Clockwise from left: The first steam-driven carousel owned by Reithoffer Shows had hand-carved wooden horses from Germany. The company survived the Depression by dividing into traveling units that could play multiple dates simultaneously. Reithoffer brought the Super Himalaya to the Florida State Fair in February. At right: The use of rubber-tired Packard trucks like this one helped the show expand its route in 1918.
the railroad. His son, P.E. Reithoffer, expanded the company by employing a fleet of rubber-tired Packard trucks, and then splitting the company into traveling units to keep it afloat during the Great Depression. After World War II, P.E. Reithoffer Jr., Rick’s father, modernized the company and made portable many theme park rides that used to be anchored. He figured out how to transport these gigantic “super spectacular” rides and expanded the show to Canada and down to Florida. “My dad brought the show into the 21st century,” Rick Reithoffer said. “He was the first one to bring the Super Himalaya to the United States from Europe, and he portabalized it.” He established relationships with ride manufacturers in Europe — Germany, Italy and Holland — and they shared their blueprints for rides. Rick still travels to Europe to find new rides, 14 UTjournal spring 2011
often debuting them one or two years ahead of his competitors. Technical Know-How
Reithoffer, who got his degree from UT in industrial arts, knows how all the rides work. He has to know electronics, pneumatics and hydraulic systems. “There’s never a time when I can’t be brought into play,” he says. “I have to know them all, from the kiddie rides to the merry-go-round to the spectaculars.” Some of them cost upwards of $1 million. Reithoffer stores them on a huge plot of land in Gibsonton, where they are rehabbed, repainted and ready for action. Rows upon rows of giant rides and rainbow-colored ticket booths lay in wait for the next big show. A few employees live with their families on the grounds. They travel with the show, and they cart all their equipment with them. There is an
accredited Christian school for the children who travel with the show. Certain employees travel ahead of the show, getting to the fairgrounds two weeks in advance to prepare. Those driving the rides will get there on a Monday, set up is Tuesday through Thursday and the fair will open that weekend. It can be a logistical nightmare, Reithoffer says. “People think we’re in the entertainment industry, but we’re actually in the trucking industry,” Reithoffer quips. All the drivers, whose sole function is to drive the equipment between shows, have to have commercial driver’s licenses. Reithoffer also has a foreman, skilled laborers to assemble the rides and crew members to run the rides. He estimates he has about 200 employees, and they hire additional, local workers in the towns where fairs are held.