Thanks once again Scott for these wonderful pictures.
Some questions for anybody who might know...
Where was the last spot and year played by RAS?
I think the last few years, RAS had down-sized and went over-the-road...what was the ride list that last season?
What year did they last travel by train?
What Shows own former RAS equipment today? I know Drew's Expositions has the Space Wheels. Anything else out there?
So sad a Show like this is gone.
Ok Ted here's what I can tell you.
The shows last offical spot was Pensacola Fl, but they booked their 100' Scooter into the Litle Rock Fair which was a week after Pensacola. I was there and saw the ride. I didn't even take any photos of it that year... I wish I had known.
The final ride list I'm not 100% of but what I know was the Century Wheel, Crazy Dance, Hi Roller, Skooter 2700, YoYO (although it might not have worked the very last year)Sky Diver, Scramber, Rock o Plane, Round Up and Gravitron. Kid rides were Chance 36' MGR, 4 Hamptons, Go Gator, AH Elephants, Berry go round, Winky the Whale, Great Western Train and Zamperla Jeep ride.
The show made the 1981 season by train but lost the Tampa Fair, Wisconsin Fair and Mississippi Fair, so the train was dropped for the 82 season. They had 3 State Fairs left the Minnesota, Kasas and Louisiana fairs. They had to convert alot of the show to road transport and move rides into trailers from wagons. They joined forces with Link Shows who had 3 State Fairs of their own which just happened to fit in-between the RAS state fairs giving each show 6 State Fairs to play. RAS only had 15 rides ready to take out. The Royal/Link deal only lasted that one season.
RAS picked up the Ozark Empire Fair in Springfield MO for 83 and then booked a string of smaller fairs and festivals that were not available to them while on rails.
Hard to tell where everything endded up. I would like to know this myself. Gold Medal Shows in Atlanta got the Sky Diver and the 440 Office trailer. Miller Spectacular also got a Office trailer too. Archway Amusements got a Generator, Jeeps and Train. Son Joe owned the HUSS Pirate and super slide on the show. Skip Hacket had leased the Rainbow and Kamikaze (themed Phoenix) to Dennis and Brent Wall for the last couple of seasons. The Rainbow endded up in an Amusement park in Baton Rouge LA and I think the Kamikaze went to Mexico. Pugh shows bought the Crazy Dance who endded up selling it to Arnolds Amusements (I think) Larry Carr bought the Scooter 2700 and Cumberland Valley bought the Giant Wheel, Space Wheels, Calypso and Rotor rides. Magic Valley (tx) bought the 4 Hamptons.
I hope that helps