When I was young, I had the good fortune of attending all of the various theme parks in Southern California, Disneyland, Knott's Berry Farm, Sea World, Marineland, Magic Mountain, Santa's Village, etc. As well as many many fairs in Los Angeles and Orange counties and loads of parking lot carnivals.
To this day I love carnivals and theme parks. I appreciate the rides, the people, the history, the sometimes "skeevyness", the laughter, the lights...
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| Carousel detail. Parking lot carnival. Riverside, CA. ©Mike Vega Minolta AF-2 100asa Kodak T-max b/w 35mm film |
When I am working and I drive past a parking lot carnival, I will crane my neck looking to see what rides they are featuring... The Zipper? The Tilt-A-Whirl? The Spider? Bumper cars? The Scrambler? I'm sure to some, these pop up fairs all look the same, but to devoted attendees, the details make the magic.
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| Bean Bag Toss. Riverside, CA. ©Mike Vega Minolta AF-2 100asa Kodak T-max b/w 35mm film |
As interesting as the rides, there is also the midway. What games are there? Bean Bag Toss? Ring Toss? Darts? B-B Guns? Games of luck, games of skill? The call to "Ring the Bell, win the lady a prize!" is just as enticing today as it was decades ago.
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| "Conjure a Villain" Disneyland, Anaheim, CA. ©Mike Vega Canon Ae-1 50mm f2.8 100asa Kodak T-Max 100 35mm b/w film. |
As if the sights of a fun park or carnival weren't enough, there is also the smells. The aroma of popcorn, cotton candy, and diesel...
Add to that the mystery of nightfall...
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| "Step right up..." ©Mike Vega 2013 Riverside, CA. Canon Ae-1 50mm f2.8 100asa Kodak T-max b/w film |
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| The Tornado. The stuff childhood dreams (or nightmares) are made of... ©Mike Vega 2013 Riverside, CA. Canon Ae-1 50mm f2.8 100asa Kodak T-max b/w film |
When you've had your fill of treats and rides, take a seat and watch the parade of people, young and old, laughing, crying, rushing to and fro. Hear the Carnies barking down the passers by, trying to wrangle every last dollar from them. Watch as boisterous young boys suddenly become ill at the thought of riding the Zipper...
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| Spinning Bears and Super-Slide. ©Mike Vega 2013 Riverside, CA. Canon Ae-1 50mm f2.8 100asa Kodak T-max b/w film |
How excited you'll be when you find they have brought your favorite ride or game...
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| The Twister. ©Mike Vega 2013 Riverside, CA. Canon Ae-1 50mm f2.8 100asa Kodak T-max b/w film |
See you at the snack bar...
-Mike
