American OZ

American OZ: An Astonishing Year Inside Traveling Carnivals at State Fairs & Festivals: Hitchhiking From California to New York, Alaska to Mexico by Michael Sean Comerford, Comerford Publishing, 2021. 

Carnie Memoir

This is a memoir of a man who worked at carnivals in Alaska, Mexico, California. He hitchhiked between hobs. The Museum of American Carnivals is south of Tampa, Florida. Jointees run games and ride jockeys run rides. Freak sideshows are rarely found these days, due to political correctness. But now many freaks are out of a job. He talks about various rides and games in the carnivals he worked at.

Rides

• Eagle 16 Ferris wheel

• Grand Carrousel

• Ring of Fire roller coaster

• Orient Express roller coaster

• Fire Ball roller coaster

• Orbiter spinning spokes

• Spider with spinning cars and the end of the legs

• Graviton spinning flying saucers

• Flying Dumbos (small elephants)

• Lolly Swing (spinning lollypops)

• Cliff Hanger (simulates hang gliding)

• Super Slide with gunny sacks

• Super Shot drop tower ride

Games

• Tubs of Fun (ball throwing game)

• Ring toss

• Milk bottle toss

• Rubber duck pond

• Dunk tank