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University Daily Kansan Thursday, Feb. 22, 1962
Garbage-Selling Carnies May Face Trouble at Mardi Gras
By Eugene V. Knispel
NEW ORLEANS — (UPI) — The word is out for hustlers—kick in for the kids at Charity Hospital or don't bother to peddle "garbage" on Mardi Gras this year.
An army of hustlers, sometimes called carries, annually descends on this Mardi Gras capital to sell "garbage" during carnival parades. The gaudy processions start on Saturday and reach a climax on Mardi Gras, March 6.
"IN OUR GAME, 'garbage' is novelties like pennants, buttons, balloons, hats, whistles and dolls," explained Pat Conlon, one of the first hustlers in town.
Jimmie the Baker, "Scratches"
Pennie, "Middle - of - the - Road"
Shorty and the rest better drop in at Curley's Bar and pay off in advance if they want to hustle the carnival unmolested this year. That's the word
It comes from Allen (Black Cat) Lacombe, a "turf advisor" whose avocations include running for political office and acting as unofficial mouthpiece for hustlers.
"This is the first time I'm askin' anything for takin' those guys down to city hall to get their permits," he declared, "and gettin' 'em outta the klink when they get pinched."
"THOSE CARNIES better come across or we'll have 'em picked up and let 'em rot in the can," Lacombe blustered. He told a local television audience while running unsuccessfully in the first mayoralty primary here last month he was drawing unemployment insurance.
They intend to fill a large cardboard box or two with trinkets from the street vendors to take to the children's wards at Charity Hospital.
Despite Black Cat's good-natured threats, no one really expects trouble collecting the charitable kickback. But he and the boys at Curlev's neutral corner are serious.
"After all, those poor kids are cooped up while practically everybody else in town will be havin' the biggest party in the country," Lacombe explained.
"ME AND CURLY and Daylight Dan and Blaise are gonna go to Charity and hand out the stuff while the carnies are hustling so the kids can get in on the party too."
Nearly all carnies are known in the trade by colorful nicknames like Lacombe's, a pseudonym he
Robert Moore Here To Discuss Careers
Any students who are considering the ministry or religious education as a career can make appointments to talk with Robert Moore, dean of the Chicago Theological Seminary, Friday morning.
Persons who are interested are asked to call, or visit, the KU-Y office.
signed to a newspaper column he wrote pickings horses for racing fans.
Introductions at Curley's sound like something straight out of Damon Runyon: Back-to-Back Bennie, Deen Sea Red, Bow Wow, Senator and Wingey are part of the hustler brotherhood.
Lacombe bills Conlon as "King of the Carnies." But Conley modestly disclaims any authority over his colleagues. "I just know 'em all," he said and vowed to pass the word for donating to the children.
"DON'T YOU WORRY, every one of the guys will ante for the kids—they're all good for somethin'," he told Lacombe and the others at Curley's.
Conlon said a good man could make as much as $400-500 on Mardi Gras. Carnies tour the nation and Canada peddling "garbage" and refreshments at rodeos, state fairs, sporting events and public celebrations.
"MOST OF 'EM blow their dough on horses, broads, booze and basketball this time of year. Once they got the buck it don't mean much.
Lost Gear Comes Here: Shoes, Coats, and Kids
"So don't worry about them kickin' in for the kids. A carnie's got a heart as big as a barn."
Mute testimony to the harried life of a university student is presented by the lost and found department of the Kansas Union.
The department is situated at the information desk of the Union. It takes in about 20 to 30 articles a month.
A vivid example of the rushed life of a KU student was the woman who several years ago forgot her baby.
The woman in charge of the lost department, Mrs. James Callahan, said the baby was left there in the afternoon, and was still there at nightfall.
"That wasn't really lost and found," she said in an interview yesterday. "That was checking."
She said the woman probably went down to the Hawk's Nest and "forgot she had a baby with her."
As Mrs. Callahan spoke, the rushed life of a student at KU became more apparent.
"We get heavy coats returned in real cold weather," she said. "I don't know how kids can go out without them."
Raincoats are another item often forgotten and picked up several weeks later, she said.
"People have left shoes here. They must carry a spare pair around with them," she said.
The number of articles lost varies with the month. In December and during final week, with the rush to get from here to there, the number of articles increases.
Having a Party?
Crushed Ice Ice Cold 6-pacs of all kinds PARTY SUPPLIES
During the "big weekends" alumni manage to lose a few articles. The Union often returns these articles by mail.
She ended the interview with the statement that the Union will try to help the rushed KU student "in any way we can."
LAWRENCE ICE CO.
6th & Vt., VI 3-0350
CAPITAL'S SPECIAL
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Mono $1.98
BELL'S
K.C. Jury Indicts Two for Kidnaping
VI 3-2644
Robert Henry Runge, 23, Fuller-
ton, Calif., and Eichard Charles
Banish, 24, Capertino, Calif., al-
legedly abducted Wandra Edith
Smalley, 23, daughter of Sen. and
Mrs. J. M. (Ike). Smalley.
KANSAS CITY. Kan. — (UPI) — A Federal grand jury yesterday indicted two men in the kidnapping of the daughter of a New Mexico state senator last month.
925 Mass.
Runge was apprehended in Iowa. Missouri officials captured Banish who was with the girl in a Kansas City Western Union office.
Miss Smallley said Runge and Banish forced their way into her car at an Albuquerque parking lot and the three drove to Kansas City.
The art education department will hold its 12th annual conference on the K.U. campus, Feb. 23 and 24. June McFee of Stanford University will speak at 10:00 a.m. Friday in the Kansas Union.
Art supervisors and teachers from Nebraska, Oklahoma, Colorado, Missouri, and Kansas are expected to attend the conference.
McFee Will Speak To Art Conference
The department also extends a special invitation for K.U. art education majors to attend.
A reception honoring Miss McFee will be held in the main gallery of the Museum of Art from 3-4:30 p.m. on Friday.
JIM'S CAFE
838 Mass.
GOOD FOOD
DAY and NIGHT
"I cannot tell a lie, Father. I can't think of one."
The truth is, we think you'll agree with little George. Come on down and let us service your car. We do a "peach" of a job.
FRITZ CO.
Phone VI 3-4321
8th and New Hampshire
Freedom from interruption may be counted by artists as not the least of the five freedoms.—Charles Lang- oridge Morgan
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