Carnies, or carnival workers, are the stuff of legends. Like American gypsies, they have their own culture, which outsiders seldom penetrate.
Recently I came across a news article from 1957 that mentioned a riot at a fair in Palo Alto. I found it quite entertaining. Here is a direct quote from it:
“Hey, Rube,” the traditional battle cry of carnival people, rang out and show workers rushed forward with tent stakes, wrenches, and anything else they could grab.