Contents
THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE OUTDOOR AMUSEMENT BUSINESS ASSOCIATION
PUBLISHER/MANAGING EDITOR
Greg Chiecko 407.848.8010 •
gregc@oaba.org EDITOR
Sue Gallup 407.848.4958 •
sueg@oaba.org
GRAPHIC DESIGN Jen Wilcox, Avic-Versi Creative 817.602.7254 •
avicversi@att.net
ADVERTISING SALES
oaba@oaba.org
ASSOCIATION OFFICE
Outdoor Amusement Business Assn., Inc. 1305 Memorial Avenue
oaba@oaba.org
ASSOCIATION Message from OABA Chair.................... 4 From the Desk of the President .............. 6
AS THE WHEEL TURNS
Lee Stevens Named Executive Director of Carnival World Museum................. 12
CIRCUS Animal Legislation .......................... 27 From the Center Ring .......................28
CIRCUS REPORT
American CircusFest ® — Creating Dreams, Excellence and International Exposure for Circuses and Artists ..........25
Circus Vargas Opens 2025...................26
FEATURES Debbie’s Discernments Stepping Out of Your Comfort Zone! ........ 13 Our World Revolves Around Safety! .......... 15
Hot Takes on Our Main Legislative Issue and Regulations ........................... 17
Facebook
facebook.com/OutdoorAmusementBusinessAssn
Chair •
1st Vice Chair •
Twitter/X @oabainfo
Blake Huston Michael Doolan
2nd Vice Chair • Marc Janas 3rd Vice Chair • Scott Siefker Treasurer • Wade Muller Trustee 2024 • Ben Pickett
Trustee 2023 • Richard Reithoffer Andy Deggeller
Trustee 2022 • President & CEO • Greg Chiecko
Tom Arnold Timothy Bessette Shari Black Stephen Broetsky Dean Corl Jamie Deggeller Debbie Elliott Randy Forcier Nathan Janousek Mary Johnson Thomas Lauther Matt McDonagh Lance Moyer
Jeffrey Otterbacher Beau Pugh Ricky Reithoffer Benna Sandlofer Andrew Schoendienst Jr. Patrick Sheridan Jim Sinclair Bob Skerbeck Jamie Skerbeck
Reilly Berk Sara Ketcham Mark D. Steele
*K. R. “Andy” Andersen – 1987 Tom Atkins – 1992 Jeff Blomsness – 2000 *Buster Brown – 1981 Ron Burback – 2005 *George W. “Billy” Burr – 1990 *John Campi – 1982 Jean Clair – 1996 *Bob Coleman – 1989 *William T. Collins – 1966-1970 E.J. Dean – 2017 Don Deggeller – 2004 *Bill Dillard – 1993 James H. Drew III – 1984 *Hal Eifort – 1978 *Mike Farino – 1985 Mike Featherston – 2013 Tom Gaylin – 2016
John Hanschen – 2007 *Lloyd J. Hilligoss – 1979 Danny Huston – 2001 *Richard Janas – 1997 Bill Johnson – 2011 Sam Johnston – 1999 *Milt F. Kaufman – 1988 *Al Kunz – 1977 Guy Leavitt – 2006
*Rod Link – 1973 Chris Lopez – 2014 *H. W. “Hub” Luehrs – 1980 Wayne McCary – 2009 Jeanne McDonagh – 2012 Buddy Merten – 1998 *Gerald L. Murphy – 1983 James Murphy – 1995 *John Portemont – 1971
Debbie Powers – 2020-2021
*P.E. “Pat” Reithoffer, Jr. – 1976 Andy Schoendienst – 2008
*Carl J. Sedlmayr – 1972 James Strates – 1974 James E. Strates – 2003 Jay Strates – 2018
*Jackie Swika – 2002 *Bernard P. Thomas – 1975 *John Vivona – 1986 Dominic Vivona, Jr. – 2010 *Dominic Vivona, Sr. – 1994 *W. G. Wade – 1965 *F. G. “Red” Wood – 1991 Michael Wood – 2015 Larry Yaffe – 2019
* Deceased OUR MISSION
To promote the preservation and growth of the outdoor amusement industry through leadership, advocacy and education.
All advertisements appearing in this ShowTime publication are paid by the advertiser and the OABA reserves the right to refuse any advertising. The ads are provided on an “as is” basis and do not necessarily carry the endorsement of the OABA. In addition, the OABA does not guarantee, warrant, or endorse the information, products, or services of any corporation, organization, or person contributing to this publication.
Instagram @outdooramusementbusinessassn
Memoirs from the Showmen’s League of America: “Samoa the Tiger (Rug)” ....... 21
GOVERNMENT Arnold Safety Consulting ....................23 Inside the Beltway .......................... 24
PHOTO GALLERY Spring Board Meeting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-9
SERVICES, BENEFITS & PROGRAMS
Contribution Fund Totals .................... 17 OABA/MAI Scholarships: Call to Donate ...... 17 Welcome New OABA Members .............. 17 Membership Applications ................ 18-19
SPOTLIGHT
Meet new OABA Directors: Berk, Otterbacher, Ketcham................ 10 |
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32
