HISTORY OF THE CARNY CARNIVAL WEDDING
The total
history of the Carny Carnival Wedding is essentially un-documented because as a
rule, no permanent records are ever kept by anyone else except the betrothed.
Since necessity
is the mother of invention it is safe to assume that the very first carny
carnival wedding arouse out of a need that could not be otherwise satisfied in
any other way and so it was that the Carny Carnival Wedding was invented. Eye
also strongly believe that it was actual Gypsys who influenced the Carnys to
marry in this manner. There are many close associations between Carnys and
actual Gypsys.
This Blog is
intended to document for posterity what history about the Carny Carnival
Wedding that was told first hand to me by such notable Carnys as CJ Sedlmayer
Jr. Owner and show boss .of THE ROYAL AMERICAN SHOWS and a host of other
“white-hats” that it was my pleasure to know during my eleven years in the
business.
According to the
tradition a Show-Boss possesses the same authority to marry a couple as a
ship’s captain does. Therefore both the consent and the actual participation of
a Show-Boss in the wedding ceremony are fundamental to the rite. Having
procured such permission and participation it is up to the couple to write down
their vows on the front of a current AB (Amusement Business Newspaper). The
Show-Boss is to read the couples vows out loud and then ask the couple if they
agree to the vows that he just spoke. Assuming of course that both parties do
agree to the vows then they are escorted by the Show-Boss onto the
Merry-Go-Round where it is customary for the Bride to select a carousel pony to
sit side-saddle on while the Groom stands behind her to support her. Then the
Show-Boss himself operates the ride and causes the carousel to turn a single
rotation and then stop the ride rite where if began. At this point the
Show-Boss announces that the couple are now formerly married and that all the
carnys on his show will respect and protect the married couples union.
Eye have
attended several such wedding ceremonies and although the basic rules always
apply each wedding ceremony is different. It’s up to the couple getting married
to embellish the proceedings however they want to and given the colorful
lifestyle of Carnival People one need only imagine the possibilities.
For example, it
is customary to invite everyone who works on the show to attend the Marry Go
Round Ceremony so Carny Carnival Weddings can either be small and quaint or big
and boisterous depending on the size and temperament of the particular show.
All Carny Carnival Weddings are scheduled for a time when the show is closed to
the public. Therefore the character of the wedding depends largely on whether
or not the ceremony is conducted before the show opens for the day or after it
closes.
More to come
here soon! Stay Tuned.
