On the morning of Friday, September 18, a crowd will gather on a patch of grass south of the Coliseum at the Eastern States Exposition fairgrounds in West Springfield, Massachusetts. There, in the space that for decades has hosted Kiddieland during The Big E, they will witness something the American fair industry has never had: a permanent walk of fame.
Showmen's Park, set to be publicly unveiled at 10:30 a.m. on The Big E's opening day, is a permanent tribute to the individuals, families, organizations, and businesses whose work has shaped the fair and outdoor amusement industries. The public is invited to attend the ceremony free of charge, and several of the inaugural inductees and their families are expected to be on hand for the occasion.
The idea was first announced in February during a press conference at the International Independent Showmen's Association Museum in Riverview, Florida, a region long recognized as the winter quarters for many of the nation's carnival operators, concessionaires, and performers. The announcement was timed to coincide with the annual industry gatherings in the Tampa area, where organizations including the National Independent Concessionaires Association, the Outdoor Amusement Business Association, and the IISA hold their meetings. Lee Stevens, two-time past president of the IISA and executive director of the organization, spoke at the event about how Riverview, Gibsonton, and the surrounding areas have long been home to the American midway.
The inaugural class of Showmen's Park inductees includes Johnny and Tina Doolan of Doolan Amusement Co.; Joie Chitwood Jr. of the Joie Chitwood Thrill Show; Bob Commerford of R.W. Commerford & Sons; Bob and Bea Negus of Conklin Shows; Fred Pittroff, creator and manufacturer of the Giant Slide; and North American Midway Entertainment.
Pittroff's story is a classic American tale of tinkering and reinvention. He began working at fairs in California in 1953, on the food side of the business. In the early 1960s, he met an amusement park operator who mentioned a slide that was popular at his park. Pittroff flew up to Santa Cruz, photographed a 20-foot slide, and came back to build one 40 feet high with the help of his father-in-law, who was in the scaffolding business. Early versions were treacherous, with steel ridges that could break kids' ankles. He eventually refined the design using corrugated steel with grooves instead of ridges, and the modern Giant Slide was born. He built roughly 40 of them for fairs and expositions in the U.S. and abroad, including the one that debuted at Eastern States Exposition in 1968 and has been thrilling Big E visitors ever since.
The Eastern States Exposition itself has a deep history with the showman's craft. Founded in 1916 by a group of western Massachusetts businessmen led by Joshua L. Brooks, the fair was created to promote New England agriculture, which was in serious decline, by linking it to New England industry, which was thriving. In less than ten months, the organizers turned 175 acres of swampy land along the Westfield River into a showcase for agricultural and industrial exhibits and a place for wholesome entertainment. In the fall of 1916, 45,000 people attended the first event held on the grounds. Today, The Big E, as it has long been branded, is billed as New England's Great State Fair, the largest agricultural event on the eastern seaboard and the fifth-largest fair in the nation. Its 2024 attendance reached 1,633,935.
To qualify for induction into Showmen's Park, candidates must have at least 25 years of active involvement in the carnival, fair, amusement, or entertainment industry. They must also demonstrate integrity, professionalism, leadership, and mentorship while respecting the traditions of the showman's craft and the values of Eastern States Exposition. The criteria reflect a world built on reputation, handshake deals, and the seasonal rhythm of the fair circuit.
During the February press conference, ESE Director of Marketing Anne-Alise Pietruska noted the scale of the industry the new park honors. "Eastern States Exposition is one of nearly 1,400 annual fairs and fairgrounds in the United States which have a collective measured impact of more than $50 billion, according to the International Association of Fairs and Expositions," she said. "We outpace entire sectors of the entertainment and tourism industries. Our work fuels the economy, supports small businesses, sustains agriculture and creates jobs. Our individual impact is often far more significant than we give ourselves credit for."
Showmen's Park will be installed south of the Coliseum in the area used for North American Midway Entertainment's Kiddieland during The Big E. The walk of fame's stones will be ceremonially unveiled on opening day, and the inductees and their families will be present to mark the occasion. The Big E runs from September 18 through October 4, and this year, its opening day will carry an added layer of meaning as the fair industry honors its own for the first time in a permanent way, on a patch of ground where the laughter of children and the smell of frying dough have defined the experience of a New England autumn for generations.