I know this is not UAB related, but, since a concern about Legion Field has been discussed, remember back in the day how much fun the Alabama State Fair was? I remember it used to draw over 200,000 in a week. You could be around 13 years old and your parents didn't have a worry in the world when you were at midnight madness. It was such a big deal , and it was in 5 points west! My how things have changed.... it is about dead now.... Also racing at BIR was the bomb also on Friday and Saturday nights....
Yep, I remember those days. Is there any chance that I would let my 15 year old go there with his friend that is 16? NOPE.
The Tennessee State Fair started this weekend. One of my coworkers told me on Friday: "It will rain every day next week. Mark my words." I told her something to the effect she was nuts, because it hadn't rained in months. She replied: "The fair is starting, therefore monsoon season is here."
It's rained non-stop since Sunday afternoon.
I'm old enough to remember when the State Fair started on Friday and ran through the next week to the next Sunday. In those days, the fair was "white only" until the second Saturday which was reserved for the "colored day". (This ties into the often repeated urban legend about "Six-Flags" offering in the '50s to build in Jeffco, but being turned down because they wouldn't agree to build it as a "white only" park, so they moved on to the Atlanta area)
Its old popularity was due, in part, to the absence of competing entertainment like major TV cable channels. We weren't in a hurry to get through with this game or that activity to get home or to a sports bar to get on to something else. We had time to savor the moment, to walk casually through the fair grounds and "soak up" the "atmosphere" of the displays and exhibits without worrying what we were "missing" someplace else. I still remember the "salt-water taffy" they used to sell in the Dept. of Agriculture display building.
I remember how some of the rides would be on cinder blocks... safety never a concern..
I remenber driving by early on Sunday morning after the last day of the Fair, and all the rides, etc had been dismantled in mere hours...
But all in all great memories...
I remember riding the rollercoaster and the back of my head being all greasy from the afrosheen that was all over the head rest.
It isn't just the Birmingham fair, but I think all fairs have declined in popularity. In addition to competition from cable TV, the fair used to be a once a year experience for kids. A chance to play games for prizes and ride rides. Now they have Chuck E Cheese plus plenty of other places that have a "fair - like" atmosphere for kids.
Not all state fairs are in decline. Just go to the Midwest. The Iowa State Fair has set new attendance records for five consecutive years, and the Missouri State Fair had more than 150K atttend last year.
The fair down in Mobile was still a big draw a few years ago when I was in high school. Doubt it has changed much in 5 years.
Does Iowa have Chuck E Cheeses?
Memphis Blazer Wrote:Does Iowa have Chuck E Cheeses?
No, I think Iowa has corn. And a baseball field somewhere.