Do you remember hot summer nights at the country fair?
Do you remember Joie Chitwood and his Hell Drivers?
Do you remember the Wall of Death on the midway?
Do you remember how pissed carnies used to get when you tried to take their picture?
Click to enlarge pissed carny.
I don't.
ReplyDeleteI don't.
I don't.
I don't.
I did.
I think this must be a man thing. I've no idea what you're talking about.
@A. - I suspect this may be a non-British thing more than a non-woman thing, although we DID bring it over to your midways in the 1960s, says Google. Germany seems to have taken to it more than the British. Of course you are too young to remember the 60s yourself, but you are otherwise often well-read. This is important enough for you to study up on.
ReplyDeleteThey may not have been drivers, of course. They may have been putters.
ReplyDeleteIt may indeed be an american import, but the wall of death came to britain not in the 1960s, but the 1920s.
ReplyDeleteSomewhere or other I have an "Autocar" magazine, with a picture on the front cover of an M.G. car driving the wall of death at the Kursaal, Southend, in 1930.
There's at least one wall still touring Britain, I think I once wrote a post on it, way back, but my failure to tag posts, or even title them properly, makes finding it unlikely. I did find some pics of Tornado Smith and his wall-riding lioness.
http://gritinthegears.blogspot.co.uk/2008/04/big-cat-blogging.html
http://gritinthegears.blogspot.co.uk/2010/01/oh-let-me-take-my-chances-on-wall-of.html
They still use, if I remember correctly, 1926 Indian Scouts as the bike of choice.
Midway....
ReplyDeleteNot a term I've heard here. a fairground?
@A. - Good one. :) The pissed Carny I think I would use for a sand wedge though. :)
ReplyDelete@Soubriquet - I've seen old pictures of small cars on similar walls. I've seen older motorcycles on what they called a motordrome (I think) with circular racing on a sloped (rather than vertical) wall. Track made out of wood though.
I was reading a German-based blog that said the Americans brought it over in the 1960s, but it may have only been referring to an American troupe touring Germany. The Germans don't research Britain, probably. :) You're spot on about them being partial to the old Indian Scout. Don't know the favored year, though. I'll take your word for that.
Your links are pretty awesome. I'm sure the lions really enjoyed the noise. In modern-day riding (apparently they still do it) I have seen pictures (color pictures, so I assume it's modern) of the riders snatching five-dollar bills from spectators' outstretched hands. Sort of like feeding the monkeys. In older days, we used to just throw coins down into the pit at their request. I remember the announcer's pitch was, "You know these guys can't get insurance, so your donations would be appreciated." Like they would buy insurance even if offered. :)
@Soubriquet - Part of a fairground. It's where the rides and other fun stuff live. Apart from the racetrack or grandstand or animals or tractors. :) Some call that area the "carnival" although, to me, "the carnival" is the same as saying "the fair."
noun
an area of sideshows, games of chance or skill, or other amusements at a fair or exhibition : the kids head straight for the midway.
Not to be confused with midwife.
ReplyDeleteDo you remember hot summer nights at the country fair? Hot summer nights in Edinburgh?
ReplyDeleteDo you remember Joie Chitwood and his Hell Drivers? Did he drive for Lothian Buses perhaps?
Do you remember the Wall of Death on the midway? Not on midway an Island I have never visited, but I have a recollection of seeing a 'wall of death' in action, but canny mind where or when.
Do you remember how pissed carnies used to get when you tried to take their picture? Carnies?
Click to enlarge pissed carny. No.
@Adullamite - I meant "county" fair. Start over.
ReplyDeleteDang, I'd like to see buses try the wall!
ReplyDelete