I’ve come across a couple of interesting sites, mostly ones that have been linked to the American Folk Art @ Cooperstown site, that highlight folk art finds and curiosities. Candler Arts is a treasure chest of the neat and obscure as is Anonymous Works which listed this cool Carnival Wheel from the 1930’s that features cartoon characters of the time around the outer edge. There was probably a board with corresponding squares for each of the characters where a wager of some sort was made. If the spinning wheel came to rest on the Dick Tracy or Wimpy that you chose, then you would win.
This is a really interesting piece that has a pop art feel. I can name quite a few of the characters but there are a few that evade me. For those who can’t live without a piece of Carnival Americana to hang on their playroom wall, this is still available on ebay even as I write this.
Redtree Times 