OLIVETTE, MO (KTVI-FOX2now.com) -
The midway at the Olivette Summer-Fest looks like any other. But the story behind the Ferris Wheel on the east end of the rides ties directly to what, right now, is about the biggest news story in the world. It was last Fall when Michael Jackson was forced to sell off his well known Neverland Ranch in California. The ranch was, to some, a symbol of Jackson's unusual, even bizarre personal life. He had wild animals, and amusement park rides.
Among those rides, a Ferris Wheel, which was bought at auction by Archway Amusements of Imperial, MO. They do fairs regionally, and this week they are at the Olivette Summer-Fest.
"Is that.. I mean, honestly, well it's amazing and interesting and timely!" That was Bruce Toulman's surprised reaction when we told him he had just ridden Michael Jackson's Ferris Wheel.
"It's like what they call synchronicity, it's what happens and that's an interesting coincidence."
Coincidence is the word fair organizers use to describe the wheel sitting in their park the day after Jackson's death. They knew earlier in the week where the ride came from, but didn't expect a fuss.
"At the time, this was the beginning of the week we were setting up," Summer-Fest committee member Rick Milner said. "I didn't think much of it but with all that's happened, publicity and every thing this has kind of blown up a little bit."
There are cynics. Evelyn Wilson-Sheppard refuses to believe the ride was actually Jackson's.
"Everybody's gonna try to get over on that right now," she says. "It's a publicity stunt."
Archway actually didn't want to talk about the Jackson tie at first. It was only after repeated questioning that they confirmed it's from Neverland.
Now plenty of people are interested in taking a spin.
Toulmin says, "I think it will give me a chance to ponder while I'm going around maybe to understand Michael" After it was pointed out that understanding Michael Jackson could take time, he chuckled, "Yeah, maybe 10,15, 20 times around."
The Summer-Fest is at Stacy Park at Olive and Old Bonham in Olivette. It's open from 5-11 on Friday, 3-11 on Saturday, and 3-10 on Sunday.
Among those rides, a Ferris Wheel, which was bought at auction by Archway Amusements of Imperial, MO. They do fairs regionally, and this week they are at the Olivette Summer-Fest.
"Is that.. I mean, honestly, well it's amazing and interesting and timely!" That was Bruce Toulman's surprised reaction when we told him he had just ridden Michael Jackson's Ferris Wheel.
"It's like what they call synchronicity, it's what happens and that's an interesting coincidence."
Coincidence is the word fair organizers use to describe the wheel sitting in their park the day after Jackson's death. They knew earlier in the week where the ride came from, but didn't expect a fuss.
"At the time, this was the beginning of the week we were setting up," Summer-Fest committee member Rick Milner said. "I didn't think much of it but with all that's happened, publicity and every thing this has kind of blown up a little bit."
There are cynics. Evelyn Wilson-Sheppard refuses to believe the ride was actually Jackson's.
"Everybody's gonna try to get over on that right now," she says. "It's a publicity stunt."
Archway actually didn't want to talk about the Jackson tie at first. It was only after repeated questioning that they confirmed it's from Neverland.
Now plenty of people are interested in taking a spin.
Toulmin says, "I think it will give me a chance to ponder while I'm going around maybe to understand Michael" After it was pointed out that understanding Michael Jackson could take time, he chuckled, "Yeah, maybe 10,15, 20 times around."
The Summer-Fest is at Stacy Park at Olive and Old Bonham in Olivette. It's open from 5-11 on Friday, 3-11 on Saturday, and 3-10 on Sunday.
