Fiendish Friday Interview :: Rick Davis of DAFE (Darkride and Funhouse Enthusiasts)
:: Editors Note: This is part of a continuing series of article we do each week with people changing the face of the Horror/Haunted Attraction Industry. This week we interview the co-founder of DAFE. DAFE is the Darkride and Funhouse Enthusiasts organization. One of my fondest memories growing up was visiting the State Fair of Texas and riding the little Dark Ride they had their. Even back then I enjoyed being scared! So read on to find out more about this orginization and how they help restore these classic Theme park rides.::
What is your position with the Darkride and Funhouse Enthusiasts (DAFE)?
I am one of the three founders (the other two are my wife Sue and my friend Joel Styer), I am DAFE’s Director, and I am the editor for Barrel O’ Fun.
Is DAFE your full time gig?
No, although it SEEMS that all my time is spent working for DAFE, my “real” job is with the Federal Aviation Administration as an “Airway Transportations System Specialist”, that is an electronics technician maintaining communications, data, RADAR, and other systems.
How did you first become interested in the darkrides and funhouses?
I think there are three answers to this question, all of which brought me to where I am today. The first was my all time favorite amusement park attraction- the Funhouse at Idora Park (long defunct) in Youngstown, Ohio. I was a young child but I remember it well. I loved the funhouse with its slides, revolving barrel, moving walkways, and Magic Carpet ride. I could have stayed in there all day! I could have lived in there! That love was shorted lived as it was replaced by a psychedelic walkthrough attraction in the mid-sixties.
I then rediscovered amusement parks after I left the Air Force. At the time I became interested in building models of amusement rides. That led to visiting parks to photograph rides and of course rekindled an interest in the parks themselves.
The final piece of the puzzle was meeting Joel Styer online shortly after I got a computer and discovering the internet. At that time Joel had a web site devoted to Pennsylvania amusement parks. That soon became two web sites, Defunct Parks, and Ridezone. Joel and I began swapping notes on rides and soon became good friends.
How did the Darkride and Funhouse Enthusiast (DAFE) get its start?
At some point Joel learned that I had some interior photos of a darkride and he wanted to post them on his web site. That posting generated some interest and soon there was a darkride subsection to that web site.
That eventually was spun off to a separate web site of its own with Joel, me, and two others as its founders. Joel and I decided that we should create an active group and we parted company with the other two people. The idea for DAFE started coming together in the summer of 2000. We started promoting it at the Phoenix Phall Phunfest at Knoebel’s Amusement Park in October and “officially” founded the non-profit group on October 31st, 2000. By the end of 2000 we had an even 100 members.
Why create DAFE?
One of the reasons DAFE came about was the fact that while there were groups dedicated to carousels and rollercoasters, there were none dedicated to enjoying the dark attractions such as darkrides, haunted houses, and funhouses. We were seeing dark attractions disappearing at an alarming rate across the country over the years, much the same as rollercoaster fans had experienced two decades earlier. We thought that it was time attention was given to the artistry and kitchiness of these unusual bits of Americana.
What does DAFE do?
DAFE maintains the Daffy Klub web site www.dafe.org, produces a quarterly magazine, Barrel O’ Fun, and sponsors at least one event per year. DAFE events generally consist of a behind the scenes tour of a dark attraction, Exclusive Ride Time (ERT) on or in the attraction, lunch, and a bit of history from the park or attraction’s manager. In addition, DAFE helps promote attraction and parks that have dark attractions as much as possible.
How many members does DAFE have?
DAFE currently has approximately 340 active members. Since its inception, DAFE has had about 640 members across 34 states and 4 foreign countries.
What projects have DAFE been involved with?
In the past we have assisted with providing research for a proposed 1910’s era amusement area in Canada, assisted with locating some equipment and information (and lots of moral support) for a start-up darkride in Oklahoma, and restored a classic darkride in Ohio. We have also offered our assistance in rebuilding that same darkride at a different park in Pennsylvania (The former park closed.) and have offered our assistance in doing some restoration work for the last true original funhouse, also located in Pennsylvania. In addition DAFE often receives requests for information from people considering projects and attempts to help them whenever possible.
What are DAFE’s 5 year goals?
Pretty much the same as when we created DAFE more than six years ago. We intend to keep promoting dark attractions, continue researching and documenting the history of darkrides and funhouses, assist in restoration and preservation of existing attraction and enjoying the attractions we have today!
What’s the scariest darkride you’ve ever ridden? Why?
I guess I would have to say the scariest darkride I’ve ever ridden has been the first darkride I ever rode- The Golden Nugget at Idora Park. I was just a kid when my dad made me ride it. The first (and only) scene I remember was the “Saw Table.” It featured a scantily clad lady tied to a table which carried her towards a spinning saw blade. I started crying and closed my eyes for the rest of the ride. To this day I have no idea what else was in the ride!
Do you ever get scared anymore?
As far as the dark attractions, no-It has turned into a fascination with the mechanics and design of the attractions. I find myself thinking “Oh, they want my attention to be drawn HERE, so that means over HERE is where the scare is coming from.”
What does scare you?
Reality. I like to say that the scariest part of a darkride comes after the last set of “bang” doors when you leave the fantasy world of the ride and have to deal with the problems of everyday life.
Do you believe in real Haunted Houses? Ghosts? Etc.
No, I am a hardcore skeptic. As the saying goes, “Extraordinary claims require extraordinary proof.”
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