Help with Lou Gehrig photo
 

I just bought this funny photo.

Can anyone identify this scene or event? Is there anything in the shot that could date the photo?
I recognize the Iron Horse and Joe McCarthy, but that is it.
Who is the crazy guy to the left with the prop gun(?) in his hand?
What is being dumped on their heads?
Who is sitting to McCarthy's left?..and what is with the whistle?
What is the machine in the foreground?

Thanks much for the help.

I'm gonna guess that since there seems to be an elephant above them that those are peanuts. Have no idea about the extra dudes.

I dont know how much this helps, but the Acme stamp on the back dates the photo to between about 1935-39 range.

could it be the circus
 

looks like Ringling Brothers logo and i have seen other pix of Gehrig doing things like welcoming the circus
dan

Thanks for the info guys. Anyone else recognize anything or anyone?