{"id":1200,"date":"2014-02-19T07:35:21","date_gmt":"2014-02-19T07:35:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/eyeslikecarnivals.com\/?p=1200"},"modified":"2014-02-19T15:43:14","modified_gmt":"2014-02-19T15:43:14","slug":"elvis-the-mark-carny-kids-the-showtown-allstars","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/eyeslikecarnivals.com\/?p=1200","title":{"rendered":"Elvis the Mark, Carny Kids & the Showtown Allstars"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Elizabeth<\/a>
\nElizabeth, 9, and her dad Original Tommy Arnold at the Showtown USA restaurant\/bar in Gibsonton, Fl. seated at the Liar’s Table. She’s literally learning about the business at the knee of her father.<\/p>\n

\u201cAn unexciting truth may be eclipsed by a thrilling lie.\u201d
\n<\/em>Aldous Huxley<\/strong><\/p>\n

Elizabeth is a precocious third-grader on her dad’s lap at the Liar’s Table at Showtown USA, Gibsonton, Fl.<\/p>\n

\u201cOriginal Tommy\u201d Arnold is in his 80s and a living legend in the traveling carnival world. O.T. is a carnival storyteller.<\/p>\n

\u201cElvis won more than we let most people win, he kept throwing the prizes to the crowd,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

In 1957, Elvis scored a hit with \u201cJailhouse Rock\u201d but hadn’t yet been drafted into the Army. <\/p>\n

At a Memphis carnival, he stopped to throw softballs at Original Tommy’s milk bottles game. <\/p>\n

If Elvis wasn’t yet the king, he was the crown prince of the midway.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe girls went crazy,\u201d said the veteran carnival owner. \u201cHe drew a big crowd.\u201d<\/p>\n

What’s interesting about Original Tommy’s story is he remembers few details other than the line that makes his Elvis story a classic carny story.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe spent maybe $200 on my game and that was a lot of money in those days.\u201d<\/p>\n

He took Elvis for a $200 and drew a crowd to boot.<\/p>\n

Elvis may have been the crown prince of the midway but Original Tommy got him to lay out two C-notes.<\/p>\n

There’s some irony in their table name because they also talk about the old \u201cflat joints,\u201d games where suckers cannot win. Alibi stores are games carnies must make excuses, \u201cyou crossed the line,\u201d to foil a winner.<\/p>\n

I didn’t ask how he \u201cgaffed\u201d the game but you can be sure Original Tommy let Elvis win just enough to keep playing and keep throwing toys to the excited fans.<\/p>\n

In Original Tommy’s story, crown prince Elvis was just a mark.<\/p>\n

Showtown sundown<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Liar’s Table at Showtown bar\/restaurant is the liveliest breakfast table. During this month’s Super Trade Show Extravaganza in Gibsonton, old pros sat around the table like a secret hall of fame.<\/p>\n

The carnival world is a subculture and the stars of its realm are found in hidden places like the faded Showtown USA.<\/p>\n

Showtown is the creation of Bill Browning who painted elaborate stories on the walls of the restaurant, at countless carnivals and at the International Independent Showmen’s Association headquarters in town.<\/p>\n

He used to yearly repaint and reframe the story on Showtown’s front facade.<\/p>\n

All his art tells stories and often brings nature to the indoors with boardwalk and carnival scenes.<\/p>\n

The carnival business inspires many artists, possibly because there is so much painting required.<\/p>\n

Browning’s paintings at the IISA headquarters building cover the walls and easily make him the most famous carnival artist.<\/p>\n

However, Browning isn’t actively painting these days and many of his Showtown stories are fading on the walls.<\/p>\n

A food critic might suggest even the menu is old school. This morning it is chipped beef over toast, two eggs, $5.99.<\/p>\n

I hear Showtown is still a vibrant place but the cigarette-smoke walls tell stories of bygone golden eras.<\/p>\n

The Liar’s Table is its living time warp.
\n
\nDash of Flash<\/strong><\/p>\n

Flash said to me once, \u201cIf a carny doesn’t have a nickname, he isn’t interesting.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nick the Prick. Luke the Puke. Even Flash’s nickname has a back story.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat’s what this business is based on, everything the sucker sees out there is flash,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Flash is cash, is the phrase I heard as a jointee, a game worker.<\/p>\n

One morning the ballys started flying and I started taping as guys from different sides of the table urged the marks to buy.<\/p>\n

The Mayor of the Liar’s Table is Freddy Vonderheim, 76, former circus and carnival owner (a special breed he calls showman transvestites<\/em>).<\/p>\n

Flash and the Mayor are retired from the business, but they can still bark them out.<\/p>\n

When the Mayor pipes up, you know thousands have heard it on thousands of midways.<\/p>\n

\u201cI’m Donniker Dan (donniker is a carny toilet),
\nthe candy man,
\nwith circus straaawbery candy,
\nall you kids who want candy,
\nplease hold up your hand!!!\u201d<\/p>\n

Flash came back with his own, ending in a carnival limerick, more than a bally.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey were brewing up coffee seconds and thirds,
\nThose happy go lucky carnival birds.\u201d<\/p>\n