July 30, 2004
Wanna be a Carny?
Gotta learn the lingo.
Also through this site: American circus lingo, Brit/Euro slang, Vaudville slang, and Audio Samples thereof.
Ah, rubes and squares, more here and here. Step right up, folks, for examples of a rapidly fading occupational lexicon! Marvel at the subculture that created it! Long wistfully for the past! As a contrast: Circus lingo (more). Maybe wash it all down with some Circus Peanuts?
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Interesting -- any pics anywhere of the carnys and ballys doing their thing?
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I dunno. If I get a minute, I'll do a google...
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(Thinking idly of Conrad Poohs and His Dancing Teeth)
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*moaning* No one saw the carny go... No one saw the carny go... *eerie music*
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Have you ever meant a carny? I live in Tampa. Which is near Gibsonton (called Gibtown by the locals).
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My oldest son worked as a carney, for four years. I am not convinced its a good career choice, he is. I am thankful I finally got him to listen and get a *real* job. I have seen first hand how they live, and it is not pretty. Or at least thats what I saw with the outfit he worked for, not pretty. The pay is ok, but living in the back of trucks or campers, with no running water and having to spend at least 75% of your pay to live on the road...naw it is not pretty.
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I actually worked as a pitchman a few years ago during the summer hiatus. You know who I mean; the guys who sell you the miracle mops and such. A friend has been doing the fairs for years and he asked me if I would help him out for a season. It's not quite a carny, but it's close. Not something I would recommend for everyone, but if you like people and you like selling, it might be your bag. I'm actually glad I did it. It was fascinating and banal at the same time. I'm just glad it was only for one summer.
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Thanks, js, for some interesting and provocative links here. Not always easy to say a term springs from a single specialized vocation/occupation. Many of these terms actually knew/know a wider currency than the distinct lists would indicate -- some 'carny slang' entering the 'underworld' or the theatre, etc. (Words are always slippery beasts, and can eel their way around unexpectedly.) 'Dekko', for example, saw common use among members of the RAF during the Second World War. And 'gaffer' has evolved into a lighting techician.
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Actually, much of this reminds me of the slang from Clockwork Orange. Burgess seems to have borrowed from these argots and added a bit of Russian to come up with Nadsat.