(no subject)

[spatch]

Ever wanted to operate Pirates of the Caribbean or the Haunted Mansion at Disneyland? Well, now you can read up on some 1970s-era operating manuals and pretend to be a Loader! Or perhaps a wily Dispatcher! Or maybe you'll choose to live the nomadic life in the Utility section!

I will not be held responsible if you do choose to go over and try to be cool and start yammering on in internal language and whatnot, much like I am not responsible for your well-being if you stroll up to a carny and say "Hey Rube."

Comments

[infinitehotel.livejournal.com]

So what *will* a carny do if you walk up and say "Hey Rube"?

(It's on my list of things to do to dig up some copies of "Amusement Business" and check out the current state of the culture compared to what I have on the bookshelf, but I still haven't gotten around to it.)

[spatch]

Actually, "Hey Rube" is a legendary carny call to arms. It was typically used to say "there's gonna be a mixup with the townies!" or "there's a mixup with the townies!" or "fight! fight! fight!"

There are always folks who aren't with it (connected with the carnival, or in the general carny biz) who like to try out the lingo they've learned on the folks who work the show. Those who loudly and prominently drop terms like marks (easily-fleecable victims) or gaff (how a game is rigged) or kayfabe (the code of silence, not disclosing the inner workings of the business to the public; also used in wrestling) are quickly identified as fakes, wannabes, etc. and either treated with derision or "taken care of" in other ways.

There's coaster enthusiasts who try to speak "park language" with the ride ops and stuff so they can sound cool an' tuff. Generally it's those who've actually worked in the biz who come off sounding knowledgable. The others are easily singled out as wannabes.

[infinitehotel.livejournal.com]

Yep, the usage was familiar; I was more curious whether carny culture has managed to retain some degree of homogeneity or if it's disintegrated into a mass of unconnected workers working low-paying jobs without any distinct identity as "carnies".

(I have a disorganized library of books about various aspects and cultures of con-artistry (the Rom, the Travelers/Tinkers, carnival cons, the modern grifter/pickpocket etc.) that I use for writing. Awhile back I was fooling around with a story set in a carnival so I spent a some time researching what I could about the history and culture. A lot of the reason why I haven't finished the story is the language still doesn't sound right to me; all my characters sound like outsiders trying to use the lingo.)

[spatch]

Well, there are certainly still very well-established travelling shows that still work certain regions. New England is served by the likes of Fiesta Shows (who do the regional parking lot carnivals and the Topsfield Fair) and Conklin Shows out of Toronto (who do larger midways, like The Big E in Springfield) and a variety of smaller, family-operated amusement companies. Whether or not they've retained that culture and in what forms, I'm not sure. The nature of the carny circuit has always been seasonal, but I don't know if it still attracts repeat workers year to year, or if the bulk of it is temporary hangers-on each season.

[moiread]

I would love to read some of those. Could you recommend?