Professers always asked the most unsusual questions. This one was a bit more difficult but Barry finally found the answer "In 1893 the Chicago's World's fair was the catalyst for the development of the traveling carnival.The Chicago World's Fair had an area that included rides, games of chance, freak shows and burlesque. After the Chicago World's Fair, traveling carnival companies began touring the United States" said Barry. Hmm I wonder if they ever got back home in london.