The Bill Lynch Carnival Show-A Staple of Martime Culture (The East Coast of Canada).
While working on my post for Canada’s 150th Birthday, I stumbled upon a poster advertising a Canadian Carnival show in the 1940’s (Seen in my post HERE). I had never heard of the name ‘Bill Lynch’ before and was instantly intrigued and knew I just had to know more. And like the good blogger I am, I figured that if I did not know much about Bill and his Exposition Shows then maybe many of my readers hadn’t either. So lets explore the Carnival’s history together friends!
Meet William (Bill) Lynch
About the Show & Bill:
- William Lynch (Born 1905) as a young boy growing up on McNab’s Island, Nova Scotia loved the annual summer fair on Findlay’s Picnic Grounds. In fact he loved it so much that when he became a teenager he took a job racking the balls and assisting with the old merry-go-round. All the while, he yearned to be a bigger part of this magical escape (Source).
- 1917 – Halifax has a horrific explosion which ends the summer fun and fairs as the city rebuilt and forces Bill back to regular life working in a machine shop.
- BUT the dream is not dead and Lynch returns to McNabs Island in the spring of 1920, buying the famous merry-go-round for $800. He managed it until 1924, but people didn’t come to the island like they used to. Lynch decided to go to the people and starts to travel around to small towns in Nova Scotia (Source).
- 1928, he adds a second ride: a Ferris wheel.
- In 1929, Bill wins the bid for the Halifax Exhibition and invests in 3 more rides and 3 shows to boost the size of his show to fit the exhibitions request. It was a hefty purchase that paid off and Lynch was asked back for the 1930 exhibition.
- Changing the negative perception of Carnies & giving back to the community: Bill hired hundreds of Maritimers to run the games and partnered with service groups. Made donations to charitable groups in every town his roadshow visited and told the carnies that all disabled children should ride for free (Source).
- By the 1940’s, The Bill Lynch Carnival is the Biggest in Canada and becomes “the search for relief from monotony from everyday living.”
- 1956 the show is now massive, towing 27 railway cars of rides, games and performers all around the Maritimes. Lynch hired acts such as The Turtle Woman, The Tattooed Man, The Worlds Fattest Couple, and conjoined twins Ronnie and Donnie (Source).
- After 52 years in the business, Lynch dies in 1972. The carnival has changed hands a couple of times but is currently still in operation.
1941 photo of a Monkey Race.
The Famous Ferris Wheel-1941.
1940s photo of the Merry-Go-Around.
Sailors watching either a ride or a show in 1941.
Advertising for a show in Saint John, New Brunswick.
High Wire Bicycle Act.
Further Reading on the Carnival:
- Carnival Man-Halifax Magazine
- Under the Electric Sky: The Legacy of the Bill Lynch Shows by Christopher A. Walsh
I hope you enjoyed learning about Bill Lynch and his Carnival Show. It was really fun researching this topic and learning about a piece of Canadian history dear to many hearts in the East Coast.
Vintage Inn Blog Post To Read:
- Vintage Photo Tuesday: Royal Agriculture Winter Fair
- Chicago World’s Fair – Century of Progress 1933-1934
- A look inside Brussels World Fair-1958
- Step Back in Time with The Canadian National Exhibition
- Exhibits & Displays Seen At The Canadian National Exhibition (CNE) From The 1920s-1960s
- Vintage Canada: The Bill Lynch Travelling Carnival Show
Liz
Love those advertising posters. Such style and colours!
They are wonderful! Posters from those times are always so great 🙂
Hi Liz… thanks for the memories… I traveled with the show back in the mid 50’s….. Great life experience …… Lots of stories to share, if you are interested
That is so cool! I would love to read about whatever stories you wish to share. You are more then welcome to email me: thevintageinnblog@gmail.com
Thanks for dropping by 🙂
Liz
Hey there, my parents travelled with the Lynch shows. My Dad was Noonie Jamael and he started on the kiddie Ferris wheel, and then he and Mom worked in the Bingo under Mac and Frances. I grew up on the carnival and was on the road every summer for 20 years, I even brought my new husband with me the first year we were married. I am writing a book about my time on the road. We started on the Big Show (#1) and moved to the #2 and #3 shows. But my younger years were memorable with the side shows and high wire acts and such, I was wondering if I can ask you what you remember about that time that you can share with me. For example I remember seeing the conjoined twins and the worlds fattest couple and a few other things. But from my 0-5 year old perspective I have forgotten so much. Debee. email: graham.debee@gmail.com
My family traveled with the Bill Lynch show. They were called ‘The Great Donaghy Family’. We have a few pictures of them, including my mother who ate fire. If you would like, I can see if I can send copies of them to your site. Shirley Larouche.
Hi Shirley! I sure would love to see the pictures. Thank you. Please send them to my email: thevintageinnblog@gmail.com
Thank you!
Liz
Hi again Liz.. in the 50’s i worked for a concession that all folks remembers.( JUNE’s) All the stuffed prizes had a tag which read I WAS WON AT JUNE’S… back then I was known as TEX
That is very cool! Why were you known as Tex?
Liz
Hey there, my parents travelled with the Lynch shows. My Dad was Noonie Jamael and he started on the kiddie Ferris wheel, and then he and Mom worked in the Bingo under Mac and Frances. I grew up on the carnival and was on the road every summer for 20 years, I even brought my new husband with me the first year we were married. I am writing a book about my time on the road. We started on the Big Show (#1) and moved to the #2 and #3 shows. But my younger years were memorable with the side shows and high wire acts and such, I was wondering if I can ask you what you remember about that time that you can share with me. For example I remember seeing the conjoined twins and the worlds fattest couple and a few other things. But from my 0-5 year old perspective I have forgotten so much. Debee. email: graham.debee@gmail.com
email should be grahamdebee@gmail.com
(There is no . between graham and Debee)
Hi Debee,
Thank you for commenting and tellling me about some of your wonderful memories of the show. Also what a fantastic book idea, I’m sure lots of people will want to read it.
Now as for your request..I have never been to show sadly 🙁 I have lived in Ontario all my life so I only stumbled upon Bill Lynch while looking at vintage photos online and decided to write a blog post to share with my readers. So unforntately I cannot help you. So sorry about that.
Good luck with your book!
Liz
I WAS WON AT JUNE’s….Lynch Shows 1950’s Does anyone remember that ?
All of the stuffed toys had that tag on them.. Cat Game.. Knock the cats off the shelf
Biggest Game on the Midway.. I worked there.. along with Halifax boys… David White. Russell Jewers, and a few more….i was known as Tex
just a nickname… i guess i wore a cowboy hat……
ahhhh that makes sense.
Lynch Shows had 2 giant spotlights that were turned on in the towns that we were playing…You knew that the show was in town….some of the shows were the Flying Wallendas, Fat Lady Ossified Man just to name a few, and do not forget the Motor Drome. Andy Doucette was the top Motorcycle rider. on the Wall of Death
I have Andy Doucette recorded as a Wall rider but no details, can you help. I research riders across the world, part of which can be seen at http://www.vintagewallofdeath.co.uk
Hi Alan,
I’m sorry what you read here is all I know about the Bill Lynch Show. Good luck with your search!
Liz
Andy Doucette was from Quebec Canada, travelled with Bill Lynch Shows in the 50’s rode the Wall of Death. He..was a really nice guy and did a great show on the wall