Cliffhanger September 08, 2011 Century Wheel on the hill « Previous   Main This round of posts (with just a few repeats) is continued here permalink Comment Galleries: Setup/Teardown, State Fair September 08, 2011 Bees at Sunset « Previous   Main permalink Comment Galleries: Setup/Teardown, State Fair September 07, 2011 Crazy Mouse, in the rain « Previous   Main It's a sad shame but every couple of months I read about a carnival worker getting hit and killed by a car. I always read through to make sure it isn't someone I know. It happens a lot in Florida but the latest victim worked for Kissel Bros. in Ohio. The driver kept going. Here's the story although so far, no one's been identified. permalink Comment (1) Gallery: Setup/Teardown September 07, 2011 Shed #3 « Previous   Main In Idaho they're worried about the perceived exploitation of freak shows. Clearly they've never seen an episode of The Real Housewives of Orange County, Atlanta, New York, or New Jersey. These people aren't being held captive. permalink Comment Gallery: State Fair September 06, 2011 Day after Labor Day « Previous   Main This is the fairgrounds in Nashville looking toward the original midway from behind the racetrack. Fair organizers along with North American Midway Entertainment have moved the rides up on top of the hill this last two years, thereby segregating the bigger rides from kiddie land. Patrons asked about this arrangement in 2010 expressed disappointment and compared the design to that of a county fair. One reason (perhaps the only good one) is that there are several places on top of the hill significantly more level. Anyone remember the Sea Ray? Hypothetically speaking, if one were thinking clearly about saving and redeveloping the fairgrounds, it seems a level midway would be the first order of business. permalink Comment (1) Galleries: Setup/Teardown, State Fair August 31, 2011 The Big Prize « Previous   Main What is the moral of this story? I'm not typically one to advocate violence but I understand where it comes from much of the time. I like to think that if I promote anything it's more along the lines of tolerance and respect. I didn't witness the particular incident mentioned in the article above but I've seen it play out enough times to have a pretty good idea about what went down. First off, no one would ever dream of walking up to say the guy who fixes their car and in front of all his employees accuse him of being a thief. I doubt anyone looks their doctor square in the eye and says "You're in cahoots with Big Pharma you asshole, and you know it!" No one points out their insurance agent on the street and announces to the world that he's a con artist who's living large on their hard earned cash. It just doesn't happen. But you get two beers in a guy at a state fair and the minute he loses four dollars which by the way, HE CHOSE to GAMBLE, he'll make sure everyone under the sun, including his own young children knows that that carny over at the bushel basket game is a "..lying, cheating dirtbag." It never fails. If that doesn't garner him any attention, he'll go back for a second round and tell the guy to his face in front of all of his paying customers. I don't know who told people they could behave this way. It's appalling. Frankly, I'm amazed at the restraint I've seen from so many jointees over the years. Again, I can't speak for the man in this story but it's a miracle somebody doesn't get their nose broken every day. People go to the carnival to have fun. If you stop having fun, it's time to go home. permalink Comment Galleries: Midway, State Fair August 19, 2011 Animal & Tim « Previous   Main permalink Comment Gallery: People

ABOUT This is a story about carnies, living and working on the road. It's about a culture of people in America who get less respect than they deserve because of the entertainment industry and other media, who continue to either promote the same shallow stereotypes or sensationalize them, with their own imaginations. They're already sensational. This brief web journal is about them and for them. Text and photos ©SUSAN ADCOCK unless otherwise noted. Thanks for looking. GALLERIES Setup/Teardown Midway Midway Art People High Wire Winter Quarters Gibtown Ground Score State Fair Tijuana Teardown Shirts Backlot Parts Department Wilson County Fair TN State Fair 2008 TN State Fair 2009 Vintage BEST OF Carny Rap For the Kids Gorilla Girl Dirty Laundry Two Jimmys The O Boys The Ride Jock The Skywheel Call Me in the Morning The Negotiation Balloon Joint Back when I knew Superman LINKS North American Carnival Museum and Archives Amusement Today Matt's Carnival Warehouse Tilt-A-Whirl 5 cent ride Sideshow World Coney Island Blog JKirlin on Fiesta Shows Ripley's: Have You Heard? Majestic Greater Shows Diary of a Carny Casa Flamingo The Flat Joint Pitcherlady Carny Dog ARCHIVE September (2011) August (2011) March (2011) January (2011) September (2010) August (2010) July (2010) May (2010) November (2009) October (2009) September (2009) August (2009) June (2009) May (2009) April (2009) March (2009) February (2009) January (2009) December (2008) October (2008) September (2008) August (2008) July (2008) June (2008) May (2008) April (2008) March (2008) February (2008) January (2008) December (2007) November (2007) October (2007) September (2007) August (2007) July (2007) May (2007) April (2007) March (2007) February (2007) January (2007) November (2006) October (2006) September (2006) August (2006) July (2006) June (2006) May (2006) April (2006) March (2006) February (2006) January (2006) December (2005) November (2005) October (2005) September (2005) August (2005) July (2005) June (2005) May (2005) April (2005) March (2005) February (2005) January (2005) December (2004) November (2004) October (2004) September (2004) August (2004) July (2004) June (2004) May (2004) April (2004) March (2004) February (2004) January (2004) December (2003) November (2003) October (2003) September (2003) August (2003)