PTL / Heritage USA: 22 Years Later- 6/26/09- Vid #2

[Percoduschule]

Thank you so much, CincinnatiGifts!!

[Percoduschule]

CincinnatiGifts, I just want to thank you profusely for all your Heritage USA/PTL videos and information. Since last Saturday, when I stumbled across this treasure trove, I've been watching video after video. You've prompted me to get all the Bakker/PTL-related books I can from my local library, too! I remember reading all sorts of info. about the fall of PTL way back when, but now, with your videos, I can picture the locale and really feel what the glory days were like. THANK YOU SO MUCH!

[CincinnatiGifts]

@Percoduschule- You're welcome. There are many vids on YouTube (some of which are mere copies of my own). I had hoped that putting some of my old vids on YT would encourage others to digitize and upload some of their own old home movies. There are lots of books and old PTL items on ebay as well. Someone sent me a message last month that she actually SAW herself in one of the vids I had recorded back in 1988 of Jim & Tammy in the former HGH lobby.

[Percoduschule]

@CincinnatiGifts - thank you for the eBay advisory - I just checked! If you don't mind, I have a brief question for you that Google hasn't been able to answer. In watching videos of Tammy Faye performing on both PTL and Tammy's House Party, I've noticed the great talent and charming manner of one of the PTL Singers, Ron. Crazy question, but do you happen to know his full name and if he's continued on with singing/ministry? I'd love to see what he's up to today. Thank you!

[CincinnatiGifts]

@Percoduschule- I believe the Ron to whom you are referring is Ron Aldridge. (The spelling may be off). He was a former PTL singer and part-time fill-in PTL show host. I believe he has continued on ministering, to some degree. I am fairly certain he has a website.

[matchupaul93]

What is the property being used for now?

[CincinnatiGifts]

Well, there is very little property remaining now from grounds formerly known as Heritage USA of the 80's. The grounds, buildings and remaining property now consists of a few remaining buildings, all of which have been sold off to various churches and religious organizations.

Some land has been converted to residential housing.

Other areas, such as the Barn & Auditorium, are now being used to house a video production company.

The place looks nothing like it did in the 80's.

[jbennizzle]

@matchupaul93 BASE jumping. It is the mecca for BASE jumpers in the region. Thank you Jim Bakker, for providing us a place to earn a "B".

My dad contributed close to $250K to Jim Bakker over the years, while neglecting to pay his child support. I guess Jim was more important than me being able to eat real food s a kid. Glad I got to jump that fucker, made it all worthwhile.

[DAVWAVE]

They got in trouble for Overbooking their hotel. What a shame. They did more good than harm.

[badarmybrad]

actually the castle was supposed to be the largest WENDYS ever not burger king....

[CincinnatiGifts]

Yeah, I don't know what made me think BK. I guess it was the whole castle thing itself, which kinda goes along with a "King", as in Burger King. I never actually got to see the inside of the building.

[CincinnatiGifts]

Well that explains the enormous over-growth of the weeds and vegetation surrounding the lake!

[StacyatLife]

It is sickening how they let those bushes grow over the side walk. Jim would have kept them trimmed so they would not grow over the sidewalk.

[CincinnatiGifts]

Indeed. The place was so marvelous, in part due to Jim's meticulous attention to detail! Everything had to be just right- he wouldn't have it any other way.

[twilliger123]

@CincinnatiGifts Of course, he was using other people's money!

[ThoughtTraveler]

Too bad you did not have this camera back in 87-88. : )

Good quality. And there is no glare when filming the sky.

[StacyatLife]

So sad....

[gregzintx]

ok so a hi digital file ? does it look like a DVD- as in like any DVD you put into your hard drive ? I am so dumb, I did buy a DVD and still cannot figure out how to save or upload it -I did go to my help enter upload and learned a little yet rear erasing it- SEE WHAT I MEAN- LOL Im

just a serfer- never thinking one day I would want to upload, save and then copis so as to have a secure spare- I think my system is made to do this- -

[CincinnatiGifts]

The DVDs I have been transferring my old VHS videos onto look exactly like the ones you put into the CD/DVD tray of your computer. In fact, they are one in the same.

I use DVD-RW discs in my DVD recorder, so that I can re-use them over & over. I simply load up a DVD-RW with multiple 10-minute video files that I have copied directly from my VCR, then I put those DVD-RWs into my laptop DVD slot & the computer then "reads" those digital files & converts them to files that YouTube can accept.

[gregzintx]

Do you remember the Bakker family all together ,and Jim saying they were coming back stronger than ever, it was after Tammy was ill ,prior to F-WELL.

and last THE FAMOUS scene of the Bakkers coming out to speak to the media from Palm Springs ? Do yoou think you have those ? As if you have not already done enough-

I have wanted to see them forever, and only say small segments on the news.

[CincinnatiGifts]

I do believe I have it, but haven't yet been able to locate it.

[CincinnatiGifts]

It might even be possible to record a DVD straight from the VCR to the computer with a special input wire. I don't know how to do that, even if it is possible. I just know how to copy VHS tapes using my DVD recorder (which looks exactly like an ordinary DVD player).

[gregzintx]

I LIKE OPTION ONE BETTER--LOL

Where im lucky is back when all I had was a VHS, I took the 88 tv shows that were sent direct from the channel ,not the Bakkers, but a Fl channel that had tons of the ORLANDO shows and duplicated them twice in the 21 years, all are stored.

Now I will follow your instruction's , The second copie was strange, but the 3rd copies did amazingly well, considering the age, but again VHS was also updated

lol-

[Teflon65]

@CincinnatiGifts I have a cheap Aiptec video camera, from a few years ago. I recorded directly from a VCR onto that camera. The quality wasn't the best, because the tracking on the VCR was off. I was in a hurry, and recorded what I wanted as fast as I could. You have to be careful though, because a newer Aiptec camera probably has an HDMI hookup, not intended to record from a VCR or older DVD player.

[CincinnatiGifts]

@Teflon65- I remember the Aiptecs.... some are still around, in drugstores and such.

[gregzintx]

I know that if theis is all you can do, you have honestly outdone yourself. You have really done again a great job. in visual, and just the things that I think are important, so again if this is it, I still have several to watch, and wow alot of fun. THANKS FOR THE FUN. ! WHAT A MEMORY.

GREG

[gregzintx]

OK, So I have a set of video's original that Jim and Tammy maild me from Oralando Fl, about 13 shows, prior to Jim leaving for court. and they are duplicated, the 2 vhs way-lol but I have to learn how to or pardon where to have them preserved, and put n dvd, I dont even own a cam to use and share, Maybe you can tell me of a cam to buy and use to create a youtube account-I am a person to share, just have not stopped to buy the items needed. I know Roxio offers a transfer from VHS TO DVD ! HELP!

[CincinnatiGifts]

I just happened to see this message today. I use an ordinary DVD recorder to transfer my old VHS tapes to DVD. The process is done almost identical to copying from tape to tape. Since YouTube has a 10-minute limit on uploaded videos, you have to chop up your videos in to 10 minute lengths, just as I have done. So, if you have a VHS tape that is an hour long, you would end up putting them on a DVD in six 10-minute videos.

You can buy a DVD recorder at WalMart for $50 - $75, & some bland DVDs.

[gregzintx]

YES, You have done more than your part.

It has brought so much joy, and I am going to follow your advice, get mine converted, and bring to the table- lol I do appreciate not only the HUSA, but those fun trips, I am still enjoying the others-

YOU ARE SO FUN,

Greg

[CincinnatiGifts]

f you do not wish to fool with converting your own videos yourself, you can pay to have it done. There are many places that will convert old VHS, Beta, reel-to-reel home movies, etc., etc., to any format desired, for a fee.

And, likely, the result will be a high quality video, either on DVD or in a digitial file that can easily be uploaded onto YouTube.

[gregzintx]

I cannot wait to see your other videos, this set is so fun, and I see you have others.

YOU ARE SOMETHING ELSE-

Thanks, Greg

[CincinnatiGifts]

Well, I may not be able to produce many more videos. I do HAVE others, I am certain, but they are either on videotapes that I cannot find, or the remaining videotapes themselves that I have found have simply sat too long and the videos on them are too far gone for my VCR to read.

It may be possible for someone- a professional videographer, for example- to salvage the old videotapes, but it would take far better equipment than I have. All I have is off-the-shelf ordinary VCRs.

[CincinnatiGifts]

I know other people HAVE to have home videos of the park as it existed in the 80's. I have done my part, so now it is up to anyone else with old videos in their private collections to digitize them, then upload them for the rest of us to see.

[gregzintx]

so true, and you did it, I was amazed that you took time to show the carpet's in the Grand- as most people would not think of that. Did you question their being molded ? old ? yet almost sad to remove as Jim picked it out ? Nowdays people freak over a blasted rug- lol

BUT YOU AMAZED ME IN DETAIL YOU CAPTURED.

Greg

[CincinnatiGifts]

I got confused by what you meant when you asked, "Did you question their being molded? old?"

[gregzintx]

lol- My spelling sucks, lol

YEP- as it was said the Grand took alot of rain damage, from Hugo I think it was the hurricane in 88-89 ? and more in recent years. I know a group that is into all of the HUSA HISTORY- But they are strange, and if you ask a question they act old and bent- So - lol yes as in mold-

[gregzintx]

lol, I bet you are a blast- I love those places, like old hotels, and long lost places, structures, and areas that once had life.

But you really have ,HONESTLY done the best yet oh HUSA- Heritage is really sad anymore, Guess that's why God give us memory, LOL

Greg

[CincinnatiGifts]

Check out my vids of the old Erie & Ohio canal here in Ohio. Canals used to criss-cross this state, but have long since been abandoned, since about the 1890's or 1900's. I managed to find some of these old canals, and some of what I found are in a fairly decent state of preservation for having been built about 175 years ago.

Some of what I found appears to be in better condition than some of the buildings I found on my trip to H USA in June 2009!

[gregzintx]

lol- ok I had just noticed ho you panned in and thought it was gun shot's lolololol ! I now see.

Ok your camera work is amazing.

Greg

[CincinnatiGifts]

My family got its 1st VCR back in 1978 & our 1st video camera in 1982. I bought my first video camera in 1987, and my first camcorder in 1989.

So, I have been using recording devices from those ancient camera & VCR hookups to todays digital cameras& have really learned to look for every detail when recording videos. I want to record things that most other people will overlook.

If something is overlooked and not recorded, it then basically becomes lost, forgotten, and never seen again.

[CincinnatiGifts]

What I had recorded in 1988 was used on my parents' camcorder. By that time I had my own video camera and portable VCR setup, but did not bring it to Heritage USA on this visit.

I took my video cameras with me everywhere, recording everything- family vacations, places we visited, etc. I must have 100 videotapes full of home movies and such.

Nowadays, no one uses videotape, when we can simply use digial cameras and tiny memory chips. Technology sure has changed!

[gregzintx]

OK , I will look at the 88 video, what a disgrace to just let it set. Wonder if they are doing this for attention, or to refere to what was. I say this because the things they have redone might be better ib structure but in no way FUN- -Fun like the Bakkers allowed.

Greg

[gregzintx]

OK was that a wooden walkway/bridge over the water ? SO SAD, HEARTBREAKING.

Greg

[CincinnatiGifts]

If it's the same bridge I think you are referring to (the very narrow wooden bridge leading to the side of the former water park), it used to be the train bridge. The train came from the opposite side of the lake, then through a covered bridge, then behind the water park, then over this narrow wood bridge.

In one of my 1988 videos, I actually RODE the train while making a video, and in that video it shows me on the train going over this same bridge.

[gregzintx]

SO THIS NEW GROUP COUND NOT FOLLOW SAFTY CODE, AND REPAIRE THE RUSTY BANNISTER- I guess i have to pray, but before I do they are kind of UNSUAL, and VERY SECERITIVE- SAD,

GREG

[gregzintx]

Ok I think Wendys was in one of the castles ?

Is that gun shot holes on the brick at the Greande side entrance ?

The Street lamps are so sad to see, I think they are original.

GREAT WORK YOU DID ON THESE.

Greg

[CincinnatiGifts]

Gun shot holes? No, actually, these are holes used to affix the words "Heritage USA" to the brick walls. If you watch my 1988 videos closely, you will see that in this same exact location in those videos there were the words "Heritage USA". I noticed this in a couple of spots when I visited in 2009: holes in the brick walls where signs had once been, but had since been removed.

[mas11068]

The castle was actually to have been a Wendy's. Jim Bakker loved Wendy's. In fact there was a small Wendy's restaurant located at Heritage Island.

[CincinnatiGifts]

There WAS a Wendy's there? I missed that entirely. The only thing I remember was the Sea Cave Cafe, which was under the waterfall area. The only video I have of that was in my 1988 video where I was actually walking around inside the water park, while it was closed to the public, ubekownst to me.

[GFoxIV77]

I went down the typhoon when I was like 10 years old.That shit was scary.I can't believe they demolished the waterpark.