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Girls, Girls, Girl!The Women behind the Man
The presentation of a girl show was pivotal. The front must emanate sophistication while still tantalizing audiences. Jack Ray excelled at producing girl show fronts that did just that. Take a look at these fronts, where Jack combined scintillating girls, scandalous themes and sophisticated style.
Ray's designs and Patty Conklin's success at producing glamorous shows attracted the likes of famous showgirl Sally Rand. Jack planned a building specifically for her show (right). However, Sally never made it to perform. Conklin's 'Sally' show, inspired by Sally Rand continued on successfully with other girls
performing.
Jack created entertaining show fronts for adults too. During the 1930's and 1940's he designed a series of show fronts for themed girl shows. Even the famous Minsky's burlesque shows used designs by Jack Ray on the fronts of some of their productions.
During the 1944-1945 seasons, Jack produced and managed some of the girl shows that could be found behind his show fronts. One girl in these shows caught his eye; Showgirl Eleanor would one day become Mrs. Jack Ray.
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"Sally Show" entrance, architectural sketch by Jack Ray.1941-1946
Conklin Shows, Frolic-Land
Credits:North American Carnival Museum and Archives (NACMA)
John C. (Jack) Ray
Jennifer Walker
Jean Walker
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"Sally Show" at the Canadian National Exhibition.1937-1941
Canadian National Exhibition, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Credits:North American Carnival Museum and Archives (NACMA)
Jennifer Walker
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"Sally Show" front designed by Jack Ray.1937-1941
Canadian National Exhibition, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Credits:North American Carnival Museum and Archives (NACMA)
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"Paris After Midnight" show front designed by Jack Ray.1941-1946
Canadian National Exhibition, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Credits:North American Carnival Museum and Archives (NACMA)
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"Paris After Midnight" show front by midway designer Jack Ray.1941-1946
Canadian National Exhibition, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Credits:North American Carnival Museum and Archives (NACMA)
John C. (Jack) Ray
Jennifer Walker
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"Paris After Midnight" show front designed by Jack Ray.1941-1946
Canadian National Exhibition, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Credits:North American Carnival Museum and Archives (NACMA)
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"Paris After Midnight" show front designed by Jack Ray.1941 - 1946
Conklin Shows, Frolic-Land
Credits:North American Carnival Museum and Archives (NACMA)
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"Artists and Models" show at the Canadian National Exhibition designed by Jack Ray.1941
Canadian National Exhibition, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Credits:North American Carnival Museum and Archives (NACMA)
J.W. (Patty) Conklin
Glenn Charron
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Painting of proposed show front "Artists and Models" by midway designer Jack Ray.1941-1946
Conklin Shows, Frolic-Land
Credits:North American Carnival Museum and Archives (NACMA)
John C. (Jack) Ray
Jennifer Walker
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"Artists and Models" show, designed by Jack Ray.1941-1946
Canadian National Exhibition, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Credits:North American Carnival Museum and Archives (NACMA)
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Painting of a proposed "Oriental Follies" show front by midway designer Jack Ray.1941-1946
Conklin Shows, Frolic-Land
Credits:North American Carnival Museum and Archives (NACMA)
John C. (Jack) Ray
Jennifer Walker
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"Magic Carpet" show front designed by Jack Ray.1941-1946
Canadian National Exhibition, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Credits:North American Carnival Museum and Archives (NACMA)
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"Hawaiian Nights" show front designed by Jack Ray.1941-1946
Canadian National Exhibition, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Credits:North American Carnival Museum and Archives (NACMA)
Jennifer Walker
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