A Carny | This Past Weekend w/ Theo Von #496

Mitch Candano and His Family's Carnival History

• Mitch Candano, a fourth-generation Carney, discusses his family's 100-year history in the carnival business.
• Mitch's grandfather started selling cotton candy in 1918, and his family eventually expanded into owning rides, games, and food concessions.
• Mitch's father worked for large carnivals and eventually became a prominent figure in the industry.
• Mitch's first job in the carnival was likely selling cotton candy at a floss stand.

Carnivals and Fairs

• Carnivals and fairs are similar, but fairs typically have an agricultural component with animals, demolition derbies, and local crafts.
• During the spring, carnivals split into sections to cover multiple cities, but they reunite for fairs, which can lead to conflicts between workers from different units due to territorial disputes.

Cotton Candy

• Cotton candy is made by heating sugar until it liquefies, then spinning it rapidly to create fine strands that re-solidify.
• The YouTuber describes the process of making cotton candy, including the use of a machine that spins the sugar and a stick to collect the cotton candy.
• He mentions that some people are very skilled at making intricate shapes and designs with cotton candy.

Frank Lentini, the "King in the Circus"

• Frank Lentini was born in Sicily in 1881 with three legs, four feet, 16 fingers, and an extra set of genitals due to a parasitic twin attached to his spine.
• He worked in various freak shows and circuses, including Barnum and Bailey, showcasing his unique abilities such as kicking a soccer ball and riding a bike with his extra limbs.
• Lentini's career spanned over 40 years, and he became known as the "King in the Circus" for his hard work and presence.
• He married and had four children, all of whom were born without any deformities.
• Lentini passed away due to an accident involving one of his legs.

Other Carnival Performers and Attractions

• The video also mentions other carnival performers and attractions, including fake lobster men, bearded ladies, the world's smallest horse, and a man who would call people fat for a dollar.
• General Tom Thumb, a relative of P.T. Barnum, was a famous dwarf who performed in Barnum's circus.
• Grady Styles, known as the Lobster Boy, had a rare condition called ectrodactyly, which caused his hands and feet to fuse into claws.
• Lionel the Lion-Faced Man, born Steven Bowski, had a condition called Hyperchrosis, which is commonly associated with werewolf syndrome.

Dime Museums and Freak Shows

• Dime museums and freak shows were popular in the 19th and early 20th centuries, featuring people with physical differences for the public to view.
• PT Barnum's American Museum in New York City was one of the most famous dime museums.
• The museum featured various exhibits, including people with dwarfism, albinism, and other unique physical characteristics.

Carnival Rides and Safety

• The narrator shares his experiences working at carnivals and fairs.
• He describes a remote control device used to shake money out of people's pockets during a ride.
• He mentions an accident where a kid got hit by a ride called the Sky Master while trying to collect money during operation.
• The narrator discusses another incident where a girl fell out of a ride called the Freak Out due to a malfunctioning shoulder bar.
• He talks about the challenges of shutting down rides when someone is not doing well, mentioning the Freak Out ride as his favorite.
• The narrator recalls a ride called the Puke Barrel, which caused a lot of vomiting due to its intense spinning and rocking motion.
• He mentions owning some carnival rides with his family when he was younger and shares his perspective on safety inspections for carnival rides.
• The narrator expresses concerns about potential cover-ups of accidents and deaths at carnivals.
• He highlights the frequency of state inspections for carnival rides compared to amusement parks.
• The narrator discusses the process of daily inspections conducted by ride foremen and the role of the ride super in overseeing safety.
• He reminisces about other carnival rides, including the Super Slide, and shares stories of having fun on the rides after hours.

Carnival Games

• The narrator talks about the various games at the carnival, including the rigged ones like "cover the red spot" where it's mathematically impossible to win.
• He recalls his brother's emotional distress after failing to win a game despite spending a significant amount of money.
• The narrator shares anecdotes of families experiencing financial ruin and even trading their children in attempts to win carnival games.
• Carnival games are designed to be difficult to win, and gamblers are often enticed to keep playing in the hopes of winning back their losses.
• Some carnival games, such as the "tubs of fun" game, are rigged to make it nearly impossible to win.
• Carnival operators often use psychological tricks to convince people to play their games, such as letting them win a few small prizes at first or making it seem like the games are easy to win.
• Some carnival prizes, such as Xbox consoles, may not even be in the boxes, as operators know that nobody is likely to win them.
• Carnival games can be a source of frustration and disappointment for players, who may feel like they are being scammed.

Carnival Characters and Workers

• The YouTuber shares his memories of working at carnivals when he was younger.
• He describes the various characters and workers at the carnivals, including the barkers, the guess-your-weight guy, and the sausage stand owner.
• He mentions that some carnivals would sell leftover food from the previous carnival, which could sometimes be a problem.
• The YouTuber explains that many of the carnival workers were family-owned businesses that would join up with larger carnivals for the season.
• He talks about the camaraderie among the carnival workers and the different crews that would form.
• The YouTuber admits that he was a heavy partier and describes the wild parties that would happen at the carnivals, especially in smaller towns.
• He mentions that there were often fights at the carnivals, and he recalls one instance where he was arrested for getting into a fight while on LSD.