You may have seen in my trip review from last weekend that I was shocked to see a working TV in operation at the furniture store/factory. The craftsmen had built a TV stand/Shelf combo, and were offering it for sale in the shop. I guess to draw your attention to it, the folks had plugged in a TV that appeared to be playing a program (probably a recording) of SDC craftsmen doing demonstrations. I actually was so shocked at seeing a TV in the 1880's, I couldn't comment on it (complain) to the store clerk. So please sound off here...does a TV in operation in a shop on park bother you? My first visit to the park since the end of 2007 left me slightly disappointed because of the TV...and unthemed drink vending refrigerators and the unthemed iced drink machines at the concessions on park. Also the unthemed slide down metal doors at various locations incuding the White River Warehouse at the Riverfront. Also a modern floor fan in operation in the dining area at the Mill. Other than these few things, I really enjoyed my trip to SDC. So please sound off...how do you feel about these things?
Ehh. If it were blaring High School Musical, I could have probably gone crazy, but it IS SDC craftsmen working in the furniture factory being played on the TV. I know it doesn't fit, but many things end up as I have said in other places being anachronisms. I don't think they should have to put a sign on it saying "magic picture box". They are attempting to sell an item and I don't mind.
Whew! You surprised me, Rube...I thought you'd go crazy after reading about it. How about anyone else? Is a TV in operation in the 1880's area of the park acceptable to you?
I completely agree with you Junior, I do not believe it should be there. However, as the digital age continues to advance forward, I am sure we are going to see more, and more electronic gadgets slipped into the park.
On the one hand, it is important to stick within the realm of the theme, but on the other hand, they are trying to entice you to spend money, and buy a large piece of furniture! ;)
I hate to see out-of-theme, or lack-of-theme blunders such as these all of over the park. Unfortunately, Silver Dollar City has decided it is more cost effective to not theme every piece of equipment regardless of how much of an eye sore it is. :o
Depending on what they're playing on the TV, I don't know if it bothers me too much. It's probably there to show how large a TV one can fit into the piece of furniture it's resting in, so that helps customers visualize the piece in their home and help sell it.
There is a TV in the Hospitality House with the BH playing on it.
The tintypes are now made digitally, and the images appear on a computer screen. Now, granted the computer screen is encased in wood, and has a picture frame on the front to give the illusion of a picture, instead of a computer, but it is a far cry from my childhood where you took the picture, and 5 hrs later you saw what the image was. Now, it takes 20-30 min. just to get up to the front of the line because the photog. takes 4-5 images, and lets you decide which one you like. I don't like it Junior...don't get me wrong...but I understand their need to show the piece "as is" to entice buyers. I would have rather they built a box, or a frame around it to at least attempt to make it look period correct, but I simply walk by it wouthout thinking (it has been there a year or two). I cannot afford anything in there on 1 income anyway (I we still could not with 2!)but I love the craftsmanship of the pieces. The electric fans shaped like cats and dogs in there do however bother me....
I don't want to come off backwards either but back in the late 80's or whenever the furniture factory was built, I thought it was out of place. Don't get me wrong, I love going in there and the work is truly a craft...it just always seemed out of scale or something. Too fancy maybe If that makes any sense at all. I've grown accustomed to it now though.
I knew the tintypes were produced digitally, but didn't realize the way the shots were first shown to the guests. It appears from what you wrote, Rube, that at least there is some kind of attempt to theme the viewing screen...again, at least an attempt. Seeing Coke vending refrigerators like I'd see at a check out line at Wal-Mart at the concessions really bummed me out. The TV in the Hospitality House playing the Beverly Hillbillies does not bother me at all...as the HH is a "modern" area of the park. When they sold videotapes in the early 1990's, they had a TV displaying the video in the HH, too...again, I was not bothered by it at all. Sorry, folks, I just cannot go for a TV in the furniture shop, even though I know they want an instore display that shows their furniture as how it could look in your house. Those roll down metal doors at some of the locations on park really bugged me, too. In my days...the old days...they would have put in a wooden double door, like an old barn door. I lingered at the leather shop, looking at the attention to detail paid with the log building and the theming around it. Later I noticed some small buildings that appeared to be "slapped up" along the rail road tracks between the train roundhouse and the lake. They appeared to serve in some service capacity for the employees, and the theming was not as up to par as the older buildings like the leather shop. I understand budgets, big business, and modern times, so I understand why things are as they are, I just have a hard time accepting what has occurred. Again, a modern plastic fan in operation in the dining area at the Mill. In my day...again, THE OLD DAYS...somebody would have been fired over that alone! Sorry, off the soapbox! :'(
Don’t feel too bad Junior because you are not alone! ;)
I am very passionate about the feel, and look of Silver Dollar City. I completely agree that everything should be themed to make it appear as it wood have been in the 1880's. It truly is a shame that Silver Dollar City does not hold their theme to as high of a standard as they used to. I am not sure if this is because money is tight, or if the current management there just doesn’t think staying true to the theme is much of a priority.
I am all for a new, and exciting rollercoaster, or attraction. However, I wish Silver Dollar City would just spend one year to make sure that their entire property is themed accordingly. Minor details may not matter much to the casual family from Idaho (just making up a random location), but the minor details really do add up over time. :)
What about the goofy bank of TV sets near the exits of thrill rides like WF and PK? An upsell opportunity for HFEC no doubt, but I've always thought they were an eyesore, even in parks like Six Flags where there isn't an umbrella theme to adhere to. Like other here, I think the thematic details at SDC are what give the park its unparalleled character and charm.
This probably sounds snarky, and I really don't mean it to be, so please forgive me, but modern things are everywhere. I guess I don't understand what's wrong with a TV inside a shop when everyone's ok with Christmas lights all over the park and a huge musical Christmas tree.
To me, SDC is a celebration of Ozark heritage. I understand where people are coming from, but I guess I never thought the park was supposed to a replica of a city from the 1880s. I've been to a living Colonial farm where the goal was to show you life exactly as it was during that time period. In my memories, SDC has never been like that. Yes, a visit to the park is educational, but it's more of "in the spirit" of the the 1880s.
But as Dennis Miller would say, "Of course, that's just my opinion. I could be wrong."
All great points, StacySue. I guess the rub for many is not so much the idea of modern things in the park, but the lack of themed touches to somewhat mask those elements. Generally speaking, I think they do a pretty fantastic job of of carrying the theme throughout the park.
Quote from: BackInTime9 on August 17, 2010, 10:09:52 PM
All great points, StacySue. I guess the rub for many is not so much the idea of modern things in the park, but the lack of themed touches to somewhat mask those elements. Generally speaking, I think they do a pretty fantastic job of of carrying the theme throughout the park.
Exactly! No one expects Silver Dollar City to be an exact replica of the 1880's. It's a theme park with high flying roller coasters for goodness sakes. :P
I think most of the concern deals with preserving the look, and feeling of the 1880's. Let's face it, a large television, or other modern day equipment that has not been "themed" detracts from that illusion, and cheapens the experience.
None of that stuff bothers me. Watching people on cellphones so much is what gets me.. Its getting just like Branson - "Cityized.."
just my opinion kids....
In the 60's and 70's SDC was known as "the Colonial Willamsburg of the Ozarks." It is not that anymore, it is a well done theme park. The arts & crafts have faded to a large extent...Donnie Ellison and his basket weaving have been reduced to a small demonstration area on the porch of the General Store, only a few baskets are sold inside. When Donnie retires, I'll bet the basket weaving and baskets will be gone, too. Times change, trends change. Roller coasters pull in the crowds now. What once was a small attraction above a show cave has grown into themed entertainment in over 20 locations in America. I do wish the higher ups would keep SDC much as it was in the past, but I know in my heart they will do whatever they have to do to keep profit rolling in. The almighty $$$ is the key, here. So, expect to see more Coke vending refrigerators at concessions, and if no one balks too much, more TVs in the park. I did not know until I read it in the thread that TVs were at the exits to some of the rides! This blows me away! Man, 25 years ago...half a lifetime ago for the company...people would have been fired for this stuff. Again, times change, trends change. I don't like it all, but I guess I got to live with it.
Not making it any better, but when Donnie is not on the porch making the "50th anniversary baskets specials", he is in the top floor of the wood carving shop demonstrating. I would see the brooms going before the baskets. Besides I did basketry in college (I kow the joke is always about doing underwater basketweaving in college, but I wish it had been underwater, those reeds dry out quick!). I have talked with Donnie several times, and I have sat with Bob out by the old basket shop and worked on a few baskets with him while conversing about the craft etc.
Oh well, things are as they are...time marches on...so let's enjoy what is offered, and when things change too much to our liking, we can always be vocal (VERY VOCAL) about it by contacting the powers that be on park. SDC is a business, and will do what it believes it has to to stay viable in the marketplace.
Even with the things I saw that disturbed me last Sunday, overall the park looked great! It's funny, but every curve and dip in the street is as I remember it, and those trees that were so little two decades ago have gotten mighty big! Everything was green, shady, well kept, neat...and the streets and locations even smelled the way I remember! My last visit was at Christmas, 2007, and so even through everything looked pretty then, too, I had to have a summer visit to fully experience things the way I remembered! I'm proud, overall, of the way the current "citizens" have carried on the traditions at the park.
Frankly I think you guys really have some gaul to complain about a fan in a dining room.
THe temp in this area has just now dropped under 100 for how many weeks straight?
You would deny someone working a fan for the sake of theme?
Please, think about what you are saying.
I guess we need to request they turn off all of the air in the park as that is out of theme......
Think about this people, this is not rock music someone is playing in the park, this is civilization.
The Mill dining area has ceiling fans. That should do the trick. I'm not joking when I say in years past if someone plugged in a plastic fan and placed it in the dining area that they would have been seriously reprimanded or fired. Of course, I'm a dinosaur. My mind, when it comes to SDC, is fixed to the ideals that Mary Herschend set for employees in the 60s-70s-80s. I still remember seeing her stroll across the town square with her grandson when she was in her retirement years. She was inspecting the park. My feelings are very strong about things like a plastic fan, unthemed drink coolers, and unthemed metal doors, as well as an operating TV in a shop in the 1880's themed area of the park. However, I admit, SDC in recent years has moved from being the "Colonial Williamsburg of the Ozarks" to a nicely done theme park, and things like a plastic fan and TVs are creeping into the park. I believe others on this Website will support me when I say that when too much of the regular, modern world pops up in the park, the tilt will have occurred, and SDC will become just like any of a 1,000 theme parks out there...loosing many of it's special qualities. As someone who does remember the old days, when attention to detail was a high priority, I pray that the "tilt" does not occur. I always want SDC to be a special place, not just for me, but for my kids, grandkids, and the generations to come. I promise you, that plastic fan may mean nothing to you, but to the folks like me who carried the torch for a while at the park, it is a big deal. When it comes to SDC, I don't ever want to see the ordinary...I expect a higher quality, a higher standard, and so far, for the most part, the park remains a high quality experience...that I am very pleased about! :)
Quote from: mhguy77 on August 18, 2010, 04:56:12 PM
Frankly I think you guys really have some gaul to complain about a fan in a dining room.
THe temp in this area has just now dropped under 100 for how many weeks straight?
You would deny someone working a fan for the sake of theme?
Please, think about what you are saying.
I guess we need to request they turn off all of the air in the park as that is out of theme......
Think about this people, this is not rock music someone is playing in the park, this is civilization.
No one is saying that Silver Dollar City should not have fans, and no one is saying that Silver Dollar City should not have Wal-Mart box style fans. The problem is, when those fans are placed without any theme what-so-ever. I remember seeing a Wal-Mart box style fan near the Homestead Pickers. However, this fan had painted wood panels installed onto the sides, and a wooden 'X' on the front to make it appear more themed.
I understand what you are saying about the fans being themed.
However, I would be interested to see if that fan is still there or if it was a need during this oppressive heat.
I would quickly over look a plastic fan when its 115 heat index, I mean you gotta do what you gotta do.
If they don't have a themed fan or they cant get one quick enough, in this heat, I say let them plastic blades glisten for all to see.
But yes, make the fan fit is ASAP.
Now, is it still there?
Inside of the Mill is air conditioned. Dining area has ceiling fans. Don't need to see a plastic Wal-Mart fan in a dining area. Period. I'm a "keeper of the theme guy." There is no excuse for this happening. Period.
OK, off the soapbox again.
Okay Junior let's try this out. After much digging around I was finally able to locate a picture of what I was talking about. It is a "Wal-Mart" style plastic fan that has been themed.
What are your thoughts? :)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/30708145@N02/3929029546/ (http://www.flickr.com/photos/30708145@N02/3929029546/)
(Photo Credit: tinmmann620)
Now that's attention to detail. Only a park like SDC would go to the trouble of building a period-style frame for a plastic box fan in an effort to uphold their brand. Bravo to them as far as I'm concerned.
The fans I was speaking of were the ones for sale as decorative items within Heartland Home Furnishing-just to clear that up.
well my dream is to go to college and then come to work at SDC as a manager in the Maintenace and Construction dept and i would do everything in my power to keep the theme up. I agree if they keep on there downward take on themeing then in a few years they might as well put up 6 big flag poles out front and be done with it.
Yeah, I like that an "attempt" has been made to "theme" the fan. I'm OK with that. Thanks for the photo. I saw some small decorative lamp/fan combos in the furniture store that were nice, too. However, they were too small to do the job on the front porch at the homestead. Sorry to have harped on this theme thing for the last three days. When you see something for the first time that you know in years past would NOT have been acceptable, it's difficult to accept it immediately. Especially after "keep the theme" was drilled into our heads as employees...in my case over seven years! Of course, the park has to move forward, and everything there cannot be static...if it was, the park would have never evolved past the town square, and we'd all be parking our cars where the gazebo is! I guess I am just going to have to "chill out" over unthemed Coke refrigerators and ice drink machines, metal doors...and so on...and just enjoy the park for what it is. It still is a high quality product that I will take my grandkids to, and I hope it maintains that high quality over the years so my grandkids grandkids can enjoy it after ole "Junior" has gone on to that great big old diving bell in the sky! ;) It's OK to remember the past fondly, as long as you keep yourself moving toward the future! ;D
Thanks to all who tolerated my "venting" over the last three days! I made some critical and almost harsh comments, and I hope you will forgive me if I got too critical. I still love the place, maybe that's why I vented so much. SDC is a wonderful place, as you all know. Junior is ready to move back into his "happy place!" Thanks, ya'll! Whew, it has been great therapy for me! ;D
I agree with everything you said, Junior. SDC is very good at theming so they could put a little effort into it and hide the "modern" inventions. We have to stay on 'em to uphold the standards that keep us coming back multiple times per year, every year!
Quote from: Junior on August 19, 2010, 05:00:16 PM
Thanks to all who tolerated my "venting" over the last three days! I made some critical and almost harsh comments, and I hope you will forgive me if I got too critical. I still love the place, maybe that's why I vented so much. SDC is a wonderful place, as you all know. Junior is ready to move back into his "happy place!" Thanks, ya'll! Whew, it has been great therapy for me! ;D
Hey Junior, I feel the same way about the beating that I feel like I gave MM on a few other threads. One would think that I'm not a very centered or happy person after reading some of them, but I feel the exact same way you do. I think everything changes when you have been going since you were in the womb and have worked there. So I'd like to piggy back on all that you have said and hang ten on your plea above as well. ::)
Maybe we can get them to theme the fans they use in the restrooms!
HA! :D
Then there are the plastic cooler drink dispenser at ride operator stations - how 'bout a quick paint job on them too?
Those plastic cooler drink dispensers have been around a long time...going back to my day. We would fill the coolers up with ice water or with a Gatoraid type drink, but we would cover the cooler in burlap and carry it into a break room where it was not in view of guests. That did the trick.
I am no artist....wait yes I am...and I see a simple fix for those coolers to turn them from a bright orange dispenser into a faux wood tree stump. I think it would be an easy fix...some insulation foam molded and shaped to appear like bark, a few shades of some brown paint, and a bit of airbrushing would do the trick and wa'la...Ozark Stump Water fir the citizens.
Good idea...now if you could get a bunch of employees from their mid teens to mid 30s or 40s to not bang around and mistreat the "stump" so it does not fall apart after about a dozen uses. Good luck! I remember we used to all be very rough in our treatment of things...heck, I completely crashed and ruined diving bell capsules at least half a dozen to a dozen times a day! ;)
Very true! I know how worn and abused the items in my class/ school get just after a few weeks.SO you are the one that kept crashing the capsule into the rocks allowing water to spill in....and allowing Eli Tolts to get away with the treasure... Needless to say my point was I could make a jug look like a stump, quickly and easily, that was the first thought I had. There are many other solutions to this issue that would just involve a bit of work.
8.22.10
No plastic fan in the restaurant.
However there is a metal one on a stand. I did check the manufacturers info on the plate of the fan and it said made in 2009.
I immediately sounded a compressed air football siren in the restaurant followed with a very stern and loud announcement that I was from the SDCFANS Forum and wanted to see a manager, ' THIS FAN IS NOT IN THEME'!!!!!
You all would have been so proud of me, I blew that siren the whole time they were physically taking me to the front gate......
:-*
while annoying I am not going to let a few bumps ruin my experiance. ya know it sucks but all well life goes on and as long as t.v and what not dont take over I will be fine with it.....to a point