All things fair

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Before I get started this morning — congrats to RtB poster Meg, who was elected Homecoming Queen last night at the football game. YaAaAAay for a fellow Finkite — we heart her.

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The county fair has been here this week. I didn’t get a chance to go, but boy, I used to do the fair bigtime when my kids were little.

And when I myself was a tiny fink, we used to do the carnivals every chance we got. I don’t mean county fairs (I can’t even remember going to a bonafide fair — the kind with ani-mules and baking contests and ribbons and royalty and such — until coming to Ohio in ’73) but rather the carnies that came to town. Mavis and I, along with a gaggle of friends, would look forward to being dropped off at the carnival and staying all day, into the evening hours.

Fellow crusties, do you remember when these were THE rides to ride for every daredevil in town? Long before upside-down roller coasters were the norm, we feasted on these, of the Wonders of Physics/Vomit Comet variety. If you could ride all of them at least twice in one night and not hork your dinner everywhere, you were a champ indeed…

Octopus. They still have these at a lot of the major theme parks.
Octopus. They still have these at a lot of the major theme parks.
The Rock-O-Plane and the Roll-O-Plane (we also called it the Bullet). Awesome thrill rides.
The Rock-O-Plane and the Roll-O-Plane (we also called it the Bullet). Awesome thrill rides. There was also one where the bullet-shaped cars would NOT rotate -- we called it "The Hammer." Couldn't find a photo of it, though.
The Rotor -- one of the scariest for me, especially when the floor disappeared.
The Rotor -- one of the scariest for me, especially when the floor disappeared.
Ah yes, the Roundup, with its accompanying question: If someone barfed, what are the chances....?
Ah yes, the Roundup, with its accompanying question: If someone barfed, what are the chances....?
Still see these everywhere and in different colors. I like the old silver.
Still see these everywhere and in different colors. I like the old silver.
I get woozy thinking about this one.
I get woozy thinking about this one.
The Matterhorn or Himalaya. Bad memory here...almost lost a 3-year-old Lars on this one.
The Matterhorn or Himalaya. Bad memory here...almost lost a 3-year-old Lars on this one.
The number-one most awesome carnival ride EVER. The Zipper.
The number-one most awesome carnival ride EVER. The Zipper.

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Thanks to all the FlickR sites and other places from which I janked these photos. A nice Saturday retro experience for the crusties.

OK fiends. Enjoy your weekend, because it is now officially about half over. Yay.

FO

10 Comments by  /  September 26, 2009  /  Posted in: Entertainment
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  1. BoomR

     /  26 September, 2009

    We’re celebrating the opening of the State Fair of Texas (www.bigtex.com) This year’s fried delicacy is “Fried Butter” – yes… you hear it right! Doesn’t the thought of that nauseate you? It’s bad enough we have fried Oreos, fried Nutter-Butters, fried Twinkies, fried pickles, etc. etc., right?? Regardless, keeping with the theme of “everything’s bigger in TX,” this is really quite an event & lasts for about a month here in Dallas. Y’all come down, ya hear? :-)

    Reply

    BoomR Reply:
    September 26th, 2009 at 11:16 am

    Oh, lordy. There is a new “Food Finder” feature on http://www.bigtex.com

    I did a find for “new food items” and used keyword: fried. At the Midway concession stand #19, you can feast on the following cuisine:
    Fried Oreo
    Fried Pralines
    Fried Marshmallows
    Fried Snowball
    Fried Honeybun
    Fried Snickers
    Greatest Fried Pies
    Fried Apple & Peanut Butter on a Stick

    …and the Big Tex Choice Awards Finalist:
    Fried Peanut Butter Cup Macaroon

    That’s some good eatin’ ain’t it? :-)

    Reply

    Rat Fink Reply:
    September 26th, 2009 at 2:03 pm

    I did read about this a couple of weeks ago! Yowza…and people were raving about the Snickers, saying it was delicious. (Sadly, I’d probably agree!) And I must say that fried marshmallows sounds DANDY

    Reply

    Will Reply:
    September 26th, 2009 at 7:32 pm

    I saw the Fried Oreo on Kathy Griffin’s show a few weeks back and it looked absolutely delicious.

    As for Fried Butter, one of my favorite blogs has a vaguely regular feature called Paula Deen is Trying to Kill Us. The first column featured the recipe for Fried Butter Balls. Here’s the link if you want to take a look. http://www.seriouseats.com/2007/04/paula-deen-is-trying-to-kill-u.html

    Reply

  2. Artilius Merchclod

     /  26 September, 2009

    Sorry you’ve got bad memories on it….but The Matterhorn is my favorite. Besides the disaster transport…its the only Cedar Point ride I will ride.

    Reply

    Rat Fink Reply:
    September 26th, 2009 at 2:01 pm

    I like the Matterhorn. I just didn’t like it when my son started to slip out on to the floor and out of it, despite having the safety bar locked down. My hand grasping his arm was the only thing keeping him in.

    Reply

    Art Merchclod Reply:
    September 26th, 2009 at 4:09 pm

    Yipes! Thats a scary situation.

    Reply

    Reply

  3. Meg

     /  26 September, 2009

    Thanks, Fink, for the shout out! I am *STILL* smiling :) And thank you for all of your support. You are aweeesome! Pictures coming soooon…

    Reply

    Reply

  4. Mavis

     /  26 September, 2009

    My husband was born and raised in Texas. Born in Waco, grew up in Dallas. When I first moved there, we went to the Texas State Fair every year. We like the “old fried food” standards. Fried okra is still Rickey’s favorite stand. I always sought out the fried cheese stands. Best stuff in the world. But, there is no BBQ on the planet like Texas BBQ. BBQ brisket on a stick is to die for! Ahh memories….

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  5. Krissy

     /  29 September, 2009

    I love the Scrambler and Matterhorn!

    Reply

    Reply

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