Episode
Patty Conklin, Carnie King of Toronto w/John Thurston
- Published
- Aug 19, 2025
- Duration seconds
- 1732
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Summary
If you went to the Ex from the 70s to the 90s, you may remember seeing a clown’s head logo with red hair, a black hat and plus signs over his eyes. The clown was named Conko and he was the logo for Conklin Shows, the company that managed the CNE midway alongside a host of other fairs across Canada and the U.S. John Thurston, author of Carnie King , joins us to talk about Patty Conklin, the huckster and showman who created Conklin Shows and built a carnival empire with Toronto and the CNE at its centre. You can follow Muddy York on Twitter: Toronto_History , Blue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/muddyyork.bsky.social and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/muddyyorkhistory/ . Music: The Westerlies - The Dover Freedom Trail Studio - Classic 1985 Movie Soundtrack John Patitucci - Gridlock National Sweetheart - Candy Apple Town Freedom Trail Studio - Give my Regards to Broadway Nathan Moore - Up and At Em Freedom Trail Studio - Circa 1983 Dyalla - Randy Butternubs