And the Winner Is . . .
Sep262007
Congratulations, Francois. E-mail your address to mollie@jennycrusie.com and she’ll pass it on to me. Oh, and tell me how you want the book signed (it’s already got my name and Bob’s in it) and whatever else I promised the winner.
Basically, I needed something that sounded like a non-intellectual fun park. Wonderworld sounded good as did Strangeland, but Dreamland just seemed more like a sweet old park. And then somebody buys into it and tries to turn it into Screamland, and we have a fight on our hands.
There are a ton of things out there named Dreamland already–novels, movies, websites, parks, businesses–but since there are so many, it just makes the name more generic, which I like. I also like the whole Dream Time/Nightmares/Things That Go Bump in the Night and In Your Head vibe.
I thought at first I’d have my own fight when Bob finally powered up his computer again, but he really is a romantic so I think he’ll like this. And if not, he can name the park. Because I like Dreamland.
We’ll probably be back to get you to name more things because I love Mel’s RollerGhoster and Absolute Cherry’s Ectoplasm slushies that Petal can make into Ectogasms. But I have to stop this and go back to AKMG since this one isn’t even for sure a book yet.
Except I already love Dreamland, so that’s going to show up somewhere, no matter what. So thank you all very, very much. I’m flabbergasted by your brilliance, all of you.
Filed in X (Everything Else)



28 Comments to 'And the Winner Is . . .'
On September 26, 2007 at 4:48 pm Reb said...
Dreamland / Screamland is fantastic!
Congrats to Francois.
And please write this book – but please keep writing AKMG too.
On September 26, 2007 at 4:51 pm wendy said...
Yes, this is perfect. I can see the battered signage and vintage rides.
On September 26, 2007 at 5:44 pm Yvonne Lindsay said...
Yay, congratulations, Francois.
Jenny, I love the Dreamland/Screamland conversion. It’s already real in our minds. Now we’re all looking forward to the blog and the book! (all in good time, of course… we don’t mind delayed gratification, not really, honest!)
On September 26, 2007 at 6:26 pm DownUnderGal said...
Dreamland – cool. Very old worldy. Congrats to Francois.
On September 26, 2007 at 6:47 pm ZaZa said...
Congratulations, Francois. Yes, this name has that old-fashioned ring to it. But, still, we had a heck of a good time playing with all those other ideas. ;+)
On September 26, 2007 at 7:23 pm Lori J. said...
That was fun! Congrats Francois.
On September 26, 2007 at 7:30 pm robena grant said...
Ooooh, I like it. Especially as my current WIP is about precognitive dreams. Heh. Of course I’d like it. Have just finished reading The Secret Language of Dreams. It was so much fun to try and interpret some of my own.
Congratulations Francois! Ya’ done good!
On September 26, 2007 at 7:38 pm RfP said...
It’s wonderfully vivid–Dreamland in disrepair. The kind of optimism/hard life juxtaposition that some black-and-white photographer would love to discover, like a ghost town or a broken cinema sign.
On September 26, 2007 at 8:02 pm sheagal said...
Great job, Francois. It’s just right. So retro and early 1960s. I can already see it in my mind. Jenny, thanks for the fun competition.
On September 26, 2007 at 8:12 pm MJ said...
Congrats, Francois. And Jenny, I think the surge of entries shows you and Bob are tapping a powerful current with this story. Hope you decide to do it!
On September 26, 2007 at 8:32 pm Jan D said...
Dreamland. Good on you, Francois. It was great fun to see all the suggestions roll by. Thanks, Jenny.
On September 26, 2007 at 8:39 pm Susan D said...
Lovely. I can already hear strains of “Mr. Sandman” strumming through my head, as I see people wandering the Midway, winning prizes and going on rides and getting thrills from the artwork outside the Sideshow.
On September 26, 2007 at 8:49 pm RachelC said...
There’s Dreamworld on the Gold Coast, Queensland. TWhen it’s open after hours, the event’s called Screamworld “The After Dark Park!”
http://www.dreamworld.com.au/
http://www.dreamworld.com.au/content/screamworld.asp?name=Screamworld
On September 26, 2007 at 10:03 pm Jennifer said...
Very cool, Francois! I have this image of the Tilt-a-Whirl with clouds painted behind it!
On September 26, 2007 at 10:50 pm Louisa said...
Excellent choice. Seedy, but with big plans gone awry.
Congrats, Francois!
On September 27, 2007 at 2:37 am Egads said...
Very nice choice. I can see someone fighting for their Dreamland.
Congratulations, Francois!
On September 27, 2007 at 6:30 am francois said...
I won! I’m glad you like the name. It is nice to think the amusement park of my youth (now sadly deceased) will live on in spirit.
On September 27, 2007 at 6:40 am Mel said...
Yay Francois! I like the dream to scream thing. And yay to more coming up with crazy ride names…
On September 27, 2007 at 8:30 am McB said...
Dreamland – Good choice. Sounds so innocent, so ripe for corruption.
On September 27, 2007 at 9:19 am Office Wench Cherry said...
Yay! Great name, so many layers. Congratulations Francois.
On September 27, 2007 at 9:44 am Marcia in OK said...
Well Done Francois.
Bob – a romantice – would love to hear the reply to that one.
On September 27, 2007 at 12:04 pm Egads said...
Serendipity…Dreamland, Coney Island, 1904 photo just posted at Shorpy.com
http://www.shorpy.com/coney-island-1904?size=_original
On September 27, 2007 at 12:30 pm AbsoluteCherry said...
What a wonderful picture – definitely collage-worthy. And I really think that something in the park needs to be called “Egads!”
Way to go Francois, what a great name!
On September 27, 2007 at 12:53 pm Jill said...
Congrats francois ! That’s a great name.
Egads, that pic is wonderful. Jenny, what do you think ? Put it in the collage ?
On September 27, 2007 at 2:57 pm Kieran said...
I love the whole Dreamland to Screamland thing. That’s brilliant!!!
On September 27, 2007 at 5:37 pm Lou said...
Francois, great name. Good for you!!
Egads, that picture is fabulous. I love seeing old pictures of well-known places. The resolution in the picture is so clear.
Jenny, I like the second version of the name. Kind of ghosty looking.
On September 27, 2007 at 5:47 pm Brandy said...
Congratulations Francios. I like Dreamland/Screamland.
On September 27, 2007 at 6:23 pm Jenny said...
I have saved every single link you all put up on the last post and this one; they’re pure gold and I thank you very much.