The Early Days with “Young Strangler Lewis”

During the 1930's Young Strangler Lewis, the wrestler, became better known as James E. Strates, owner and operator of the Southern Tier Shows, later renamed the James E. Strates Shows. This article, the third in a series of five, examines the building of the carnival operation during the 1930s and 40s.

1933
This year the James E. Strates Shows experienced a very lean season as did others in the carnival industry. Many of the traveling shows closed for good this year but not the Strates Shows. Mr. Strates had the foresight to put away some money prior to this season and now reasoned that it was the time to buy and expand his show. By 1934 he had purchased the show's first five flatbed railroad cars, along with 17 trucks to carry his equipment. From this season on, Mr. Strates purchased from the Warren Tank Car Company flatbed cars each year until his train totaled 40 cars in length.

1935

Mr. Strates purchased his private family car and named it Elizabeth, after his oldest daughter. The car was originally built for President Machado of Cuba and then sold to multi-millionaire oil man Harry Sinclair. After Mr. Sinclair's death, Mr. Strates purchased it from his estate. It contained five staterooms, an observation room, butler's pantry, bathroom with shower and ample storage space.

Mid 1930s

"Kangaroo Court" was held every Wednesday night when the show was up and running. "Showpeople only!", was an unbending rule that governed the weekly midnight gathering. Showpeople gladly paid a dime to the "Fund" upon entering. (The fund was always at the service of stranded performers, and all court-appointed fines during the evening went to the fund.) For approximately two hours, showpeople gathered to air their grievances, some serious and many humorous. Afterward, a few skits were put on and the night drew to a close about 2 a.m. In 1936, the "Court of Joviality" held a mock presidential election, and the result showed that carnival people know how to pick a president: Roosevelt 167, Lemke 42 and Landon 19.

1938

By the beginning of this season, the Strates Shows caravan was comprised of 25 railroad cars and 61 trucks and wagons that were valued at $250,000. For the next few years, hard times fell, not only on the show but on the entire carnival industry. Rumors spread that James E. Strates Shows was closing its gates. An amusement park owner who had heard the rumor sent a telegram to Mr. Strates saying, "Understand your show closes Saturday night. Will book your Ferris wheel..." Mr. Strates was said to have been seen laughing about that telegram for a number of years.

1943

October 23 - James E. Strates purchased all of the equipment from Art Lewis Shows and in 1944 used it to go into business with J.C. Wier. The following year, Dave Endy bought out J.C. Wier, and the show was put out under the Endy Brothers title.

1945

December 22 - Disaster!! On a tobacco field in Mullins, SC, fire engulfed the barn where the entire Strates Shows was stored for the winter. The only usable piece of equipment remaining was the train. With an insurance policy payment of $250,000, Mr. Strates' daring move to rebuild his show in time for the start of the 1946 season was the biggest and boldest investment the carnival industry had ever seen.

"My creditors could have frequently put me out of business, but they carried me; and when I could, I paid them. They knew I was good for my debts. That's how my business was really built."
...James E. Strates, 1930s

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