Today’s lunch time news chum brings together a collection of articles all having to do with games and amusements (as opposed to gaming the system — I may have an article on that tomorrow):
- A Granddaddy of Gaming. One of my many hobbies is the history of Las Vegas–especially the early days of the strip. Thus I was interested to see an article in the Las Vegas Sun about Jackie Gaughan. While not one of the founders, he’s one of the few people from the early days still arounds. He’s owned numerous casinos on and off the strip, and has been a vital element in the revitalization of downtown Vegas as the long time owner of the El Cortez. Fascinating article, well worth reading.
- Behind the Scenes. An interesting profile piece in the LA Times this weekend looked at a key player in the amusement park industry that you rarely hear about: Bud Hurlbut. Hurlbut operated a workshop in Buena Park that built and refurbished carousels, miniature train rides, antique car rides and countless accessories destined for amusement parks around the world–including rides at Knotts. Hurlbut died recently, and his shop is being sold off so that the city can build on the property. It is fascinating to read about all that this craftsman built.
- Chess. As we’re talking about pieces built for parks, it is worth noting that the world’s largest chess piece has gone on display in St. Louis MO. It is of a king, it is 14.5 feet high, and weighs 2,280 pounds. It has been installed in front of the World Chess Hall of Fame, which is also in St. Louis for what I’m sure must be a good reason.
P.S.: Appropos of nothing, simply because a like it: A recipe for avgolomono soup.
Music: Dixieland Cajun Style (Red Nichols): My Melancholy Baby
http://www.dailybreeze.com/news/ci_20552860/649-5-million-bid-replace-gerald-desmond-bridge
