originally posted on 7/30/2021 1:25:48 AM
Paul Ruben (left) made his mark on both ACE and the amusement industry.
Photo: Gary Kyriazi collection. View full-sized image.
Paul Ruben was known in ACE for many things. For four years he helmed RollerCoaster!, keeping it on track and on schedule. He was a regional rep and a frequent author and photographer. He often appeared on media segments at ACE events. What most ACEers don’t know is that prior to his career in publications, most recently the amusement industry publication Park World, Ruben had a fascinating career with Kodak. He was an optical engineer and a lens designer, and his work resulted in 41 patents. But most of all, Paul was remembered as “a character.” Honorary ACE Member Gary Kyriazi summarizes Paul’s life this way:
I didn't particularly like Paul Ruben. He wasn't my kind of dude.
But I loved him. I'll tell you why.
In the summer of '84, I was touring almost nonstop promoting the Roller Coaster Centennial, from Santa Cruz’s Giant Dipper to the wonderful Coney Island Cyclone. My last gig on that tour was ABC's Live “Morning Show.” If you watch the tape and note my body language, you can see that I knew this was the last time I would be “Gary Kyriazi – Roller Coaster Expert.” It was over, I knew it, and I was on to other things.
Eighteen years later I took a Midwest coaster trip (I still did that every summer) and spent an unexpectedly magical night at Camden Park. We all wish we had time machines to go back to the classic parks, and that night I truly did. When I got home, I wrote in a flourish about my unforgettable evening there, and since I knew that Allen and Lucy Ambrosini had their At The Park magazine, I submitted it to them. They published it, but it turned out to be the last issue of ATP. I soon got a call from Paul Ruben with his robust voice, “Hey Kyriazi! At The Park is toast. Why don't you come over here to Park World and write for me!”
“Write for me?” Although we'd met and talked before, and I wrote a piece for him when he was editor of RollerCoaster!, this was the first time I realized just how ego-driven he was ... and I loved it! Why? Because Paul Ruben was confident and fearless, he knew what he wanted and went after it, and always excelled at what he did. He went after me and brought me back home to the amusement industry (although on a more reasonable part-time basis). This new generation in the industry didn't say, “Oh you're that guy who wrote a book and movie.” Now it was: “Oh you're that guy from Park World.” Paul gave me a second chance.
As North American Editor of PW, besides Paul's news articles he had a regular column, “Park Hoppin’.” It was a scream, always accompanied with a smiling photo of himself on whatever ride or attraction he was covering. About ten years ago, we were editing one of my pieces over the phone and Paul said, “By the way, Kyriazi, I think you'll enjoy my next ‘Park Hoppin’.’ It's about water parks!”
I thought, “Oh no, Paul, don't tell me you're going to...” and sure enough, in the next issue there was this 75-year-old, fat, hairy guy standing under a waterfall, arms outstretched, wide grin. Paul Ruben didn't care what he looked like or what people thought of him; he was his own man.
When Paul and his 35-year life-mate, Linda Hill, visited me at my hermit hideaway in New River, Arizona, I pointedly told Linda, “You know, you're the only woman in the world who could put up with this man.”
“You'd better believe it!” Paul heartily answered for her.
On Friday, July 9, 2021, I left a voice message for Paul about my going back into California after over a year, and asking are there any particular parks he wanted me to cover. He didn't respond right away, which was unusual. Early Tuesday, July 13, I got an email from Richard Munch advising me of Paul's passing, just hours previous.
This isn't the way life is supposed to be. Paul and I were on the phone and email constantly. We discussed and criticized and complimented each other's work. He was a great editor; he made me look good. Whenever he was out West, I'd join him and Linda for wonderful times at Magic Mountain, Knott's, Belmont Park, Las Vegas ... you think it's never going to end. Sadly, it always does.
I will miss Paul. I may be more handsome, with a better body and personality than his, but his adventure-driven spirit leaves me humbly in the dust. Witness his career at Kodak, his optic inventions and all the people whose lives he positively affected. Quite a mark on the world.
Paul Ruben was my kind of dude after all.
— Gary Kyriazi, Honorary ACE Member
Paul Ruben and Gary Kyriazi pose with strangers at Knott’s Berry Farm.
Photo: Gary Kyriazi collection. View full-sized image.
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