Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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.entertainme Fair has s By Robin J. Klino and Ellen E. McCarthy n u - - ? - ouuui vsuruwia's siate Fair closes this weekend ? Sunday at midnight to be exact ? after opening its 113th edition a week ago. But if the last three days are anything like the first eight, the fair will provide entertainment for many people of all ages. . ' : : ' : : " ' v'-V V'-': ;: i x? > ^' V vv : ^ ^ -U: :lfeu A, _ > - - ". Sgkt w -, *'? ^ *Jfe #?! < \,m; & ^ ^ ?^''';'::'"""" ;'. j^ The world turns upside down for a brea the loop rollercoaster. ^ IJHH I I The State Fair is a favorite of children. Clockwise from above, young Wyndham Owens looks for an pp audience, Dawn Rosenthal helps a young friend feed llamas, Al Smith shows he's just a kid at heart and children play on a tank exhibit. ,1m yj>- fMKSBBSM - WttKHKmm From certain angles, the State Feirgroum mechanical contraptions, but to amusemen >nt almost ev Upon entering the main gate, the first things beckoning one are exhibits in the Hampton, Ruff and Moore buildings. THE HAMPTON building houses everything from Honda cars and Kawasaki motorcycles to glassblowing and a computer health analysis. Columbia radio station ^ ; "_ JPpp^' ^ ** %t||fM ^ tA .. \" t':? I Piiiiii?ii v < ' 111 \ p? thtaking moment for riders on Ik l^wSl? HK "iB ds are home to an eyeful of t riders it's a beautiful sight. erything WCOS-FM has broadcast from the scene 3 to 9 p.m. daily and has featured all sorts of giveaways. The Ruff building features quilt and afghan demonstrations as well as handicraft and baked goods displays. "The baked goods exhibit gets better each year ? there's more of everything," an exhibit assistant said. The Moore building includes a Blindcraft Plants and Crafts exhibit, which demonstrates the achievements of the blind community, as well as various horticultural displays and competitions. The fine arts building features agricultural and commercial exhibits, custom-made automobile tags and various art exhibits. HISTORICALLY, the State Fair has provided local farmers with the ppportunity to proudly show the product of their labor. Livestock are the best example of the work involved to produce something good enough to show at the tair. The small-stock exhibit offers enjoyment to young and old "birdbrains" alike: one can see pigeons, roosters and other fowl, but the exhibit also offers rabbits and even a baby rattlesnake. However, the main attraction is the "right freakv looking" chickens. Janice Leaphart, bookeeper for this exhibit, said judges are selected by the small-stock exhibit superintendent. Entry fee is about $1.50, she said, and the winners receive premiums based on place and number in their class. LEAPHART SAID this year's fair is larger than thosp of nr#?vinnc ware She said she still wanted to see and talk to Cocky, USC's mascot, however. "Cocky won first place; he's the only one in his class," she laughed. The swine exhibit makes even the worst-kept student dorm room look like something out of Better Homes and Gardens. Pete Wylie, superin lenaent for the hog exhibit for the fourth consecutive year, said this year's turnout has been large. One new feature of the hog show is the Barrow Pigs, fatted animals that are soon on their way to any neighborhood Piggly Wiggly. The dairy cattle exhibit has public milking demonstrations twice daily. While Mama Cow is being milked, papa Bull is shown in various livestock demonstrations. CERTAINLY THERE is more to the fair than exhibits; the air is filled with the aroma of french fries, hot dogs and other concessions. The fair features a little (or a lot) of pvprvthinc fnr tho PAnnAicconr ? - ? ^ ??--0 V* ??av VVIIIIV/IOOVUI Ui concession foods, whether Chinese, Mexican, French or American cuisine. Game booths are scattered around the fairgounds, with hawkers who tempt one to "spend a little change and try your luck." Prices range from a 10-cent dime toss to more difficult games that cost $1 to play. People who run the games are as diverse and interesting as the games themselves. Most of these operators have worked with the fair for several years, but began their carnival days with various traveling shows. "Billy the Kid," overseer for the ball-toss game, has been in the fair hlisinAfis fnr ninp vpopc Ho eai/l ho ? - J V/M? M . AAV tJUIU H\/ loves the life the fair offers, but he echoed other attendents' mixed opinions on this year's fair. "ATTENDANCE IS up, but money JJ [ ; : i With fluorescent lights reaching into the early evening sky, the Skydiver ride provides amusoment to fairgoers. HB&SHBB&j . < I . . a The State Fair is a crowded affair, with thousands of stuffed animals and other prizes (above) waiting to be won by someone among the thousands crowding the fairgrounds. In the end, though, it's also a family affair, as Willem Selen and daughter Stefanie attest iu (uoiuyv;. is down. People used to come with 50 or 60 dollars in their pockets for a good time. Now they come with 20. It's gone in no time," Billy said. "Wild Wes" has worked with the fair for seven years and insisted that ^Hlf i he "loves it." SSMjPS^- % He said money-making and Andy Putnam "'