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                                                                 Carnival Games

    
     For many years I worked the games. Over the years {27} I worked almost all of them.
So this information does come from interviews or secondhand hearsay. I have done the time. As I got older I of course managed and then built and owned my own games.

    I grew up loving the games and all the different challenges they proposed. You see back in the mid 1960's when
I started, the games then were a lot different, AND so were the prizes. I started out working a duck-pond, I was 12.
1 for 15 cents, 2 for 25 cents. Prize Everytime. Most all the prizes were a piece of Slum, {plastic} and if you picked
up two certain ducks, 5 and 25 was ours you won a stuffed animal. We had like 60 ducks in the water and the chance of picking both those numbers in the same draw were low, and yet I caught hell when I did have both in there and lost a stuffed animal.

    So many of the games back in those days were rigged and or ripped you off. Back then there were a lot of games that were called Flatstores. They were either rigged or gaffed. They had names like Swinger, 6 cat, Push-up coke, Blockstore and Maybe one of the most infamous Razzel. Most of these aren't around anymore. They are illegal in most states, plus the Show Owners of today do not want the headaches or the complaints that come with them.

    Here is a little known fact. The Show Owners are very hard on the game owners now. These are Multi-million dollar operatations and the last thing they want to deal with are town people coming to the office to complaining about losing $2.00 or $5.00 at a game.

    Now don't think you will get a free ride if you go to the office and complain. They will check into your complaint. But they know that the game owner doesn't want the office coming to the games. So most all the games are very clear on what is what. If you do have a problem ask for the game manager or owner, and they will help you. Many times it is just a misunderstanding.

    Back to the games. There are a lot of misunderstandings at the games. I will tell you after years and years of being on the front line, people are funny. Guys and Gals will walk up to game ask how much it is, hand over the money and not read the signs or ask questions until after
they have  lost. Then they complain what a rip-off. Folks if you do this, you ripped yourself off. You need to read the signs, and ask question before you play.

    You need to learn the rules and the how tos before you play not after. The guys and gals you see walking arounds the Carnival or fair with the armfull of stuffed animals know how and what to do. Let ask you a question, "Do you think they win every time they play?" No they don't. They know that none of the games that are worthwhile can be won every time. Now there are many that can be won regularly, and they will have a sign saying only one prize per day.

    So when someone who is really good, they can be stopped from cleaning them out. So that is one thing you want to look for on the sign is. One Prize Per Day. That tells you that with the right skill or technique you can win. Today all State Fair and most County Fairs are inspected. The games have to be winnable to be allowed. That means that now all you need to know is the technique or the knowledge of how to win. One thing you need to remember it is a business, and a very competative at that. The owners today realize that having winners is a good thing. Stuff animals on the Midways tell others you can win too.

     Now many of the game have banner tags around their neck saying I was won at Blank Blanks game. The games of today are a lot different from the games of years gone by. They are most all  winnable if you have the knowledge and or techniques and a little money. Many are harder then easlier. Better the Prize the harder to win.

     You need to be more honest with yourself, When you play the game, did you miss? Did you do it right? Before you blame the game. Do you need more practice?

     The games today can be a lot more fun and you can win more often with the right attitude and the right knowledge. Also important to not be blind in one eye and not able to see out of the other. There are some of you out there that couldn't hit your fanny with your hand tied behind you. So be honest with yourself as well as the game.