The County Fair from Exhibit Hall to Ferris Wheel
The Ferris wheel may be the clearest image, but a county fair also held exhibits, judging, food stalls, and local encounters. Trace the route your family took.
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The 1980s.
Friday nights, favorite records, and one more movie. Explore 1980s stories in the WistMem memory archive. Search for something you remember ↗
Entertainment stories
23 stories · Page 2 of 2
The Variety Show at the End of the Pier
A seaside pier could lead from open air and arcades into a theatre of songs, comedy, and specialty acts. The audience carried the holiday inside.
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Grand Sumo Through the Family Radio
Radio commentary made sumo vivid without a picture. The wait before a bout, the announcer’s call, and family explanation all shaped the listening.
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A Summer Test Match Heard on the Radio
Cricket radio could travel from the kitchen to the garden or workshop. The long pauses and sudden wickets made a match part of the day's rhythm.
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The Penny Arcade at the Seaside
A seaside arcade offered a different rhythm from the shore: one coin at a time, a bright interior, and a chance to test skill or luck.
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When the Whole Pub Joined the Chorus
A pub song belonged to whoever knew the chorus. The room, the singer, and the people joining in made a familiar tune new each time.
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Choosing One Song at the Diner Jukebox
A coin and a numbered button made a diner booth part of the music system. Who chose the song, and how did the room respond?
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Roller Rinks on Friday Nights
A Friday rink session mixed skating skill with a social ritual: finding your feet, moving with the floor traffic, and deciding when to leave the rail.
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The Bowling Alley on League Night
League night made the bowling alley a recurring social commitment. The scores mattered, but so did seeing the same teams, partners, and staff each week.
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The Drive-In Movie Theater
At a drive-in, the movie was only part of the outing. The arrangement of cars, screen, food, and sound made each site a different kind of cinema.
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Choosing a Movie at Blockbuster on Friday Night
Remember the part of movie night spent walking the rental aisles? Choosing one title together, checking whether it was in stock, and agreeing when to return it shaped the evening before anyone pressed play.
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