Royal American Shows
royal american show ra leading american traveling carnival company operated united state canada company promoted beautiful show earth world largest midway company established carl john sedlmayr october – november sedlmayr born fall city nebraska german ancestry father died sent live relative kansa city missouri started work travelling salesman fountain pen became interested fairground lifestyle took job ticket seller chicago later started opening sideshow attraction gaining experience showman partner bought siegrist silbon show sedlmayr took sole ownership changed company name royal american show began running company partnership two brother curtis j velare – elmer c velare – specialized operating running mechanical fairground ride business expanded rapidly sedlmayr signed lucrative contract state fair festival throughout midwest southern united state western canada company claimed carnival dedicated principle carrying clean highclass entertainment public company first contract calgary stampede sedlmayr became undisputed king carnival circuit employee barnum bailey circus went strike ra able expand space left vacant circus world war ii restriction rail use meant company unable travel canada company employed tom parker later manager elvis presley work carny ra selling candy apple parker met future wife marie mott acquired awareness cultural political dynamic south midwest left royal american show partnership sedlmayr velare brother continued early sedlmayr owned operated rubin cherry show two year partnership sam soloman relaunching royal american show company sole owner mids company regained western canadian circuit fair show starred lash larue exotic dancer gypsy rose lee sally rand leon claxtons allblack musical revue harlem havana fairground ride embraced new technology developed world war ii included four ferris wheel placed side side company continued expand develop according circus historian fred dahlinger jr always innovative presentation technology operation carnival approached royal behemoth quantity diversity splendor company regularly moving people together livestock equipment carried greatest number flatcar ever carried traveling amusement organization world carl j sedlmayr sr died business run son carl j sedlmayr jr – grandson carl j sedlmayr iii – increasing cost rail transport affected finance company regina saskatchewan buffalo day undercover surveillance operation revenue canada conjunction rcmp raided midway operation seizing record equipment company accused tax evasion fraud canadian authority sedlmayr jr placed arrest freed paying outstanding tax bill inquiry ra affair led foundation alberta gaming commission sedlmayr jr vowed never return canada many company property remained storage company continued operate united state steadily diminished size last ra show staged lubbock texas show equipment material sold auction winter base tampa florida king carnival film