Memories of Gooding's Million Dollar Midways at the Pensacola Interstate Fair in the 1980s

I originally posted this story a while back and thought it deserved a revisit for accuracy. Interestingly enough, shortly after I shared it, a certain carnival Facebook page decided it was good enough to copy and paste as their own. And when someone pointed out their blatant theft, they blocked me. Classy move, Pounce-Matics Amuse-Matic. Maybe consider coming up with your own content for your pages?

After my parents moved my sister and me to Pace, I didn't realize that we would no longer be going to the Greater Gulf State Fair in Mobile. When fair season began in the area, the Pensacola Interstate Fair was much closer. To my parents, a carnival was just a carnival—all the same rides, food, and blah blah blah. The fairs in Pensacola and Mobile either overlapped or ran at the same time, and we thought the company that owned the rides was the same one that brought rides to both locations. Somehow, we believed Mobile would get the bigger, better, and flashier rides. To a kid, the grass is always greener everywhere else.

Something with the Gooding's logo. Source Unknown.

I really didn't know at the time that there were a whole lot of carnival companies crisscrossing the country, playing different fairs simultaneously. In Mobile, we'd seen Al Kunz's massive Century 21 Shows, which held that spot for many years until Conklin took over, with additional rides booked in from Cumberland Valley Shows. When Conklin took over the fair in Mobile, it seemed to be a seamless transition because Century 21 had many of the same rides Conklin had, such as the Himalaya, Skywheel, Sky Diver, Trabant, Scrambler, and other classics. The only difference you noticed was the addition of newer, more massive thrill rides like the Enterprise, Wave Swinger, and Rainbow.

In Pensacola, we got Gooding's Million Dollar Midways. Gooding's was a massive carnival in terms of the number of spots they played each year. They held contracts with many large fairs and supposedly had enough units with enough rides to play over 10 large fairs simultaneously. In reality, Gooding's Million Dollar Midways didn't own many rides. Rumor had it, the only equipment they owned were ticket booths, generators with their logos painted on, an office trailer, and maybe a girly show. Their business model was based on booking rides from other carnival companies to fill a midway. This meant that you not only had rides from Gooding's—if they actually existed—but also from Link Shows, Royal American Shows, Cumberland Valley Shows, possibly Reithoffer Shows, and several others that had a good working relationship with Milt Kaufman, the owner of Gooding's. Essentially, their fairs could be considered an "Independent Midway" of sorts.

As we pulled into the parking lot, my eyes were transfixed on what makes a fair a fair for me—the Skywheel. That lot could've had no more than two other rides, and I wouldn't have cared less because the Skywheel was the ride I loved the most, something that hasn't changed over the years. Not only was there one Skywheel, but there were two—both at opposite ends of the midway. As we walked the midway, I saw many differences compared to what I'd seen in Mobile. There were many duplicates of rides throughout the midway: two Zippers, three Scrambler-type rides, two Paratroopers, five music-type rides, three Ferris Wheels, and so on. This fair was bigger than Mobile, but only because they had multiples of the same type of rides. The Wave Swinger was the only ride I remembered from Mobile that Goodings didn't feature on the midway, though it was in the commercial. Instead, we got a Chance Yo-Yo and a Watkins Swinger, except for the last year when a Wave Swinger made an appearance.

Pensacola's rides weren't as flashy, and the color schemes didn't really match, but the fair was definitely solid. 1991 was the last year Goodings held the contract for the Pensacola Interstate Fair. Reithoffer Shows took over the following year. Goodings went out with a bang that last year. The midway was filled to capacity with pieces booked in, ranging from classics to modern rides of the time.

For those interested in ride line-ups, this is what I remember from Pensacola the last year Goodings played the fair. Keep in mind, this was 1991, and I had no clue who owned what other than the Giant Wheel owned by Link and the Wave Swinger, which was either Deggeller's or CVS's ride:

• Skywheel

• Tilt-A-Whirl

• Geister-Bahn

• Zipper

• Fantasy Fun House

• Super Sizzler

• Scrambler

• Sizzler

• Spider

• Force 10

• Paratrooper

• Crazy Dance (owned by Royal American)

• Giant Wheel (owned by Link Shows)

• Magical Mirrors

• Super Jets

• Sunshine Speedway

• Hampton Umbrellas (5 of them)

• Mini Scooter

• Gravitron

• Wave Swinger

• Round Up

• Thriller Dark Ride

• Lil Scrambler

• Reverchon Himalaya (with 7-8 seats tied off)

• Flying Carpet Funhouse

• Pirates Den Dark Ride

• Ghost Hunters Walk-Thru

• Amor Express The Love Machine

• Music Fest

• Alpine Haus Funhouse

• Musik Express

• Boomerang

• Roll-O-Plane

• Bumper Cars

• Bumper Boats

• Flume Ride

• Kiddie Bumper Boats

• Glasshouse

• Loop-O-Plane

• House of Fun Funhouse

• Ghost Train

• Raiders

• Enterprise

• Eli Hy-5 Wheel

• Sea Dragon

• Swinger

• Eli Eagle Wheel

• Space Rader (Ring of Fire)

• Flying Bobs

• Sky Diver

• Racing Coaster

• Kamikaze

• Hurricane

• Toboggan

• Carousel

• Trabant

There was talk on the news that there were over 120 rides and attractions, but realistically, I can only remember maybe 85 at the most, collectively among the years I saw them. Unless they were including pony rides, concessions, kiddie attractions, games, and the sideshows. Gooding's seemed to feature an obscene amount of glass houses, funhouses, dark rides, and walk-thrus, so a good bulk of my not-remembered attractions may have included those. There may have been more out there, or I may have some of the lineup from the year before mixed in. I really wish I'd had the foresight to take photos at carnivals the way I do now. Up to that point, I'd never seen a midway packed out like I did that particular year. Back in the day, I never really thought about what was actually owned by the shows that were booked in and what wasn't. Now that I have more knowledge about rides and carnivals, I can safely say that if Gooding's Million Dollar Midways owned anything featured at the fair, it was most certainly not the larger and newer rides. The following year, Reithoffer definitely came in with a bang to top Gooding's last year and did rather well. They brought in most of the Blue and Orange units, as well as their Green unit, which was dissolved and broke off as a separate show in the late '90s. In addition to the three Reithoffer units, they also booked in much of the entire All-American Midway, as well as a few independently owned rides, such as someone's Chance Rok-N-Rol.

I hope you enjoyed reading about my memories of Gooding's Million Dollar Midways. Do you have any carnival or fair memories, personal stories, or experiences you'd like to share? I’d love to hear about them in the comments. Your stories and memories make this journey all the more special. If you enjoyed this post and would like to support my storytelling journey, any small token of appreciation is always welcome. Let’s keep the joy of sharing memories and stories alive together!

Carnival Thrills and Fairground Nostalgia: 1992, the year Reithoffer took over the Pensacola Interstate Fair

Reithoffer's Kroon Dutch Wheel

Back in October 1992, I briefly returned from New York after spending a year hitting up Six Flags Over Georgia, Six Flags Great Adventure, and Coney Island. To be honest, I was a bit jaded and felt like no fair could compare to those experiences, even though I'd always loved fairs. The buzz around the Pensacola Interstate Fair that year was off the charts, especially with WEAR-3 showcasing Reithoffer Shows rolling into town for the first time. The fair was set to run from October 22 through October 31. My parents had split up, so I was staying with my mom, but my dad came in from Mobile, and we met up with my sister and brother-in-law at the fair. Reithoffer was like a carnival on steroids, with rides and attractions straight out of a dream, some even featured in the film "BIG". As soon as we arrived, we were greeted by a sea of bright colors, the irresistible smell of fair food, and the sound of excited screams from the rides. It was sensory overload in the best way possible.

In previous years, Goodings Million Dollar Midways had the contract, claiming 85 rides and attractions, but with Reithoffer, there were over 120. After a closer look, it turned out there were around 45 rides in past years, and with the new contract, there were about 60 rides. The higher numbers included games, food, and other fairgoer interests. The rides are the heart of the fair, with the Kroon Dutch Wheel on one end and the Sky Wheel (aka Double Ferris Wheel) towering over everything on the other end, both offering breathtaking views of the fairgrounds and the city beyond. The lineup was a good mix of kiddie, family, and adrenaline-pumping thrill rides. Reithoffer owned most of the rides but also booked some from other carnival companies. Unlike Goodings' lineup, everything on the midway looked well-kept and clean. An old ride that had never appeared at the fair before, the Bayren Kurve, became one of my favorites that year, unfortunately it never made another appearance. Classics like the Enterprise, Sky Diver, Tilt-a-Whirl, Spider, Zipper, Kamikaze, and a similar ride called the Tomahawk were also present. The Tilt-a-Whirl and Spider were regular fixtures, spinning riders in every direction and leaving them dizzy. I learned my lesson the first time I rode them: never again. The Zipper had been a favorite for many years, and I often rode it alone at Coney Island despite the no single rider rule. This one was much more colorful than the Coney Island version.

For those preferring more leisurely rides, there was a carousel with beautifully painted horses, a smaller ferris wheel called the Aristocrat Wheel, a Round Up, and a couple of Gravitrons. Another new ride to the fair that year was the Huss Rainbow, a regular fixture at the Mobile fair and one of my favorites. It’s very rare in the US now, and despite the movement, it was huge, smooth, and didn’t involve restrictive restraints. Reithoffer seemed genuinely proud of their equipment, with almost all rides featuring signage with stats and insights about their origin. This added a special touch, making typical rides on this midway feel unique. Reithoffer showcased a Himalaya from France, a German-built ride called the Raupen Bahn with a canopy that covered the seats, and another German ride called See Sturm Bahn, which had boat-shaped cars that spun on their own during the ride cycle as well as a decorative water feature in the center. Compared to previous years, Reithoffer offered substance and power, with fewer filler attractions like funhouses, dark rides, and mirror mazes, though they did have a few. Game booths lined the paths, offering chances to win giant stuffed animals or quirky prizes. The 4-H animals were a hit with families, allowing kids to get up close and personal with friendly goats, sheep, and even llamas. I noticed fewer freak shows compared to previous years, but there was still one set up at the corner of the midway. I never really took an interest in freak shows, thinking it was rude to stare at people with defects. The food was impossible to resist, with corn dogs, Polish and Italian sausages, carnival pizza, funnel cakes, giant turkey legs, candy apples, and cotton candy. Reithoffer Shows didn't just bring rides and games; they brought a sense of excitement and wonder, creating an atmosphere that was magical and unforgettable. The debut of Reithoffer Shows at the Pensacola Interstate Fair was a game-changer, setting the bar high for future fairs and leaving everyone eagerly anticipating the next year's extravaganza. For those who were there, it was an unforgettable experience that left cherished memories and a sense of community. Thirty-one years later, they still hold that contract.