For the past week there has been a carnival set up by our local mall. Whenever I see a carnival it brings back memories of my Grandpa and Grandma.
My Grandpa and Grandma would work for Silver Star Shows of Brownville, Nebraska during the summer. My Grandpa would run one of the rides and my Grandma would sell tickets.
Luckily my Grandma kept some items in her scrapbooks that I can share.
The carnival route that my grandparents would work would usually run through Nebraska and Iowa. I remember many letters coming from my grandma that would tell where they were and where they were going next.
This clipping is of the carnival at Malvern, Iowa on the 4th of July and there is a note that ‘We Went’. At first they would just work on the weekends or holidays, but later after my Grandpa retired they would travel with the show. They would sleep in the back of their station wagon or big blue van.
Two of my uncles also worked the shows, so it was a family affair. I talked to my Mom tonight and she said that she even sold tickets one time when we were visiting on the 4th of July.
This ride looks a little crazy for me. I would want a little more protection around me. When I go to a carnival I will usually prowl along the midway watching the games of chance or get a taste of the carnival food.
Here is a picture of my Grandpa running the carousel for the Silver Star Shows. He looks like he is having a lot of fun.
Do you like to go to carnivals?
What is your favorite ride?
Steven
Braman's Wanderings 
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I worked as a carny with Silver Star Shows back in the summer of 1970. I remember the owner’s father was nicknamed “Coke” because he always had a Coke in his hand. The story was that he got hooked on Cokes because he started drinking them back when Coca-Cola first came out. Then there was real cocaine in the cokes.
It was an eye-opening summer. I never realized the insular nature of the carnival business. It was a tight nit group and remains so if Silver Stars is still on the road.
Silver Start Shows is long gone. I at one time saw who they were sold off to, but can’t find it now. The owner, Richard Clifton, passed away in 1999 and his wife Lora just passed away last month.
My Uncle Junior Strassil also worked for Silver Star Shows. Do you remember him or my Grandparents?
So good to know someone who I can talk about those days. I remember someone they called “Junior” but can’t bring up his face. I do remember a couple who met and got married while carnies on the Shows. I was off to myself and didn’t hang with anyone. I graphically remember the horrendous routine of going from town to town. It took a while to get used to traveling all night, setting up before dawn, and sleeping during the day until the opening in the early evening. I am in the process of writing a short story for Totten Tales about working with Silver Star that summer and was wondering if you have a couple of pictures of the trucks with the rides set up and broken down and also a picture of the crew that I could post with my story. It will be fiction using only pseudonyms. Who was nicknamed “Coke?” My email address is: estormzap@icloud.com
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