PARTNERSHIP ANNOUNCEMENT: Alterface of Mont-Saint-Guibert, Belgium, announced Backstage Connections of Hollister, Missouri, will serve as the company’s new sales and service partner for its U.S. customers. Tom Glass, owner and founder of Backstage Connections, met the Alterface team during the installation of the “Castle of Chaos” interactive haunted house at the Hollywood Wax Museum in Branson, Missouri. Backstage will serve as sales and service partner for all of Alterface’s products.
NEW DEAL: WhirlWhims LLC of Parsippany, New Jersey, has chosen AAA Inflatables Ltd. of Cambridgeshire, England, as its exclusive licensee for WhirlWhims’ patented Pitchburst and Boom Blaster carnival games in the United Kingdom. AAA will manufacture and distribute the two games in England and across Europe. The deal was signed and finalized by Bill Holsten, managing member of Whirl- Whims, and Chris Keen, director of AAA Inflatables, at IAAPA Attractions Expo 2010.
ACQUISITION: Advanced Entertainment Technology in Monrovia, California, has announced the acquisition of Tru-Roll Theatrical Rigging and Hardware. Tru-Roll will continue to design, manufacture, and install standard and customized rigging systems, drapery, track, scenic backdrops, and projection screens for clients in North, Central, and South America, as well as in Asia and Europe. Ralph Cichetti will lead the Tru-Roll division of Advanced Entertainment Technology.
MOVING ON UP: Rocco Tammone, CFO of Mega Funworks, has been promoted to chief of staff for the Rocking Horse Ranch in Highland, New York; Splash- Down Beach Water Park in Fishkill, New York; and all future hospitality and entertainment developments for the Mega Funworks companies. Tammone joined Mega Funworks as CFO in 2007, and in addition to his new position, he will continue his CFO duties in the company.
WELCOME ABOARD: The Sarah Allison Steffee Center for Zoological Medicine at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo in Ohio named Dr. Mike Selig its new full-time staff veterinarian. Selig comes to the zoo from Barberton Veterinary Clinic in Norton, Ohio, where he gained experience working with exotic animals while doing contract vet work for the Akron Zoo. He earned his undergraduate degree and his doctorate of veterinary medicine at Ohio State University. The Sarah Allison Steffee Center provides medical care for the Cleveland Zoo’s 3,000 animals and has a radiology lab and the first CT scanner ever in a zoo.
PRODUCTS
A NEW LINEUP FOR THE KIDDIES: S&S Worldwide Inc. of Logan, Utah, has expanded its product line to include collections of new kiddie rides. At IAAPA Attractions Expo 2010, S&S introduced operating versions of the first two rides in the company’s new line. Called the Critter Collection, the new group of rides was devel oped by the company’s in-house team. The rides have been designed and engineered with seating for 36-inch children as well as adults so parents and grandparents can ride with the kids. The Jungle Swing ride (pictured) is a themed version of S&S’s Junior Swing. The company’s new Small Rides Division is headed by Kathy Archer, who has been with S&S since 1999. www.engineeringexcitement.com
GO-TO TAPE: Whether you need to instantly repair a leak in plumbing or hosing, repair electrical wiring, wrap and seal hydraulic fittings, or even make repairs underwater, Harbor Products offers Rescue Tape. Self-fusing, stretchable, air and water tight, temperature resistant up to 500 degrees Fahrenheit, able to handle stress up to 700 psi, and available in a variety of colors, Rescue Tape has numerous applications. It can even be used to fashion an emergency fan belt or o-ring. www.rescuetape.com
AIR HOCKEY FOR THE LITTLE ONES: Barron Games has rolled out the Jungle Hoki Baby, an updated version of its original Hoki Baby. The air hockey table game for young kids includes several safety features, such as two large side panels to prevent fingers from being placed on the table and a center safeguard to protect against puck deflection. Jungle animal graphics and a congratulatory exclamation of “Bravo!” are aimed at making the game more attractive to toddlers and small children.
PARTNERSHIP ANNOUNCEMENT: Alterface of Mont-Saint-Guibert, Belgium, announced Backstage Connections of Hollister, Missouri, will serve as the company’s new sales and service partner for its U.S. customers. Tom Glass, owner and founder of Backstage Connections, met the Alterface team during the installation of the “Castle of Chaos” interactive haunted house at the Hollywood Wax Museum in Branson, Missouri. Backstage will serve as sales and service partner for all of Alterface’s products. 
ACQUISITION: Advanced Entertainment Technology in Monrovia, California, has announced the acquisition of Tru-Roll Theatrical Rigging and Hardware. Tru-Roll will continue to design, manufacture, and install standard and customized rigging systems, drapery, track, scenic backdrops, and projection screens for clients in North, Central, and South America, as well as in Asia and Europe. Ralph Cichetti will lead the Tru-Roll division of Advanced Entertainment Technology. 
MOVING ON UP: Rocco Tammone, CFO of Mega Funworks, has been promoted to chief of staff for the Rocking Horse Ranch in Highland, New York; Splash- Down Beach Water Park in Fishkill, New York; and all future hospitality and entertainment developments for the Mega Funworks companies. Tammone joined Mega Funworks as CFO in 2007, and in addition to his new position, he will continue his CFO duties in the company. 
A NEW LINEUP FOR THE KIDDIES: S&S Worldwide Inc. of Logan, Utah, has expanded its product line to include collections of new kiddie rides. At IAAPA Attractions Expo 2010, S&S introduced operating versions of the first two rides in the company’s new line. Called the Critter Collection, the new group of rides was devel oped by the company’s in-house team. The rides have been designed and engineered with seating for 36-inch children as well as adults so parents and grandparents can ride with the kids. The Jungle Swing ride (pictured) is a themed version of S&S’s Junior Swing. The company’s new Small Rides Division is headed by Kathy Archer, who has been with S&S since 1999. 
GO-TO TAPE: Whether you need to instantly repair a leak in plumbing or hosing, repair electrical wiring, wrap and seal hydraulic fittings, or even make repairs underwater, Harbor Products offers Rescue Tape. Self-fusing, stretchable, air and water tight, temperature resistant up to 500 degrees Fahrenheit, able to handle stress up to 700 psi, and available in a variety of colors, Rescue Tape has numerous applications. It can even be used to fashion an emergency fan belt or o-ring. 
AIR HOCKEY FOR THE LITTLE ONES: Barron Games has rolled out the Jungle Hoki Baby, an updated version of its original Hoki Baby. The air hockey table game for young kids includes several safety features, such as two large side panels to prevent fingers from being placed on the table and a center safeguard to protect against puck deflection. Jungle animal graphics and a congratulatory exclamation of “Bravo!” are aimed at making the game more attractive to toddlers and small children.