On this date in 1898, the first roller coaster was patented. (They finally figured out how many loops it takes to make you throw up!)
Suffice it to say — I love coasters, but they don’t love me.
One of my favorite roller coaster rides ever was during my very first trip to Las Vegas. My friend Paul and I both realized we had hit our 30′s without visiting Sin City, so off we went.
We stayed at the New York, New York casino back when it was bright, shiny new. I don’t even think we knew it had a coaster, so when we saw it was one of the attractions, we kinda poo-poo’ed it.
I mean, seriously — a coaster that wrapped around a casino building in Las Vegas? At $8 a pop? How much fun could it be?
OMG — SO much fun!
The roller coaster whipped between the casino buildings so fast, it felt like we were going to slam into someone’s hotel room! It was the best time ever. We immediately got off and got right back on. It was so worth the price.
I read it’s up to $14 now. I’d pay that much today.
I mean, come on — all the other scares on the Strip cost way more.
Will-a-Mania
August 15th is a big day in music history.
Prior to that show, Will Rogers was just a name in the history books to me. Once a year or so in movie theatres, I did see cans passed to raise money for the Will Rogers Institute, which funds medical research in asthma, tuberculosis and pulmonary diseases….but that was the extent of my knowledge.
Keith Carradine’s portrayal brought Rogers to life — his years in vaudeville and radio, his common sense approach to life, his wife, his politics and witticisms, and his love and support for the then fledgling aviation industry.
I used to listen to the musical’s soundtrack in my car driving back and forth to work…back when I had a car and actually worked in an office. It has amazing energy and lyrics — perfect ‘pick-me-up’ music.
Who needs a car? I’m gonna listen to Will today.
It is August 15th.
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Posted in Airplanes, Broadway, Celebrities, History, Humor, Life, Movies, Music, transportation, Travel
Tagged airplanes, asthma, August 15, aviation industry, Barrow Alaska, Beatles, Broadway, celebrities, commentary, entertainment, history, history books, Humor, Keith Carradine, life, movie theatres, Movies, Music, musical soundtrack, name in the history books, pass the can, plane crash, politics, pulmonary disease, radio, The Will Rogers Follies, The Will Rogers Institute, this day in history, Tony Award Best Musical, Tony Awards, transportation, Travel, tuberculosis, vaudeville, Wiley Post, Will Rogers, witticisms, Woodstock Music Festival