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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Carnival worker takes pride in keeping rides safe


Richard Crammer works for Inland Empire Shows. 
 (Photo by Mike Kincaid / The Spokesman-Review)
M.D. Kincaid Correspondent

Richard Crammer is the silent cowboy-type. So silent that his boss, Inland Empire Shows’ Manager Mac Chris, helped him fill in the blanks with this interview. Forty-six of Crammer’s 68 years have been spent on the road as a carnival worker with the Inland Empire Co., which is based in Missoula and travels to fairs and other venues in Idaho, Arizona, Nevada, Utah, Wyoming and in it’s home state of Montana.

A tall, black cowboy hat and Western shirt are reminders of Crammer’s earlier years when he took the winters off from the carnival business and worked as a ranch hand. Now, after spending nine months on the circuit yearly as a truck driver, maintenance man, concession stand operator and all around top hand, he services and repairs the equipment during the off months.

“There are 1,600 lights just on the bumper cars and plenty of maintenance on all the rides. Richard can take any one of them apart and put it back together,” said Chris, adding that each ride must be shut down twice a day for a safety inspection.

The nomadic life of a carny contributed to Crammer’s status of a confirmed bachelor. While on the road, carnival workers usually only stay in the same city for a week, and their little community within the gates of a county fair cuts them off from the outside world. Fellow employees become family. With shifts beginning early in the morning and lasting well into the night, the work isn’t easy, but Crammer takes pride in keeping the rides safe for carnival-goers. As evidenced by Crammer’s answer to one of the questions, the job can be tough.

What is your job title? “Jack of all trades. Truck driver. Lead break man (fills in for workers needing a break). Assistant electrician.”

How long have you been doing this? “Forty-six years.”

How did you choose this line of work? “I’m not sure. I could work with machinery, so I helped tear down a carnival in Oregon in 1960. Next week the carnival came to where I was in Payette, Idaho, and I went to work for them and have been working every since.”

Are you paid: (a) well; (b) more than you are worth; (c) slave wages, (d) could be better? “All right.”

What is the best thing about your job? Crammer was stumped on this question, until his boss reminded him of all the free concert tickets he gets to country western performances at county fairs. Crammer recalls meeting Charley Pride, Charlie Daniels and Mark Chestnut.

What is the worst thing about your job? “People hollering at you when you are trying to do your job.” Chris added that ride operators must focus on the job and can’t answer questions while monitoring a ride.

Do you plan on doing this job (a) until retirement; (b) until something better comes along? “He can’t retire until I tell him he can retire,” laughed Chris. Crammer puts all his Social Security earnings into a savings account, living on his wages.

Do you have any on-the-job funny stories? “It’s sometimes tough determining if a scream is a ‘terror scream’ or a ‘thrill scream,’ ” said Crammer of watching riders. “It’s fun watching the kids in the House of Mirrors – they bounce into the mirrored walls while people are watching from the outside and laughing.” Chris related another story, with the request to leave out the time, location and names. While using a portable restroom, Crammer suffered from some gang members kicking and shaking the outhouse. Keeping in his silent mode, Crammer exited the small facility and waited until the man responsible for the harassment to enter. Without saying a word, Crammer tipped the outhouse over, with the agitator inside. “Many have joked about turning over a outhouse with someone in it, but Richard is the only person I know who actually did it,” said Chris.

Any bad experiences (please elaborate)? Crammer and Chris told of the time in the ‘70s when a rowdy young man in Lewiston jumped on a merry-go-round without a ticket. Crammer told him to get off. The young man took out a hunting knife and stabbed Crammer in the heart. “The kid didn’t spend a night in jail, but Richard spent a week in the hospital.”

If there was a movie made about you and your job, what actor should play you and why? “Robert Duvall – he doesn’t say much, and he is a good cowboy,” offered by Chris on behalf of the quiet cowboy carnival worker.