Irvin & Evelyn Deggeller
The Irvin Deggeller Story
Born Feb 14, 1926 in Silverton Oregon, 3 Brothers Henry, Allen & Lish Deggeller & 1 Sister, Elizabeth Deggeller (Thumberg). Attended school in Markham Oregon.
His 1st Job in the Carnival Business was in 1940, at age 14 working for his brother In-Law Fred A. Thumberg (married to sister Elizabeth), running the Eyerly Roll-O-Plane at the Tucson Rodeo. *Please note that Fred A Thumberg is the father of Fred Thumberg (Big Fred), and the Grandfather of Freddie Thumberg (Little Fred).
At age 16, in 1941, Irvin was hired by the A&P Tea Company, He was transferred to Detroit Michigan where he was enrolled in the A&P Management training
In 1943, at 18 years old, Irvin joined the Navy during WW II. He was assigned to the Heavy Cruiser USS San Francisco of the South Pacific Fleet, during the battle of Okinawa. The South Pacific Fleet lost 13 cruisers to Kamikaze Fighter Planes and Typhoons. The San Francisco survived.
While home on leave in 1945, Irvin and his Brother Allan Deggeller purchased a used Roll-O-Plane in Lancaster Ohio. Once out of the Navy, the brothers booked there Roll-O-Plane with Gooding Amusement Company.
1947, Irvin made a deal with Mr. Gooding to provide a new concept of a Kid Land, separate from the big rides. That year the 1st Kid Land was setup on Gooding’s with 4 Kid Rides, Benches and a Top that Irvin had provided.
The relationship with Gooding would last 10 years; with Irvin adding 5 more Kid rides. In the winter after the Gooding’s had closed, Irvin would travel south and book with shows as: Penn-Premier, Strates, Eddie Young, L J Heth, Broadway & Bluegrass Shows.
1951, while playing the Fremont Ohio Festival, Irvin met Evelyn Leedy, the daughter of Mr. & Mrs. John Leedy, a Businessman & Concessionaire from the Cleveland Ohio area, John also had 2 other daughters, Carolyn and Barbara, they operated Basketballs, French Fry & Sideshow. Ev was working a Model Circus Sideshow for her dad and As the story goes, Ev was working her magic and placed a spell on Irvin, they were married that November in 1951 in Olmsted Ohio, and that spell continues today, over 53 years.
1952 the Deggeller Kid Ride operation began wintering in Ruskin Florida.
Fall of 1956, Irvin, Brother Allan Deggeller & Father In-Law John Leedy formed the Deggeller Amusement Company, and purchased the Howard Brother’s 14 ride show in Ohio.
That winter, all the rides were taken to Al Deggeller's farm in Shelbyville IN, Each ride got a new coat of paint and was re-built for there 1st season playing Ohio fairs.
Spring of 1957, when the show re-emerged as the Deggeller Amusement Co, it boasted over 25 rides, including Irvin’s 9 Kid Rides, Al’s Fly-O-Plane and a Bumper Car that Irvin and John Leedy had partnered on. The Bumper Car was the main booking piece.
The Fairs in Ohio took notice to the much larger new and improved carnival. Irvin featured his ride help in all White Uniforms, a tradition that would continue into today’s modern carnivals.
1960 Irvin booked the West Palm Fair, in West Palm Beach Florida. Also a Deggeller Trademark was created, Bob Coy and Tom Poots would sky dive into the midway to generate publicity to kick off each fair.
1961 Martin Co Fair, Stuart FL was booked. The show wintered that year on the Martin Co Fairgrounds.
1962 purchased its 1st piece of Florida property for a winter quarters. This was the beginning of the real estate investing for Irvin.
1962 Lexington Bluegrass Fair was added to the route.
1963 The show purchased its 1st Sky Wheel, this was the catalyst to becoming a Big Show, Fairs from around the country began calling to book the show. Fall of 1963, Irvin was visited by Mac McCarter & the Blackwell Brother’s, Tom, Pete & Louis, They convinced Irvin to route the Deggeller Amusement Co into the Carolina’s and play there new fair, The Upper State Fair in Greenville SC.
1964 The show featured over 35 rides and played The Dade Co Youth Fair-Miami the same time as West Palm. Dade County grossed 15k that year.. The show also played Greenville SC, Shelby, Anderson & Concord. Irvin was one of the founding Showmen starting the OABA at the Sherman House in Chicago.
1965 the 1st major fair’s was added to the route, The Ionia Free Fair, Ionia MI, then The Kentucky State Fair-Louisville. In addition, Irvin also purchased an Airplane, so he could fly ahead of the show and lay the lot out and then return back in the same day. The airplane became a valuable time saving asset. This was the beginning of the Spectacular Magic Midway concept.
As the show continued to grow, now over 50 rides, Irvin felt he needed more than just rides, games and food to complete his Midway, so he started free shows with 2 elephants that Joe Frisco trained and 2 chimps, also creating Back Ends Shows that balley on the midway with free mini shows such as "Speedy Babb’s Motor Drome", "Sonny Pelaquin's Wall of Death", "The Silas Green Revue", 10-1 Illusions, "Miss Sandy O’Hare Revue", "John & Ralph Negus's Cinema 180" and featured such great talkers as Bill Thompson. "Right on the inside", this concept kept the patrons entertained at the fair for hours. Meaning more revenue for the Carnival and Fair. Also Irvin took a semi trailer for each fair and lettered it with the Fairs Logo. This showmen’s move received a lot of attention from each and every fair, with people reporting back that they had seen there Fair on the side of trailer over 1000 miles from home.
1966 the 2nd Sky Wheel was purchased
1970 & 1971 The Show now totaled over 92 rides, The Virginia State Fair-Richmond, South Carolina State Fair-Columbia and Maryland State Fair-Timonium, was added to the route, Irvin negotiate his 1st sponsorship with Coke featuring billboard type advertising on the back of all Coke delivery trucks in the area.
also the early 70’s, the show played the Michigan State Fair-Detroit and Illinois State Fair-Springfield, and was the 1st shows to adapt the Parrish 5 Wire Electrical System.
1975, The Deggeller Amusement Co was featured on the front page of the Wall Street Journal, the 1st and only carnival to do so.
Since arriving into Martin Co in 1962, Irvin started investing outside of the show into real estate in the area. This investment move would prove to be a financial dream.
With the show now reaching its pinnacle, Irvin started Coy Deggeller Construction, with Bob Coy; they built the Jensen Park Estates Land Development, over 300 homes to date plus other scaled housing developments in Martin Co. Also IBSCO, a Sewer Treatment Plant, Privately held by Irvin and Bob was built, they provided waste treatment to Jensen Beach Florida.
Irvin was a founding member and major stockholder/Investor of the American Bank, based in Stuart Florida, which was bought out in the 90’s by 1st Federal Bank.
As a major supporter of the Republican Party, Irv & EV hosted multiple Fund Raisers at there home for senators, reps and governors, and gained one on one meetings with President Nixon and President Bush
Irvin built his 1st family fun center in New Smyrna Beach Florida with Louis Blackwell as his partner.
1977 Calvacade of Attractions listed Deggeller Amusement Co the #1 Carnival in North America.
1978 The Deggeller Amusement Co was sold to Conklin Shows of Canada.
Stuart Confections, an Independent Food Concession Business & Route was formed.
1984 Deggeller Mfg was formed, building carnival rides. (Kiddie Bumper Boats, Custom Krazy Kars)
1989 Irvin showed his love for golf by building 76 GolfWorld, a 9 hole Golf Course, Driving Range, 36 hole mini Golf, Family Fun Center in Stuart.
90’s Irvin featured Commercial Real Estate Development , his locations would feature such businesses as OutBack SteakHouse, Honda Territory, several Banks, gas station party stores and New car dealers, His parcels were the prime in Martin Co.
2005 Irvin is Inducted into the OABA Hall Of Fame.
Irvin & EV enjoyed traveling the country in there new motor coach. operating 76 GolfWorld with nephew Steve Coy, Stuart Confections with partner Todd Desgranges & Joe Blume, Commercial Real Estate Development and being Ambassador’s of goodwill for there nephews Don & Greg Deggeller's company Deggeller Attractions and Jeff Deggeller's company, Al Deggeller Enterprises.
April 8th, 2006: Irvin Deggeller Passed Away.
Irvin is a Mason, Shriner, Jester, Kentucky Colonel, member of OABA Hall of Fame, SLA, IISA-Gibtown Club, & Past President-Miami Club.
