Hi JohnRoach100,
I was really happy to see your new post, with lots more info on the Gyro - I found and read through the 3 pages of posts about it, too, and see there are a few different people who remember it - I'll probably try to contact the one who had the picture of it in the 1988 magazine, maybe he still has the picture and could post it. (No still picture will ever compare to your video, though). But I'd love to see any pics or info about it - the info you sent was very interesting. It doesn't sound like it was that tall, does it? I didn't remember it being super tall, but in the video it sure looked like it was.
I don't remember the wrestling ape show being at the Bay City Centennial in 1965, but then, I don't remember what other rides were there, either. From going over your posts again, maybe that was the year your family left Happyland, to have an arcade with a different show? You wrote that the video was 1964, and sounded like you left the next year, when I saw the Gyro.
The only family members I have left from back then are my Mom (she's 93 now, but in good health/good memory), and one sister. Surprisingly, neither remember much about the Centennial itself, so probably won't remember if there was an ape show with the Midway, but I will ask them both. They both remembered the Gyro (but not what it looked like) just because my other sister, who passed away years ago, was 11 then, and screaming the whole time that she was going to fall out. Probably what kept that ride strong in my memory all these years - Katy, the 11 year old sister, and I talked about it different times after we grew up, and the name Gyro always stayed with me. Wish I could ask Katy or my Dad about that time, but both are gone.
Yesterday I was with both my Mom and older sister, Barb, and was able to show them the video on my nephew's tablet - they both watched it a few times, and were interested in it - so thank you from them, too! I'll bet that cute little boy eating the watermelon is you!
Sounds like you remember the southwestern part of Michigan - Grand Rapids and Battle Creek - I'm not familiar with that part of the state, still live in Bay City, where the "thumb" meets the "mitt". I did see in one of those 3 pages of posts that Happyland played Midland every year, and Midland is only about 20 miles away. But our family must not have gone to Midland, because I know I only saw the Gyro one time in my life.
I have to go back and read all those posts again - somebody said Happyland had 3 Gyros (that can't be so - why would they?), maybe there were only 3 built - I sure never saw another one with any show. Probably the company that built it has long been out of business, too. Somebody else compared it to the Watkins Rampage, just like I did - that Rampage picture was the closest thing I could come to how I remembered the Gyro. Also very interesting to hear it is called the Gemini Gyro - I like that even better (Gemini - twins - two wheels?).
I really appreciate you saying you would be able to send me a the video if I can't get it downloaded - my husband is better with computer programs than I am, and I plan to ask him if he can get it on zip drive in the next few days - I'll let you know, but thank you ahead of time, too!
Sorry this is so long today - so many things I wanted to mention - and now just one more thing - do you have any idea where the Gyro might be today? Tony says there are carnival ride junkyards, but he was very vague, only knew of one in Texas (Gibtown??) I'm sure the poor old Gyro isn't traveling/running anymore. Do you know what they do with the rides when they junk them? Do they tear them apart, smash them like old cars? Sad to think about, but if I found out it was anywhere close by and still recognizable, I'd see if I could get permission to go in and take a picture - I know that's a very slim chance, but thought I'd ask if you had any idea where it could be. Thanks so much, again.
Patti