Step Right Up to the Clean-Cut Carnival

Visitors to this year’s Los Angeles County Fair might have been surprised to find a new breed of carnival worker manning the booths along the midway. The “carny” stereotype is a thing of the past: Ray Cammack Shows, which operates the games and rides, has appearance standards that permit only minimal facial hair, and visible tattoos are out. We tried our luck with some veterans of life on the road.

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Tracy Creason

38, Owner of Ride Photos

How long in the carnival life?

I was born into it. My grandson is sixth generation. My dad was in the ride department and my mother worked in games. My grandmother had the little photo stands. My great-grandmother was in cotton candy.

Are carnival folks different from civilians?

We have more fun than they do, and we see more places than they do. The carnival is like a small town. We have church and dinners together.

Strangest attraction you’ve seen?

My brother’s a big macho guy, but I have pictures of him when he was the Snakegirl. I was a mermaid when I was about 6. I had a green sequined thing over my legs and a swimsuit top on. I kind of laid on an angle on a board.

Teach us a carnival slang word.

A “roughie” helps the pretty ladies who work the games. They pay the roughie to set up their booths so they don’t break their nails.

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Michael Winchester

40, Manager of Star Dart Game

How long in the carnival life?

Sixteen years. I stuck out my thumb on Interstate 7. There was a carnival at Fullerton College. I met my wife, whose father owns the business.

Are carnival folks like a family?

Yes. Three years ago 40 people all went to the Oktoberfest in Germany to see the old, traditional carnival. You can’t win the games.

What’s a good county fair?

The L.A. County Fair. Santa Monica is not far, and Chinois on Main is one of my favorite places.

Strangest sideshow you’ve seen?

Back in Florida, a gal inside the sideshow would stick about a 6-inch nail up her nose for a dollar.

Give us some carnival lore.

At night when they closed the carnival, the elephants would smell the peanuts. They would bump into the games and knock them over. Even now, with the elephants gone, you can’t buy peanuts anywhere here.

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Dominic Palmieri

37, Food Concessionaire

How long in the business?

This is my 12th year. My wife was working the carnival, I was working the fair circuit, and we fell in love.

How did you get started?

My uncle had a Spaghetti Palace at the fairgrounds at Santa Rosa. I would go cook spaghetti.

What might surprise us about carnival workers?

Professionals who work for the phone companies work for me and my wife at the fair. They’re taking their vacation and they want to make extra money and have fun doing it. Advantages of life on the road?

When the average person is sitting behind a desk and their kids are at day care, our kids are with us.

Is the term “carny” offensive?

People say, “You’re a carny?” I say, “Yeah, I have all my teeth, no tattoos. I went to college. You should see my wife. She’s beautiful.”

Teach us a carnival slang word.

A “grab joint” is a concession trailer that might have nachos, hot dogs. Stuff you can grab and go.

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Mark Leavitt

39, Director of Ride Operations

How long in the carnival life?

Born and raised. My mother went into labor when she was working on a Ferris wheel.

Are carnival folks different from civilians?

If I’m in one place for more than a couple weeks, my feet start itching and I’m ready to go.

Is there a trick to the games?

The games here are easily won. The philosophy is merchandising. We want everyone to take something home and enjoy themselves.

Strangest sideshow you’ve seen?

Other than the guys I work with? Twenty-five years ago, we used to have Ronnie and Donnie. They were Siamese twins. Sideshows, pretty much on the West Coast, have been phased out. On the East Coast and in the South, they’re prevalent. I think things are more under a microscope out here.

Teach us some carnival slang.

“Doniker.” It’s the bathroom. Like, “He’s on a doniker break.”