Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, July 2, 1990 TAG: 9006290155
SECTION: SALEM FAIR PAGE: SF-6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The Deggeller show made its debut during the 1988 fair and immediately won rave reviews from both management and patrons, kudos that were repeated during 1989's encore.
"We measure the success of a carnival by two standards, both of which the Deggeller Carnival has always exceeded," said Carey Harveycutter, director of the fair.
"First, the carnival must be clean and have courteous employees. Second, the rides must be safe and exciting for people of all ages. Deggeller gets high marks on both counts.
"Deggeller was also instrumental in helping us get the Salem Fair off the ground," said Harveycutter, "particularly Ralph Negus, who walked us through every step of how to set it up. Ralph died this past year, and it was like losing a member of our family. It has taken two people to replace him."
The 1990 Deggeller show is expected to be even larger than last year's. "There are new rides to keep up with the increasing attendance," said Phil Schlaggert, marketing director at Deggeller.
In addition to the mammoth 110-foot high Ferris wheel and the "Wave Swing," two of last year's most popular rides, new rides will include the Himalaya, cars that travel backwards down a track, and the Pirate Ship, as well as a new "dark ride."
Always popular is Kiddie Land, an assortment of rides especially for children.
"There are two parts to our operation," said Schlaggert. "What you see - the rides - and what takes place behind the scenes. We are like the City of Salem in that we must provide many of the same services to our employees that the city provides for its citizens."
This year, there is a school for children in kindergarten through eighth grade. "That proves that the midway has real class," said Schlaggert, tongue-in-cheek.
The Deggeller carnival makes appearances from Maine to Key West, Fla., moving every two weeks.
by CNB