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In This Issue:

• An American Carnival Tradition
• Employee Spotlight
• New Ride Debuts
• A Final Farewell

In 1997, the Strates Shows family lost two great and dear friends, Benjamin Braunstein and John Negus. Both gentlemen were a part of Strates Shows for decades and contributed a great deal to the history and dynamics of the show. Although Ben and John were separated in age by many years, they shared an unforgettable zest for life and a welcomed smile that will be missed by all.

Benjamin F. Braunstein passed away on Sunday afternoon, October 26, 1997. 91-year-old Ben enjoyed a life rich in friendship and full of happiness. Ben was Strates Shows’ public relations representative, but that was just one of the many hats he wore during the years he worked for the show. He began his Strates Shows career in 1933 in the publicity department and became manager of the show in 1951. As he neared what most people consider retirement age, Ben decided to go to work with his wife, Frances Fornier, a Strates Shows concessionaire. In 1975, after a short try at retirement, he returned to the show’s public relations department and traveled, visiting old friends and making new ones along the route. Ben’s upbeat, charismatic personality truly conveyed the vim and vigor he felt for his work and life itself. He was Strates Shows' and the Strates family’s biggest fan and enjoyed sharing his many anecdotes with the people he met. Ben lived each day to the fullest and will be remembered for his enthusiasm for life and his kind words for each person he met.

John Negus passed away in his sleep on Friday, June 20, 1997, at the young age of 41. John spent his childhood and much of his adult life around the Strates Shows midway. He grew up in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and traveled with the show during the summer months, helping his mother and father with their concession business. Later, as a young man, John and his wife Sue returned to Strates Shows with their own business, Fairplay Concessions, a company owned and operated by John and his brother Dale. John was a pleasure to be around and made friends easily with the many people traveling with the show. He was a hard worker with a good attitude toward life. John will be remembered for his good nature, fun-loving spirit and great sense of humor.