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Show 2A Sun Advocate, Price, Utah Thursday, August 12, 1993 Focus nr3W.n MW I mil k 1 W 66 JL wouldn't know what to do for more than two weeks. place if I was in one MIKE LUDWICK 99 Ok " " JV 5ujSrsLs This worker watches the big wheel to see how his young customer fares. The road is home to Utah carnival workers If ever a songs title could describe a group of people, Willie Nelsons On the Road Again surely depicts the life of carnival workers in Lou Melendez City of Fun, which made a brief appearance in Puce during Carbon Countys International Days recently. Melendez has his show on the road playing 40 spots over 40 weeks a year from mid-Janua- to Not a lot of time to ry mid-Novemb- settle down and smell the roses. But thats just how the like it. car-nie- s I wouldnt know what to do if I vas in a place for more than two weeks, said Mike Ludwick, 30, who runs the games for the show. Ive been on the road all my life. Melendez, who bases his carnival show out of Pleasant Grove, has been in the carnival business for 42 years. In fact, the carnival is a family affair for him. His wife, Lois, and he have raised three children with the carnival and now have grandchildren working for him. Melendez daughter, Pam, w ho grew up with the show, is a vital part of the business now. When you grow up here, you learn to do everything, she said. It is a lot of hard work. I think its a good educa- tion, though. Her daughter, Shannon, has also been with the show since she was 3 years old, Pam stated. Shannon has been with the carnival since she has been able to help. Shes learned how to set u p and take down rides and drive the trucks when needed. She often is the one to train the new guys how to set up the rides, she added. Shannon, who was doing duty at the poster game this day, said she likes working for her grandfather. I like to travel and the pay is good, she said. She graduated from high school in Pleasant Grove this spring and said she enjoys being with her family again during the summer. She plans to start college this fall, where she said she would like to study hotel management or prepare to be a police officer. The young blonde smiled when asked about driving an to a new spot. Well, I do get a lot of stares from the guys on the freeway, she said. Moma Larsen, who was also working the poster game w ith Shannon, has been with the Melendez carnival for a longtime. In fact, she has been with the show since she graduated from high school in 1973. Its a lot of hard work, she said. But its great entertainment for the kids and for families I like the traveling the best and I get to see my family while out on the road. I get to meet a lot of people out here and I like the people Im working for and that makes a big difference The hard work does take its toll and the result is a large turnover in personnel with the show. The demanding life forces several workers to leave in pursuit of other goals. It seems like 5 people stick around each year and we get to be good friends, Morna said. But the turnover is a downside for Ludwick, who has been with the carnival for seven years. It was really neat before, he said. It was a tighter group 10-1- then. Now, except for my are a lot of newer people. Ludwick insists that the newer faces dont get him down, though. He maintains a good attitude despite the changing atmosphere and is friendly to passersby while he runs the basketball toss game. You have to be nice, he explained. If you arent, then they wont talk to you and they arent going to spend any money. He said he still thinks about his old friends on occasion. A lot of them are on different shows now. Some of them will show back up here later. They like this lifestyle. re Its 11 oclock closing time, and Melendez stands out on the midway with his hands resting on his hips, surveying the rides as they shut down one by one. The large crowd, which makes up for a slow afternoon, begins to disperse. This is no good, he states. I cant make any money if Im closed. He walks off to make sure everything is secured for the night. Before another day with his show on the road. (Top left) Marilyn encourages passersby to try a game. (Bottom left) Kids of all ages are attracted to the carnival. A carnival worker enjoys talking with patrons. business for over 40 years, raised his daughter, Pam, with the show. of She plays an important part running the carnival, along with the rest of the family. Lou Melendez, in the carnival Photos and text by I 1 t J . Scott Niendorf |