Yes, perhaps we’ve all had to leave things too soon – childhood, relationships, limelight or happy idylls, but life still leaves some warm, nostalgic memories along the way. And for me, this week, I’m remembering going to the Ex, the C.L.E. the fair.
I’m thinking about the taste of cotton candy melting in the mouth, watching the carnival ride lights reflecting in the river as you crossed the bridge to get to the Midway, giving up a quarter to the arcade’s animated fortune teller and watching her chest rise and fall as she came to life and scanned the cards in front of her with a fragile gesture, watching my father in military stance shooting out the star in one of the games and all the while keeping the giant milk bottle in the corner of my eye in case I got separated from my family and had to meet them at this landmark.
There is a childr
en’s picture book which the Library has which admirably captures the nighttime experience of going to the fair as a child. It’s titled Night at the Fair and is by Donald Crews. Somehow, he is able to capture the many sensory aspects of that experience. The fair by day is a different fair than the fair by night. For the calmer, sillier experience I could recommend the Canadian picture book Emma at the Fair by Margaret Ruurs. In it, Emma the hen is delighted to have joined the human family for a trip to the fair, until she realizes that she is expected to win a ribbon for something, and she freaks out like Chicken Little.My nostalgia for the Ex led me to do a little research about fairs, or exhibitions, which I’d like to share.
What is the origin of the ferris wheel?
Originally called pleasure wheels, this ride was first built by George W. Gale Ferris, a mechanical engineer in Illinois, for the World’s Exposition in Chicago in 1893.
Source: World Book Student Encyclopedia 2010, in our Virtual Collection
What is the orgin of the evil, horrible, you’re- never- getting- me-up-in-it-again-Parry ride called the Zipper?
Invented by Joseph Brown of Chance Rides Inc. in Kansas in 1968, this untamed mechanical chaos machine actually has a maximum ride length of 2.5 minutes (seems longer). The unique aspect of the ride is the flip
at the end which comes with a sudden burst of speed, and which can hurl the rider face-forward or toes to the sky backwards.
Source: www.ride-extravaganza.com
What is carny talk?
I can almost hear the “bally”, the bombastic, amazing, super-colossal patter of the barker calling to the throngs to visit their tent . Bally, is one of those carny words – part of the special argot used by the carnival workers as shorthand for everyday tasks, and also as a way to possibly mark themselves as “other” than the townies.
Source: e-Book On the Midway by Wayne N. Kesser
Does anyone remember the weird, white, round garbage cans which were supposed to look like satellites?
They were at the Ex for several years with signs which read “send your garbage into orbit”, I believe that their catchy phrase would not sound so ecologically sound any longer. I found a picture of this orbit garbage can at Source: www.manitobaphotos.com/postcards.htm
One of my favourite aspects of the fair was the brash, gaudy painted canvas signs advertising the side shows.
I wish I had taken more photos of them when they still existed. Alive! You Won’t Believe Your Eyes! Weird! Wild! Never Seen Before! They all shouted at you in lurid colours and humoursly distorted twists of perspective.
Source: You can see a variety of photographs and preserved examples at www.sideshowworld.com
What are your memories of the CLE? Do you remember the Royal American Shows? The Grandstand? The Ink Spots visiting? Pierre Trudeau at the opening ceremonies? The Lakehead Stock Car Club track races? For me, nothing can top the night the announcer pulled a child’s ticket out of the drum – the last ticket to be called after no one else in the audience was present to accept that evening’s grand attendance draw –
and we Meady kids nudged my disbelieving dad to go up on stage and get our BRAND NEW POWDER BLUE DATSUN!
Written with thanks to the Library for allowing me such easy access to information to feed my nostalgic mood.
Angela Meady
Head of Children’s & Youth Services
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