Can any current citizens tell me whatever happened to Alan Beisswenger (might have last name spelled wrong) who in more recent years was with security? I think he was a manager or boss there. Previously, back in the 80's, he was an attractions manager...one of mine. Always had a good sense of humor and was easy for all of us to work with.
Also, can you tell me about Bonnie Arnold...who played Ma Hatfield in the 70s and 80s, but in more recent years played Schoolmarm Bonnie at the school house? Is she still active on park?
Since I saw it on a thread on sdcfans, I gotta ask...The Rainmaker Show...Internet folly or fact? Is the show coming back to SDC this year for the 50th anniversary? Will someone visiting the park this week ask someone and report back here?
Allen is still on park working in Safety & Security. Unfortunately Bonnie had suffered a fall that doesn't allow her to work any longer. I hope the Rainmaker comes back, this has been rumored the last few years and the wagon was being stored by the cave cable train, cross you fingers!
Thanks for the update. Please, if you find out more about Bonnie, pass it along. Last time I was on park the Rainmaker wagon was at the Lost River, one of the unusual things to look at as you stood in line. Glad to hear it's being taken care of, just in case it needs to go back into service. I hope it does.
Can anyone tell me if Ron Jett is still with Dixie Stampede in Branson? Or has he moved on to another job? Jett served as general manager of the stampede for several years.
Actually producing taffy in the taffy shop?
WHen I was a kid they went at it all the time, the machine wraping and kneeding the taffy was very cool indeed.
Maybe if they gond some movement in that store paying 8.00 a lb for taffy made in some generic factory wouldnt feel so out of bounds.........
I think I remember them making taffy the last time I went in the shop, last summer. I'd say you just have to be in there at the right times.
THey make some taffy there... But there is no way they can make it all. THey purchase the bulk of their taffy from a company in Salt Lake City.
Have any of you frequent visitors with cameras veered off the pathways leading to the American Plunge or the rollercoaster adjacent to it to snap a few candid shots of the remains of the Jim Owens' Float Trip Ride? After seeing RUBE DUGAN'S shot of the old float trip channel on "Where in the City..." it got me to thinking. I know about a third or about half of the old channels are still in place, used to recycle water for the plunge, but I thought most of the old scenes and props along the route were removed. Let's see some pictures. My guess is if you approach a current "citizen" at one of these attractions at the right time, say early in the morning or on a slow day, they might escort you along the old float trip route to allow a few shots.
I took a few of them a while back in my Flickr stream (middle of the set)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/skinnytie/sets/790011/
Ah! Thanks...it does bring back memories. I'd still like to get a current "citizen" to walk me around back away from the waiting line pathways to the area of the float trip channel that has not been viewable to guests in recent years. Maybe someday... :)
One of the guys that played Junior Dugan at the diving bell in the late '70's has enjoyed over 30 years of success as a Branson area MC and comedian...Bob Nichols is working this year at Country Tonite. I've posted a detail from the 2010 brochure on Flickr that features Bob's picture.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/juniordugan
Just had to say, BetaMike, great sets of pictures! I don't think I ever went on the float ride, but I have seen some of the old canals around.
Thanks for posting those flicker pics, Beta! I havent laid eyes on J.O. Float Trip since I got out of the boat for the last time in 1980! Great pics brought those memories back real fast! The pic of you under the "rides closed for the day" sign is classic! LOL!
HA! Thanks! Of course I never have a line.
Speaking of hard to get pictures....strike that, speaking of stuff that I would love to rip out of Silver Dollar City and hang on my bedroom wall....
How about those great old paintings of attractions (mostly now extinct) in the ticket booths? With being a citizen and a seasons pass holder, there is hardly a reason to go stand in line there anymore, but when you do you are looking at the same stuff that caught my eye as a kid.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/skinnytie/35691597/in/set-790011/
Just found this photo. It's from a time after the rainmaker wagon was retired.
(http://www.weebly.com/uploads/6/0/7/6/6076564/4435861.jpg)