I recently heard someone who was describing a guy who was dirty and greasy as looking like a carny. It immediately pissed me off but I had to admit that there was a time when it was true.

Maybe sometimes it is still a fact that carnies work long, hard hours in a dirty environment and are unable to clean up due to circumstance.

On most shows today and certainly all of the major traveling carnival companies, you won't find a dirty carny unless you sneak in off hours. Carnivals today have longer lists of "dress codes" and personal hygiene than banks. Outdoor entertainment is big business and all carnivals are out to provide a clean family experience.

Carnivals like everything else in life are changing.

Change is great. Even some very small shows provide bunkhouses with showers on the lot. I'll bet their people aren't sleeping on stock curled up in the corner of some joint anymore either.

Myself, I really miss the Girlie Shows and the Wild Man From Borneo. Change isn't always fun.