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The Skee Roll Lady
Mary E. “Betty” Kingdom (August 19, 1915 – February 15, 2005) w orked at the Boardwalk for thirty years. She was a dedicated employee of the Santa Cruz Seaside Company and would work extremely hard during the height of the season. During the winter she could be seen working alone as rain and tidal surges kept patrons away. She told stories of families, strangers at first, that would return year after year and with time became part of her larger family. Later in her life she took a trip to New Jersey to visit her birthplace. While she was touring around, she explained on her return home to Santa Cruz, “The funniest thing happened, we were walking around and I heard someone exclaim, ‘Look, it’s the Skee Roll Lady!” She had a far reaching influence.
During her 30 years she supervised many people – young and old – kids making gas money during high school, others working their way through college, and people who had life-long careers working at the Boardwalk. Her own children, six altogether, worked the boardwalk and a number of her grandchildren followed suit.
She met many famous people, too. The Skee Roll Lady remembered meeting Walt Disney when he came to Santa Cruz to buy the Boardwalk but was turned away. She met movie stars and political figures. She even told stories of guiding the young Mr. Canfield as he began to learn the ropes.
Above all else, for those 30 years, The Skee Roll Lady was the public face, the family-centered heart of the Boardwalk to many, many people. I know this well, because the Skee Roll Lady was my grandmother.
Jeffrey Kirkwood |
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This is a photo of Andrea and I, taken at Antique Photo in the Casino Arcade.
Jessica Raygoza |
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Old Pics
Photo taken in late 1940's of my aunt,mother and father relaxing at Casino Beach.
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Photo taken around 1937. Jordon, Rodney and Gordon Ouse at beach in front of Casino steps.
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Photo taken circa 1937 . My Aunt Mary and Aunt Isabel with Cousin Norma at beach in front of Casino.
Gordon Ouse |
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Boardwalk Memories, 1968
My Aunt and Uncle lived in Los Altos, and many times when we were visiting them we planned a day at Santa Cruz, and of course the Boardwalk. One particular time we all planned to meet "At the Merry-Go-Round" at one point during the day, but I don't think a time was ever decided. We all ended up there during the day, but never the entire group at once. There were just too many fun things to do and everyone was distracted.
We finally ended up all in one spot on the beach having a hotdog lunch. I remember someone's plate collapsing because my Aunt always bought cheap paper plates, and then the wind kicked up and we had sand in all our food, but we laughed about that weekend forever after. The sounds, smells, and memories will live in my mind and heart always.
I can remember standing in front of the Taffy window absolutely mesmerized at the machine that wound that glistening concoction around and around, and it never fell! Nothing can describe the sound of the wooden tracks of that Big Dipper and the screams going down the plunge. The Cave Train was magic! I would hang over the fence waiting for the Dinosaur to come sputtering and growling out of the water, and though I was so scared of him, I would have waited forever to see him. Of course, entering the Funhouse through the clown's mouth was the ultimate experience back then, especially the giant slide with those itchy gunny sacks! My nieces are now making memories of their own on the Boardwalk, and I am so grateful it is still there for them to enjoy!
Lori A. Heyd |
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