Wooden Horses and Iron Men

It’s a story of an American family, and a truly unique American industry. One that is colorful with its own lifestyle, its cast of characters, its sub-culture, and, yes, to some extent, its own language. From its birthplace at the 1893 Columbian Exhibition in Chicago, to its present popularity at State, and County Fairs, the Carnival industry is uniquely American. Meet the Cast who make it fun. The Merriam family, Pete Leslie, who sold tickets on the snake show, and One Ball Eddie, who somehow kept that last milk bottle standing upright. Learn the difference between a Circus, and a Carnival. A Circus you only have to watch to enjoy. A Carnival you have to participate. Throw the dart, eat the corndog, win the prize, and give your best gal a squeeze as you go over the top of one of the descendants of Ferris’s magnificent wheel.