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 "Model T" Meets Giant
Dipper, 1955
This is
a photo of my 1927 Ford Model T with hopped up "Merk" engine
taken in front of the Giant Dipper around 1955. A 1949 or 1950 Hudson
and Studebaker are parked behind. You can also see the original
Prior & Church
Dipper train.
This is a photo of my girlfriend Bev (now my wife) in front of
my 1927 Model T. This was taken just across the street from the
Boardwalk.
Bob & Bev McAdam
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The Dipper, The Ring and The
Dog, 1982
We eloped on August 23, 1982. Paul Green
and I were married in the Santa Clara County Court house by Judge
Nelson on a beautiful summer day. It was the happiest day of our
lives. We were broke, having just purchased our first home, and
a new car. We couldn't afford a trip to an exotic destination so
we did then only thing our hearts desired that day. We wanted to
ride the roller coaster, drink a beer with the sand in our feet
and get a dog! So that's what we did. We must have ridden the coaster
three or four times. We laughed and screamed so much we were hoarse.
On the way home we joked that the dips and turns of the coaster
would prepare us for the ups and downs of life. And it did. Paul
was striken with brain cancer 4 years later. Paul visited
the boardwalk every chance he got during the years of fighting
his battle even though he knew he would not win the war. Its a special
place with great times for both of us. Just the sound of the clack
clack over the rails brings a warm feeling to my heart and a smile
on my face. Paul rests at peace in the Pacific Ocean now. Thank
you for the memory.
Ruthie Callahan |
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The Train Home, 1952
I have fond memories of taking the Suntan
Special from San Francisco and sliding a seat back so two bench seats
were facing each other, then cracking a beer for the journey. The
greatest concern after checking out the girls on the beach and Boardwalk
was making it onto the train when the whistle blew so we were not
stranded.
Patrick Cunneen |
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Coming of Age, 1984
I worked at the Boardwalk during college
(1984-1987) and still have friendships with many of the people I worked
with. The
best relationship that developed with a former coworker is the one
that I have with the former Dana Francis, who is now my wife and
the mother of our four children!
What fantastic memories I have - my first couple of days working
the kiddie rides, then doing rides like the Bumper Cars, Sky Glider,
Merry Go Round. The next three summers were on the Giant Dipper.
I was also interviewed for Bay Area Backroads and helped film The
Lost Boys. Even though we worked 6 days a week I was usually
there hanging out on my day off too!
The Boardwalk will forever be in my heart and I treasure those
old days. It's great to show our kids where Mommy and Daddy
met.
Mike Lepore |
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My First Kiss
It was the summer I turned 14. My cousin and I had set out to meet as many girls as we could. I was a little shy and let him do the talking and he came through. We met a couple of girls and I remember riding up the log ride with them. Just before we went over the edge I leaned the girl I was with back and kissed her....my first kiss.
I love the Boardwalk and although I am now 34, every year I return to Santa Cruz and the Boardwalk and remember my first kiss.
Mark |
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My First Crush, 1991
When I was in sixth grade I had a huge secret crush on a boy in the eighth grade, I didn't even tell my best friends, for fear they would tease.
The day after the last day of school the good kids got to go to Santa Cruz for the day. My crush was going too and I was so excited!
The day started with the excitment of getting to go to the Boardwalk and the beach with no parents, even the long bus ride couldn't dampen our spirits.
I spotted my crush and we ran into each other a couple of times. Then, as if by magic, we ended up spending the whole day together. We splashed in the ocean, laughing over his lack of a bathing suit as he played in rolled up jeans in the surf. We rode rides and ate dinner. He won me a small stuffed animal.
We rode home on the bus in silence, everyone sleepy after an exhausting day of playing hard and having fun. As the bus got closer and closer to school the tension in me mounted. What would he say, what would he do? With our parents calling us to our respective cars as we stepped off the bus he found a pen and wrote his number in my hand and mine in his.
We never called. Fate had brought us together for one magical day, more than that was not allowed.
Megan
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Wedding Day & The Giant Dipper, 1995
On June 10, 1995 my wife Cheryl and I were married on the beach just below the Dream Inn. It was a beautiful clear Santa Cruz summer morning and we had 120 of our friends and family celebrating with us. At the conclusion of the ceremony we had the usual cake & a toast for luck, but a trip to Santa Cruz is never complete without a stroll down the Boardwalk. My new bride and I, wedding dress, tuxedo and all, together with a large group of our family and friends made the walk to the Boardwalk and proceeded to ride the Giant Dipper!
We managed to have enough people in our party to take one whole roller coaster train. My wife and I rode in the front car and had the time of our life .. just like life, there are ups and downs .. We followed that with a ride on the ferris wheel and topped it off with a delicious Hodgie Corn Dog (still my favorite) and then continued our adventure with a trip to San Francisco and on to Hawaii spending a wonderful week at the Turtle Bay Hilton in Ohau.
Santa Cruz Beach and Boardwalk has been and still remains one of our favorite places to go.
Congratulations on your 100 years of providing family fun and memories.
Steve & Cheryl |
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