Strates Shows: Moving America's last carnival on rails

In this action video shot by Lane Talburt on location in 2008, E. James Strates, sons Jimmy and John Strates, and carnival supervisors on America's last carnival on rails describe daily operations, teardown and load out. If some scenes during teardown seem long, consider that this is only a brief glimpse of the tedious, detail-demanding tasks required of all carnival personnel.

[@eyestoenvy]

No annoying music, just the sound of machinery and the voices of a solid group of dedicated employees moving like clockwork. Imagine when it rains too. Anyone know the setup/tear down time and number of trailers for that huge ferris wheel? Hats off, great video!

[@michaelbeams9553]

Alot of hard work , so others can have some fun. My hat is off to you guys .

[@peedrin123]

for sure

[@1967apple]

Watching these videos makes me realize just how truly hard these guys work. I dont know anyone in the business, I just hope the owners treat their workers with respect. That's hard work man. I don't know you and you dont know me but I thank you for what you do. I have many great carnival memories from my youth and its all because of guys like you. If you set up the rides and tear them down this is for you. "Thank you".

[@VivaciousVirgO]

Was born in '81, Elmira NY, and James E. Strates has always been good to our city. Even though it was set up in Horseheads NY, Elmirans would naturally travel up the road to enjoy the festivities. Just a sidenote: I was there when they first debuted the Chance Rainbow ride, in '87, and rode it half the evening. A few other standouts that I've always adored were the Sea Ray, Flying Bobs, Himalaya, Ring of Fire, Gravitron...the list goes on! Seriously, nothing compares to '80s James E. Strates! Thank you wholeheartedly for all the wonderful retro memories you've provided throughout the years.

[@monachericevollbracht7604]

Brings back many memories of when I was with “The Heart of America Shows” people don’t realize that this hard work and long days, all they see is when the rides open.

[@arizonaalchemy7572]

As a Kid who always Loved to watch the Carnivals Set-Up and Tear-Down. This was COOL to watch. I've never seen a Show moved by the Rail Road. So COOL !! HUGE Shout Out to the Showmen and Ride Operators !! Now as an Adult, I still look forward to the Rides and the Traveling Shows ! Nice to see the THUNDER BOLT, I have not seen one of those in years ! :)

[@Justbrowsing2023]

Thanks for the upload! I'm a carnival fanatatic!

[@MrCountrycuz]

I was born ad raised on the carny midway. These are some of the shows i was with James H Drew, Guthrie shows,John Denton, Toby Suggs amusement,Jimmy Wrights amusement, Magnolia State Shows. My father was a top class Flatstore operator and girlie show owner in the early 60s. He was known as Country Cuz.

[@LaneInConn]

Thanks for sharing your story, Josef.

[@sjtom57]

Love watching the organized chaos of setup and teardown. Outstanding video.

[@jessemoody7313]

Thank you for filming and sharing, lots of hard working people. It was really interesting to see the other side of the carnival, one I have never seen before.

[@LaneInConn]

Our pleasure!

[@richbones8419]

This is amazing. Lots of hard work, always against time.

[@donkeeton7897]

I remember the mid to late 70s we had Diamond State Shows for 5 yrs 1975 to 79 Golden Empire Shows from 1980 to 82 Key City Shows 1983 Heart of Dixie Shows 1984 Shows of Tomorrow in 1985 and Kissel Rides and Shows from 1986 to present which is now Kissel Entertainment all traveled by truck always came in on Sunday was setup and opened on Monday evening ran through midnight Saturday tore down and were gone by Sunday evening I miss the fairs we had from the mid 70s to the early 80s I remember standing by the highway watching them come to town in 1976 it was actually quite a large midway for the bicentennial celebration that year i guess they had 2 wheels side by side probably borrowed one from another show childhood memories i will never forget the rides were the old standards eli wheel scrambler swinger octopus round up rock o plane rollo plane tempest tilt a whirl paratrooper and of course the kiddie rides

[@jvolgelstein6278]

I miss the life

[@jerryrogersmith9238]

@@jvolgelstein6278 hell yeah hard work but dam good times. Show folk are the best! I miss it to but got some great memories of when I worked for CVS everybody has each others back guaranteed love the life. Thanks for the awesome video

[@SusieSynth]

Carnival that moves on train. So cool.

[@sthpac69]

I never heard of this carnival in the Midwest. When i was a younger person in the 60s and 70s we had the Royal American carnival who billed themselves as the greatest show on earth.

[@jenniferanderson4654]

RINGLING BROS AHhhhhhhh

[@amyjojinkerson6745]

brings back a ton of great memories

[@MsJinkerson]

this is bringing back some sweet memories

[@ladyrachel13]

This isn't a run of the mill carnival. That Ferris Wheel was colossal along with the Swing ride and merry-go-round.

[@amyjojinkerson6745]

It's a wonderful life worked on a show for 6 years

[@hauntcentral1031]

Love this video! They are at my fair now!

[@lisaacurero5268]

great to see everyone!! cbs is excellent, they take you in as one of their own! luv ya guys💓

[@DisneyMarkUK]

Love how the Zipper lust lies down for transport

[@reneastle8447]

It would be great to see more carnival trains again.

[@monachericevollbracht7604]

Thanks for the great video

[@melbymartin8622]

depends on the ride..Major rides can take 13 hours. smaller rides 6 to 8 ..or less. a kid ride a couple two or three hours,with enough help who know what their doing .

[@Jefflantern483]

Yes I remember helping to tear down a ride for a carnival show & yes to put each part of the ride on a trailer & ready for travel! 🙂 Lots of hard work to make a show happen! 🙂🙂

[@mosshold9682]

Thank you so much for sharing this! It's been invaluable for research!

[@christopherpuylara6355]

This video has been on my watch later list for a while. My wife and I traveled with Strates '98-99. She was a ticket seller and I started out on the Muzik Express,worked 2nd man on the Zipper and was the Foreman of the Starship 2000. My wife used to help me setup and teardown the Starship. Also worked other rides setting up and or tearing down. Lived on train also. Worked 120 hours one week, Strates came back to York Pennsylvania where I live last year, Jimmy and John wanted to know if we'd come back 😂. Miss the train though, too bad it got too expensive for them. I miss some of them, Chico passed away, old man passed and the ride supes are gone. Where the voice over of Chico is tearing down the Double Carousel, FACTS, we all stuck together, we were in our own world and outside looking in, you wouldn't understand. It's extremely hard work. We had a good group 98-99.

[@peedrin123]

I love the top spin 👍🏻

[@garyclark6281]

Worked the Dodgem's on Olson Shows, early 60's, traveled on the flatcars.

[@jpayne3616]

I remember when Cumberland Valley Shows came to town. You could see the AWESOME Skywheel and Superloop ride from far away. Then my town changed fairs and now you barely see anything. Its pitiful how its changed. I was hoping Strates had the Skywheel.

[@LaneInConn]

I understand The Strates Shows sets up a Skywheel at it's major 2019 fair date in New York. At this lot in 2008 the carnival played a 30-day still date to open the tour on the Danbury Fair Mall's parking lot in Connecticut, which limited the number of rides that could be accommodated. Fortunately I was able to capture the final day's activities and teardown on video, as this was the last year the carnival train used the Housitonic rail siding to stage unloading and loading of its attractions for the nearby Danbury mall setup.. Even without major rides as the Music Express, the Strates layout was sizable--and impressive.

[@jpayne3616]

@@LaneInConn yes it is. I never thought anyone cared about ride setup and teardown but me. It's so fascinating. Thanks for the response. Its greatly appreciated bud

[@garrymullane]

this video is so so awesome great job keep up the good work

[@jerryhubbard4461]

Why did the most beautiful ride on the midway go out of business? The Double Ferris wheel aka Skywheel.

[@dominickgiannino8528]

Circus fanatic/ex performer and live the carnival as well. Good video lane

[@michaelkuhn3962]

I remember went the show came to the York Fair I would go and watch them take them off the train to go in the fair to set up.

[@johnpace2089]

A fun watch. Thank you.

[@JohnSmith-fe7nf]

I wonder if that is the same Himalaya that I worked on in 1978. If i remember correctly I worked for a guy named Darrell Culp. He was like a partner on the Himalaya. I was only 18 but I had a lot of fun. Really hard work though.

[@mikepasko7493]

WOW I LOVE IT......

[@harpoon_bakery162]

unbelievable operation. I can't imagine if it was pouring raining the whole time....it would be a nightmare. these guys are really talented at doing what they do to tear these huge "cities" down. It's amazing. I'm sure they are payed well. 46:27 somebody wasn't happy

[@kimmuelweatherspoon4015]

THATS A BIG ASS FERRIS WHEEL

[@a.k.leseansr.6978]

You have the best content . I own a theatrical stage attractions and events company and have theater shows, carnivals and an all new circus show. I have been on both ends of the team. Load outs / strikes are not joke rain or shine ! Lol ! See you down the road!

[@joewelnack3283]

Amazing! Could not believe they were carrying a "Bozo Joint", knock the raspy voiced "clown" into the water. When I worked briefly for Dell & Travers before getting my draft notice (1968), the patch spent a lot of time cooling up ranged up marks. I often wondered why Danny Dell would carry a joint, hell, I almost witnessed a race riot when we were playing Alexandria, Virginia at a still date. I forget who the sponsor was but after that D&T was told not to book "Bozo" joints at the still date that D&T had at other spots. I have really fond memories of working for them. Charlie & Danny were old school, I visited them when I came back from Vietnam; they offered me a job which I had to decline because I liked the USAF and stayed there for twenty years. Glad I declined, when D&T sold out to Olympic Exposistions, the new owner was not to my liking, ended up going broke. A real roach operation that a nameless owner ran into the ground.

[@peedrin123]

Wish we can have strates shows back

[@natboucher1774]

wow it takes a long time to take the rides down I didnt think it would take that long :):(

[@jeffhuffman5160]

I work for Crown amusement’s until 1987 and left the show to start a family and like the song goes…. The road is no place to start a family

[@lamontarnold1612]

Lot of work

[@BBQHoorn]

Great video, Lane! :) Shared it over here. To spell SHOWS SWOHS -lol

[@LaneInConn]

+BbqHoorn Thanks, I'm tentatively planning to come to Hoorn in early August 2016 to capture set up and operations of Kermis Hoorn on video (and perhaps conduct some on-camera interviews for an English-language video in U.S. I'd appreciate your emailing me at [e-mail] with suggestions. Best wishes, Lane Talburt

[@BBQHoorn]

Sounds like a plan, Lane. Carnival ranks #3 in the country, and Hoorn is just 40 mins North of Amsterdam.

[@AnnaD25]

Dell & Travers early 70's💕

[@darrylelkins681]

Amazing Video....lazy people need not apply.......You would have to love this industry to own a show........and Im glad they do, because I love a carnival, and Im past being a young man.....Have marveled at the Conklins, Strates, Drews. Deggalars, Reithoffers, Carrs, Vivona Brothers, Powers ect. and many others between.

[@robertwalton7307]

A bit of carnival minutia -A circus SHIP caught fire in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia in 1967. Just after being loaded. One animal a zebra died in the fire. The lion cage (full of lions) did not break open after being dropped accidentally onto the dock!

[@LaneInConn]

It was the Carson & Barnes Circus, owned by D. R. Miller. Among its passengers was band director King Charles Weathersby.

[@robertproctor1358]

How do you not misplace parts, hey joe where's in the main cable for the ride we took apart, I don't know I thought you put it away l o l

[@geomodelrailroader]

Strates has to do this every time they go from show to show. Just like RBBX before them every ride and light gantry has to be taken down and loaded into a wagon. Once the wagons are full they are connected to each other and a tractor takes them to the yard where they are circus loaded onto 19 flatcars and chained down. when the last car is loaded CSX Transport, UP, NS, CP Rail, CN, RJ Corman, and Florida East Coast take over and assemble the train for departure to the next city where the rides are reassembled and the ribbon is cut on opening day of the next show.

[@brendatuck6871]

I miss working with you all. Hello Chico

[@2AwesomeDogs]

Chico, is the man, He picked me up from Orlando Bus Station when I worked on the show. KIDPOWER when Paul & Lynn Meyers owned it. Burt was cool and Rual Huffman. Clarence Darling as well he was in charger kitty land back from the day. His son don't remember his name Was in charge of the music express under Walt Sr. TC was always a trip...

[@brendatuck8937]

​@@2AwesomeDogsSo u might know me . When did u start working for them. Because I was the only female many years ago in kiddie land. And yes T C was a trip

[@2AwesomeDogs]

​@@brendatuck8937what train car did you live on? My brother is Roland who worked in ticket Dept with Bert.... Roland isn't doing very good these days he has Diabetes, He said several strokes, and recently, they removed one of his legs from the knee down. He lives in a assisted living facilin pennsylvania near his two kids.

[@hughvane]

James E Strates 'SWOHS' hmm? There 'tis @ 43:46.

[@kellymmoriarity]

RIP Chico

[@2AwesomeDogs]

Did Chico pass way????😢

[@blazefairchild465]

Does anyone know if these guys are still in business? I wondered if this type of job dried up during Covid ? All the workers scattered ?

[@atmosphericfunfairs1371]

Why do they have so many rides that come apart in a million different pieces? In the UK showmen have designed big rides that fold away in a matter of minutes to hours. Saves time and money and less stuff to break. Like that Himalaya roof...why not design that to fold up rather than be made up of a load of individual sections?

[@Dion-rz3fz]

Stopped going to these when they had to become politically correct. Human oddities would be better off making money with a carnival, rather than living in some institution. But the ignorant do gooders ruined it for them. And ruined it for those of us who liked the freak shows best of all. (Nothing wrong with the word "freak" if it helps create curiosity and get people to spend their money to see you.) Sickening the way everything is so politically correct now! Of course now-a-days if you want to see "the fat lady" just go into any Walmart, you'll usually run across at least one after a while.

[@ralphjulien7513]

That's the miami dade youth fair if I am correct

[@LaneInConn]

+bosskillen games Actually, this was shot on a shopping mall parking lot in Danbury, CT. If I'm not mistaken, the Strates Shows truck all their rides and attractions to dates in Florida. Thanks for your interest.

[@hontascampbell2772]

It's interesting on how the process works setting up and tearing down sad James E Strates doesn't come to Anderson anymore the new one they bring doesn't excite me as much as James E Strates Midways did the new one's okay ig but kinda sucks though in my opinion lol

[@TREVORJB101]

Is this carnival still around today?

[@naughtiasteffano9885]

Yes

[@briankoch6937]

Do you know if they're still in business I like to update personal days

[@hbic3]

CHICO!!!!!

[@ronaldsummons6100]

very poor attention to safety during tear down.

[@coreycoyle9548]

Very Nice Video!!!! F+L, Corey

[@LaneInConn]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@charlesyates6687]

I worked at a carnaval #1 rule Money before safety . #2 do not pay the help .

[@minecraftamusementparktour6742]

Can I work their when I get older

[@hbic3]

Kenyon Benjamin Honey, you do not want to be a carney. It's a rough, rough life. Stay in school, become a doctor.

[@AlphaFlight]

What happened towards the end while they were loading the train. Seemed liked someone made a mistake

[@LaneInConn]

I believe the dust-up had something to do with the crossover plates. Tempers could get mighty frayed when a carnie has been working for an extended length of time with only an occasional wink of sleep during teardown.

[@m.miller2374]

It's ridiculous the oil those things leak, is that during operation? Shouldn't take be inspected?

[@amy-joe5772]

I know what he means it is alot of slugging

[@LaneInConn]

Carnivals and circuses have a lingo of their own. I learned from a veteran carnival worker that sloughing means tearing down a ride.

[@hometownvomit6292]

Not one hard hat

[@FranciscoOliveira-xl4mu]

🇧🇷🇧🇷🇧🇷🇧🇷🇧🇷🇧🇷🇧🇷🇧🇷

[@amyjojinkerson6745]

we had a saying your eating grease smelling fumes and wheels are rolling under you you're making money

[@AdonaiNate]

The concessions manager was smoking around gas powered trailers how stupid can you get.

[@mickymccarthy3410]

Ooo

[@benjishepherd2030]

his top spin ended up with us in the u.k what a mess it was in when we got it

[@russellloomis4376]

Benji Shepherd was it just beat up or were there real safety issuses

[@craigmcfadden6538]

Oh god...greek owners