

The only thing I remember taking away from Jessie James Territory other than childhood memories are some photos. My dad took tons of photos that were developed into slides. He had a projector and several boxes of family photos that he would drag out everytime we had family or friends over. When my parents divorced in the mid 70's, he took all the slides with him. He moved to Times Beach, MO to a little house along the river there. There was a flood, and everything was lost. One other memory I do have of Jessie James Territory. They had a "gunslinger" in a building that you could fast draw on. You put a quarter or fifty cents into a slot, pointed your pistol at a target on the gunslinger, and you won if you beat him when his arm flung up from his holster. Same kind of technology the Flooded Mine probably uses with the guns and targets today. Probably a light beam emitted from the gun when you pulled the trigger and then shown on the target on the mechanical dummy that was dressed as a gunslinger.

3963

SDC Memories/ Park History / Re: Rube Dugan's???

« on: January 08, 2010, 08:22:15 AM »

I kept EVERYTHING that my managers on park gave me...memos, guidelines, costume department reciepts, and DIVING BELL SCRIPTS AND LINE ENTERTAINMENT suggestion sheets. I kept all of the weekly company newsletters during that period, too. I have promotional material, brochures, pathfinders, city maps, EVERYTHING from 1978-1984 that I ever got my hands on. So...if there is an interest in this stuff by the SDC Fans on this site, I'll post some of it. Here is one little tidbit that some of you may remember from the diving bell. The guys playing Junior Dugan entertained people waiting in line, and one of the little novelty songs we performed was done to the tune of the Christmas song, "The First Noel." Here are the lyrics..."Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel, we ain't got no water 'cause we ain't got no well!" In print it may look kind of goofy, but let me tell ya, it brought down the house every time. Anyone that's a fan of the diving bell will remember the other entertainment while waiting in line like the "Toss Test" with liferings, the tug-o-war games, the Ozark Diving Competitions, and the Ozark Bathing Suit Competitions. Hey, here's one that some of you may remember, "The Honorable Order of the Woodchucks" induction ceremony!?!? Let me hear from you, folks! I'll dig out some of the old jokes and scripts and post some of them here for you if you like.

3964

Random Talk / Junior says Howdy!

« on: January 07, 2010, 09:02:16 PM »

"Howdy there, folks! My name is Junior Dugan and I'll be drivin' your diving bell!" I played Junior Dugan at the diving bell from 1979-1984, and would love to respond to those on this site that have an interest in the old attraction. As a former "insider" I can answer most all of your questions about the diving bell. I worked with Terry Sanders and Bob Nichols, both are now prominent Branson entertainers. I also worked at the Jim Owens' Float Trip Ride in '79, and worked with OLD GUY when he did the puppet show at the Vineyard in the late '70's! I've had a chance to visit this site as a guest since it went online in '07, but until now I did not have the chance to become a member. I hope to post a lot of old photos from my scrapbook on this site, if anyone is interested. Lots of shots of SDC in the 1970's and 1980's. So Howdy to all at SDC Fans, and I hope to "chat" with you from time to time! Respond to my postings and I will get back to you within a few days, I usually check this website three or four times a week.

3965

Branson Talk / Hee Haw Theater

« on: January 07, 2010, 08:54:05 PM »

Does anyone remember the Hee Haw Theater in Branson from 1981-1983? It was a showcase for the Hee Haw TV Stars. I worked there almost the entire time it existed. (Concession stand, parking lot, ect.) Got to meet all the old Hee Haw TV stars that showcased their act there. My boss was Tom Lutz, a writer for the TV Show. He was an interesting guy who started his show biz career as  a page at the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. Later Tom went on to write comedy for Bob Hope and Jonathan Winters, started with Hee Haw in 1969 as a cue card guy, and became a writer on Hee Haw from 1970-1981. Tom lived in a house at Shell Knob, MO designed by noted Arkansas Architect
E. Fay Jones. (Jones studied under Frank Lloyd Wright) Some of the house band members at Hee Haw still perform in Branson. Jim Ingall has been a drummer for Jim Stafford. Gary Myers is a talented guitarist who has worked for several shows. Wayne Massengale was a 14 year old kid when he worked at Hee Haw. He later worked at Mutton Hollow and recently has been in the Country Tonite show. His wife Melody works with Buck Trent, who got his start in Branson working at Hee Haw. The present location of the Mickey Gilley Show is where Hee Haw was located. Any memories? I'd like to hear from you if you were an employee there or came by and saw a show!

3966

Other Parks / Re: dogpatch usa

« on: January 07, 2010, 08:25:54 PM »

As an employee of SDC in the late 70's and early 80's, we had a pass exchange program benefit to visit Dogpatch. I went to the park maybe three or four times then, and I always thought it was completely second rate compared to SDC. I worked at the diving bell, so when Dogpatch put in a simulation ride called Lil Abner's Space Rocket, I had to go down and try it out. It sat in the open and those waiting in line could see the rocket moving up and down and back and forth on the trailer it was mounted on. Really lame. At the diving bell, we had all sorts of theming, props, live actors playing Junior Dugan, and line activities to "convince" visitors they were getting to go on a submarine ride. The cheap simulation rides you see at shopping malls today are about the same level as the rocket ride at Dogpatch. One thing I did like about Dogpatch. They had a "Mad Mouse" rollercoaster, similar to the one I remember riding as a kid at the now long defunct Chain of Rocks Park along the Mississippi River at St. Louis. I don't want to slam Dogpatch too much, though. Richard Young who has worked at SDC since 1980, played various roles at Dogpatch in the 70's. I worked with Richard in the early '80's at SDC. He is a class act, a great guy with a good sense of humor. Another fellow I worked with at SDC cut his acting teeth at Dogpatch. His name was James McKay, and I worked with him at the diving bell in 1980. We both played Junior Dugan.

3967

Other Parks / Jessie James Territory

« on: January 07, 2010, 08:14:44 PM »

In the days of Route 66, (Late '60's and early '70's) there was a tiny little theme park at Sullivan, Missouri called Jessie James Territory. I was a kid growing up in the north St. Louis County suburbs, and Cliff St. James, the weather man at Channel 5 KSD, had a kids show on Saturday mornings called Corky's Colorama. St. James, (Corky the Clown) made several appearances at Jessie James Territory. I got to meet him there and shake his hand. The park consisted of a gravel parking lot, a ticket booth, then you walked down a gravel path to a train station, boarded a miniature train, it carried you through the woods to an old west style town square. That was Jessie James Territory. The town square was just gravelled, not paved, and there were maybe a half dozen crafts shops, an ice cream parlor, a church and boot hill cemetery. There was a small museum that had old wood working and other types of tools. The entertainment consisted of gun fights with Jessie James and his gang, and a hanging. I seem to remember the outlaws always shot the noose in half and rescued their gang member before he got hung. I have vivid memories of this theme park, because my cousing, Glenn, worked there! He played the undertaker, who measured you for a coffin. (Does the description of this park sound similar to another theme park just down below Springfield that has a mountain village theme?) Anyone else remember Jessie James Territory? Comments? I remember when the interstate was built it ran just in front of the old parking lot and ticket booth.

3968

SDC Memories/ Park History / Re: Greedy Brothers Excursions

« on: January 07, 2010, 08:03:56 PM »

I worked for a few weeks in August, 1984 at the diving bell. First day on park I asked my team leader, Randy, what the Greedy Brothers was all about. He said people got in the paddle boats and looked for a treasure. I assumed it was the same treasure we were looking for at the diving bell. I really didn't think the attraction was in theme. It only lasted that one year. In '85, it was not advertised as an attraction. The Lost River was the big thing at Lake Silver in 1985...the first year for it.

3969

SDC Memories/ Park History / Re: Rube Dugan's???

« on: January 07, 2010, 07:57:54 PM »

Ah, the diving bell! i REMEMBER IT WELL. "Howdy there, folks! My name is Junior Dugan, and I'll be drivin' your diving bell..." That was a line I repeated over and over during the years I worked at the diving bell. (1979-1984) As has been mentioned on this website before, the diving bell was replaced with Lost River due to capacity issues. Inside the diving bell building were FIVE diving bell capsules. They held 75 people and 1 Junior each. Only so many folks could move through in an hour! I've seen RUBE DUGAN'S photos posted on this site, I wish I could make out who the "Junior" is pictured in the capsule photo, but I can't. Hey Rube, do you remember what year that photo was taken? If I knew which year, I could narrow down the names as to who that could be.

3970

Construction/Rumors / Re: SDC's 2009/10 Project

« on: January 07, 2010, 07:49:54 PM »

It has been great as a "guest" to this site to see the development in this area. I'm happy to finally be able to register as a member. I can tell you, alot has changed at this particular site of the park. I remember the 1977 year when this area was still nothing but woods. I remember when the site was occupied by the shingle saw in the late '70's, and when Tom Sawyer's Landing was here! As an employee, I worked part of the time in 80-81 at the landing as an attendant. (I played Junior Dugan at the diving bell most of the time.) When the landing was new, it had the ballroom, a cable slide, a fireman's pole kids could slide down, and some climbing objects, that was about it. It's all gone now, but the river blast looks like it's gonna be fun! I can hardly wait 'til the park opens for 2010.

3971

General Silver Dollar City Talk / Re: when was your first?

« on: January 07, 2010, 07:41:32 PM »

First visit was 1970, just a few months or so after the Beverly Hillbillies episodes from SDC aired the first time! I remember the two types of tickets...a lower priced ticket got you in the park and into shops and craft exhibits only. The higher priced "Passport" ticket allowed you to get into Grandfather's Mansion, Treehouse, stagecoach ride, Jim Owens' Float Trip, Flooded Mine and train! On our way out of park the second day we visited, some of the Hatfield and McCoy troupe stopped my family on Hill Street to talk to my brother and I. I was eight, he was six. One of the Hatfields gave my brother and I a bullet used in the street feud earlier that day! He showed us how we could blow into the bullet shell and make it whistle! The first time my brother and I blew into the bullet in the family car, mom confiscated it until we made it home! I got to see Shad Heller at the blacksmith forge, and our family "dined in the mine." Fabulous time! Great memories! Just eight years later, just prior to my 16th birthday, my family moved to Branson and I GOT A JOB AT SDC! That summer job lasted from 1978-1984.