ALAN LARKEE--CARNIVAL OWNER

Alan Larkee and his Tip Top Shows have been at Bayfest for two decades. (H. Marc Larson/Press-Gazette)

It's what I do: Supplying thrills is enough for Larkee

By charles Davis • cedavis@greenbaypressgazette.com • June 12, 2010

Alan Larkee brought 14 carnival rides to this weekend's Bayfest in downtown Green Bay, but don't bet on him riding a single one.
"I'm not scared. Heights don't bother me. I just don't like going around in circles," said Larkee, co-owner of Tip Top Shows, a Waupaca-based company that supplies thrill rides, games and tasty treats to about 40 events a year.

.Larkee, 69, of Riverview, Fla., manages about 50 employees and is on the road nearly 10 months a year. He was been in the business of fun for the last 48 years, taking over the company from his father.

He's been making the trek to Bayfest for about 20 years.

Growing up, Larkee wanted to be a teacher or football coach. But he quickly discovered you can take the boy out the carnival, but you can't take the carnival out the boy — even if the boy was never much of a thrill seeker.In fact, the last time Larkee gave it a go was nearly 15 years ago on a ride similar to a Ferris wheel.

Not one for going up and down and round and round, he lets his wife test out new rides before he buys them.But the job isn't all fun and games.

Someone has to look out for kids who try to put one over on his staff by sharing wristbands for unlimited rides.Despite what some folks might think, the midway games aren't rigged. He said the truth is they all take skill — sometimes considerable skill."If everybody came up and won a $20 teddy bear, how long would you be in the business?" he said.Even if the ball bounces out the hoop after 34 tries, festival goers can still enjoy a funnel cake, the company's top seller. Larkee, however, is "still a corn dog guy'' at heart.Larkee enjoys visiting each city, rolling out the good times and then packing up the tents and heading to a new spot. Amazingly, it only takes a day to set up. But it's no fun, he said, to take the operation down in pouring rain.Rain or shine, Larkee doesn't plan to get off the amusement business merry-go-round anytime soon."It's been my whole life,'' he said. "I wouldn't know what to do if I wasn't doing this."