Carousel
Lynn Lennon, 1985
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Exquisite photography by Lynn Lennon of the landmark annual State Fair of Texas in Dallas, circa 1980s. These images are part of the extensive Central Universities Library (CUL), DeGolyer Library’s digital collections at Southern Methodist University (SMU). See a plethora more. Of note, high-quality versions of these photographs may be obtained for a fee by contacting the library at the email address listed on their site. Unfortunately, I have located little information on Dallas photographer Lynn Lennon, only these books containing her work.
UPDATE: I am so pleased to report Lynn (Lennon) Johnson contacted me earlier this month after she saw this post! She is now 82 years young and although not shooting photography with her prior intensity, she continues to take photos (for herself, for fun) now using a digital camera. I have enjoyed corresponding with her via email the past two weeks and asked her to give us a bit of the back story behind her series of imagery of the State Fair. Please scroll to the bottom of the post to read excerpts of Lynn’s childhood memories of the fair and her self-initiated assignment to shoot this subject over a ten year span…
[ All images © / Southern Methodist University, Central University Libraries, DeGolyer Library ]
Snake – Side show attraction
Lynn Lennon, 1985
Beheaded But Still Alive attraction
Lynn Lennon, 1983
Swing ride
Lynn Lennon, c. 1980s
Installing Big Tex
Lynn Lennon, c. 1980s
Candy apples stand and ferris wheel at night
Lynn Lennon, c. 1980s
Girl standing in front of Beheaded But Still Alive attraction
Lynn Lennon, 1983
Boy pointing in midway area
Lynn Lennon, c. 1980s
Art Deco statue
Dating from the Texas Centennial 1936, art deco statues are prominent features of the fairgrounds
Lynn Lennon, 1984
Midway entrance
Lynn Lennon, c. 1980s
Performing bear – Dr. Pepper circus
Lynn Lennon, 1984
Tower Building
Houses executive offices and food concessions
Lynn Lennon, 1984
Wonder World Museum attraction – Freaks and strange animals
Lynn Lennon, c. 1980s
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In Lynn’s own words:
I have always been a big fan of the Texas State Fair. One of my earliest memories is of my mother taking my older sister and me to the fair. We spent hours looking at the animals—horses, cows, mules, pigs, lambs, chickens—all waiting to be judged. We could put a penny in a machine that would flatten it and imprint it with The State Fair of Texas or The Lord’s Prayer. One of our favorite parts was the food pavilion where many companies gave away samples of food. Some companies gave away souvenirs. [...] We came home loaded with small treasures.
When we were school age, we were given a day off to attend the fair. Groups of girls went together and tried to experience everything in one day. A few years older and we were going with groups of girls and boys. Then we were going with dates, usually a double date in the evening. [...] Then before I knew it, I was taking my own two children and the cycle had started over again.
Then in 1984 when I was immersed in photography, I took on a self-assignment. I decided to photograph at the State Fair every year for ten years. The first few years I went every day of the two weeks that the fair ran. I started early in the morning before the gates were open and stayed until dark or until I was too fatigued to go on. There was so much to see and capture on film—the animals, the performers, the midway, the changing weather. One year I even went the day after the fair closed to record the clean-up and dismantling. [...] The fair was so rich with visual images that I seemed to see a scene that I wanted to shoot at every turn. After three years, I didn’t go as often. There was a lot of duplication. Nevertheless I did go for several days each year until 1993 when the ten years expired.
Thank you Lynn for sharing this with us!
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{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
what a great reportage!
I know, aren’t they something!
Thanks for the feedback, Todd. :)
LOVE the Texas State Fair! Growing up in Dallas and looking forward to the fair was always a great time and walking in to see Big Texas and hearing “Welcome to the Texas State Fair.” and that BIG, BOOMING voice! What a great memory to have and the pictures are great…Big Tex and love the rides- swings and ferris wheel.
I, too, grew up in Texas with the Texas State Fair. In fact my Grandpa King was the Fair superintendent before I was born. I remember riding the catapillar kiddy roller coaster ride with my Dad-what fun! These pictures brought back so many happy memories. Lynn has touched on so many aspects of the Fair and with such outstanding photographs. I love her unigue way of presenting the subjects with the black and white contrast. Great job!
The snake is not a rattlesnake…it looks like a python. They are completely harmless.
Yes Tony, you’re right. No triangular head housing venom there. I missed it at original glance. Not venomous, true. Completely harmless, not exactly. Being this is a relatively small python in comparison and recognizing this woman knew how to handle constrictors safely, it still makes for an excellent photo.