March 16, 2017
This is “Our Past Is Present” from
the Geary County Historical Society.
Today’s story is about a person who
won a 1949 Ford at the Merchant’s Expo in Junction City in 1949. Junction City’s weekly newspaper, the
“Republic” announced on March 10th in 1949 that on Friday and
Saturday of that week, Junction City merchants would stage a show of the latest
in merchandise at the annual Merchant’s Exposition sponsored by the Junior
Chamber of Commerce. Two evenings of
entertainment were planned for the event, which took place in the Municipal
Auditorium.
The always
popular WIBW entertainers would appear in a show beginning at 8:00 Friday
night. A three hour show would be
provided Saturday night, beginning at 7:00 with a 90 minute talent show which
was arranged by the Fort Riley Special Service Office. Following that show, six Junction City stores
would stage a combined style show beginning at 8:30 PM.
The climax
of the Exposition was to come at 10:00 PM on Saturday with the awarding of a
new 1949 Ford by the Junction City Chamber of Commerce. Other merchandise valued at more than $500
was slated to be given away as door prizes during the two day event. Among the gifts were an innerspring mattress,
three radios, a pen and pencil set, three sets of fog lights, a spotlight, an
electric iron, a waffle iron, a coffee maker, a fishing reel and casting rod,
tailor made seat covers, a blanket and bed spread set and many other gifts.
Free
Coca-Cola was offered on both days of the Exposition. The only charge for all
this was an admission fee of 35 cents for adults and 15 cents for children to
the Friday night show. Saturday’s activities were all free.
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