Roller Coaster...Say What?
January 23rd 2009 13:46
Recently, I read that Six Flags Over Texas will be able to start beer sales for the 2009 season after a judge issued his ruling the park should be allowed to sell alcohol. This gave me some cause for pause. Having worked at this amusement park industry in the late seventies and early eighties, I was reminded of all the teenaged "hijinks" that ensued and am wondering if adding alcohol is such a good idea....
Here are some random memories of employee or guest shenigans that support my concern
At the BBQ joint, there was a chopper that had a spinning blade and a rotating stainless steel bowl for cutting brisket. This implement was used to torture new employees. The "old timers" would take the blade out, reach in there pretending to clean inside, then "accidentally" hit the power and commence to screaming. A ketchup-covered piece of hot dog would complete the effect. One unsuspecting newbie fainted dead away while most would scream like little girls.
At the Fried Chicken cafe, the manager made a bet with the assistant manager that he could open the restaurant blindfolded for a case of beer. He did everything he normally did including cutting up, preparing, frying the chcken, making biscuits, and cutting potatoes and frying potatoes. When he took the blindfold off the kitchen was full of people including the park general manager who complained about the safety issues but watched the whole thing without stopping him or saying a word.
Park employees would body surf after hours in the Flume ride(clothing optional....rivets hurt...so I heard)
During this time there was a ride called The Rotoriculous. At the beginning of the ride, as it slowly rolled forwards, you would hear this spiel; "Ladies and Gentlemen, this is the renowned inventor and scientist, Professor Cyrus Cosmo, speaking to you from Master Control. The Rotoriculous will soon lurch forward, onward, into the reaches of the stratosphere!" Then it would slow down, the lights would turn off and the ride would start going backwards faster and faster. Colorful (and weird) images would be projected on the screens all around the room, and at the end a strobe light would flash to a soundtrack alternating between "Love Roller Coaster" and "Teenaged Wasteland." After hours, folks would get s**t faced drunk or totally baked and ride it over and over.
The souvenier shops sold real leather bullwhips. Often guests who purchased them would spend the rest of the day walking along snapping the whips in front of them. This would lead to some unpleasantness as often the whip would strike other unsuspecting guests.
Strolling photographers working for the Photo shop would encounter all kinds of guest behavior. Usually good, but many times guests would expose themselves or perform inappropriate activities for the cameras. Photographers were forbidden to keep inappropriate pictures for themselves or sell them to guests. They were instructed to give these pictures to management where they kept them locked up. Employees were not supposed to look at them or keep them, although sometimes the cabinet where they were kept was accidentally left unlocked...
Good times.......
Here are some random memories of employee or guest shenigans that support my concern
At the BBQ joint, there was a chopper that had a spinning blade and a rotating stainless steel bowl for cutting brisket. This implement was used to torture new employees. The "old timers" would take the blade out, reach in there pretending to clean inside, then "accidentally" hit the power and commence to screaming. A ketchup-covered piece of hot dog would complete the effect. One unsuspecting newbie fainted dead away while most would scream like little girls.
At the Fried Chicken cafe, the manager made a bet with the assistant manager that he could open the restaurant blindfolded for a case of beer. He did everything he normally did including cutting up, preparing, frying the chcken, making biscuits, and cutting potatoes and frying potatoes. When he took the blindfold off the kitchen was full of people including the park general manager who complained about the safety issues but watched the whole thing without stopping him or saying a word.
Park employees would body surf after hours in the Flume ride(clothing optional....rivets hurt...so I heard)
During this time there was a ride called The Rotoriculous. At the beginning of the ride, as it slowly rolled forwards, you would hear this spiel; "Ladies and Gentlemen, this is the renowned inventor and scientist, Professor Cyrus Cosmo, speaking to you from Master Control. The Rotoriculous will soon lurch forward, onward, into the reaches of the stratosphere!" Then it would slow down, the lights would turn off and the ride would start going backwards faster and faster. Colorful (and weird) images would be projected on the screens all around the room, and at the end a strobe light would flash to a soundtrack alternating between "Love Roller Coaster" and "Teenaged Wasteland." After hours, folks would get s**t faced drunk or totally baked and ride it over and over.
The souvenier shops sold real leather bullwhips. Often guests who purchased them would spend the rest of the day walking along snapping the whips in front of them. This would lead to some unpleasantness as often the whip would strike other unsuspecting guests.
Strolling photographers working for the Photo shop would encounter all kinds of guest behavior. Usually good, but many times guests would expose themselves or perform inappropriate activities for the cameras. Photographers were forbidden to keep inappropriate pictures for themselves or sell them to guests. They were instructed to give these pictures to management where they kept them locked up. Employees were not supposed to look at them or keep them, although sometimes the cabinet where they were kept was accidentally left unlocked...
Good times.......
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