Video: State Fair of Texas draws crowds of awestruck kids on opening day

by Sarah Blaskovich , Mike Bullock

FAIR PARK — It isn't easy being half a man, says Andy Mullins, just before he begins his sixth year as the State Fair of Texas' Midway Barker. Mullins is the “guy on a stick” shouting know-it-all comments to passersby at the fair. And for 24 days straight, every hour, he barks.

“It terrifies me every year,” he says before his very first show on Sept. 25. “But I really kind of love it. It doesn't matter how many times I do it; I'm nervous right now.” But put him in costume, and Mullins comes to life. As a part-time actor, improv is what Mullins does best.

He's outlived the usual one-to-two-year commitment from past Midway Barkers, says his boss and talent agent, Richard Pollack. “He's the best at it,” Pollack says. He turns to a still-nervous Mullins. “You're a lifer, buddy.”

Pollack and his team directly report to President Errol McKoy, who travels to Las Vegas each year to scope out outrageous fair-worthy acts. Then, Pollack finds local talent to match -- including Dallas-Fort Worth resident Mullins.

His skit as the Midway Barker consists of telling passersby everything he can about the fair, while making family-friendly jokes about being a guy on a stick. Even an up-close look makes it hard to see how the illusion really works -- and Mullins has many spectators (mostly kids) truly believing he's only half a man. “It's really quite simple,” he hints. “I guess all the best illusions are.” (To see a top-secret photo of how this works, scroll through the photo gallery.)

Mullins' day jobs are many, including selling phone cards to convenience stores and acting in commercials -- including a WingStop commercial with Troy Aikman. On a typical Monday during fair season, Mullins is up at 4 a.m. making his phone card route before suiting up in his red and white striped shirt at the fair. And on Fridays, he finishes his last show at 5:30 p.m., quickly changes costumes, and heads up to Richardson to perform with his wife in their comedy act, Takin' A Break From Sex.

“It's a little too hectic this time of year; I couldn't do it year-round,” he says. “But I can do it four weekends. You just get into that mentality. I just live the half-man jokes for a whole month! Then I take a week's vacation.”

As the Midway Barker's skit continued, kids scratched their heads as he challenged them to figure out where his legs are. Little Olive and her brother King (pictured above) stood stunned, giant corn dog in hand, as Mullins bid the crowd farewell. When the security guard pulled the blue and white curtains, Olive continued to stare.

“I know why he's going back in there,” she said, ketchup still smeared on her chin. “He needs to take a shower.” It was priceless; I couldn't bare to tell her that Mullins was walking out the other side.

Check out the highlights from the Barker's first bark in the video below. The photo gallery below that shows the Opening Day Parade.

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