Troubled old Florida theme park Cypress Gardens has been shuttered once again, with the owners declaring that it's no longer financially viable to keep it open. They're seeking a buyer, but it remains to be seen whether and when it might reopen, and what it might look like if it does. As the AP reports, Cypress Gardens has been closed several times over the past decade as it struggled with sagging attendance and a fierce local rival whose name rhymes with Schmisney Schmorld. ]]>
The internet really is an amazing thing. Last week, for some reason, I was thinking about an obscure old ride at Disney World that I doubted many people remembered. Lo and behold, a quick search revealed not only extensive information about it, but a couple of first-person videos as well. The ride was called If You Had Wings, and it was essentially a big advertisement for Eastern Air Lines, which was, at one time, the official airline of Walt Disney World. My dad was a pilot for Eastern Air Lines, and so we made a point of riding the Claude Coates-designed Omnimover Dark Ride whenever we went to the park, and I loved it. ]]>
Flying these days just ain't what it used to be. Nobody gets dressed up any more, security proceedings just moved from vaguely creepy to downright invasive and four ounces of shampoo is apparently a dangerous weapon on a plane. But what the International Herald Tribune misses most these days is the Concorde -- the graceful jet of yesteryear replaced by the pot-bellied planes of today. ]]>
Here at Jaunted, we try not to let ourselves get carried away about silly rumors, whether they be about Southwest's new "Barbecue Your Own" coach seats or Dick Cheney's hunting trips. When we saw on a few blogs that the Jackson 5 were set to follow Sting The Police and the Spice Girls in blessed reunion, we thought, "Oh, but what if we get our hopes up for nothing?" Since the BBC has already run a piece on it, though, we're feeling confident to say: Jackson 5. Coming to your town. Sooner than you think. And Michael will be there!
Recent "Celebrity Big Brother UK" runner-up Jermaine Jackson told the Beeb the brothers have been talking about another tour for years but that Michael's trial had effectively derailed all concrete plans. (Jacko was acquitted of child-abuse charges in 2005.) Now, although no definite dates or destinations have been announced, Jermaine says it's going to happen--just in time for the first wave of baby boomers! Who's got a loud sweater on?
Here's an idea: OutKast, whom everyone wants to see anyway, opens the show with "Ms. Jackson" every night, followed by little sister Janet! We shoulda been concert promoters instead of travel-obsessed Internet junkies.
Related Stories:
· Jackson 5 Exclusive: Jermaine Reveals Plans for 2008 Tour [BBC Music]
· Michael Jackson Relegated to Cheap Seats for NBA All-Star Game [Jaunted]
· Celeb Travel coverage [Jaunted]
[Photo: ABC News]]]>