I'm happy to get to hear the full fascination story after all these years. I love how your entire family was so connected to the boardwalk and playing the games there. They sound like the most supportive parents ever.
Grabbing a beer and tucking in for part 3 of this Fascinating story, pun fully intended. 😉 Finished Part 2 not long ago and it's just what I needed after a particularly rough day.
I also have a story and connection with Seaside Heights, New Jersey boardwalk and Fascination that will always be instilled in my heart and thoughts. From the late 1950's to the early 1970's my father who was the youngest of 10 bothers and sisters would always rent a bunch of bungalows on Hamilton Ave, walking distance to the boardwalk with all of his brothers and sisters, which made for a large group of people. All my aunts and uncles and my parents all loved playing Fascination and did so every chance the got during the day and night. They all were totally addicted to this wonderful, fun and challenging game. The memories of these two weeks of vacation when i was a kid are priceless. Lets not forget that i too love this game. Randy....thank you so much for sharing all your stories with people like us that love the same things you cherish and want to keep alive into the future. I hope you get the big break very soon because you deserve to make your amusement dreams come true.
What a story to share. Incredible! You can bend my ear all day and all night and I never tire of your trials and tribulations. I'm very glad that your parents were there to help you along the way. They sound like amazing people. Hard work pays off. You have achieved your goal in your life and no matter what happens no one can take that away from you. I know it takes time to do these shows and I enjoy it immensely. Reach for the stars and don't give up. That is what I take away from your truth. Bless you dear Randy.
My Mom (who's in her 80's now), who was friendly with Guy B. said she thinks his Fascination tables ended up in a bar in Texas. Guy in the 80's moved from Carr Ave to the Boardwalk because he thought he'd get more customers there. She doesn't remember the Fascination you talked about, but does remember the horse racing game. She first went to Keansburg in 1952 (she was 10) by boat from NYC. Her cousins rented a bungalow for the summer.
@@guthc Guy Bennett opened Carr Ave Fascination in 1976, while the Kessel Fascination was there from 1938. Going there from 1952, dhe would have played at kessel's fascination as it was the only one until 1976. The Kentucky Derby opened a few years before carr Ave Fascination. Keansburg was a nice place in those days
The fascination mini series was your best TH-cam work yet Randy. You certainly have a knack for storytelling. This format has to continue being part of this channel going forward. Don’t get me wrong, I definitely love a good video that showcases a game, but I think this type of video is where you truly shine. Anyways, you’ve got a unique style and I think this channel is going places. Upward and onward!
I recall that Cedar Point in Sandusky OH had fascination when I was too young to try it. By the time I was old enough, the area had been repurposed. Closed I got was the horse race with rolling the ball.......... against the other players. I like classic games, and I think I'd like to try Fascination some day.
Uh oh looks like I have some work to do getting coin doors for those pinball machines. ;) Some day I want to have a pinball arcade or at least some place for others to play my machines. It is a dream for now but hoping some day I'll be able to afford a place to put my machines.
It's a nice dream. Dreams are pure; reality is not... Be prepared to not make enough money to justify it, and there are many who will take it for granted or abuse you and your Machines... If you can make the sacrifices which may be required, then following your dreams is a great goal!
@@MainStreetRANDYLAND Yep I do know the risks. Right now I have everything at my home so only friends and family play what I have right now. I also do bring my pinball machines to Portland Retro Gaming Expo. Although I did not this year. I will for sure bring them next year. I have much pride in how clean I keep my machines and it shows in the pinball line up at PRGE. With that said I am glad I found this channel. It is good to know there are others out there sharing there collections and not hoarding them. I am of the belief that yeah you can buy an arcade machine and not play it as it is something rare or old. But why do that they were ment to be played and as long as I am around I know how to keep the machines going.
Fascination was never made with coin slots; always manually collected. My invention and concept. To the best of my knowledge it has been attempted to copy it twice... First was a poor imitation; functional but it well, and was eventually ripped out by new owners... And that was in the eye tables I am currently running, except I created a completely new system for these tables, which works very well The second copy cat system was a copy of the system which was a poor knock off of my system .. It always works poorly from what I have heard. Fascination systems were custom built to required specifications for the location. It's not a stock item, and were no longer made at some point into the 1980s
When Eddie came into your place in Keansburg, I'm surprised you didn't throw him out & ban him like what was done to you. I guess you were being the better person & for that I commend you. However, did you ever even get an apology? They made up lies about you in front of your parents! Did they believe you because if they didn't that would have been even worse! Eddie, I'm sure didn't care if even if they beat you every night because of his lies, just wanted you outta there. Ya know, I was thinking that this all could've worked out much different & quite well for the both of you. All Eddie had to do was perhaps just explain the situation to you & come up with a compromise. They could've used you to work there as someone out front to draw in business in some capacity. Then after maybe working for a little bit, sit down & play a game or two (so that you couldn't win every game) then sit out & work some more. It could have made everyone happy. When you eventually bought Eddie out, it should've been with the caveat that you get an apology & also tell your parents that he made up all lies about you. If you had different parents, you could've easily taken several beatings because of what he did & suffered in many other ways. He apparently just didn't care, just wanted you outta there! That's quite a shame as you had shown such a passion for the game that should have been appreciated & encouraged by him instead of being shot down because it was affecting his business because you were "too good."
@@guthc my parents knew I never acted like that. This has been an escalating thing with their persecution of me... It started that they told me I couldn't play on certain tables which were my favorites... I loved those machines and I would sit next to them just to be near them placing my hand on them at times like placing your hand on your cats head to let them know you are there and care .. It was wrong and against gaming regulations to tell 1 player they cannot play in certain positions, but my parents said let it go, and didn't make an argument... Then they said I could only play an hour a day, and that's when my father stood up to them and argued that you cannot tell 1 person they can only play an hour without telling everyone the same... Then they admitted they cannot do that, and made a rule that you can only win 50 coupons a day, and my father said you can make any rule you want but it must apply to everyone. They counted every couple I won and told me to leave after reaching 50. But the kids working there saw how unfaur this was and told me how when I am not there it doesn't apply to anyone else. I started counting how many coupons others won and then pointed out to them how others had won more then 50but were not told to leave... They responded by saying oh, today we are going to 60, or 70, other whatever someone else won. That is when they decided to just get rid of me and created the lies As far as an apology; never would that happen. But I accepted being given the opportunity to buy the place as a way of making it right. He didn't have to sell to me; he had enough money he could have just closed and pulled it out. But he gave me my real boost in the amusement business by selling me the place, and that turned my life around where I am still in the business today. We rarely ever spoke, but I did call him when I heard he had been sick the year where he passed away... We spoke for a little while, and I thanked him for selling me the place... I also said to him that I UNDERSTOOD WHY he had to get rid of me, because after having been in the business these years, I understood that having 1 player winning all the time is very hurtful to the operation as others don't want to play. I wanted him to know that I forgave him by telling him this, and that he didn't due with anything in his conscience, as he made it right by selling me the place years after. I would never have done what he did, however, I could not have let 1 player sit there winning all day and night everyday, as the operation would not survive when other players refused to play. I would simply make my hand more challenging, or, as I did, I created a multiple winner system, so I had more then 1 winner every game...! With having more then 1 winner a game, no matter how many games 1 person wins, there are still other winners! The machines did not have that ability; I designed that and created the systems to do it. People do not have all the answers in life... Eddie, just like anyone else, reacted in the only way he knew how. Life is a learning experience for everyone... Certainly I learned much having been thrown out in such an unjust way... But I am certain Eddie learned too. I know God has placed me in positions to have an effect on things many times; this was certainly preordained.
@@MainStreetRANDYLAND Yes, that's certainly probably the best way to look at it - & from what I have experienced in life myself, likely very true being preordained. However, I don't think he was doing you any favors (or offering up any apologies) by selling to you because if I remember correctly, you said he wanted ALOT of $ at first & when you turned him down only then did he lower it after a while. A big part of it had to be you (with the help of your parents) were able to come up with the $ quickly & he just wanted to unload them fast. These Fascination games as you know are highly specialized & only a handful of people even want to begin to take on the responsibility of running the game, so he knew buyers were certainly limited. If he could sell for more to someone else, trust me he wasn't doing you any favors, he would have. Well, at least that's what I read into it. You were the one who lived it & ultimately if you think he was truly being very nice & apologetic & trying to right a past wrong, then I believe you of course... but, that's not how I see it based on the story. Have you ever wondered how your life would be (maybe, much less stressful) if you just stuck with the Disney job full-time & completely focused on that. That option was the safer choice as it didn't require your parents to Mortgage their house, etc. I know you still helped out during Christmas time, but that's not the same as being on staff permanently. & you had such a coveted role. Unheard of for someone to be directly hired. They couldn't believe you were leaving. I guess that's how strong the allure of running Fascination was for you where you first discovered It. You couldn't turn down the opportunity to live your dream which makes sense.
@@guthc you certainly have studied a lot about my life... all true and accurate! And you seem to know and understand much about the Fascination Business to actually understand it is not an easy business, and specialized, so not many would even want to be in that operation! Yes, I had heard he had tried to find a buyer a year already before I can into the picture... So yes, it was to his advantage to sell it to me as the only one who actually wanted it! But also understand that Eddie was not a poor man... He at this point has been in the Amusement Business all his life, made lots of money during the good days where money was made... And, he had partnered to open Fantasy Island Amusement Park in Beach Haven. While he didn't need the Fascination anymore, he also was still making some money with it, and did nothing really, as his managers ran it... He could have just pulled it out at lease end, (which was 2 years remaining on at 15 year lease)... He didn't need the money to sell it. While I look at it as he did me a big favor, yes, it wasn't as if that was his only goal... It turned out that way. As far as if I had stayed at Disney goes, I have often said I made 2 BIG mistakes in life... 1 was leaving Disney., The other was going to Wildwood after I lost my lease in Seaside! I had fulfilled my dreams by getting Seaside, and Lucky's Fascination, and after I had to close it without a lease, I would have been FAR better off if I stopped being in the Amusement Business right then... My mother and father wanted me to STOP then, but when they saw how I felt not having my boardwalk place, they said, let's get a new place and you can set it up their... This was the start of Wildwood, and that has now been 30 years of struggles, and attacks against me. But this too was God placing me there. As a soldier for God, I have had to fight evil and corruption for decades. All this is for purpose.
@@MainStreetRANDYLAND Well, I wouldn't say that as I've only watched a few videos, but I've been paying attention & remember all that you've said & feel for everything that you had to go through. IMHO, no matter how wealthy someone is, it's never enough & they always want MORE! They don't like giving anyone breaks unless it BENEFITS them in one way or another, or they have something else up their sleeve that's not immediately apparent. The way I see it, he basically sold to you & then I'm sure it was no coincidence that you lost your lease somewhat soon after with no other spaces to occupy in Seaside Heights. This appears to be by design. It seems as if they only allowed you to have a taste of running Fascination at Seaside & then wanted you out. They probably didn't think you were going to find a place in Wildwood & would just unload the tables at a loss to someone & get out of the business, but when you found Wildwood, they started the attacks. Now, I just put in some study time & did a little research & found the defamation lawsuit. Just think, this guy you gave so much credit to helping you literally said, “This is my town! I'm going to run you out of business!" I think this reveals what he ultimately thought of you & was not out to lend a helping hand in making your dream a reality for long. It became more of a NIGHTMARE, & I truly feel for you as I hate to see bad things happen to good people. My heart goes out to you. Apparently, he was alright with you being run out of town & even suggested "Rehoboth Beach, Delaware" where you wouldn't be in competition with him. Wow! Out of business, or out of town. Either one of those were ok with him, but when you went to Wildwood it was going to be WAR against a man with very DEEP pockets whom I'm sure had connections to make your life very difficult. I'm so sorry, & I just hate of learning about all this. You are someone with a real passion & there was more than enough to go round but this mogul screwed you. You weren't kidding about his success. In addition to being most famous for the string of parks he owned on the East Coast, from New Jersey up to New England (e.g. Fantasyland), he also started the Fallen Angel nightclub in New York City, designed and built some arcade games based on the technical knowledge he’d learned in the service and was the force behind the creation of Las Vegas’ famed Circus-Circus! Again, you have the right attitude about all this. You know what you went through is all for a reason & a learning experience for this life. Thank the Lord you had such great parents who helped & guided you through all this emotionally & financially. I know what it's like not to have much support in both areas & can testify life becomes incredibly more difficult without those things. All the best Randy & I hope I can get down there next summer to come visit you. My 82 year old Mom who knew Guy B. very well definitely wants to meet you & chat.
@@guthc it was Eddie's brother Walter who didn't want me in Wildwood. Seaside lease lawyer 8 more years once I got in, and it was not predictable that I would lose that lease. The man who owned the building built it in leased land 50 years... The land owners became nee landlord, and I stayed 3 years with them until the pizza place next door musseled in wanting my area to expand . To my knowledge, the florimonts never owned any parks until Eddie got Fantasy Island, and Walter had many operations in Wildwood. They operated in many Parks with a long career before. Walter hated me because I was better at things that he was known for; it's a natural reaction.
😂. The ceilings were too low! Actually there were many things about it I felt would not work or have longevity, but let's just say it tried to be a choice other then going to one of the parks... At the time I went it was around $40 admission, and it was early on, but they had already hanged format to be a one price and all games free experience... Ticket games were pumping out tickets endlessly, which cost money for the paper tickets themselves... Then would be constantly filling tickets, and that would require a good amount of game staff just for that. Not putting coins to play in made playing with lost respect for each play, especially on ticket pay out games, plus the ticket value had be become extremely minimal as they were coming out like water... Made it pointless to accumulate tickets. They were promoting with cast discounts to bring up head count, indicating it was not well received by Guests, and with any kind of volume of players, it was frustrating to wait for someone to be done playing a game so you could play... They tried to have special areas with themed high tech game experiences like the rapids simulation, which had slow turn over if players, required staffing to operate causing high pay roll, and it wasn't the kind of game you would want to play over and over even without a line. Floors were not large enough in square footage, and the multiple levels requiring elevator or stairs, served to minimize the sight of everything under one roof... At best it could be a rainy day indoor something to do, but with so many other options at Walt Disney World, I knew this was being portrayed as a far bigger attraction then it could command to be in the eyes if Guests in a few day vacation to Walt Disney World. The huge amount of maintenance required would require a far greater gross income then what I saw as possible, not even counting the required Hosts and Hostesses selling admission at to key windows, who had to explain to most guests just want they were trying to sell admission to, as from the outside, you could see nothing until going in, and actually going up in the elevator. I remember there was only one game I thought was nice, and it was one of the machines they tried to convert into Disney Characters Theme, by using a Claim Jumper machine and having little Mickey Mouse figures all around on the turning platform, like Mickey's sorcerer's apprentices where you tried to catch the coins... Someone sold that game about a year ago on some on line auction. Overall, while a giant place if games is something I like and have strived to creat myself, the interaction group game experiences were few and lacking, making it more of an individual's experience instead of a family one, and it simply could not be an option against choosing to go to one of the parks. High operation costs, required a high admission fee, which couldn't be high enough to justify the costs for staff vs the number of Guests being served. The size of the building itself could not justify the income potential, even though it was Disney owned, and part of the mix, although, anything else they were to put in that building as it was with low ceiling multiple levels, would face many if the same draw backs and likely fail too. There are only so many restaurants you can build. It could not be a repeat customer draw for Guests staying only a few nights, and once you did it, changes would be required to renew interest to do it again; kinda like Tomorrowland, where you build tomorrow, but tomorrow required constant changes to remain tomorrow, and that costs constant reinvestment, unlike yesterday, which always remains the same!
Thanks for the 3 part story. It's a tale I'll remember for life.
Amazing story Randy. Thank you.
It's not often or at all that you can sit watching someone talk on TH-cam for half an hour. Amazing
Loved playing fascination today!
Thoroughly enjoy your stories Randy!
I'm happy to get to hear the full fascination story after all these years. I love how your entire family was so connected to the boardwalk and playing the games there. They sound like the most supportive parents ever.
They did everything for my sister and I.
We were their sole purpose in life.
What an amazing story, this was so good!
Grabbing a beer and tucking in for part 3 of this Fascinating story, pun fully intended. 😉
Finished Part 2 not long ago and it's just what I needed after a particularly rough day.
I also have a story and connection with Seaside Heights, New Jersey boardwalk and Fascination that will always be instilled in my heart and thoughts. From the late 1950's to the early 1970's my father who was the youngest of 10 bothers and sisters would always rent a bunch of bungalows on Hamilton Ave, walking distance to the boardwalk with all of his brothers and sisters, which made for a large group of people.
All my aunts and uncles and my parents all loved playing Fascination and did so every chance the got during the day and night. They all were totally addicted to this wonderful, fun and challenging game. The memories of these two weeks of vacation when i was a kid are priceless. Lets not forget that i too love this game.
Randy....thank you so much for sharing all your stories with people like us that love the same things you cherish and want to keep alive into the future. I hope you get the big break very soon because you deserve to make your amusement dreams come true.
Happy Birthday Randy. Hope you have a great day.
Amazing story Randy.
What a story to share. Incredible! You can bend my ear all day and all night and I never tire of your trials and tribulations. I'm very glad that your parents were there to help you along the way. They sound like amazing people. Hard work pays off. You have achieved your goal in your life and no matter what happens no one can take that away from you. I know it takes time to do these shows and I enjoy it immensely. Reach for the stars and don't give up. That is what I take away from your truth. Bless you dear Randy.
Thank you so much Randy I would love to get a chance to try Fascination. It's now on the bucket list. Cannot wait for your next show
one of a kind, Randy
My Mom (who's in her 80's now), who was friendly with Guy B. said she thinks his Fascination tables ended up in a bar in Texas. Guy in the 80's moved from Carr Ave to the Boardwalk because he thought he'd get more customers there. She doesn't remember the Fascination you talked about, but does remember the horse racing game. She first went to Keansburg in 1952 (she was 10) by boat from NYC. Her cousins rented a bungalow for the summer.
@@guthc Guy Bennett opened Carr Ave Fascination in 1976, while the Kessel Fascination was there from 1938.
Going there from 1952, dhe would have played at kessel's fascination as it was the only one until 1976.
The Kentucky Derby opened a few years before carr Ave Fascination.
Keansburg was a nice place in those days
Thankyou for taking the time to make these videos Randy !
The fascination mini series was your best TH-cam work yet Randy. You certainly have a knack for storytelling. This format has to continue being part of this channel going forward. Don’t get me wrong, I definitely love a good video that showcases a game, but I think this type of video is where you truly shine. Anyways, you’ve got a unique style and I think this channel is going places. Upward and onward!
Hummm
Likely it's my honesty; please seem to get it when someone tells it like it is.
Thank you!
19:44 - "Unique Timepieces" 😂
I can see this story being made into a TV mini-series.
My life IS a television series!
The Wonderful World of Randy
I recall that Cedar Point in Sandusky OH had fascination when I was too young to try it. By the time I was old enough, the area had been repurposed. Closed I got was the horse race with rolling the ball.......... against the other players. I like classic games, and I think I'd like to try Fascination some day.
I was never there, however, Fascination was turned into Johnny rockets.
@@MainStreetRANDYLAND I am fairly certain that you needed to be 18 or 21 to go into the fascination parlor.
I wouldn't be surprised. It was a gambling game for a long time. Adult game typically
They made you an offer you can't refuse.
🕶
I hope you continue the fascination story on how you left seaside heights and went to Wildwood in part 4 and so on and go up to current to 2022
Not just yet mark
Fractured Fibula Fridays!!
Uh oh looks like I have some work to do getting coin doors for those pinball machines. ;)
Some day I want to have a pinball arcade or at least some place for others to play my machines.
It is a dream for now but hoping some day I'll be able to afford a place to put my machines.
It's a nice dream.
Dreams are pure; reality is not...
Be prepared to not make enough money to justify it, and there are many who will take it for granted or abuse you and your Machines...
If you can make the sacrifices which may be required, then following your dreams is a great goal!
@@MainStreetRANDYLAND Yep I do know the risks. Right now I have everything at my home so only friends and family play what I have right now.
I also do bring my pinball machines to Portland Retro Gaming Expo.
Although I did not this year.
I will for sure bring them next year.
I have much pride in how clean I keep my machines and it shows in the pinball line up at PRGE.
With that said I am glad I found this channel.
It is good to know there are others out there sharing there collections and not hoarding them.
I am of the belief that yeah you can buy an arcade machine and not play it as it is something rare or old.
But why do that they were ment to be played and as long as I am around I know how to keep the machines going.
Are Fascination tables still being made? At some point, did they come standard with coin mechs or only in the Randy modded tables?
Fascination was never made with coin slots; always manually collected.
My invention and concept. To the best of my knowledge it has been attempted to copy it twice...
First was a poor imitation; functional but it well, and was eventually ripped out by new owners...
And that was in the eye tables I am currently running, except I created a completely new system for these tables, which works very well
The second copy cat system was a copy of the system which was a poor knock off of my system ..
It always works poorly from what I have heard.
Fascination systems were custom built to required specifications for the location.
It's not a stock item, and were no longer made at some point into the 1980s
When Eddie came into your place in Keansburg, I'm surprised you didn't throw him out & ban him like what was done to you. I guess you were being the better person & for that I commend you.
However, did you ever even get an apology? They made up lies about you in front of your parents! Did they believe you because if they didn't that would have been even worse! Eddie, I'm sure didn't care if even if they beat you every night because of his lies, just wanted you outta there.
Ya know, I was thinking that this all could've worked out much different & quite well for the both of you.
All Eddie had to do was perhaps just explain the situation to you & come up with a compromise. They could've used you to work there as someone out front to draw in business in some capacity. Then after maybe working for a little bit, sit down & play a game or two (so that you couldn't win every game) then sit out & work some more. It could have made everyone happy.
When you eventually bought Eddie out, it should've been with the caveat that you get an apology & also tell your parents that he made up all lies about you. If you had different parents, you could've easily taken several beatings because of what he did & suffered in many other ways. He apparently just didn't care, just wanted you outta there! That's quite a shame as you had shown such a passion for the game that should have been appreciated & encouraged by him instead of being shot down because it was affecting his business because you were "too good."
@@guthc my parents knew I never acted like that.
This has been an escalating thing with their persecution of me... It started that they told me I couldn't play on certain tables which were my favorites... I loved those machines and I would sit next to them just to be near them placing my hand on them at times like placing your hand on your cats head to let them know you are there and care ..
It was wrong and against gaming regulations to tell 1 player they cannot play in certain positions, but my parents said let it go, and didn't make an argument...
Then they said I could only play an hour a day, and that's when my father stood up to them and argued that you cannot tell 1 person they can only play an hour without telling everyone the same...
Then they admitted they cannot do that, and made a rule that you can only win 50 coupons a day, and my father said you can make any rule you want but it must apply to everyone.
They counted every couple I won and told me to leave after reaching 50.
But the kids working there saw how unfaur this was and told me how when I am not there it doesn't apply to anyone else.
I started counting how many coupons others won and then pointed out to them how others had won more then 50but were not told to leave...
They responded by saying oh, today we are going to 60, or 70, other whatever someone else won.
That is when they decided to just get rid of me and created the lies
As far as an apology; never would that happen.
But I accepted being given the opportunity to buy the place as a way of making it right.
He didn't have to sell to me; he had enough money he could have just closed and pulled it out.
But he gave me my real boost in the amusement business by selling me the place, and that turned my life around where I am still in the business today.
We rarely ever spoke, but I did call him when I heard he had been sick the year where he passed away...
We spoke for a little while, and I thanked him for selling me the place...
I also said to him that I UNDERSTOOD WHY he had to get rid of me, because after having been in the business these years, I understood that having 1 player winning all the time is very hurtful to the operation as others don't want to play.
I wanted him to know that I forgave him by telling him this, and that he didn't due with anything in his conscience, as he made it right by selling me the place years after.
I would never have done what he did, however, I could not have let 1 player sit there winning all day and night everyday, as the operation would not survive when other players refused to play.
I would simply make my hand more challenging, or, as I did, I created a multiple winner system, so I had more then 1 winner every game...!
With having more then 1 winner a game, no matter how many games 1 person wins, there are still other winners!
The machines did not have that ability; I designed that and created the systems to do it.
People do not have all the answers in life... Eddie, just like anyone else, reacted in the only way he knew how.
Life is a learning experience for everyone...
Certainly I learned much having been thrown out in such an unjust way...
But I am certain Eddie learned too.
I know God has placed me in positions to have an effect on things many times; this was certainly preordained.
@@MainStreetRANDYLAND Yes, that's certainly probably the best way to look at it - & from what I have experienced in life myself, likely very true being preordained.
However, I don't think he was doing you any favors (or offering up any apologies) by selling to you because if I remember correctly, you said he wanted ALOT of $ at first & when you turned him down only then did he lower it after a while.
A big part of it had to be you (with the help of your parents) were able to come up with the $ quickly & he just wanted to unload them fast.
These Fascination games as you know are highly specialized & only a handful of people even want to begin to take on the responsibility of running the game, so he knew buyers were certainly limited. If he could sell for more to someone else, trust me he wasn't doing you any favors, he would have.
Well, at least that's what I read into it. You were the one who lived it & ultimately if you think he was truly being very nice & apologetic & trying to right a past wrong, then I believe you of course... but, that's not how I see it based on the story.
Have you ever wondered how your life would be (maybe, much less stressful) if you just stuck with the Disney job full-time & completely focused on that. That option was the safer choice as it didn't require your parents to Mortgage their house, etc. I know you still helped out during Christmas time, but that's not the same as being on staff permanently. & you had such a coveted role. Unheard of for someone to be directly hired. They couldn't believe you were leaving. I guess that's how strong the allure of running Fascination was for you where you first discovered It. You couldn't turn down the opportunity to live your dream which makes sense.
@@guthc you certainly have studied a lot about my life... all true and accurate!
And you seem to know and understand much about the Fascination Business to actually understand it is not an easy business, and specialized, so not many would even want to be in that operation!
Yes, I had heard he had tried to find a buyer a year already before I can into the picture...
So yes, it was to his advantage to sell it to me as the only one who actually wanted it!
But also understand that Eddie was not a poor man... He at this point has been in the Amusement Business all his life, made lots of money during the good days where money was made...
And, he had partnered to open Fantasy Island Amusement Park in Beach Haven.
While he didn't need the Fascination anymore, he also was still making some money with it, and did nothing really, as his managers ran it...
He could have just pulled it out at lease end, (which was 2 years remaining on at 15 year lease)...
He didn't need the money to sell it.
While I look at it as he did me a big favor, yes, it wasn't as if that was his only goal...
It turned out that way.
As far as if I had stayed at Disney goes, I have often said I made 2 BIG mistakes in life...
1 was leaving Disney.,
The other was going to Wildwood after I lost my lease in Seaside!
I had fulfilled my dreams by getting Seaside, and Lucky's Fascination, and after I had to close it without a lease, I would have been FAR better off if I stopped being in the Amusement Business right then...
My mother and father wanted me to STOP then, but when they saw how I felt not having my boardwalk place, they said, let's get a new place and you can set it up their...
This was the start of Wildwood, and that has now been 30 years of struggles, and attacks against me.
But this too was God placing me there.
As a soldier for God, I have had to fight evil and corruption for decades.
All this is for purpose.
@@MainStreetRANDYLAND Well, I wouldn't say that as I've only watched a few videos, but I've been paying attention & remember all that you've said & feel for everything that you had to go through.
IMHO, no matter how wealthy someone is, it's never enough & they always want MORE! They don't like giving anyone breaks unless it BENEFITS them in one way or another, or they have something else up their sleeve that's not immediately apparent.
The way I see it, he basically sold to you & then I'm sure it was no coincidence that you lost your lease somewhat soon after with no other spaces to occupy in Seaside Heights. This appears to be by design.
It seems as if they only allowed you to have a taste of running Fascination at Seaside & then wanted you out. They probably didn't think you were going to find a place in Wildwood & would just unload the tables at a loss to someone & get out of the business, but when you found Wildwood, they started the attacks.
Now, I just put in some study time & did a little research & found the defamation lawsuit. Just think, this guy you gave so much credit to helping you literally said,
“This is my town! I'm going to run you out of business!"
I think this reveals what he ultimately thought of you & was not out to lend a helping hand in making your dream a reality for long. It became more of a NIGHTMARE, & I truly feel for you as I hate to see bad things happen to good people. My heart goes out to you.
Apparently, he was alright with you being run out of town & even suggested "Rehoboth Beach, Delaware" where you wouldn't be in competition with him. Wow!
Out of business, or out of town. Either one of those were ok with him, but when you went to Wildwood it was going to be WAR against a man with very DEEP pockets whom I'm sure had connections to make your life very difficult.
I'm so sorry, & I just hate of learning about all this. You are someone with a real passion & there was more than enough to go round but this mogul screwed you.
You weren't kidding about his success. In addition to being most famous for the string of parks he owned on the East Coast, from New Jersey up to New England (e.g. Fantasyland), he also started the Fallen Angel nightclub in New York City, designed and built some arcade games based on the technical knowledge he’d learned in the service and was the force behind the creation of Las Vegas’ famed Circus-Circus!
Again, you have the right attitude about all this. You know what you went through is all for a reason & a learning experience for this life. Thank the Lord you had such great parents who helped & guided you through all this emotionally & financially. I know what it's like not to have much support in both areas & can testify life becomes incredibly more difficult without those things.
All the best Randy & I hope I can get down there next summer to come visit you. My 82 year old Mom who knew Guy B. very well definitely wants to meet you & chat.
@@guthc it was Eddie's brother Walter who didn't want me in Wildwood.
Seaside lease lawyer 8 more years once I got in, and it was not predictable that I would lose that lease. The man who owned the building built it in leased land 50 years... The land owners became nee landlord, and I stayed 3 years with them until the pizza place next door musseled in wanting my area to expand .
To my knowledge, the florimonts never owned any parks until Eddie got Fantasy Island, and Walter had many operations in Wildwood.
They operated in many Parks with a long career before.
Walter hated me because I was better at things that he was known for; it's a natural reaction.
Another great video. You are very intelligent person and story teller.
True! 😂. Thank you!
Randy I own the Galaxian machine that was parked there at DisneyQuest for many years. Was DisneyQuest a thing when you worked there?
Yes Disney Quest had started during my time there. I went only once as I recall. I did not predict success; I was correct.
I have a few Galaxians machines which came from the fiesta Fun Center at the contemporary and the Magic Kingdom Main Street Arcade
@@MainStreetRANDYLAND why did you predict it not being a success? The machines didn’t seem too well maintained looking at videos of the place
😂. The ceilings were too low!
Actually there were many things about it I felt would not work or have longevity, but let's just say it tried to be a choice other then going to one of the parks...
At the time I went it was around $40 admission, and it was early on, but they had already hanged format to be a one price and all games free experience...
Ticket games were pumping out tickets endlessly, which cost money for the paper tickets themselves...
Then would be constantly filling tickets, and that would require a good amount of game staff just for that.
Not putting coins to play in made playing with lost respect for each play, especially on ticket pay out games, plus the ticket value had be become extremely minimal as they were coming out like water...
Made it pointless to accumulate tickets.
They were promoting with cast discounts to bring up head count, indicating it was not well received by Guests, and with any kind of volume of players, it was frustrating to wait for someone to be done playing a game so you could play...
They tried to have special areas with themed high tech game experiences like the rapids simulation, which had slow turn over if players, required staffing to operate causing high pay roll, and it wasn't the kind of game you would want to play over and over even without a line.
Floors were not large enough in square footage, and the multiple levels requiring elevator or stairs, served to minimize the sight of everything under one roof...
At best it could be a rainy day indoor something to do, but with so many other options at Walt Disney World, I knew this was being portrayed as a far bigger attraction then it could command to be in the eyes if Guests in a few day vacation to Walt Disney World.
The huge amount of maintenance required would require a far greater gross income then what I saw as possible, not even counting the required Hosts and Hostesses selling admission at to key windows, who had to explain to most guests just want they were trying to sell admission to, as from the outside, you could see nothing until going in, and actually going up in the elevator.
I remember there was only one game I thought was nice, and it was one of the machines they tried to convert into Disney Characters Theme, by using a Claim Jumper machine and having little Mickey Mouse figures all around on the turning platform, like Mickey's sorcerer's apprentices where you tried to catch the coins...
Someone sold that game about a year ago on some on line auction.
Overall, while a giant place if games is something I like and have strived to creat myself, the interaction group game experiences were few and lacking, making it more of an individual's experience instead of a family one, and it simply could not be an option against choosing to go to one of the parks.
High operation costs, required a high admission fee, which couldn't be high enough to justify the costs for staff vs the number of Guests being served.
The size of the building itself could not justify the income potential, even though it was Disney owned, and part of the mix, although, anything else they were to put in that building as it was with low ceiling multiple levels, would face many if the same draw backs and likely fail too.
There are only so many restaurants you can build.
It could not be a repeat customer draw for Guests staying only a few nights, and once you did it, changes would be required to renew interest to do it again; kinda like Tomorrowland, where you build tomorrow, but tomorrow required constant changes to remain tomorrow, and that costs constant reinvestment, unlike yesterday, which always remains the same!