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Gold Star Amusements had to contend with tropical storm Isadore and Hurricane Lili while playing Louisiana in late September and early October, a situation not at all unfamiliar to owner/operator [...]

The Miami Showmen's Club (MSC) will host three gala events in Feb 1994 to mark the organization's 50th anniversary. The gala events include the club's anniversary celebration, the president's banquet and the annual picnic, which are scheduled for Feb 19, Feb 25, and Feb 27, respectively. Meanwhile, outgoing MSC Pres Richard Thomas revealed that the organization plans to relocate to a new building in Fort Lauderdale, FL, to be nearer to many of its members., The Miami Showmen's Club celebrates its 50th anniversary with three gala events this month, according to past president 'Little' Richard Thomas. The club will recognize the anniversary Feb. 19 at [...]

The small town of Kinsley, Kan. (pop. 1,875) isn't known as 'Midway USA' just because it is halfway between New York and San Francisco, according to John Ploger, president of [...]

Reports on the poor performance of carnival business in the United States following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Windy City Amusements; Skinner's Amusements; All Star amusements; Astro Amusements; Amusements of America.

Focuses on Conklin Shows carnival in North America. Plans of Conklin for its shows in the year 2000; Gross income of the show for the year 1999.

Reports on Conklin Shows as it continued to be the top carnival show in North America based on the 1997 data compiled by the periodical `Amusement Business.' Midway contact of Conklin show with top fairs in the United States; Reason for the increased earnings of the show; Performance of other carnival shows.

Pat Skinner was upbeat about the 2004 season as she discussed what's new with her family's Chicagoland carnival, embarking on its 95th season starting April 29 in Marengo, Illinois. Skinner and her family sold their Zamperla Kite Flyer to a small amusement park in Keansburg, New Jersey, and acquired a Dartron Cliffhanger. Skinner has noticed an increase in calls from major manufacturers requesting equipment for their corporate picnics. She has already booked three for the summer.

Carnival,Mid America Shows' Danny Huston had great news to report from Michigan amid the horrible spring weather, bad economy and the war with Iraq, all factors that have put a crimp on carnival grosses early in the season for shows playing the Mid-west as of May 2003. The carnival's ticket prices have increased from 75 cents to $1 in 2003 as compared tom 2002. But there was a 12% gain in ticket sales, an overall 26% increase in spending in 2003 season and Mid America sold more armbands at $17 for a six-hour period.

Independent ride inspector and midway consultant Mike Hupalo, with 17 years experience, said he would provide his company's services for free during the first year of rating carnivals for quality under the Outdoor Amusement Business Assn.'s (OABA) 'Foundations of the Future,' image upgrade campaign in the U.S. Pending board approval, Hupalo, his wife, who is president of Zephyrhills, Florida-based MAH Consulting and other staff would work in tandem with retired Minnesota State Fair manager, Mike Heffron to administer the program. Hupalo said his firm's employees would complete educational sessions before scoring carnivals in ride, food and game operations, transportation and overall safety. OABA officials are targeting 10 carnivals and/or independent operators/concessionaires to get the initiative off the ground in 2003.

The article focuses on effects of the unprecedented 300 tornadoes within a 10-day period in the U.S. on the carnival business of the country. In his 56 years in the carnival business, J.D. Floyd, the owner of Cumberland Valley Shows, said he had never experienced such severe weather as the waves of storms that destroyed the nation's midsection in early May 2003, producing hail that covered rides and blew a window out of a concession unit at a shopping mall in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. The tornadoes affected other carnivals playing in the Midwest and Mid-South, damaging equipment and forcing early closings. No injuries were reported. Boden Amusements, Bushnell, Ill., was in the midst of playing its second spot of the carnival season in Havana, Illinois, when a tornado "hit 10 miles down the road," said show owner Daryl Boden.

Skinners' Amusements in Crystal Lake, Illinois, joined the growing list of carnivals booking rides and attractions for TV and motion pictures, providing its Eli Bridge Ferris wheel for a late night commercial shoot promoting Commonwealth Edison, the Chicago electrical utility. Fusion Films of Santa Monica, California, produced the advertisement, filmed on April 28, 2003 at the Santa's Village amusement park parking lot in East Dundee, Illinois. The carnival also had a ticket box and fencing used in the production. The theme park was also involved in the advertisement. Skinners' Amusements employee Brian Henning operated the wheel at the Santa's Village shoot, receiving a half-hour break to eat during the 10-hour period. "They wanted the wheel to run at a certain speed so I had to clock it accordingly. I kept mental notes in my head" of the time and distance between spokes. "The trickiest part was--with 13 seats in a row filled and then several empty ones--keeping it balanced with sandbags to operate it correctly," said Henning.

Goldstar Amusements of Minneapolis and New Orleans has volunteered to be the first carnival to be rated for quality on a five-star system through the Outdoor Amusement Business Association (OABA) “Foundations for the Future” During the OABA's April 28–30 spring meeting inChicago, show owner Mike Featherston agreed to be the program'stest case. In addition, former Minnesota State Fair Manager Mike Heffron was selected to work with FFF Committee Chairman Guy Leavitt and others to determine the exact criteria and rating system. The fact that Featherston and Heffron are both based in the Twin Cities will make it more convenient for the program to get started, he added.

Reports on plans of Chicago, Illinois-based carnival Fantasy Amusements to include the Super Shot tower ride in April 2003. Features of the amusement ride; Amusement ride acquired by the carnival in 2002; Other equipments included in the carnival.

Presents views of carnival owner Larry Harder on the performance of his company Indianhead Amusements in 2002 and his expectations from the 2003 business season. Factors responsible for a poor performance of the company in 2002; Entertainment options that would be offered by the carnival in 2003; Information on admission charges to the carnival.

Reports that Brad Duchow and Chad Duchow have taken over management of one unit of carnival Tip Top Shows Inc. Number of rides that they plan to operate for the unit; Division in which their wives will work; Price of tickets for the rides.

Reports that while fairs in the U.S. still do not have absolute protection if a carnival goes bankrupt and cannot play their event, legal language can be inserted in the midway contracts that would bolster the fair's position in such a situation. Ruling of Columbus, Ohio Federal court judge in the case of bankruptcy of Pugh Shows; Sample document with the explanation of legalese presented at industry convention.

Focuses on the predictions of show owners about the prospect of carnivals in the U.S. in 2003. Concern of show owners regarding an increase in the insurance rates; Efforts to be made by Pat Skinner to make her Chicago, Illinois-based theme park called Skinners' Amusements a success; Opinion of Belle City Amusements park owner Charles Panacek on the condition of theme parks in 2003.

Reports on the strategy used by B.D. Fuller of Vincennes, Indiana-based carnival operator Fun Unlimited Shows when speculating on the potential revenues for his carnival toward the end of the season. Fuller's assessment of crops at the agricultural fairs; Basic yardstick used for measurement of revenues; Territories operated by the carnival; Carnival's performance in the 2002 season.

Reports on the plan of Alpine Amusements carnival group to expand its itinerary in Wisconsin. Reason for the expansion plan; Projections on the financial results of Alpine in fiscal 2002; Short list of carnival equipment which Alpine plans to acquire in 2003.

Features the Strates Shows company in Ionia, Michigan. Primary carnival routes of Strates; Business performance of the company for the first half of 2002; Key personnel of Strates.

Presents information on the partnership between the Showmen's League of America and carnival manufacturers and suppliers in organizing an Exhibitors Lounge. Description of the lounge; Requirements for attendees; Information on the membership fees.

Focuses on Matt Armstrong Shows, a carnival based in Lake Charles and Westlake, Louisiana. Message of Todd Armstrong for competing carnivals spreading rumors about the demise of Matt Armstrong Shows following the death of his father; Itinerary of the carnival in fairs across the U.S.; Equipment added to the carnival's lineup of amusement rides; Concessionaires working with the carnival.

Reports on the show facilitated by Mighty Thomas Carnival starting at the Red River Valley Fair on June 14 to 23, 2002 in Fargo, North Dakota. Effect of the economic condition on the carnival industry according to co-owner Tom Atkins; Expectations of Thomas officials on the fair in West Fargo; Other Montana fairs on the Thomas route.

Reports on the move of Astro Amusements of South Barrington, Illinois to upgrade its carnival in 2002. Features of the Fabri Megadrop tower ride at the carnival; Addition of a custom built animatic bear show from Custom Engineering; Ticket prices for the rides.

Focuses on the initiative of All Star Amusements to improve its business operations in Barrington, Illinois. Factors affecting the business performance of the company; Prevalence of bankruptcy in the carnival business.

Reports on the drug testing program initiated by the Spectacular Midways and other carnivals in Chicago, Illinois as of May 2002. Purpose of the program; Cost of the drug testing; Advantages of the program.

Reports on the opening of the season of Alpine Amusements at the Wisconsin State Fair Park from May 4 to 5, 2002. Reasons for opening the carnival during the Cinco de Mayo Festival; Features of the carnival; Problems encountered during the set-up of the carnival.

Focuses on the business of Ottaway Amusements. Prices of its carnival rides; Number of drivers being trained by the show; Addition of trucks to its business.

Reports on the 20th anniversary of Schmidt Amusements of Standish, Michigan in 2002. Effect of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in the U.S. on the carnival; Possible increase in ticket prices of the show; Origin of Schmidt Amusements.

Focuses on the first carnival date for 2002 of Fantasy Amusements at a shopping center in Park Forest, Illinois. Impact of the weather on the earnings of Fantasy Amusements; Number of amusement rides offered by Fantasy Amusements; Locations added to the routes of Fantasy Amusements.

Focuses on the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania-based carnival Swank's Steel City Shows. History of its business; Features of the carnival; Information on ticket prices for 2002.

Reports on the predictions of Jeral Gillette, owner of carnival operator Gillette Shows, for the group's performance in 2002. Features of the carnival; Details of its fair route; Concessionaires booking with the show.

Provides information on the performance of carnivals in North America in 2001. Total number of people who attended the Conklin Shows; Factors that caused the downturn of carnival attendance as compared with the previous year; Gross sales of several carnivals and midways.

Reports on the launch of a video by the Outdoor Amusement Business Association (OABA) promoting a program in which the carnival industry will enact guidelines as standards of operation for approving carnival shows. Contributions of carnival owners Guy Levitt and Ron Burback to the program; Features of the video; Criteria included in the list of operating standards.

Reports on the success of the carnival industry to dissuade Illinois legislators from passing a bill that requires weekly background checks of show employees before the operation of the carnival. Information on the House Bill 60; Implications of the bill for the carnival industry; Speculations on the demise of the House Bill 60.

Provides information on the Family Fun Shows, a carnival in Mankato, Minnesota, owned by Greg Hughes. Comments of Hughes on the business; Background of the carnival; Ticket prices.

Focuses on the scheduled show of Toby's Carnival in Parsons, Kansas on April 10, 2002. Performance of the carnival for 2001; Key employees who died during a tornado that hit the carnival in 2001.

Reveals that following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in the United States carnivals are forging ahead with plans for 2002 starting with the seventh annual Amusement Industry Expo (AIE) at I-X Center in Cleveland, Ohio. Comments from Jeff Blomsness of All Star Amusements; Key for Campbell Associates for 2002 and beyond; Shows opting not to return to Cleveland, Ohio in 2001.

Presents the views of carnival owner Steve Thebault on a proposed legislation in Illinois which requires weekly background checks on carnival employees. Need to obtain the opinion of the Chicago Police Department on the law; Amount of paperwork involved with background checks; Criticism against government treatment of the carnival business and other industries where the workers also handle children.

Reports on the damage caused by hailstorms to a unit of Mighty Thomas Carnival playing the Missouri River Expo in June 2001. Information on the fair schedules of the carnival; Details on the show's personnel and equipment.

Reports that the Illinois House Bill 60 proposing required background checks for carnival employees has been deferred until the fall 2001 session of the Illinois legislature. Purpose of the bill; Criticisms on the bill raised by Jeff Blomsness, owner and operator of All Star Amusements; Decision of the Illinois House of Representatives on the bill.

Provides information on Bluff City Shows, a carnival business based in Fisk, Missouri. Impact of regular and diesel fuel prices on the carnival; Performance of its shows in the 2001 season.

Reports on the opposition of carnival owners over the proposed House Bill 60 that will require traveling amusement ride companies operating in Illinois to provide personal information on employees for the purpose of background checks. Views on the proposed bill; Effectivity date of the bill if signed into law; Origin of the proposed bill.

Focuses on the Smith Amusements of Stratford, Iowa. County fairs where the carnival plays; Information on the food concession business; How the company coped with expenses.

Focuses on the start of 2001 season of Fantasy Amusements, owned by Bill Johnson. Details on the carnival's pay-one-price promotion; Information on its new rides; Principles and key personnel of the carnival.

Reports on the addition of rides and attractions at the Conner Amusements carnival in Beardstown, Illinois for the 2001 season. Background on the company; Information on the radio stations owned by carnival owner and operator John Conner.

Focuses on the trimming down of the operations of Otterbacher Shows company in the United States since the management of Jim Otterbacher in 1994. Reasons of Otterbacher for decreasing its ride-shows; Attractions offered by the carnival; Fair participation of the carnival; Decline in the net profit of the shows.

Reports on the conversion of the indoor operation of Windy City Amusements carnival at Charlestowne Mall in Saint Charles, Illinois. Background of the rides and attractions; Comments from Tony Salerno Jr., owner and operator of the company; Efforts to upgrade the electrical system.

Reports on Skerbeck Bros. Shows, one of the carnivals which participated at the Ohio Fair Managers Association convention. Information on its routes for 2001; Number of rides that the company offers; Rates for tickets.

Deals with the year 2001 operation season of the Triple Treat Shows, a carnival business owned and operated by Jay and Vicki Clements, former employees of the Kissel Brothers. Number of the carnival's amusement rides and attractions; Features of the business' 2001 season; Employees of Triple Treat Show.