If you’ve ever strolled along the Midway of the James E. Strates Shows, no doubt you’ve taken notice of all the games there are to play. One such game is the Gun Ball Game. Standing in front of the game, inviting you to try your luck is – Dean. We caught up with Dean, along the James E. Strates Midway, on the grounds of the New York State Fair in Syracuse, New York. Q – Dean, how long have you been with the Strates Shows? A – Four years. Q…
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Along the Midway at the New York State Fair, James E. Strates operates a stand called “Hit The Red”. A guy, with clown make-up invites passerby’s, well, I should say, insults passerby’s to dunk him in the water. $2.00 gets you 5 balls to try your luck. “Patches” has been a bloke (his word for what he does) for 9 years now, and this is his last year. “Patches” talked with us about his job at James E. Strates, during this year’s run (2009) of the New York State Fair.…
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Along the midway, at the New York State Fair, James E. Strates operates a stand called “Hit The Red.” A guy, with clown face make-up invites passerby’s, well, I should say insults passerby’s, to dunk him in the water. $2.00 gets you five balls to try your luck. “Chewy The Water Clown or “Little Matt” as he’s known to the Strates people, sits on that bench, with a non-stop patter, just waiting for someone to dunk him in the water. “Chewy” talked with us about his job for James E.…
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With the opening of the State Fair just around the corner, it’s only natural that we’d interview George Beecher. George works for the people who bring you all of those Midway attractions — The James E. Strates Shows. We talked with George Beecher about his life and work. Q – George, how long have you been with the Strates Shows? A – Since the Summer of’81. Q – And what’s your position? A – I’m an assistant in the Show Office. I work for the office manager in the field…
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Swordswallowers. Fire-breathers. Human Blockheads. Snake Charmers. They use to be a staple on midways at State Fairs throughout the U.S. Then about 20 years, it all stopped. But, with the retro-movement that seems to be in vogue these days—–sideshows are back. We caught up with one such sideshow—–Circus Sideshows of Ricky’s—–at the New York State Fair, in Syracuse, New York. Sideshows owner Ricky spoke with us about his business. Q – Ricky, what’s your background? How did you get involved with this business? A – I was born into it.…
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Hard times are hitting the carnival business. After 80 years in business Davis Amusement Cascadia called it quits on January 1st 2020. 80 years!! What went into that decision? That’s what we wanted to find out. We spoke with Michael Davis, C.E.O. of Davis Amusement Cascadia. Q – Michael I am glad we are talking today. What I’ve found in the past is people in the carnival business are often times reluctant to talk. A – (Laughs). We all tend to be kind of clannish I guess. They keep everything…
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Jim Victor and Marie Pelton are a husband-and-wife Butter Sculptor team who makes sculptures from various food media. They have worked together for over 15 years. They have a long history of creating butter sculptures for State and County Fairs and Expositions as well as an extensive portfolio of food sculptures commissioned for corporate and public relations events. We talked with Jim and Marie “The Butter Sculptor King and Queen.” Q – I saw my first butter sculptor at the New York State Fair in 1969 I don’t think you…
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Michael Hilby (The Skinny German Juggling Boy) He’s been described as “Poetry in Motion” and a man who turns heads with his unicycle performance and jaw dropping juggling skills. He is – Michael Hilby, The Skinny German Juggling Boy. Q – You were at the New York State Fair this Summer (2012). Do you typically perform at Fairs? A – Well, I do quite a few Fairs. I do about 60 days a year at Fairs and you won’t see an act like mine at Fairs. That said, there’s 4,800…
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World Gate Introduction 2017 WGE from World Gate Entertainment on Vimeo. Nicholas J. is the owner of World Gate Entertainment, an agency that provides models who perform as Living Floral Trees, Living Topiaries, Living Statues, Stilt Puppets and Marionettes, not to mention Toy Soldiers. What an entertainment offering it is! There’s nothing like it in the world which is probably why Nicholas J. called it World Gate Entertainment. Q – Nicholas, how is business for World Gate Entertainment these days? A – It’s good. It’s wonderful. We have so much…
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Rob Salamida (Salamida’s Original State Fair Spiedie Sauce) Rob Salamida is the founder of Salamida’s (Original) State Fair Spiedie Sauce. Up until 1975 no one had thought to bottle a marinade dressing. Then along came Rob Salamida. What your about to read is what it really takes to be an entrepreneur. I’ve interviewed a lot of entrepreneurs in the past, but none went into as much detail as Rob Salamida did. What Rob Samida did you cannot learn in a college classroom, which is odd because that’s where we start…
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