American OZ: An Astonishing Year Inside Traveling Carnivals at State Fairs & Festivals: Hitchhiking From California to New York, Alaska to Mexico

by Michael Sean Comerford Narrated by Michael Sean Comerford

Overview

“MAJESTIC! ... DEEP OBSERVATIONS ON LIFE!” - CHICAGO TRIBUNE

American OZ is a rollicking, gritty, adventurous year in the secretive subculture of traveling carnivals. You'll never see your state fair or neighborhood festival the same again.

It's a new classic American road story! Comerford writes a bold, inspiring true story of a year working shoulder-to-shoulder with the colorful characters and legends of carnivals.

Read stories of freaks, a carnival pimp, a tramp gold miner, and the last King of the Sideshows. An insult dunk tank clown is shot. Masked gunmen rob his carnival. And a young showman friend dies on the road.

Hitchhike with him to shows in California, New Jersey, New York, Chicago, Alaska, Minnesota, Oklahoma, Texas, Georgia, and Florida where he works in a freak show. He becomes the #1 hitchhiker in the USA.

Travel to the lawless foothills of Mexico to a village that empties out of men each season as they head north to carnivals

Explore issues of the American caste system, working poor, immigration, and the life force of collective joy.

People seek love and meaning on the road. And we find the world runs on untold stories.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

The Chicago Tribune, front page of the "Arts + Entertainment" section - "A remarkable book, colorful, lively and filled with a cast of characters that would do a Fellini movie justice."

"A Brilliant Book"

WGN AM 720 radio:

"Reminiscent of The Big Fish and the gritty writings of Studs Terkel and John Steinbeck, with a dash of Jack Kerouac, Tony Horwitz, and even Hunter S. Thompson thrown in, American OZ will take you on the adventure of a lifetime. It will kick your COVID blues."

Stephen Reddick, historian, educator

"Unlike any book I've ever read! Buckle up and get ready for this book to bring you on the ride of a lifetime!"

Suzy Martin, writer/journalist

"Having been born and raised in the carnival business, I found it to be an extremely authentic look behind the curtain. When the lights go off you are escorted through the real life world of traveling carnivals and the people who move them."

Dave Galyon. His brothers Donnie and Ronnie Galyon were conjoined twins with their own carnival exhibition.

Product Details

BN ID:	2940178775745
Publisher:	Comerford Publishing LLC
Publication date:	01/16/2021
Edition description:	Unabridged

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