mayor al
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Proof 016 19 copy
mayor al commented on 29yrswithaGApass's gallery image in Employees - Security Department
I can't give you a year, but I believe that's Mike Cheung at the Security Radio Desk. BTW- this is not one of my photos - al -
OK, Here's my Intro message from Page One of the Forums--- I will introduce myself here, but you'll find me hanging out in the Old Fart / SECURITY Employee sections most of the when I sign in. I am "Mayor Al" or really AL BOWEN, I am a retired Economic Professor, who 40 years ago found a second job at a Security Officer at Great Advrenture, Just as the Park opened for it's first season in 1974. That proved to be a lucky move on my part as shortly after starting at GA, I was 'riffed' by my primary job. In addition to the normal Security functions I wrote training programs for the department and created the first POLICIES and PROCEDURES MANUAL for Ed Gadberry, the Director of Everything in Sight !! Those who knew Ed know why I gave him that title. Another "Project" assigned to me was the coordination of training exercises with the Jackson P D and Our Security Dept. during the off-season. One in particular, day-long hostage exercise using the Western Fort Cable Car Tower (1977) as the hostage hiding place was a real challenge for all involved. I have posted some photos and donated some relics from those early days. Last night...10/4/2014 there was a 40th reunion party in Lakewood. Many of the old guys were there. Some were not aware of this site. They are now. In addition to my time at Great Adventure, my wife and I enjoy roadtripping a lot. linked to that is a love for G O O D BBQ, We travel often searching out good 'que' in out of the way places around the country. I am a MODERATOR on theROADFOOD.COM website where travel and good food are linked closely. Add to that being an avid hunter and firearms collector, and railfan of the Western railroads, and you begin to get a picture of what this old guy is all about. If you haven't looked at the employee photo gallery..go find it and check out the Security Department album..the photo of Gibbs, Hatrat, Dinger, Rimakis, Joey D, and Dom, witn Joane is worth the price of admission. Then a shot of Lightfoot doing his Richard Pryor routine adds to it. Add comments, the section needs pepping up.
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Al Great Adventure 1975a
mayor al commented on mayor al's gallery image in Employees - Security Department
This particular car had been in the GA Shop for body work after a Parking Lot collision, I was sent up to the shop to pick it up when they finished fixing it. On my way back to the Security office, I was in the main line of the parking lanes leading to Admin and Gate 2, when out of one of the Parking rows an unlicensed cab came out with no attempt to stop or slow down and T-Boned the Security Car on the Passenger side---where the paint from the previous accident was still drying. I was shook up a bit but not really hurt. The Director was really Pissed... I had a lot of explaining to do... but it was entirely the idiot guests fault. I was in the middle lane of the 5 lane crossover and he made no effort to miss hitting me at all, no license, no Insurance.. I worked the office dispatch radio the rest of that night. -
The first batch of Security cars were green chevys with very long hood's and poor maint. performance. They were in the shop a lot. They also suffered a higher than average number of Parking Lot Fender Benders due to the poor design of the parking lot lane markings in the early years AND the large number of unlicensed guests who drove to GA without the skills to find their way out of the Parking Lot at the end of the day. -
Security Projects 1978
mayor al commented on mayor al's gallery image in Employees - Security Department
One of the Major Duties of the Security Officers is to devopment Close (Intimate !) Relationships with Employees in other Departments who pass Information and Intelligence for use by Our Department. Here are some examples of a Security Officer working hard at developing those relationships around the Park. -
Al Great Adventure 1975a
mayor al commented on mayor al's gallery image in Employees - Security Department
Driving those long nosed green Chevy's, we called them the Alligator's, got stuck a lot in the mud and snow that first year. The Parking lots were inpaved.. could be real fun on a rainy night when the park closed. the 5 lots were seperated by hedges, and guests had no clue as to which lot they parked in. Hundreds of guests wandered into the woods looking for the lot where they had parked. Second Season saw the lots combined into one , Paved and traffic cones everywhere... lots of collisions at night in the lot. -
Old Uniform Shirts don't go to waste
mayor al posted a gallery image in Employees - Security Department
Here we are on a ride around Lake Arrowhead in Southern California in 1987. -
During the Off Season in 1985 we came back to Great Adventure to visit friends., and took a tour of the Safarie Nursery, seeing these young Tigers at that time. -
Loretta Lynn and Al B
mayor al commented on mayor al's gallery image in Employees - Security Department
Loretta Lynn has got to be one of the kindest, most humble "Stars" in the entertainment world. One of the Security Officers brought a concert program backstage between shows, to ask if MS Lynn would sign it for his wheelchair-bound Mother who was sitting out on the Arena floor between the two scheduled shows. Loretta had two of her crew bring the Mother backstage and chatted with her, hugged her and gave her a copy of her biography "Coal Miner's Daughter" then had her staff return the lady and her chair to the front of the Arena. A real class move. That sort of thing sure made up for some of the real dickheads we had to deal with at other times. (note- it was 'Dinger's Mother) -
Krystal Gayle and Al 1978
mayor al commented on mayor al's gallery image in Employees - Security Department
One of my more enjoyable duties, but a bit stressful also, was heading up the Arena Security Squad for the Concerts on those Summer Evenings. On my final night Krystal Gayle sang a song for me in her last show. Most of the Big Name Entertainers were really nice people. -
One of the Street Artists did this drawing of me when I was leaving the Park in 1978 -
Gabe Kaplan and Brian July 4, 1976
mayor al commented on mayor al's gallery image in Employees - Security Department
Actually Gabe Kaplan, star of Welcome Back, Kotter, did a one nite stand-up comedy show in the arena, the evening of 19 September, 1977. I remember the date because my son Jeffery was born earlier that day and I left the hospital in time to head the Arena Security Detail for Kaplan's show and the crew meetings before and after. -
One of our undercover officers
mayor al commented on mayor al's gallery image in Employees - Security Department
Only the name has been covered to protect the identity of this valuable member of the Security Special Investigations Squad -
I will introduce myself here, but you'll find me hanging out in the Old Fart Employee sections most of the when I sign in. I am "Mayor Al" or really AL BOWEN, I am a retired Economic Professor, who 40 years ago found a second job at a Security Officer at Great Advrenture, Just as the Park opened for it's first season in 1974. That proved to be a lucky move on my part as shortly after starting at GA, I was 'riffed' by my primary job. In addition to the normal Security functions I wrote training programs for the department and created the first POLICIES and PROCEDURES MANUAL for Ed Gadberry the Director of Everything in Sight !! Those who knew Ed know why I gave him that title. Another "Project" assigned to me was the coordination of training exercises with the Jackson P D and Our Security Dept. during the off-season. One in particular, day-long hostage exercise using the Western Fort Cable Car Tower (1977) as the hostage hiding place was a real challenge for all involved. I have posted some photos and donated some relics from those early days. Last night...10/4/2014 there was a 40th reunion party in Lakewood. Many of the old guys were there. Some were not aware of this site. They are now. In addition to my time at Great Adventure, my wife and I enjoy roadtripping a lot. linked to that is a love for G O O D BBQ, We travel often searching out good 'que' in out of the way places around the country. I am a MODERATOR on the ROADFOOD.COM website where travel and good food are linked closely. Add to that being an avid hunter and firearms collector, and railfan of the Western railroads, and you begin to get a picture of what this old guy is all about. I can share some fun "War Stories" of the exciting times we shared in those first four Seasons at Great Adventure...I am sure the Statute of Limitations has run out after 40 years, so running afoul of current 6 Flags rules shouldn't be an issue.. Watch for further entrys in the Security Forum. I HAVE ENTERED A NUMBER OF STORIES FROM THE EARLY YEARS AS REMARKS UNDER PHOTOS IN THE SECURITY DEPARTMENT PHOTO ALBUM IN THE EMPLOYEE GALLERY...TAKE A LOOK OVER THERE. I will bring some into the correct forum here as I can, but adding photos here is more difficult.
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Clearly an economy move, the label tape name-tags replaced the engraved plastic tags in 1976 -
Note- This was an Executive-Level Format Nametag in 1978. A friend had it made up for me as a going away present when I left the Park in August of '78.. The HMFIC is a self-descriptive job title -
NEVER SAW ONE OF THOS IN 1978 OR BEFORE... AL BOWEN -
FALL 1974, AFTER THE PARK CLOSED FOR THE YEAR, I RECEIVED MY BLUE NAME TAG WHEN I GOT A PERMANENT APPOINTMENT IN THE SECURITY DEPARTMENT, THIS WAS BEFORE 6 FLAGS PURCHASED THE PARK. -
During the FIRST OPERATING SEASON (1974) GREEN TAGS WERE WORN BY SEASONAL WORKERS-- BLUE BY PERMANENT EMPLOYEES -
I wasn"t sure I should mention the ebay episode.. but since it went to a good cause, I am glad it all turned out well. Yes H M F I C TRANSLATES TO " HEAD MOTHER XXXXXX IN CHARGE". 40 years ago that was a rather unique title... today you can buy military patches with velcro backing for any style camo uniform.. times do change. Did you get the jacket from me? I have forgotten where it went? I telephoned my greetings to the 40th reunion session going on as we speak in Lakewood. I hope to attend a future session. For those who knew me I was a teacher/administrator working two jobs to support a large family. After G A I took a college job in Indiana, and 25 years later retired as a Economics Instructor at a comm.college and sch. district in So California. We moved back to Indiana with my retirement and enjoy rural life very much., but we are just minutes from LOUISVILLE. Hope to post some more if I can find the photos. regards, al
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Not all recruits avail themselves of these special evening tours, but John assures us that his schedule was "full enough" during the period when the Park is closed. Thanks for giving up your time to promote the department, John/ -
Special Agent John Monteverde Recruits new Security team members. 1983
mayor al posted a gallery image in Employees - Security Department
Visiting Colleges from New Jersey to Utah and Back John Monteverde spent weeks on the road searching for the right recruits for GA's Security Department. His successful record can be seen in his smile. -
Supervisor Hank Gibbs observes the BELLE OF LOUISVILLE- 1983
mayor al posted a gallery image in Employees - Security Department
GIBBS was sent to investigate the possible purchase of the BELLE OF LOUISVILLE as a possible anti-tresspassor detterant vessel and temporary shelter for seasonal workers. The Ohio River Steamboat failed to meet his lofty standards, and remains today , a river-cruiser based in Louisville. -
Security Badge #10 got a $40 bid on Ebay a decade ago. -
