Wistful Wednesday: Midway Memories

Last summer my baby brothers best friend stopped by.  It was good to see him!  At one point he worked for Far Guy’s parents.  I asked him if he had any old photos that he could share with us.  A few weeks later I got them by email.

This was 1973 or 1974.  In 1973 we were stationed in Florida so Far Guys parents had to hire some help.

Far Guy’s Dad ( Marvin) and Niles

Far Guy’s Mom (Evelyn)

Marvin

We were thrilled to see these old photos of the family business.  If you want to read more about our Midway Memories Here is a link to the first story in the series.

Midway Memories: The Last Chapter

Far Guy’s parents sold the two digger trailers with 28 machines to Marty Frey in 1977.

They retired.  We had a get together for them out at Vacationaire.   It was  a surprise.

Marvin, Evelyn, Marie and Ernest (Evelyn’s sister and brother in law.)

Uncle Jimmy decorated one of the old digger cabs with silver dollars and a sign.

Evelyn’s brother Uncle Willard at the end of the table.

Far Guy’s parents enjoyed their retirement.  We took many summer vacations with them to Canada and to Glacier National Park, Yellowstone and Mount Rushmore.  They took a Canadian Railroad trip with Uncle Jimmy and Aunt Esther.  They went to Alaska. Marvin loved to plan trips and look at his collection of maps, he fished and spoiled his granddaughters. Evelyn sewed, cooked and took care of her aging Mother.  Eventually they sold their motorhome and bought a smaller one that just sat in the yard.  Marvin loved to travel…Evelyn not so much.

The diggers that Marty bought were used for a few years ( he raised the price to a quarter) then he sold them off one by one.  One of Marty’s daughters (Jackie I think) married into the Buxton family in Austin Minnesota.  One digger cabinet was donated and is on exhibit in Owatonna Minnesota in their small museum on the fairgrounds.

We were able to purchase one digger from the Buxton family for $600.

Far Guy worked many hours to restore it to its former glory.

Restored

A few winters ago photos were collected and the digger stories and history were gathered together.  Far Guy made two scrapbooks, one to accompany each digger we have, so the history will never be lost.   Eventually both of our girls will have a digger as a reminder that a long time ago their relatives made their living one dime at a time.

Far Guy says that he is sad to see this Wednesday feature about carnival life, the Erie Diggers and his family come to an end.  He has itchy feet…sawdust in his blood…and loves to walk a midway and let all the old memories, sights and smells flood back….I think it makes him feel young again.

Midway Memories: The Decision

Early in 1977 we had the opportunity to purchase the two digger joints and the motor home from Far Guy’s parents.  We thought about it long and hard.  It was not an easy decision.  Trica was five years old and Jennifer was not yet two years old.   Far Guy had a good job with good insurance.  What would we do during the winter months?  We had a family to support…could we do it?  Could we successfully raise our two daughters out on the road?

It finally came down to a vote.  We let Trica vote, you can guess what her vote was she loved riding the rides all day long when she visited her grandparents.

Trica playing the diggers.  We would hold her up so she could turn the crank until she got tired and we did too then we would put her on the babysitter (Merry Go Round).

So the vote was 2 to 1.  Far Guy voted against.  I said “Your vote counts triple.”  So we declined. 

It was one of those great big huge crossroads that comes along in your life…we often wonder what if? 

So we go back from time to time just to walk a Midway and take in the sights and sounds, after all it was my home for 6 years and Far Guys home away from home for 23 years.

Our oldest daughter Trica spent her first summer being a carnie kid.  During that summer there were some problems in Iowa…her photo was featured in a newspaper.  (Mason City Iowa) The Attorney General for the State of Iowa didn’t like the way the law on gambling was written, games of chance were gambling. Entering a cow in the fair and getting a blue ribbon was against Iowa law.   The Sheriff came out to the Midway and as he set foot on the Midway…the boss gave the signal and we were all shut down within 20 seconds. Jodi was working at the Ball Joint the Sheriff asked to see her ball and she replied “Let’s see yours first.” The Sheriff left and we suppose he just reported that no games were running out on the Midway…because they were not operating when he was there.

1991 Fergus Falls Minnesota Trica and “her” babysitter.

We have many long time friends that are now dead, the rest are getting old just like us.

Bruce, Far Guy and Dale

Far Guy, Margaret and Freddie

We are left with many wonderful memories.

Midway Memories: Recollections

Ever been for a ride on an Zonkey? 

Far Guy met the Holter’s, they had a daughter named Gail and a son named Bobby.  They played fairs throughout the midwest so they would often end up on the same fairgrounds.  The kids were friends.

Far Guy says:

Gail had a pet kitten, it was a Cheetah.  One time she brought it by the joint when I was working and the kitten jumped from the ground to the top of the diggers and started to lick my face…the tongue of a Cheetah kitten is like 80 grit sandpaper.   Later that day she came over to the trailer when we were closed for supper.  She was sitting on the couch.  Dad told her “We have a wild animal too…locked up in the back bedroom.”  I asked her if he should let it out.  So here is this gal who works with elephants, ostriches, zonkeys and camels…jumping up on the couch when we left our Chihuahua out of the back bedroom.

During the grandstand show they would put a bridle and saddle on the zonkey, they would get a person from the crowd…usually a cowboy…to try to ride it and they would get bucked off.  Then they would call for a volunteer kid from the crowd and the announcer would tell the kid what to whisper in the zonkeys ear.  The kid would get on the zonkey and the zonkey would just stand there and do nothing.  The kid that always came out of the crowd??  That was Gail.  So anyways Gail was telling me that the Zonkey might let me ride him…no saddle …no bridle…I got on and bounced twice the last time I fell off the back end and took a hoof right to the chest.  I was lucky that the damn thing didn’t kill me.  Gail just laughed.”

I rode the elephant one time, the skin on an elephant is really loose and hairy…it has the toughest hair. 

They used to have ostrich races, they took people out of the grandstand and gave them jockey suits…they were supposed to steer the ostriches…a broom was used to turn them…blinding them on one side would make them turn the opposite direction.   The doggone ostriches would turn this way and that, people were falling off left and right…it was a fun show to watch.  It was Bobby’s job to round up the ostriches.

Gene Holter was originally from North Dakota.  The last Far Guy knew Gail had an animal sanctuary in California and Bobby was in auto parts. 

The reverse of the postcard.

The blind cowboy, he was genuinely blind, his wife helped him get around.  The horses would gallop past the grandstand turn around and gallop back all the while the blind cowboy stood on their backs.  Far Guy said he never met the guy but watched his show many times.

We have been carting around this over sized postcard for years…and here it sparked a couple of great recollections!

Celebrities he saw:  Gene Autry in West Union Iowa, Johnny Cash in West Union Iowa, The Lone Ranger in Preston Minnesota, Wanda Jackson in Nebraska someplace.   Gene Autry was supposed to sing Back In The Saddle on the Merry Go Round, but something happened and his agent wouldn’t let him.

Midway Memories: Ron

The Carnival was the perfect place for college age kids to work.  Ron who was not yet my Brother In Law came out as a High School student and returned summer after summer until he graduated from college.  His home town was a small town in Iowa.

Ron was second man on the wheel with Dale and then Hubert before he went to the Loop or Loop O Plane.  Far Guy says he helped him buck tubs sometimes when he was bored.

 

The Loop just went around and around…upside down and right side up.  There was room for eight to ride at one time (four per tub).  Not a great capacity ride but in it’s day it was a popular ride.  It was also a ride where you had to keep a bucket of water handy…because sooner or later some one was going to puke.

“Shakes”  ever heard of them?  That is what is left by the public in a ride…a camera, loose change etc… if the ride shook them loose and they were left behind then the ride boy would usually keep them. Strangest shake he ever got was someones false teeth.

Well during those summer days in the 1960’s he courted Far Guy’s sister and they were married in 1968.  The first time I met Ron was the day before he married Jan.  He made a whole bunch of home made beer…Far Guy had one bottle.  There is something in the homemade fermentation process that Far Guy is allergic to….he got sicker than a dog.  He was supposed to pick up the wedding cake and the green bread in Detroit Lakes and get it to the church.  His Mother called me, he got as far as my home place and I drove the rest of the way and the cake and the green bread was delivered on time. ( Green bread…back then it was quite fashionable to have special bread made, it was sliced lengthways and it was spread with ham salad or turkey salad or what ever combinations of cheese spread and meat you wanted, sliced  and cut into small sections with a tooth pick holding the layers together…. very festive and perfect for an afternoon wedding!)

Ron wrote a poem for his In Laws when they retired in 1977.

I found this poem in an old photo album the other day.   I wonder if Ron even remembers that he wrote it?

Midway Memories: Family

Far Guy spent every summer from when he was a little boy until he went into the United States Air Force in 1973 on the Carnival with his parents.

Far Guy with his parents and his sister

I am hopeful that I can explain how close knit that group of Carnies were.  I am not sure it was like that on all carnivals, but on Merriam’s Midway Shows it was.  Many kids were born and raised on the Midway.  Everyone watched out for everyone else especially the children. You might have had words with someone the day before but when it came down to it you had each others back and best interests at heart.  You were family.

The Merriam Family

Far Guy was stuck between two totally different cultures.  One with many freedoms and one with rules and structure.  He had to adjust to life at school after being gone all summer.  He couldn’t play football, practice started before he got home the day after Labor Day.  Many times he would come home without his parents to start school.  His sister being five years older often times stayed with a friend.   He was stuck with his Grandparents out on the farm, sweet old Hazel who always cooked him soup (which he hated) or Orville and Marge who wouldn’t let him leave their property.  It was a hard transition.  I was his first girlfriend to make it a whole summer without dumping him.

Often times Far Guy would come home in the Fall and have to immediately clear his name.  He would be accused of things that happened over the summer when he wasn’t even in the State.  One time, he just got home and was immediately questioned by the Cops about an incident that happened the week before.   People in the community especially teachers always expected the worst of him…it wasn’t fair. 

Howard T and his wife (Caramel Apples and Popcorn) and Oddie (Otis) S and his wife (Cotton Candy)
Carnival workers and ride boys influenced who he is today.  He learned many things from many people.

He would like to thank his parents, his sister, Ron Z, Al, Edna, Dale, Margaret, Dick S, Bob M, Bud K, Gene B, Donnie W, Brownie, Vickie P, Odie and Mrs Odie (Otis S), Berry’s, The Butlers, McMillens, Johnny M, Surbers,  Condifs, Howard and Marge K, Kenny Margie and Joey S, Jack T and Family, Belbens, Adrian and Gail, Bill and Helen, Paul and Sue, Russell, Marty, Roger K, Bobby A, Hubert and Lois, Shorty and Diana, Leo S, Bill S, Leon, Mickie L, Perkel, Curley, Hank J, Sam and Molly, Flossie, Littlewolfs, Wheel John, Bruce C, Paul H, Charlie and Helen, Jerry L and Wiletta, Cotton and Shirley, Jerry S, Mitch B, Bucky B, Freddie G, Billy G, Mike S, Red, George, TJ, Bubba, Limey, Randy, Larry L, Mike, Wierd Harold, The Kook (Bruce L), Eddie P, Stan R, Mac and Margaret, Indian John, Vern H, Virgil L, Roy N, Snowcone Pete, Dale H, Howard T and Mrs Howard T, Cowboy, Blackie, Whitey, Cherokee, Crazy Frank, Kelsey, Darrell and many others whose names have been forgotten over the years.

The show used to open every day with the music to “ Back In The Saddle Again” I will share the first verse.

I`m back in the saddle again
Out where a friend is a friend
Where the longhorn cattle feed
On the lowly gypsum weed
Back in the saddle again

Midway Memories: A Few Stories

Today I will share just a few stories about life out on the Carnival.

We did laundry every 7-10 days, the best laundrymats were sought out sometime during the week, some were just filthy, some had old machines that hardly washed anything. If we knew that the next spot had a great laundrymat we would wait 10 days. The best ones were always busy.  One day Edna (She and her husband Alva owned the Carnival) was in a laundrymat in Southern Minnesota.  Edna was busy washing, drying and folding when a lady came in and said “Better watch your laundry there is a carnival in town.”

Al and Edna

Celebrations were free. County Fairs usually had an admission fee.  We were given passes and a pass to put on the car for the duration of the Fair.  Some fairgrounds were easy in and outs, one particular fairground gate (Northwood Iowa) was really slow…I waved my pass and pointed to the vehicle pass and swung around the stopped cars. My Mother in Law was with me, at that time she did not drive.  She said the old fat guy at the gate shook his cane at me and started to run after me but stopped…she said “You almost gave him a heart attack.”

Move day started early, after only a few hours of sleep for me, no sleep for others…sometimes Far Guy would still be tearing down rides at sunrise.  In the motor home the electricity was the first to go, then the water would be shut off and hoses rolled up. My Mother in Law always saved a glass of water for me, after getting dressed I would stand outside and brush my teeth, have a swig of water spit it out and splash the rest of the water on my face and I was good to go. I would hand her the empty glass and we would wait for the steps to be put inside and then go to the car.  She and I most always rode together.  The men would check the fridge and make sure it was switched to propane, put down the table and make sure that everything inside the motor home was secure.  Far Guy would take off to drive the Wheel Truck or The Slide.  We headed off toward the next town.  We always stopped on the right side of the road for breakfast, there could be a a dozen cafes on the left but we never stopped  at them.  I never did learn how to back up a trailer, both Far Guy and his Dad attempted to teach me how to back up a trailer…so my Father In Law never took me anyplace I had to back up…he picked cafes with parking right along the road or with roads that made a circle and back onto the highway…but never on the left side of the road.

A ride truck

Pooping was a subject.  My Father In Law would say “There is time enough for pooping next winter.”

Mothballs.  Before I became a driver that would never go in reverse Far Guy was the driver.  My Father in Law would throw me three or four small brown paper bags.  Inside were dyed rabbits feet and a plastic bag with small gold chains.  As we traveled down the road I strung the rabbits feet…to this day if I smell mothballs I think of rabbits feet.

One of my fondest memories was at the end of the season in Schuyler Nebraska probably in 1970.  It had rained cats and dogs and there was a lightening storm so we were shut down early.  About 12 – 15 of us decided to go to a local cafe to eat.  We got there and started pushing tables together in the center of the dining room, there were booths and tables all around us filled with people.  We began to tell stories and laugh, pretty soon all the people in the other booths and tables and all the waitresses were laughing right along with us.  I cannot remember any of the stories told that night, but as I recall they were hilarious. Friends, old friends, not many of them alive anymore, but the time spent with them was priceless.

The Super Slide in Schuyler Nebraska. Note the Little Digger Joint on the right, at this time Far Guy was in charge of the slide, we would take turns seeing that Darrell (who was mentally handicapped) got lunch and bathroom breaks and that the drunks didn’t get too rowdy and try to come down the slide backwards or without gunny sacks.

Midway Memories: Bruce

Bruce was from Ogden Iowa, he came out on the road after he graduated from High School.  Fresh faced hardly a whisker to be found, longish curly brown hair, he was lean and spry…and was always smiling.  He also had a bit of a sparkle in his eyes.   It was his dream to go out on the road…The Boss told him when he was old enough he could.

In 1970 we (Far Guy, Paul and I) took him under our wing.  He wasn’t old enough to drink although I think he may have enjoyed a beer or two.  None of us were habitual drinkers…we would occasionally have something.  No drugs.  So we were probably a good influence on Bruce.  He started out as the second man on the Scrambler.  He worked hard…we all did.

He watched and learned everything he could about every ride there was.  He sometimes strung wire for Kenny (the show electrician). He lived and breathed the Carnival Business.

The Carnival was his life, it seemed for a long time that he was married to it.  In later years he met Kathy and got married and they had two children, born and raised out on the road during the summer.  Kathy had a couple of joints…a Shoot the Star Out, Cork Guns and Speed Ball.   Bruce was the Ride Superintendent he was busy in Winter Quarters in the early spring, worked all Summer and Fall and come home a few months in the Winter.

Kathy, Bruce with Makayla, Far Guy with Savannah  1997 in Barnesville Minnesota.

Front and center is the brand new Carousel, a million dollar ride made by the Chance Ride Company.  Barnesville Minnesota 1997.

Far Guy says:  Pocahontas Iowa tearing down the Scrambler, and a cop came by and told me to call my Mother In Law.  I found out that my good friend Danny Hawks had died in a car accident.  I was upset, started grabbing the pig iron by myself and tossing it into the truck… Bruce and Paul were having a hard time keeping up with me.  We got the Scrambler tore down in record time that night.  Bruce told Paul “I don’t think I am going to like that guy.”

Bruce worked for Merriam’s Midway Shows until a couple of years ago.  He and his wife are now with a different show.   So we have not seen them in two years.

Far Guy and Bruce in August 2006 Owatonna Minnesota.

Midway Memories: Russell and Marty

Russell was an Iowa boy, but loved Texas and called it his winter home. He had a tan to prove it!  Russell was a short little guy, he was what my Mother In Law would call a “sharp dresser.” Always neatly dressed usually in dress pants and a sport shirt.  He mostly wore glasses or sunglasses, he had dark hair and a really short butch hair cut.  Russell was a talker…he could talk to anyone anytime any place.  Russell was also “the patch” if someone felt they were hoodwinked into spending money Russell would talk to them until they figured out they spent their money all on their own.

In the summer Russell would be out on Merriam’s Midway Shows.  He had one trailer joint…it held two games a nickel roll and maybe darts?  He also had a set joint…a color wheel.  Now that was a fun joint.  There were squares of different colors on the counter and you put a quarter on a square…the ball was tossed into a large lacey hoop above the color wheel.  The wheel had pegs and what ever color the ball stopped on won.  A quarter got you a six pack package of gum…six of those six pack packages got you a stuffed animal.  Great fun!  Russell was a showman with a lingo all his own.

Clickity Clack look at that it hit the black, BLAK Black.  Hiddy diddy diddly do pick the color that best fits you.  Win gum World War One Army surplus chewing gum.  World War Two Army Surplus gum to chew.   Brown, Brown go to town.

Blu, Rad, Blak,Gren, Yelo, Ornge, Brn…he never spelled the colors right…everyone laughed and he took their money.  On weekend nights he need an extra scooper so Margaret and Mike would come out and work for him.  One started from the left and one from the right…scooping up money and paying winners with gum and plush. Russell would just talk to the crowd. He was a Showman.

Far Guy says “ Before Russell had the Color Wheel he had an Over and Under.   You would rolls small rubber balls toward numbered slots.  You got six balls, if the the total was under eleven or over thirty you would win a Teddy Bear.  Every year in Algona Iowa it would be my job to go and win a Teddy Bear for the daughter of one of my Dad’s friends who lived in town.  I would go to Russell’s game and pay like everyone else, roll the balls, Russell would do a fast count and I would win the girl a Teddy Bear.”

One time a very well dressed lady brought out a little boy, the child sat on the counter while they visited…there was some speculation that Russell had a fling and a child that was well taken care of.

Russell had a brother named Marty who had a few kids, they would come out and work for Russell sometimes.  Jody was outgoing and Jackie was shy…they had a baby brother called little Marty.

Sadly Russell was murdered In Harlingen Texas in 1976.  He was robbed and shot in his workshop. We were all stunned, and saddened with the news. Russell was a good friend to many.   The murderers were caught, they stole a TV set and it was marked with Russell’s name. I am not sure how much time they got in prison.  What ever it was it was not long enough.

Marty took over and ran Russell’s joints.  Marty also bought both sets of Diggers from Far Guy’s parents when they retired.  Marty died in 1989. 

1972  Marty in the Color Wheel Joint

Midway Memories: Jack, Red and George

The two names Red and George kinda go together. The worked for Jack Thomas.  Jack had a whole string of joints on Merriam’s Midway Shows back in the 1960’s.  Jack Thomas was the only person I ever knew who put a lit cigarette in his mouth and the ash hung on until he was done with the whole cigarette…it was quite a show. Jack had a dark complexion and eyes, he was short and stocky…always with a cigarette.  His son was Little Jackie and in his mid teens…with dark curly hair and dark eyes.

Red was tall and had red hair what was left of it and freckles, his real name was George White but everyone called him Red.  Little George was short and lean with dark hair.  Red would wear polo shirts and George usually a white shirt.

Red and George were Flatties.  They ran joints where the win was controlled. One of them had a spindle…a wheel where there were prizes…and the G was in the cigar box that held the money.

If they could talk you out of all the money in your wallet they would.  They would give out some prizes, walking a fine line to stop complaints.  They worked the crowd and would give away a large piece of plush and cause lots of commotion to bring in more customers or “Marks.”   A large piece of plush walking the Midway was always good advertising and locals would ask “Where did they win that?”

When times were good they stayed in a Motel, on tear down night they slept in the car.

Red was a talker and told me lots of stories, I wish I could remember them.  I don’t recall where they were from, but they both had a good sense of humor and a liking for alcohol.

They left the show in 1969, not sure of the circumstances…Jack and Little Jackie Thomas left too.  They had Milk Bottles, Cork Guns, Spindle, String Game, a Bumper Car that stopped on a peg for a prize every time.  I cannot remember the wife/mothers name.

Red and George were in the Cambridge Minnesota fight between the jointees and ride boys Billy and Ron.  Billy ended up in the hospital and Ron ended up at the bottom of the stairs.

I wonder what ever became of Red and George?  I suppose I will never know.

Midway Memories: Hubert

Hubert called the other day.  He was real upbeat.  Most of the time he calls when he needs cheering up.  Lois died a few years back, he is lonely and can see the cemetery where she is from his home.  He has made all his final arrangements and we will be notified if he dies. He doesn’t like to talk about Carnival life anymore…but he does talk about Lois, his neices in Iowa, fishing and life in Oklahoma.

I understand that Hubert was different when he was younger.

He had a wife named Wanda and two children. One day Hubert caught his wife with another man. Hubert had a gun and he shot Wanda in the leg.  Hubert went to prison. They got divorced.  Hubert was estranged from his children…and as far as I know he still is.

Hubert married Lois after he got out of the slammer.  Hubert went back out on the road.  He was the best “Wheel Man” you could find.  Far Guy worked the top of the wheel for him, a very dangerous job.  They were with Merriams for years. Lois worked in the Office and was in charge of the Ticket Sellers.  They left Merriams in 1971.  They went over to Midway of Fun.  We went to vist them in Winter Quarters near Detroit Lakes Minnesota.

After a few years they bought a Swinging Gym and went independent.  I am not quite sure what happened next…somehow they were bilked out of a bunch of money.  They retreated to Oklahoma.  I lost touch with them for a number of years.  Then one day I wrote a letter to the Cafe in a small town near where I thought they lived, the mailman happened to be in the Cafe and dropped the letter off for them…the phone rang later that day.  We had a wonderful phone visit…and many more after that!

Lois asked me to help locate Hubert’s children.  I helped to locate them, they wanted nothing to do with their father.  That made me sad, and it made Lois sad too…but there was nothing we could do about it…we never told Hubert of the search or the outcome.

In my opinion those kids are missing out on knowing a better version of their Dad.  Time is getting short as Hubert is now in his 80’s.

A photo I took from on top of the Slide in 1970 or 1971.   The Trabant is out in front. The Boss is at the controls.  On the left is a Side Show, Swingin Gym and the Wheel.  On the right is the Office Trailer, Kenny’s Joint (Darts), unknown joint and the Hot Wagon. This photo was taken in Schuyler Nebraska with a little Swinger Polaroid Camera.

Midway Memories: Spot

Just the word Spot brings up a few memories.  The first most towns were “spots,” Carnies would say that was a lousy spot or I cannot wait to get to the next spot!  The second belonged to a very old man I met.

I wonder if Spot had a real name?  Certainly his Mother did not name him Spot.  Spot was old ( maybe 65 when I met him.)  He came out for the Kaffee Fest in Willmar Minnesota.  I was introduced to him in a small cafe with those swivel red stools…Spot swiveled around on his stool to smile a partially toothless grin and offered his hand.  He was deeply tanned and had a large mole with several long dark hairs inhabiting a spot on his temple.  I wondered if that was why he was called Spot?  He was a little bit of a man, about five feet four inches tall, he wore tan pants and a cotton shirt and striped socks that has long since lost their elastic.  A partially bald head was covered with one of those summer hats with a little feather on the side that was popular back in the 1970’s.

He got his name because he only came out for a spot here and there, he just hung around the Midway…perhaps he had been a Carnie at one time but in his retirement he just came out for a spot or two each summer.

Far Guy says he thought Spot was from Southern Minnesota, near Pine Island, he had land there and one time The Boss, Paul and Far Guy went out there to get a part for a ride. Spot was a collector of many things…mostly carnival “stuff.”

The last time Far Guy saw Spot was in Cannon Falls Minnesota he was sitting on the platform of the Merry Go Round sleeping in the sunshine with his mouth open.  Far Guy laughed out loud and Spot opened one eye and looked at him like “Your day will come.”

 

Midway Memories : Limey

Some carnivals are different from others.  Some may have people who go by an alias/fake name and get by with it. 

In my time with Merriam’s Midway Shows I only know of one. How much of an alias it was I am not certain….it was at best or worst a half truth.

One summer one of the Concessionaires had a new worker.  He was from England and had quite an accent.  Not sure what his real name was but everyone called him Limey.  Limey made extra cash by helping set up and tear down the Tilt.  He worked one of the joints for George Belben….a dart game with balloons maybe. 

I talked with Limey, he was stocky, not too tall maybe 5 feet 7 inches, lots of freckles on his face and longish brown hair with a little red in it.  He wore sun glasses a lot, and mostly white shirts with rolled up sleeves with a pack of cigarettes tucked into the sleeve, the shirt was tucked into jeans.  The accent was fun to listen to.

In Seward Nebraska Limey, T J and Nick got into a bit of trouble in a Motel Room…they stole a bath rug.  The cops came and arrested them.  When they ran the checks…it turned out Limey was not a he but a she.

The word got out…and traveled like wildfire. “Limey is a Chick”  “What??” “You  know a chick with boobs.”  Some of them said “Oh good Lord I peed in front of her.” “No shit.”
She returned to the show wearing a wig and makeup and told me that she was going to write a book about her experiences during the summer.

The guys were all wondering how she/he pulled it off and pulled the wool over their eyes.  After it was all said and done she moved on…but the guys will never forget.

Wall of plush at a Duck Pond.

Midway Memories: Hank

Henry or Hank.  Last name Johnson.  Over six feet tall, stocky build he was a big man with grey hair, sparkly blue green eyes, tan always tan complexion…he looked like he lived in Florida all the time.  I am certain he was quite handsome in earlier years.  Hank had teeth but he didn’t like them, they hurt his mouth so he didn’t wear them and would give you a gummy grin just to show off.  He had a raspy voice that was very distinctive.

Hank was friendly, he could talk to anyone. I met Hank in 1968 and the last time I saw him was about 1978.

I think Hank started out on the Scrambler but then the Boss moved him to the Octopus.

Hank was out on the road all summer and he worked for the Salvation Army in The Cities in the winter.  He must have had a room someplace there.

What we don’t know…for sure.  Was he born in 1922?  Did he die in 1983 and is he buried at Fort Snelling National Cemetery?  We think he had a wife at one time, he was most likely divorced…we think he had a daughter. He was the right age to have been in WWII, but like so many that returned he didn’t talk of it.

Somewhere in Nebraska Hank found himself in the company of a very lonely elderly woman.  They wound up going to the city park.  One thing led to another. Things got a little amorous.  They were BOTH arrested.  He spent one night in jail and was out the next morning.  Hank being the friendly character he was…won the Cops over. The Cops came to visit him at the fairgrounds to give him a bad time about his tryst in the park.  The next year when we got into the Fairgrounds, Hank was taking a nap in the cab of his truck…the Cop pulled up.  The Cop asked Far Guy “Is Hank with you this year?”  Hank shouted from the truck cab “Tell him he can kiss my bare butt!”

We invited Hank to Far Guy’s going away party…the party we had late in December in 1972 before Far Guy went into the Air Force.  Hank came up from The Cities on the bus.  We had a winter storm and roads were impassable.  Hank had to bunk in with Far Guy’s parents for one night.  Boy was Far Guy’s Mom mad…but she said “He was nice and clean, talked civil and even wore a white shirt.” Hank was a hit at the party, perhaps even the life of the party.

Music was just becoming a big thing out on the Midway and the Trabant had a tape that played over and over.   Joy to the World (CCR)….was NOT Hanks’s favorite. We would sing… Jeremiah was a bullfrog was a good friend of mine… just to irritate Hank.  If you picked that song from a Jukebox he would mumble to himself shake his head and go outside.

Sometimes I wish I could go back and ask the right or more questions, but that wasn’t the way things were out on the road.  You never pryed in other peoples business or asked too many questions.  Some people talked more than others and some people remain a bit of a mystery.

Midway Memories : Lemonade and Cherry Pie

I have a vintage aluminum drink mixer, it is two parts…if you put lemon juice, lemon slices, sugar, ice and some water in the bottom part…slap on the top and shake away you can make a tall glass of real good lemonade.  Far Guy and I like lemonade made that way.  It transports us back to Nebraska…Central City or maybe St. Paul where it is hot in August and the only thing that will quench your parched throat is lemonade and lots of it!  Those are the days when you are thankful to work in the diggers right next to the Fresh Squeezed Lemonade Stand.

A few weeks ago we happened to have lunch at Perkins on a day when they gave us each a free slice of pie.  I chose Cherry and Far Guy chose Lemon Meringue…we took them home in a box.  One evening I shared my slice of Cherry …I said “Reminds me so much of the church stand under the grandstand in Central City.”  Far Guy said “Exactly.”  It is great to share something that brings back those memories so long ago. 

School started early in Nebraska back in the early 1970’s. The show would open at 4 PM after the kids were out of school and after the day started to cool off.  We would sleep late those days and then wander out to the Merry Go Round and if we were hungry we would head to the Church Food Stand and have a late lunch…with Cherry Pie!  Often times we would break out some cards and play cards on their oil cloth covered tables. Too soon it would be time to go back to work.

 

Midway Memories: Arbuckle

Have you ever met a guy that was a chick magnet?  I did, however I couldn’t quite understand it,  he was engaged and married to many women.  He seemed to marry one after another, I wondered sometimes if he bothered to divorce any of them.

He was the Foreman on the Merry Go Round.  Sometimes called a Jinny/Jenny but we never called it that.  When Paul came out he was Arbuckles second man.   Arbuckle needed all the help he could get as he had a drinking problem.  I am not quite sure why the boss kept him around.

Bobby Arbuckle and Paul, Paul is stretching no doubt he just woke up, he has an ever present Billboard in his back pocket.

This photo was probably taken about 1967.

Bean pole skinny ladies man.

One of his “wives” in Southern Minnesota got mad at him and stabbed him.  The ambulance was called, she refused to get him from the hospital, so he hitchhiked to another of his former “wives” about 30 miles away.  She gave him a ride part way to meet up with the show, he didn’t have enough money for a motel room but he had enough to get drunk and knew he would get put in jail. ( This town had a real decent jail with good food.) Sure enough he got drunk and ended up in jail until the show made it into town and the boss bailed him out.

I met many of his “wives” and a few of his fiancees…he would bring them around to show off the ring he just bought for them…we used to say they were five and dime rings but it didn’t make a difference to the girls.  I just shook my head. The one “wife” I got to know seemed pretty normal to me…her name might have been Elaine..she was blonde and very pretty.

He used to let our oldest daughter ride the Merry Go Round all afternoon.  She and Bobby were good friends.

Here is Bobby helping get our granddaughter Savannah on a horse in Barnesville Minnesota in 1997.

In later years Bobby would be known as “Rodeo Bob” I am not sure how he got that name.  When he died they put one of the horses backwards on the Merry Go Round. We used to have a photo of it…but it was on Far Guy’s computer that crashed and was lost.

In Memory of Rodeo Bob

Robert Romaine Arbuckle

Oct 1 1933

May 22 2001

From the people of Merriam’s Midway Shows

Bobby died of some kind of cancer he was 67 years old.

If there was an obit, I wonder how many wives were listed?