cfc

^DuckSoup is the Marx Brothers' funniest movie. Groucho is Rufus T. Firefly, president of Freedonia, who is running the country into the ground because they were stupid enough to make him president. (Sounds rather familiar--hmm . . .) Zeppo is Groucho's aide. Chico and Harpo are spies from Freedonia's arch rival, Sylvania. How did you get through college without seeing Duck Soup? I weep for today's youth.

Fredonia, eh? Do you get a lot of "Rufus T. Firefly" jokes? (Groucho Marx was President Rufus T. Firefly of Freedonia in Duck Soup.) "Hail, hail Freedonia!" Remember--all he can "promise you is a Rufus over your head."

Here's a piece of ERT trivia I came across at BGE: Did you know that the first-ever ERT session was on the Loch Ness Monster for the then-new organization that became known as the American Coaster Enthusiasts? It was in 1978 to herald the opening of Nessie. At least, that's what the ACE plaque next to the ride entrance says.

Southwest also sponsors the sky ride at BGE. No wonder the lines are always so long. Fun stuff, guys--thanks. I'm flying Southwest out of Norfolk to California in August for 1) my niece Sarah's wedding and 2) a trip to Disneyland to check out the 50th anniversary stuff. Wish me luck there.

^Might take you up on that sometime, James. Have fun at Holiday World. I'll probably be checking out Water Country's "Passholder Preview Day" next Sunday, if the weather doesn't completely stink. (Busch has a knack for selecting heavy-thunderstorm days or unseasonably cold days for this event.)

1. My howetown (Patterson, Calif.) is the "Apricot Capital of the World." 2. I started out as a horticulture major at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, but graduated with an English degree. 3. I once told Mel Blanc where to find the men's room at the Cal Poly University Union. 4. Two of my most prized possessions are two original one-sheets: Sergio Leone's A Fistful of Dollars and Ed Wood's Jail Bait. (Always on the prowl for more.) 5. I have yet to set foot in a Six Flags park.

^They are all Dr. Ruth because, as the diminutive sex doc used to say, they are all "on ze air!"

And so Irwin Allen's Lost in Space vision has come to pass--there are go-go clubs in space.

"Must . . . have . . . good . . . beer!"

If you go with the plaid blazer, be sure to hike your pants up to your nipples--that'll give you that "retired old dude who has just moved to Florida" look.

BGE certainly has been accomodating to military families the last couple of years. According to this morning's Daily Press (Apr. 29, 2006), there was a reenlistment ceremony at the park (hours before opening) for members of the 7th Transportation Company stationed at Ft. Eustis, which is just down Rt. 60 in Newport News. The group took their oath in front of Apollo's Chariot, then got a bit of ERT (would've been a chilly ride yesterday). I'm glad that Busch is doing this--these folks are sacrificing a lot whether you agree with the war in Iraq or not.

Disney used to sell the most pointless souvenir of all--a light bulb from that parade that was "glowing away forever." Too bad the Electrical Parade was running at DCA two years later. My Mother bought one--just looked like an old Christmas tree light to me.

^I have no problem with the "old-school" Bat, but they need to get him the proper cowl. I suspect the Joker is behind this!

^^You have a future as a copy editor, Louise. Well, being as it doesn't pay all that well, maybe not much of a future. And now, my favorite copy-editor joke: How many copy editors does it take to screw in a light bulb? QUERY: Unclear. Do you mean to replace a light bulb or have sex in a light bulb?

Hmm--SFMM's Batman has the Michael Keaton/Val Kilmer/George Clooney cowl with the Adam West suit. "Holy fashion faux pas, Batman!" Oh, the irony--I'll be driving right past Tatsu on I-5 on my way to the Anaheim HoJo's after my niece's wedding in August. Probably won't get back to Valencia to check it out. I must have a 100 drive-bys of SFMM since the last time I visited the place (when Revolution still ruled). But I'm looking forward to getting back to Disneyland again; haven't been there since 2001.

It seemed to have a bit more charm back then--still a fun place today, but it became more of a thrill-ride park.

I remember riding the Haunted River when I first moved to Virginia (was going to finish a master's degree and leave, but "the best laid plans of mice and men . . ."). The best part was that rather steep drop at the end. I thought. Below is a rather dark picture I took last weekend after riding Volcano. I had never noticed these skeletons down in the pit by the exit--they look like leftover theming from the Haunted River. I remember the fountains in the entry plaza looking a whole lot bigger in the movie Rollercoaster. And how about those singing mushrooms? Thanks for sharing, Jeff--Rebel Yell's old queue house was pretty cool (as was that lake). Sorry the picture's so dark. Looks like these poor guys have been hanging around Volcano's exit for quite some time.

^And if you'd read the initial version of this thread, PKI also had a Vortex!

One other little thing--PKD was running empty trains on the Hurler late that afternoon, so all you Hurler fans out there (I suppose there's one or two) can probably get your fix by now. EDIT: Make that "I" a "D."

Aghh! I never could figure out how those things worked. But the Pirates of the Caribbean game was great, and Cyber Space Mountain was fun. I kind of liked that game with the remote control trucks in the ancient tomb, too. (Any bets on whether some of this stuff will end up at other Disney theme parks?)

Too bad they don't use OSRs on Timberline Twister--these guys are used to banging heads.

My donuts are stale, And my beer ain't cold, Canadians on flame With rock and roll! A thousand mounties, Begin to fry, There ain't no back bacon, Up in the sky! With my apologies to Blue Oyster Cult--and to our friends up north.

Sorry you couldn't make it, Jeff--turned out to be a good day. Looks like there's been some progress on Italian Job, at least, but opening in May? Hmm . . . maybe very late May.

"Call Mr. Gun, that's the name./That name again is Mr. Gun."

Hmm--looks like a set for Rob Zombie's next horror flick. How about, "Theme Park of 1,000 Corpses," or "The Devil's E-Ticket"?