SPECTACULAR ATTRACTIONS, INC.
TULSA, OK

It was 1944 when John Murphy and his wife Gladys, bought the Howard Amusement Company for approximately $35,000 (about the cost of today's small rides).  The show consisted of five rides, and John changed the name to Tri-State Shows, playing Minnesota, North and South Dakota. Tri-State Shows was truly a family business with sons, Jerry and Jim, working along side their parents, selling tickets, and helping set up the show.  The childhood experiences gained on their father's small show planted the seed that would one day flourish into a multi-million dollar corporation. John Murphy sold Tri-State Shows in 1955, but in 1957, father and sons started Northern States Shows, playing their first date in Chadron, Nebraska with a merry-go-round, Ferris wheel, and two kiddie rides.  Traveling a hurried schedule of small towns, Jerry and Jim learned the business of advance work and bookings in short order. Northern States Shows became Murphy Shows in 1962 with Jerry and Jim managing the business under the guidance of their father.  The show grew to the point where it could be split into two units to accommodate more dates on their expanding route.  The Red Unit and Blue Unit would merge to play larger dates, which by 1965 included the Sioux Empire Fair in Sioux, Falls, South Dakota and the Steele County Fair in Owatonna, Minnesota. �2018 Spectacular Attractions D/B/A Murphy Brothers Expositions  |  Web site designed & maintained by