One of my favorite reoccuring dreams is that I own an indoor theme park. It is always under construction in my dreams and we are always scraping the bottom of the barrel with budget, the place seems to be located in an abandoned strip mall and all of the characters are created in the old dark ride style, with lots of plywood cut into shapes and mechanical servos moving arms and eyes, and mouths.

I think the world of Sid and Marty Krofft really stuck with me as a kid. I can’t believe that it was only open for six months. Crazy, It was totally amazing to me. I remember my parents being very iffy about the place the whole time we were there.

It was definitely a place that had more “heart” as folks like to say than substance. I think even as a kid I could tell they were all scrambling to keep the show going. But at the same time it was all overwhelming. It didn’t feel like the future, but it all felt very strange, a little dangerous, perhaps a little risque. I definitely remember my mom being a little concerned that these people all seem like they are kinda her words, “New Yorkish and on drugs”

For me the super tall elevator, the total feeling of things getting stranger and stranger as you left the normal world were very strong, and truly inspired me as a kid. I loved the shows and new the characters so that combined with a bit of fear from my parents really put the place in a special part of my brain.

Funny that I later escaped back to theme parks twice working at Walt Disney world in florida. I think the Kroffts were somewhat responsible.

Chad