Amusement Warehouse Podcast

Episode 61 of the Amusement Warehouse Podcast features Kirk Slaughter and Scott Munz of the Oklahoma State Fair. Learn which one introduced Valerie Bertinelli to Eddie Van Halen and who was almost on the cover of a ZZ Top album! We also talk about the Oklahoma State Fair and all they have going on at one of our nation’s top 50 fairs .

Episode 60 of the Amusement Warehouse Podcast features Andrea Wiesenmeyer, the new manager of the Colorado State Fair. Her journey went through Iowa, where she worked at the Clay County Fair to Idaho, where she worked at a smaller fair but learned the industry from the bottom up. Hear her plans for the Colorado State Fair and the challenges she faces moving to one of the largest events in the nati...

Episode 59 of the Amusement Warehouse Podcast features Adam Heffron, the General Manager of the Ohio State Fair. His father, Mike Heffron managed the Minnesota State Fair and Adam grew up on the fairgrounds there. Hear Adam’s thoughts on the fair industry and see how he will be spending one of the largest capital improvement budgets in the country.

Episode 58 of the Amusement Warehouse Podcast features Kyle Robinson, leader of the team at the Florida Strawberry Festival. The Berry Fest is one of the US’s most unique events, combining agriculture, a full midway, entertainment and headline music entertainment, all run by a non-profit organization without government funding. See how Kyle and his team put together one of America’s biggest events

Episode 57 of the Amusement Warehouse Podcast features Patrick Ball, the new CEO of America’s oldest fair, the York State Fair in York, Pennsylvania. He comes to the fair with varied management and interim management background. Hear his thoughts on this American institution and how he balances tradition and new experiences.

Episode 56 of the Amusement Warehouse Podcast features RC Cole of Cole Shows Amusement Company. RC has built his company from a small operation with his father to the largest show in the State of Virginia. RC works in both rural and urban areas and he brings a unique perspective to operations post-Covid.

Episode 55 of the Amusement Warehouse Podcast features Stephen Shimp, Executive Director of the Georgia National Fair. Stephen took the helm of one of the newest large events in the country and has overseen remarkable growth. The Georgia National Fair consistently ranks on CarnivalWarehouse.com’s Top 50 Fairs list , coming in at #33 in 2024. Hear his plans for the event going forward and how he ac...

Episode 54 of the Amusement Warehouse Podcast features Darren Torr, President of Rocky Mountain Construction (RMC). Darren Torr is an accomplished business leader with extensive experience across various industries, currently serving as President of Rocky Mountain Construction Group Inc since September 2020, focusing on delivering exceptional roller coaster experiences. Prior roles include Preside...

Episode 53 of the Amusement Warehouse Podcast features Patty Sullivan of the Eli Bridge Company. The Sullivan name is synonymous with the Ferris Wheel from the early days of the industry to the present. Hear about Eli Bridge’s storied history and why they are still a force in the amusement industry over 100 years after their founding. Watch on YouTube for special visuals from Eli Bridge’s history...

Episode 52 of the Amusement Warehouse Podcast features Paul Muller of O.A. Finance. Paul has spent years in the finance business, providing loans to prospective buyers and is also a Deacon in the Catholic Church and serves as a chaplain for the outdoor amusement business.

Episode 51 of the Amusement Warehouse Podcast features Dr. Jay Aguilar of Chance Rides. Jay goes over Chance’s history, their entry into the amusement business and expansion and their re-entry into the mobile amusement market.

Episode 50 of the Amusement Warehouse Podcast features Michael Wood of Wood Entertainment. Michael has a storied history in the carnival business. He has owned a carnival and operated as an independent ride operator for many years at some of the largest fairs in the US including the State Fair of Texas and Minnesota State Fair. Along with his partner Frank Zaitshik, he also operates The Midway Sky...

Episode 49 of the Amusement Warehouse Podcast features Kent Yelverton, the manager of the North Carolina State Fair. He grew up on a farm but received his degrees and professional experience in Engineering. He worked with the fair when it was under the direction of Wesley Wyatt and upon Wyatt’s retirement, Yelverton took the helm. See how he takes a process approach to the fair and how he tackles...

Episode 48 of the Amusement Warehouse Podcast features carnival owner Harry Mason. Harry is the owner of Brass Ring Amusements which is made up of two shows including Midway of Fun in California and Silver State Amusements in Nevada. He started with Butler Amusements after working with them on a fundraiser and grew into a large show owner now on the West Coast.

Episode 47 of the Amusement Warehouse Podcast features Rebecca Clark, manager of the Illinois State Fair. From a journalism background, she now brings her unique perspective and skills to one of the US’s largest events. Under Rebecca's leadership, in 2024, the Illinois State Fair ranked #24 on CarnivalWarehouse.com 's Top 50 Fair Ranking.

Episode 46 of the Amusement Warehouse Podcast features carnival industry veteran, Lee Stevens. Lee is the new Executive Director of the IISA Carnival Museum in Gibsonton, Florida. Hear his plans to bring the museum to a wider audience and learn about his illustrious career in the circus business.

Episode 45 of the Amusement Warehouse Podcast features Pete Downs, President of Waterloo Tent and Tarp, the largest manufacturer of canvas for the amusement industry. Pete’s designs revolutionized the industry and helped make it the entertaining, colorful world it is today.

Episode 44 of the Amusement Warehouse Podcast features members of the Skerbeck Family, including Bill and Joe Skerbeck, and their mother Arlene Altenburg. Both families represent two Michigan based carnivals, Skerbeck Family Carnival and Skerbeck Entertainment Group. The Skerbeck family has deep roots in the amusement industry, dating back to 1857 and spanning 7 generations, and is one of the olde...

Episode 43 of the Amusement Warehouse Podcast features Rob Berk, founder of Berk Concession Supplies. Berk Concession Supplies has changed the way we drink and eat at a fair or event. Replacing boring colorless cups with vibrant, themed alternatives, Berk has made buying a concession more fun for the customer, and more profitable for the concessionaire.

Episode 42 features Jaime Parr, executive director of the Nebraska State Fair.

Episode 41 of the Amusement Warehouse Podcast features Tony Sanders, the General Manager of old Tuscan Entertainment. Old Tucson Entertainment owns Old Tucson Amusement Park, an amusement and movie studio just west of Tucson, Arizona. The park is unique in that it is a working film studio filled with lots of rich history.

Episode 40 of the Amusement Warehouse Podcast features Wayne Kunz. Wayne has seen it all. Starting on his father’s Century 21 Shows, he played leading roles on Bluegrass Shows and North American Midway Entertainment. Wayne played the Seattle World’s Fair with his father’s Sky Wheel during a marathon trip to make opening!

Episode 39 of the Amusement Warehouse Podcast features Nate Janousek, co-owner of Fun Biz Concessions. Fun Biz provides food concessions at some of the countries top fairs including the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo, State Fair of Texas, Minnesota State Fair, The Cheyenne Frontier Days, and many more. Nate was also the president of the Showmen's League of America in 2024.

Episode 38 of the Amusement Warehouse Podcast features Nancy Smith, General Manager of the South Carolina State Fair. Nancy worked her way through the ranks before becoming general manager at the retirement of her mentor, Gary Goodman. Hear about Nancy’s involvement in the industry and her plans for the fair.

Episode 37 of the Amusement Warehouse Podcast features Greg Chiecko, the President and CEO of the Outdoor Amusement Business Association (OABA), the largest trade organization for the carnival industry. Greg came from the fair side of the industry, and has been working with stakeholders to ensure a stable work force for carnivals in the US. Hear about the challenges carnivals face and what the OAB...