Sunday, August 11, 2019

THE MONEY #12


10 comments:

Chic Silber said...


Way back in the day these

were known as flat stores

Charles Hanson said...

From what I have been told....the money from the flat stores, helped the show get to the next spot, many, many weeks....Especially when the show had low attendance for the spot and some rainy days.

Chic Silber said...


The "Alibis" included

"Swingers" & many forms

of "Bucket" joints like

Chinese & Bushel Baskets

Chic Silber said...


That's not all you were "told"

I know you keep the creed Charles

I maintain a level of the faith

Chic Silber said...


1 time I took a lovely

town girl to a big Fair

She was longing for the

top shelf Big Brown Bear

I told her if I obtained

it we would then have to

run for the car (we did)

I waited for a big tip

Charles Hanson said...

In carny lingo that is known as a Lay Bear (lol).

Roger Smith said...

Old-timers know most of these joints operated once "Grandma was out." For new readers, that is when all games are rigged and the marks haven't got a chance. "Alibis" were a precise term for them.

All the jointees vied for prime spots on the midway, and paid dearly for being the first 2 or 3 on the right side--figuring most people are right-handed and will naturally head for the right side when drawn to the joints. Others enjoyed endless bitching about their location.


Bob Swaney said...

Always keep the lot man happy!

Chic Silber said...


On many shows the "Lot Man"

was also "The Patch"

Charles Hanson said...

Long time friendships have gone sour over locations on the lot....And at least one carnival owner was shot and killed by a concessionaire...who thought he had been wronged by the carnival owner. They can't all be 5th Avenue locations....some are truly Donniker Locations.