Show QDgben Ogden 0tanbarb-l:xamine- r Standard-Examin- Friday June er 1 1984 Calendar 2 FI E TV listings 7-1-0 Movies reviews 11-1- 5 Clyde MuellerStandard Examiner Weekend visitors are whipped around on Colossus a “The guests’ pleasure is our business ” — Lagoon corporate slogan By STEVE HEIDE Standard Examiner staff FARMINGTON — She comes each summer to play and be payed for it For three months each year Brenda Harmon drives' a steam locomotive at Lagoon Amusement Park She returns she says because she loves it “It's fun It’s almost like playing” said the Syracuse native who plans to attend Utah Technical College next year “I really like my job” Brenda is just one of the 1200 seasonal employees who spend their summers toiling with a smile at Lagoon the most unique amusement center in Utah and one of the oldest in the country Since 1895 folks have been traveling to d this park to relax maybe swim and as they used to say “take in the air” If these visitors could see Lagoon in its present-da- y incarnation they wouldn’t believe their eyes From a nine-acr- e park and picnic ground Lagoon has grown into a electrified mefun-fille- turn-of-the-centu- ry 65-ac- re chanized futuristic entertainment center that features everything from a steel roller coaster to a realistic fron- tier village “And what the future holds” says Ron Van Warden advertising manager and entertainment director for the park “no one really knows Last year we had a million people visit Lagoon This year if predictions of the amusement park industry are correct then we should do even belter Our grow th depends on our attendance so we’ll have to see what happens” What has happened in the past two de- - By GARY GRAFF Knight Ridder Newspapers DETROIT — With the recent death of founding member Dennis Wilson casting the Beach Boys' status as an active band into question again America's favorite boys of summer have decided its time to put some fresh substance into their fun fun fun It's an old story: every year one of the members talks about how the group is ready to record again and should have a "record out within a year It's as traditional as the band's summer sojourns through the national concert circuit But this vear in the wake of Wilson's drowning six months ago it's not so easy to write off keyboardist Bruce Johnston's claim of renewed activity that goes upside down roller-coast- er ‘The Colossus cost $25 million and the Whirlwind was about $750000 so you can see that quality rides are not cheap’ — Lagoon official cades has been growth — the park has expanded every year and Van Warden says they plan to add a new attraction each season New this year are the Whirlwind a ride that turns folks upside down and backward and a kiddie ride known as the Red Baron “We are kind of limited in what rides we can bring into the park as they are expensive and our season is dependent on the weather unlike other parks like Knott’s Berry Farms or Disneyland” Van Warden said “But we try to bring in the best rides we can and I think we do a great job” Just how expensive are the rides the park buys each year? “Well the Colossus cost $25 million and the Whirlwind was about $750000 so you can see that quality rides are not cheap” Van Warden is another one of the Lagoon employees who loves his job even though non-sto- p days are not unheard of as he tries to keep the park running smoothly Starting seven years ago in the ad department he was able to combine his degree in the field with his love for theater while Ger-man-b- 20-ho- ur The Beach Boys have been busier during the past five months than they have during the past five years putting a new song on a movie sound track preparing for a concert with a symphony and working for Lagoon “I couldn't imagine a better place to work I get to do what I love for a living and most importantly committing themselves to record a new album later this year and release it by next spring “This is preventive creativity" John- ston 39 explained “You don't want to become the greatest top 40 and oldies band in history We could if we let ourselves Keep your fingers crossed for the album a great song and record are the lifeblood of what we do” The Beach Boys haven't had a major hit since 976’s “Rock ‘n’ Roll Music” — unless you count the “Beach — or an album Boys Medley" of 1981 1 re-ha- sh alt that's rare” he says Van Warden is proud of his park and is quick to offer facts and histories about the different displays and attractions spread throughout the park He is especially proud of the four unique music reviews that are offered on an equal number of stages at Lagoon Music USA is a hit parade of American music while the Lagoon Show Band which plays everything from pop hits to Gershwin has gained a strong reputation as one of the best stage bands in the state The recent trend toward country music has prompted the park to add a new coun- music revue called “Country Side” Combined with the contemporary sounds of “Cambridge” Van Warden says Lagoon now covers the complete spectrum try-gosp- el of music “We also have one of the best frontier villages in the country and ours is made up of actual buildings that where built at various places throughout the state and brought here some of them stone by stone” Van Warden says “We have an extensive collection of early weapons and a doll and toy collection that the kids really like” “I think the thing we want to stress is the fact that Lagoon is more than just rides We are moving toward offering more entertainment for the entire family and we think we have a little something for everyone “We’d like folks to come out and see for themselves just how far we’ve really come since those days back in the 1900s” of original material since 979's 1 “Kce-pin- ’ the Summer Alive” They've been delayed mostly by Brian Wilson who wrote the band's biggest hits but deteriorated into drug abuse and emotional problems He's currently being treated by well-chronicl- ed Colossus is not for the weak at heart less healthy to do something that’s me- diocre It's just time to do something it might get new I think if we don't old for everybody soon” From what Johnston said the Beach Boys’ annual concert treks have also started to grow thin so they've found psychologist Eugene Landy new areas for performing For instance Brian or no Brian however Johnston the group — Johnston Brian Wilson said the Beach Boys will be in the stu- Carl Wilson A1 Jardine and Mike Love dio this fall with producer Steve Lev- — has taken to performing after baseine best known for his work with ball football and soccer games Culture Club And on June 17 the band will per“This isn't cutting Brian out” John- form at Denver's Mile High Stadium ston said “It's lending him a hand I've with the Denver Symphony a concept worked with (Levine) before We felt Johnston and his cohorts originally his top 40 sensibilities and the humor pitched three years ago to the Detroit of his bands would work well for us Symphony and the Pontiac Silverdome “It’s not healthy to not record but it's though it never went bevond prelimi high-price- d v nary talks “Things like that will create a listening Beach Boys show” Johnston explained “We won't have to be stuck with these 27 hits At shows now the audience will shout us down People yell ‘Play Barbara Ann' when we'd like to play something that's more serious 7 ft What Johnston's trying to emphasize! of course is that the Beach Boys are getting more serious and not resting on their laurels anymore In other words! there's no reason to be a nostalgia act anymore “We've kind of overhauled in the last year” Johnston said “I'm not try ing to tell you it's the new and improved Beach Boys I just want to make sure it's as good as the original” 22-year-o- ld |