As Far
Back as a Mind is Allowed to Remember
Growing up
in New England, when spring gave way to summer, there was always a magical feeling that
cannot be described that came over me. The grass in the neighborhood had been mowed and
the day that I had been anticipating since school let out for the summer was finally here.
My day begins with the half-mile walk to the bus turn around on Broad Street where
Cranston meets Washington Park. After what seems like an eternity my bus arrives to take
me to my destination, Rocky Point.
The ride to the park seemed to take forever. The bus windows never
seemed to open and air conditioning seemed to be unheard of, but all of these hassles
seemed to suddenly vanish when the art deco sign of the park's entrance came into view.
Suddenly the train tracks come into view to the left of the roadway, as does the biggest
swimming pool imaginable to the right. Looking over the faces of the full busload of
people I realize the feeling of elation is shared amongst us all young and old alike.
Upon exiting the bus the first view encountered is that of Narragansett
Bay with its gentle waves lapping at the rocky sand of the beach behind the swimming pool
that had not quite opened for the day. I always seemed to get something special out of
getting to the park before it actually opened. Watching the game booths set up, and
watching the workers getting the rides ready for the day just made the experience more
exhilarating. You could almost hear the laughter of crowds that were here yesterday or
maybe many yesterdays ago. It truly was a special place.
About three-quarters of the way through the midway, across from the
carousel stood the penny arcade. It always seemed to be the first thing to open and you
could actually play some games for a penny. I had a tendency to play the high priced games
though and would go immediately to the five games for a quarter pinball area. After
exhausting my fingers on the flipper buttons, the sounds of carousel music began to
fill the air signaling that the midway was finally open for the day. Exiting the arcade
meant that the time had come to join the crowd, which had already started forming at the
ticket booth.
After handing in my discount coupons and a little bit of cash I
received my stacks of red ride tickets. It seemed like a pretty good trade for those lawns
I’ve been mowing for the past few weeks. Now what do I go on first? The rocket ride
that swings you out over the Palladium Ballroom, the new Roto Jets, or The WILDCAT! Well
that was easy, the Wildcat. I got real lucky. They’re letting me in my own car, this
would never happen later on in the day. It was a very different experience riding the
Wildcat alone. At the time it was the only roller coaster in the area other than the kiddy
coaster and after the assent up
the clackedy lift hill, the feeling of being launched off into space came over you around
every curve. After a long series of curves and dips you were met at the bottom by the ride
operator working the brake levers and safely bringing you in for a landing. The next
adventure was to be the rocket ride, but to my disappointment the ride had been dismantled
over the winter, but rumor had it they’re replacing it with a huge coaster.
Well let’s try this new dark ride, The House of Horrors. Looks
like some sort of a coaster, its two stories high. Upon entering, it immediately became
pitch black. It was very interesting with things falling at you and jumping out at you
around every turn, then being turned around and dragged to the second level in reverse. It
seemed to last forever. After crashing through two sets of wooden doors you were greeted
by bright sunshine and the warmth of the outside air. Then its back inside for round
two. After another series of things trying to scare the wits out of you, you ascend a long
dark corridor at the end of which you crash through a final set of wooden doors and are
released, all intact back to the safety of the Midway.
Well its almost one o’clock, time to start checking the bus stop
for a friend that is suppose to meet me. The next bus should arrive in ten minutes or so,
and I’m halfway down the midway so the timing seems right. On my walk to the bus stop
the tempting aroma coming from the Shore Dinner Hall started to remind me that I had not
eaten lunch yet. I sure hope my friend is on that bus. The timing turned out to be perfect
as the bus and I arrived at the same time at the front of the swimming pool. Out stepped
my very close friend with that same look that I must have had upon arrival. It just seems
to appear on everyone as soon as you enter those gates. After sharing pleasantries, we
proceeded back to the Midway. The decision was made to play a few games before lunch and
we stopped at the game in which you knock down the milk bottles with a baseball.
After convincing ourselves that the Red Sox would not be knocking at our doors anytime
soon, we crossed the midway and made our way up the roadway between the stage and the
Rocky Game Concession that enters the parking lot to the Shore Dinner Hall.
After paying our $1.50 entry fee we entered the hall. It gave you the
feeling of being in a hardwood covered football field with rows of white paper covered
tables as far as the eye could see. The air conditioning was a pleasant change from the
outside air and the thought arose that someday we might even have the same thing in our
own houses when we make our fortunes later on in life. The clanging of spoon to plate
brought us back to the matter at hand, and soon the stainless pots of chowder with the
dishes of clam-cakes used as covers were distributed to our tables. It was a picnic type
atmosphere as you are seated at a table that is approximately fifty feet long, where
everyone sits with everyone else, and for some reason everyone is instantly friends. After
eating more chowder and clam-cakes than should be legal, the waiters start to distribute
the watermelon. By this time the cool slices are just something to look at, for there are
limits. Looking out of the picture windows that make up the north and east outer walls of
the hall, the view is something to behold. Directly east shows what’s left of the old
hall that was taken by one of the great storms that have tortured the coast in the past.
It also shows the pier where people are waiting for the sightseeing boat to show them
Narragansett Bay. To the northeast the rocky shoreline, where anglers are trying to outwit
flatfish and stripers, but appear to be content just to sit and wait. After consuming the
view for a short time, the midway begins to beckon, so its back to our day.
Our walk back to the midway took us along the shoreline beside the access road that led
you through the park. Our conversation was based on all the changes that had taken place
over the winter and how we were dying to try out the new Log Flume ride that had been
added to the entrance to the midway. We could already hear the thunderous roar of log
meeting water as the logs made their final journey down the huge hill that culminated into
a tremendous spray of foaming water and chaos. Luck seemed to be with us as the line
leading up to the ride was not bad at all, and soon we were walking up the access way to
the rides loading platform. We were just about to load when that feeling of anticipation
hit us that always seemed to appear the first time you attempt to do anything new. You
know your going to do it, only your not sure how it’s going to turn out. The first
three-quarters of the ride was a pleasant experience floating along in the log with a few
subtle- drops to remind you that you were not on a kiddy ride. After rounding a large
curve you were swept on to a belt that pulled you up a long hill past warning signs that
reminded you not to stand up, and you suddenly found yourself holding on for dear life. As
you made it over the top and for one split second you realized just how high you were, and
what was ahead. Then you DROPPED! A feeling of weightlessness seemed to engulf you as you
sped downward. Just as you adjusted to the feeling, you found yourself in a cauldron of
exploding water that engulfed and consumed you sending out a massive plume of spray that
found its way to waiting children standing along side the end of the ride laughing and
cooling themselves from the summer heat. A look of shocked happiness must have appeared on
both of our now dripping wet faces, as we knew we had found a winner. Exiting the ride
were two smiling people that looked as though they were just rescued from some great sea
disaster that for some strange reason had been fun.
With the light breeze blowing in off the bay that always seemed to appear in the afternoon
we made it up the ramp of the Sky Ride. We boarded the ski lift type ride that crossed the
midway and rose above the mini golf course. It slowly ascended out to a point where it
turned around over some very high, jagged rocks, producing a very strange sensation, as
you slowly descended back to the point of origin, giving a great panoramic view of the
entire midway and the bay. At the time I never realized why this ride was so popular with
young couples in the evening. (The innocence of youth.) With the help of the sun, and the
breeze blowing in off the bay we were now totally dry and as the ride came to an end we
ran down the exit ramp, and on to new thrills.
About a third of the way through the midway you come across a ride that is perched above
two game concessions. (The games will be visited later, as who wants to carry around the
great stuffed bear that we more than likely won't win with us all day.) We will play later
though, because one never knows! The ride is called the Roto Jets. After ascending the
stairs above the concessions we mounted our rockets and were immediately transformed into
fighter pilots. The up and down motion was controlled by a yoke in the ship that allowed
dogfight maneuvers, and it even had a machine gun. Because the ride was built so high up
to begin with, it took quite a bit of courage to bring the ship up to maximum altitude as
you felt as though you would fall out. After shooting down all enemy aircraft there was a
loud swishing noise as the air was released from the hydraulics and you slowly started to
come in for a landing. I think everyone pulled back on the yokes at this time to try to
attain altitude, but to no avail, we were landing.
Heading further up the midway we ran into some school friends that were down for the day
with their parents. After pleasantries were exchanged, we were invited to a ride home
after closing. One person or another always offered the invitation because I don’t
ever remember taking a bus home from the park. After phone calls were made to assure our
safety to our parents it was back to the enjoyment of the day.
Further up the midway past numerous game booths and concession stands was a ride that
always seemed to have the longest line in the park, the Dodgems. After a long wait in line
that was used to set strategies as to who you were going to concentrate your wrath on, you
entered the ride through a wooden alleyway between the ride and the building housing the
avalanche and crane games. Walking across the greasy metal floor you entered your
car. An antique art deco styled mini auto with a rubber bumper that totally surrounded its
outside lower edge. Preparing yourself for the start of the ride you aim your car at your
quarry, the ride starts, and you either do a complete spin or someone crashes into you
causing a multiple car pileup. Either way you miss your target, so much for strategy.
Finally underway you notice signs that tell you which way to go and signs on the wall that
say ”no head on collisions,” but before the end of the ride you always seem to
end up being involved in at least one or maybe more. When you finally seem to be somewhat
in control and finally get a chance to reach your target, the power fades and the ride
comes to an end, and for some reason you find yourself back in line ready to go at it
again. After a repeat performance with just about the same results we exit and make our
way north to the Tilt 'a' Whirl.
Although Tilt 'a' Whirl is one of the older rides in the park, it seemed the older it got
the better it got. As the ride started the cars would begin to spin with the help of
centrifugal force and four crazy kids throwing they’re bodies around in the car
trying to lean into the spin. If done right the effect was amazing. The longer the ride
the more intense the spinning. It seemed that about halfway through the ride you had the
tendency to lean your head back to the cage that surrounded your neck area. If you did
your job right, once your head made contact with the support, that’s where it stayed
and no-matter how hard you tried you couldn’t lift it back up until the ride slowed
down and had almost stopped. We exited that ride like four drunken sailors on shore leave,
sitting for awhile before going on, happy in the fact that we hadn’t made it our
first choice after lunch.
The north end of the park was a mixture of old and new rides. The ride directly north of
the Tilt 'a' Whirl was the Tumble Bug an oldie but one that still gave thrills. We entered
the huge bug shaped car that resembled a Japanese Beetle that had you seated in a circle
around a center wheel that was strictly there for support. Upon the rides start up, we
found ourselves going backwards then forwards a few times to build up enough momentum to
get us started over the first hill. Once momentum was achieved we traveled in a large
circle on a single rail that followed a series of hills and valleys. As the ride
progressed the speed continued to increase. After quite a period of time the ride slowed
until we thought we were coming to a stop, then the first half was repeated, only in
reverse. After the last two rides and a thorough series of spins and up and down movements
that could shake your soul, it was definitely time to check out a more stationary
platform, so games were in order.
There was one thing that there was no lack of at the park, and that was games of skill.
Located beside the penny arcade was the skeeball concession. A game in which you rolled a
baseball sized wooden ball down a short alley with a ramp at the end that launched the
ball toward a waiting target that was made up of wooden rings. Points were then awarded
depending on which ring your ball ended up in. You were then awarded prize tickets for
certain levels of achievement. The tickets could either be turned in or saved for
larger prizes at a later visit to the park. The die-hard players seemed to have bags and
bags of them and usually turned them in at the end of the season. We always said we were
going to save them and once home they were misplaced or ended up being thrown away during
one of those bedroom cleanup’s. Next door there was a game that always seemed to
attract a lot of attention. It involved knocking down three stuffed dolls with three
baseballs. After my earlier experience with the milk bottles, I chose to pass on the
humiliation that was inevitable in front of my friends. I was amazed to watch one of our
group member’s win a large Teddy Bear. Now we had to find his parents and con them
into baby sitting the creature. He had a feeling that they would be at the Rocky game that
was located just south of the House of Horrors ride further down the midway. The Rocky
game was the park version of bingo.
Two of us decided to wait while the others went on their search. The daylight was now
giving way to night and the lights of the midway were now starting to twinkle and add a
strange iridescent glow to the festivities. This was definitely my favorite time of day.
The luminescent glow seemed to change the whole personality of the park. The combination
of the warm summer evening, the glow of the standard light bulbs that were used at that
time, and the cool breeze blowing in off the bay produced a feeling I can only describe as
timeless. A role that had been repeated for as long as the park had been in existence a
true feeling of summer. After repeating many of the rides and games as the night wore on,
you had a feeling that would come over you of being there many times before even if it was
your first experience. Maybe it was handed down from the spirits of the many visitors to
the park or maybe it was just simple pleasures that were achieved from simpler times.
Either way it definitely contained it’s fare share of magic that I can now look back
on, and find escape from the more hectic times we now live in.
Tom Cravin
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