Johnny Reed and his brother Jimmy run Reed Expo, a Houston-based show that has been in existence since 1960. Their father, Jimmy Reed Sr., started in the carnival business when he was 15 and eventually launched his own show. After Jimmy Reed Sr. died  his sons took over.

The show plays Texas, Arkansas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin.

About 25 dates are fairs, several of which Reed plays in conjunction with Murphy Bros. Exposition. Murphy Bros. still holds some of the contracts Reed plays, including state fairs in Albuquerque and Fargo.

It’s a relationship that started about 15 years ago when the Reed brothers first spoke to Jerry Murphy, now semi-retired, about filling some large dates with rides. Their first date tied to Murphy was the Missouri State Fair in Sedalia. Since that time, Reed Expo has picked up other Murphy events.

All told, Reed Expo owns 50 rides and splits into as many as four units depending on where the calendar falls. In late August, three units were in operation, including Belton and Fayetteville, Ark.

Reed has played Spring for last two years.

Key employees are mostly family. Jimmy and his wife Darla run the first unit. One brother-in-law, Cameron Ochoa, manages kiddieland and runs food concessions with Tanya Reed. Outside of the family, Mark White is in charge of show maintenance.

Through Murphy contracts, Reed Expo has some monumental jumps, including Dallas to Fargo, about 1,000 miles. The show plays a few shopping centers in north Texas, along with Austin, Houston and San Antonio, before starting the long trek north to the North Dakota State Fair in late June.

“We did Green Bay to Albuquerque and that was a long one,” Reed said.
“So long I couldn’t find the end of the damn road.”

Like most carnivals, Reed Expo has held the line on ticket prices for several years to give families a fair value for their money. Ride coupons are $1 each and armbands typically cost $25.

“It’s not that we don’t want to raise ticket prices but then the public complains about it,” Reed said. “But the economy is getting better. Our still dates have even been up. We played a couple malls this year that did well. That’s not the way it’s been the past few years.”

The show closes the season by the end of October. The Reed family is seeking to buy about three new rides but Johnny Reed declined to mention specific pieces. He said he doesn’t want to give the competition a leg up.

Reed looks forward to doing the Texas Crawfish & Music Festival each year now.