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1934 article: fleeced by carnival racketeers

Ladewig said:
Good stuff.
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I can't recall the title, but I found a good book a while back that was written by a former-carny-turned-journalist, talking about working on a travelling show back in the '50s, and the various scams they would run on the "marks". I'll see if i can find it and post the title.
 
Why does one of the wooden "milk jugs" have to be weighted? In the traditional pyramid, there are four jugs at the base. You have to knock out all four in one throw in order to win, I think. With an object the size of a baseball, is that even possible?
 
luchog said:
I can't recall the title, but I found a good book a while back that was written by a former-carny-turned-journalist, talking about working on a travelling show back in the '50s, and the various scams they would run on the "marks". I'll see if i can find it and post the title.
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Would that be "Gambling Scams" by Darwin Ortiz ?
 
I want to hear more about the 'radio tube train'.

xlg_cover.jpg
 
Probably didn't look anything like the train on the front. That thing looks like it's headed from Metropolis and it's powered by Azathoth! Or hamsters charged with static electricity.

I want to see more Modern Mechanix covers.
 
Next time you go to the carnival, look closely at the basketball toss. It should be easy, but it's not. If you can get a peek from beside the hoop, instead of from the shooter's line, you will see that the hoops are angled and eliptical. It's an optical illusion- they will look round from the shooter. Make's it a whole different ball game...
 
casebro said:
Next time you go to the carnival, look closely at the basketball toss. It should be easy, but it's not. If you can get a peek from beside the hoop, instead of from the shooter's line, you will see that the hoops are angled and eliptical. It's an optical illusion- they will look round from the shooter. Make's it a whole different ball game...
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and the rings for the "ring toss" are a very close fit on the target. They must descend vertically onto it in order to work. The top is angled to prevent this occurence..
 
In the 1920s there was one woman in particular, who would, at fairs, defy people to push her over, and at the same time be able to lift great weights. It was an optical illusion based on pulleys, angles and leverages of the human body. Some stunts involved chairs and numbers of people.

Thing is, volunteer participants had to stand in the exact spot and position that the lady and her assistant required her to, and make the same movement as she said. Refuse, and one would be asked to step down. She got caught out this way as copycats sprung up. The lady and the stunt faded from public view. I think she made a lot of money from it.

Anyone point me to a website - I had it years ago. I too, love this sort of stuff.
 
c4ts said:
Why does one of the wooden "milk jugs" have to be weighted? In the traditional pyramid, there are four jugs at the base. You have to knock out all four in one throw in order to win, I think. With an object the size of a baseball, is that even possible?
Click to expand...

I think it's so that if you're challenged by someone who thinks it's impossible you can arrange your pyramid so that the heavy jug is on top. It makes it more likely to knock the whole lot over. Of course when it's the punter's go the heavy jug goes on the bottom.
 
casebro said:
Next time you go to the carnival, look closely at the basketball toss. It should be easy, but it's not. If you can get a peek from beside the hoop, instead of from the shooter's line, you will see that the hoops are angled and eliptical. It's an optical illusion- they will look round from the shooter. Make's it a whole different ball game...
Click to expand...


I saw one of those in Texas around 2000. I was surprised both by the shape of the hoop and the huge disclaimer stating that the hoop was not circular.
 
casebro said:
Next time you go to the carnival, look closely at the basketball toss. It should be easy, but it's not. If you can get a peek from beside the hoop, instead of from the shooter's line, you will see that the hoops are angled and eliptical. It's an optical illusion- they will look round from the shooter. Make's it a whole different ball game...
Click to expand...
I believe they are also much smaller than a regulation hoop, so your shot can't be off-center by so much as an RCH or it will bounce right off.
 
One thing I noticed, the spinning spiral electrical thingies haven't been around for a while. Perhaps they were deemed to be too deceptive? (Considering where the post was in relation to the spin motion, the demonstrator, and the mark.)

I've watched the "lift the soda bottle with a ring on a string" booth for the last few years, and although the carny demonstrator does it with ease, very few of the marks seem to win. I've never actually seen it done by a mark, but have seen people walking around the fairgrounds with the huge prizes available only at that booth.

I have watched the demonstrator closely, and although it takes some skill, there are a few little tricks I observe which no one else seems to pick up on. I've been dying to try it (and win!) but I was always on a motorcycle so it would be difficult to get my prize home.

I could do it though.

Really.

Maybe next year.
 
Psi Baba said:
I believe they are also much smaller than a regulation hoop, so your shot can't be off-center by so much as an RCH or it will bounce right off.
Click to expand...

I've heard the balls are also over-inflated so they'll bounce farther when they hit the rim.
 
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