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If
Only I Had Listened
by
Charles Keeler
Texas Jack Ruback - Jack Ruback was
a great showman with a big heart,
you never saw him without his
Stetson Hat. I remember him as
always being old and weather beaten
from the Texas Sun. I know there are
many stories about Jack that can be
told. He was a rough tough, Texas
Carny. He always seemed to be cross,
except with the ladies. He knew how
to work with the local authorities
too.
The
first year after I was discharged
from the Marine Corps I got my own
game. I ended the season with Jack
Ruback’s Alamo Amusements at Jasper
Texas. I booked with Jack for the
Battle of Flowers in San Antonio in
the spring. It was a bad spot and
as I paid my privilege (rent), Jack
asked me what I was going to
 do
for the winter? I told him I was
going to play Louisiana all winter
with a small Family show. He told
me never mind that and to get a
regular job and take care of my
family.
So
naturally I went to Louisiana and
lost all my money, my trailer and
everything else. Well I went to San
Antonio and when I saw Jack I told
him I should have listened to him. I
told him how rough it had been. I
asked about my location and he told
me he needed a $50 dollar deposit.
He said, “after all this is a
business”. Now there were 3
separate carnivals played down on
the main Streets of San Antonio.
Everybody was setting up all day and
night. I ran around all day trying
to borrow $50 and there was no way.
Every inch of space was used up and
there was one 15 foot space in the
middle of the block in front of the
office. Every time I went by I
checked to see if any one was
setting up there. Finally I went to
the office about ready to cry. LOL.
I said "Jack, there’s no way I can
get the money." At that time rent
was 12 dollars a foot, I had 15
feet. He said “next time you’ll
listen to me”, I’m doing this not
for you but for your wife and three
kids. I want to see you in my office
every day with some rent. LOL. He
had given me that location before he
started laying out the lot.
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