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The State Fair is spectacle that can overload the senses. There is so much to see, smell, hear, and feel, it's easy to miss the individual stories. This is the story of the SkyDiver. One ride, on one day, and the people that cross its path. |
| These are the men who operate the SkyDiver. On the left is Dean LaLone. Dean has been with the Fair for 15 years. He spends most of his time with the SkyDiver but can operate a number of other rides if necessary. Dean explains why the SkyDiver is better than others. Take a ride (2.6Mb) on the SkyDiver
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![]() Dean, Charles, and Marvin |
Dean and Charles | The Fair crew came to Raleigh from Winston-Salem, North Carolina. That's where Charles Adams joined the Fair. Charles is a jazz musician but, he enjoys the opportunity to work hard with the crew of the SkyDiver.
He has plans to go to Florida set up a band with his cousin. |
| The third man in the crew is Marvin Epps. Marvin joined the team in Winston-Salem as well. Marvin is glad to be working with Dean and Charles. |
Marvin locks in a passenger |
Enter at your own risk | Dean says it can get tiresome sometimes. Especially towards the ends of the season like the the Raleigh show. Their job is the fpretty similar from town to town but there some variety in the visitors. Dean enjoys going to Syracuse, New York where gets to try out some of his German. Dean's travels have taken him to Europe and he likes to fairgoers from upstate New York. |
![]() How was it? |
![]() Marvin says, "You can't please everybody." |
| Raleigh is the biggest show for the group each year. Dean tells how the day is going. Watch Marvin open the cage (2.8Mb).
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![]() Excited anticipation | Two brave souls prepare to ride the SkyDiver. What motivates them? Why won't their friend ride with them? |
Although the ride is thrilling, it's not for everybody. Sometimes you just have to stop it and let someone off. They think they can do it until they get to the top and start spinning. |
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Whatever ever happens the operator needs to stay behind the controls. At the end of the day the ticket box is weighed to see how they did. Charles, Marvin, and Dean work as team to make the ride a good one for the patrons and the job enjoyable for themselves.
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