President's Message - Winter 2004-2005

By Bette Largent, NCA President

New Ideas for Carousels

As I write this president’s message, the holidays approach. Gifts are on everyone’s mind, as well as friends, family members, and memories of holiday seasons past.

This issue includes an article on the passing of Robert Bollinger, of Oaks Park Amusement Park in Portland, Oregon. When word of his death reached me, I went to the Web site created as a tribute and a place to post messages in his memory. The site mentioned his accomplishments, his character, and personality traits, many of which I wasn’t familiar with. And many people had posted comments and memories there — which offered a glimpse into his background and personality.

The comments also sparked memories of my youth. I “met” Mr. Bollinger just over 10 years ago at a conference at Oaks Park. We were both there because of our mutual interest in rollerskating rinks and theater organs. I had snuck away from a carousel group to experience what I’d been told was the best skating rink — with the best organ music — in the Northwest.

The facility was deserted except for a few expert skaters and an older gentleman in a suit. Like me, he was leaning over the railing, listening to the music and the rhythm of the skates on the hard wood floor. I was recalling the years I spent skating in my youth. We didn’t have the luxury of a neighborhood rink or any training, so it was with awe that I watched the performers.The look on this man’s face mirrored my pure enjoyment. I found out later that he was Mr. Bollinger.

In the interim between this accidental sharing and the NCA Technical Conference in Portland, I learned more about him from a mutual friend, members of the NCA, and a videotaped interview with Bollinger himself. The interview was part of a Spokane-produced video on Natatorium Park, made in l996. At least this was recorded. I happened upon him again in the very same spot at the Technical Conference. I had slipped away from the crowd, and returned to my favorite spot at the roller rink. Again Mr. Bollinger was there, in his suit, enjoying the show. This time I shared how I seemed to run into him there.

We talked about skating, especially to one of the grandest forms of organ music. He later gave a tour of the facility; he was obviously as proud of it as he was of the history and ownership of the park’s 1911 Herschell-Spillman carousel. I made subsequent visits to Oaks Park, but due to his age and declining health, Bollinger wasn’t there.

We all have important memories and connections to history that are slipping though our fingers. Like sand in the hour glass — as the grains become fewer, the speed at which they travel increases. Now I think of questions that could have been asked while taping the video, or during those brief encounters at the rink. If only someone had captured an oral history of his memories; what a wealth of information we would have gained about an industry that is losing its pioneers and those who knew them. Valuable photos are being stashed away or scattered, memories are still unrecorded, and bits of history are being lost.

We know that Oaks Park Amusement Park originally owned the Bickleton, Washington, track machine. What was that story? We know Bollinger gifted his 1917 wagon-mount PTC #43 to Puyallup County Fair. What was its history? Was it the machine that once operated south of Spokane? Did it travel through the small towns of Oregon and Washington before he gifted it, to guarantee it a permanent home? Unanswered questions.

In this year’s general meeting, someone commented that we’ve reached the point in our carousel history where a generation or two has already passed away. Before long, everyone who knew someone from the golden age of carousels will be gone, as well.

Many of our new members haven’t yet heard the stories we’ve heard first-hand. Like the designated "story teller" or "keeper of the tales" of a tribe, each of us must learn our story, record our story, and tell our story. We also must realize that in some cases, we are the story, as well.

The NCA plans to set up an oral history program. Until then, please make notes, gather pictures, and share your carousel memories. Tell your story! Think of it as a gift to our children.

Reprinted from The Merry-Go-Roundup, Winter 2004
(Quarterly publication for NCA members.)

Summer 2004 President's Message
Spring 2004 President's Message
Current NCA Projects and overview
Summer 2002 President's Message
Spring 2002 President's Message


	President's Message - Winter 2004-2005 By Bette Largent, NCA President New Ideas for Carousels As I write this president’s message, the holidays approach. Gifts are on everyone’s mind, as well as friends, family members, and memories of holiday seasons past. This issue includes an article on the passing of Robert Bollinger, of Oaks Park Amusement Park in Portland, Oregon. When word of his death reached me, I went to the Web site created as a tribute and a place to post messages in his memory. The site mentioned his accomplishments, his character, and personality traits, many of which I wasn’t familiar with. And many people had posted comments and memories there — which offered a glimpse into his background and personality. The comments also sparked memories of my youth. I “met” Mr. Bollinger just over 10 years ago at a conference at Oaks Park. We were both there because of our mutual interest in rollerskating rinks and theater organs. I had snuck away from a carousel group to experience what I’d been told was the best skating rink — with the best organ music — in the Northwest. The facility was deserted except for a few expert skaters and an older gentleman in a suit. Like me, he was leaning over the railing, listening to the music and the rhythm of the skates on the hard wood floor. I was recalling the years I spent skating in my youth. We didn’t have the luxury of a neighborhood rink or any training, so it was with awe that I watched the performers.The look on this man’s face mirrored my pure enjoyment. I found out later that he was Mr. Bollinger. In the interim between this accidental sharing and the NCA Technical Conference in Portland, I learned more about him from a mutual friend, members of the NCA, and a videotaped interview with Bollinger himself. The interview was part of a Spokane-produced video on Natatorium Park, made in l996. At least this was recorded. I happened upon him again in the very same spot at the Technical Conference. I had slipped away from the crowd, and returned to my favorite spot at the roller rink. Again Mr. Bollinger was there, in his suit, enjoying the show. This time I shared how I seemed to run into him there. We talked about skating, especially to one of the grandest forms of organ music. He later gave a tour of the facility; he was obviously as proud of it as he was of the history and ownership of the park’s 1911 Herschell-Spillman carousel. I made subsequent visits to Oaks Park, but due to his age and declining health, Bollinger wasn’t there. We all have important memories and connections to history that are slipping though our fingers. Like sand in the hour glass — as the grains become fewer, the speed at which they travel increases. Now I think of questions that could have been asked while taping the video, or during those brief encounters at the rink. If only someone had captured an oral history of his memories; what a wealth of information we would have gained about an industry that is losing its pioneers and those who knew them. Valuable photos are being stashed away or scattered, memories are still unrecorded, and bits of history are being lost. We know that Oaks Park Amusement Park originally owned the Bickleton, Washington, track machine. What was that story? We know Bollinger gifted his 1917 wagon-mount PTC #43 to Puyallup County Fair. What was its history? Was it the machine that once operated south of Spokane? Did it travel through the small towns of Oregon and Washington before he gifted it, to guarantee it a permanent home? Unanswered questions. In this year’s general meeting, someone commented that we’ve reached the point in our carousel history where a generation or two has already passed away. Before long, everyone who knew someone from the golden age of carousels will be gone, as well. Many of our new members haven’t yet heard the stories we’ve heard first-hand. Like the designated "story teller" or "keeper of the tales" of a tribe, each of us must learn our story, record our story, and tell our story. We also must realize that in some cases, we are the story, as well. The NCA plans to set up an oral history program. Until then, please make notes, gather pictures, and share your carousel memories. Tell your story! Think of it as a gift to our children. Reprinted from The Merry-Go-Roundup, Winter 2004 (Quarterly publication for NCA members.) Summer 2004 President's Message Spring 2004 President's Message Current NCA Projects and overview Summer 2002 President's Message Spring 2002 President's Message