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Photo copyright Janet M. Webb
“This line is endless. The kids are antsy. I can just take them down to the Sandwich Gardens. I’ll grade some papers while they eat, then we’ll meet you under the 7-Up clock in a few hours.”
“No, George, you didn’t come all the way to the World’s Fair to work. The line’s moving…we’re almost in. When else will we see Spain for twenty-five cents? We’ll eat paella inside…and Life mentioned some fruity wine punch. Look, kids! Flamenco dancers! George, what are they saying?”
“¡Felicidades! You are our three-millionth visitor! ¡Bienvenidos! Please, be our guest at the Jewel of the Fair!”
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Rochelle’s creative use of historical fiction for many of the Friday Fictioneers photo prompts has inspired me to explore that genre for my response to Janet‘s photo this week. It is widely accepted that sangria was introduced in the US at the 1964 World’s Fair in New York City. Lines to enter the Spanish Pavilion were often so extensive that ticket sales had to be suspended until the Pavilion had emptied–was it Goya or sangria the people were after? Pavilion organizers celebrated visits by countless dignitaries and celebrities, and also made quite a fuss over milestone visitors like George K. Bird, a Massachusetts teacher who’d come to the Fair with his wife and four children.
Things I See and Know 
patriciaruthsusan
February 16, 2014 at 4:55 AM
This was an enjoyable story make more so by the addition of the history behind it. Well done.
dreaminofobx
February 17, 2014 at 6:27 PM
Thank you! It was fun digging around through history this week.
wmqcolby
February 16, 2014 at 7:11 AM
THAT would be so cool! Nice.
dreaminofobx
February 17, 2014 at 6:26 PM
I would have loved to have experienced a World’s Fair…not to mention to have been treated like royalty at one of the pavilions!
helenrj
February 16, 2014 at 9:48 AM
Very nice…loved the historical bits.
dreaminofobx
February 17, 2014 at 6:25 PM
There were so many historical bits…it was hard to choose how to use my 100 words for the story!
helenrj
February 17, 2014 at 7:04 PM
I love research and odd facts…makes a good read when details are provided.
Nan Falkner
February 17, 2014 at 1:30 AM
Good story and I read the historical piece. Very interesting. Love your writing! Thanks, Nan
rochellewisoff
February 17, 2014 at 6:06 AM
Dear Michelle,
A different take on the prompt. So refreshing after all the murders this week. Incidentally, I was at the 1964 World’s Fair. I don’t remember Sangria. Oh yea, I was only eleven. 😉
Good one as always.
Shalom,
Rochelle
dreaminofobx
February 17, 2014 at 6:23 PM
I don’t know much about the World’s Fairs, so I had a lot of fun digging around on the web this week. I love that someone has taken the time to archive ephemera like the menu from the 7-Up Sandwich Gardens so those of us who weren’t there can still appreciate it all.
tinkerbelle96
February 17, 2014 at 10:44 AM
Wow this seems interesting! Good for George he didn’t insist on the Sandwich Garden. Thank you for the nice historical bit after your story, enjoyed it 😀