Slog
News & ArtsFriday, March 12, 2010
Video of the Day Lunchtime Quickie: Wall of Death
Posted by Kelly O on Fri, Mar 12, 2010 at 12:01 PM
Dear ESPN and/or United States Olympic Committee, will you please-please pretty-please add the Wall of Death as an official sport? Love, Kelly O
4
I can't remember what it was called but there was something similar in the Midway (where the rides and carnival attractions were) of the Minnesota State Fair when I was a kid. No cars, just motorcycles and go-karts. I loved it.
It also reminds me of a ride that was there at the same time. Everyone stood against a wall in a large wooden cylinder and and then as it spun around the floor was lowered so everyone was pinned against the wall by the centrifugal force. Very cool.
It also reminds me of a ride that was there at the same time. Everyone stood against a wall in a large wooden cylinder and and then as it spun around the floor was lowered so everyone was pinned against the wall by the centrifugal force. Very cool.
7
Kelly, do you happen to subscribe to the Wolphin DVD series (Mcsweeneys)? They had a great short film on No.9 called MOTODROM about one of these places. Really great film.
oh look, i found it:
http://www.sundancechannel.com/videos/23…
oh look, i found it:
http://www.sundancechannel.com/videos/23…
9
#5/Jeff, did you have that cylinder ride at your fair too?
Speaking of carnival attractions, the one I could never bring myself to go to was the "Freak Show." As a kid, I was naturally curious to see what people like "Lobster Boy" looked like -- and I was fascinated by the huge lurid posters outside -- but I just never felt comfortable going in to look at people who were born with deformities. I did, however, always look on in amazement when the "Freak Show" barker gave his pitch to the crowd with "Popeye" (a middle-aged guy who looked a bit like Chuck Berry)) standing next to him. At the end of his pitch, Popeye would briefly pop his eyes out (although nothing like the poster, where they extended about a foot from his face) and it never failed to get a gasp from the crowd.
Speaking of carnival attractions, the one I could never bring myself to go to was the "Freak Show." As a kid, I was naturally curious to see what people like "Lobster Boy" looked like -- and I was fascinated by the huge lurid posters outside -- but I just never felt comfortable going in to look at people who were born with deformities. I did, however, always look on in amazement when the "Freak Show" barker gave his pitch to the crowd with "Popeye" (a middle-aged guy who looked a bit like Chuck Berry)) standing next to him. At the end of his pitch, Popeye would briefly pop his eyes out (although nothing like the poster, where they extended about a foot from his face) and it never failed to get a gasp from the crowd.
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