Harriet Pfeffer Named Showman of the Year 

            On Saturday evening, January 19, 2008, in Hershey, PA at an annual banquet and awards ceremony, Harriet M. Pfeffer, of Pottsville was named Showman of the Year by the Pennsylvania State Showmen’s Association.

            Harriet can boast of early memories of the Lehigh Valley Club and meetings at the West Side Lounge and the card games that followed. A special personality who assisted in Eastern chapter parties…a casino style celebration in Reading and a rock and roll bash in Pottsville, once even performing on stage at a Christmas party where the members provided the nights entertainment!

            Harriet began her long career in the industry like many women of the 50’s-devoted to a husband who was devoted to work. Otto’s passion was the carnival. Married young and raising her children, she was the homemaker and disciplinarian who learned to run a ferris wheel and spin cotton candy…who commuted to work in a full-sized station wagon because it accommodated both the help and her kids.

            Together with her husband, Otto, they own and operate Otto’s Amusements, having celebrated 50 years in business in 2007. She and her husband have five children, all but one involved in the amusement industry. Her eldest, daughter Donna Kramer, works with brothers Otto, Chuck, and Matthew, to run the day to day operations of the family amusement company. Son, David has developed his own successful amusement company, Tons of Fun, based in Berks County, and Christopher works in private industry in Schuylkill County. Harriet is the 32^nd recipient of the Showmen’s prestigious award and third in her family to receive the honor, husband Otto was also named in 1993 and Donna in 2001. Congratulations Harriet!!