The
display business continued to operate, with a
studio at 7301 N. E. Miami Court in Miami. At
this studio and showroom, Lenore Sigfridson, who
had followed the company from Minnesota, orchestrated
the production of the now-thriving line of ghoulish
creatures furnished to the amusement park industry
for use in dark rides and funhouses.
Olkon also developed
a specialty of mechanized musicians. His "Chimp
Band" of instrument-playing chimpanzees all dressed
in red band coats was a popular line. He created
the animated Dixieland Band for the facade of
the rebuilt Showboat funhouse at Palisades Park,
New Jersey in 1964, and was fond of remarking
that the players were so realistic they were required
to join the musicians' union. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Looming
on the horizon was the impact of the Walt Disney
company and its revolutionizing of the traditional
amusement park industry with modern fabrication
materials and new programmable computerized motion
systems. ADC's pulley and cam-driven papier-mache
figures began to take a back seat to the juggernaut
of the modern theme park. As many smaller amusement
parks and attractions fell victim to the huge corporate
fun-park dynasties, Animated Display Creators also
saw a decline in business. But an interesting sideline
developed when the firm's early creations were discovered
by motion picture art directors. In 1981, director
Tobe Hooper and set decorators for the Universal
film "The Funhouse" rented many ADC display figures
to lend authenticity to their production. Other
films also made use of the ADC stable of creatures,
such as "Hardly Working" and "Porkys II". One of
Van's alligators was also considered for an appearance
in "Miami Vice". |
|
On
May 17, 1985, Van Olkon's employee of 41 years,
Lenore Sigfridson, died at age 90. She had still
been coming to work up to a month before.
At this point, the only other
regular artist in residence was Hank Banks, a
sculptor who shared space in the ADC shop, now
located in the increasingly dangerous neighborhood
of 450 NW 71st Street. They managed what little
commercial activity there was, together with hired
help when needed. The building now required locked
bars over the doors in this northeast area of
the city. |
|
|
 |
|
Hank
Banks and Van Olkon with Chimp Band in Animated
Display Creators studio in Miami
|
| Norma
Lewin was the companion of Van Olkon in Miami.
They were both members of the Miami-South Florida
chapter of the Florida Motion Picture and
Television Association. She accompanied Van daily
to the ADC showroom and later became blind. They
provided care to each other in later life. |
|
|
|
 |
|
Van
Olkon (right) and Norma Lewin (second from right)
at the Halloween Party for the Florida Motion
Picture and Television Association, of which
Olkon was Executive Vice-President.
|
|
|
|
By 1995, the ADC
building on 71st Street had been robbed and vandalized
some fifteen times, with thieves stealing everything
from antiques to extension cords to sell on the
streets. One wonders what vandals must have thought
upon entering the darkened warehouse to encounter
one of ADC's ghastly creatures. Olkon himself
was injured jumping out of the way of a speeding
car. Hank Banks, the last of his associates, had
died. Van had outlived them all, and it was time
to close the book on a most unusual business that
had entertained America for more than six decades.
Animated Display Creators ceased operations in
1997. |
|
|
|
|
Letter
from Van Olkon in 1990, making reference to
the problem
of break-ins at the ADC 71st Street location
in Miami.
|
|
|
|
After a long and unique career,
Van A.Olkon passed away on November 3, 1998
at the age of 91.
His creations and his art defined simpler
and more innocent times.
We are fortunate that many of his works survive
and still come to life
with the touch of a switch.
Thank you, Van...
for the fun, the fear...
and the fantasy.
|
|
 |
|
|
|
