Object of the Day: The Chicago Fair

Click on image to be scandalized.

One might think that this comic trade card is advertising the Chicago World’s Fair of 1893—The World’s Columbian Exposition. But, nope. It’s not. The card actually advertises a Wisconsin shop of the same era which called itself “Chicago Fair” in order to capitalize on all the press the exposition was getting and to make their wares sound more glamorous. This stock trade card also makes use of imagery of new contemporary technology—the telephone—for that extra feeling of excitement.

The card’s front shows a split-scene of a man and a pinched-face spinster—each at their respective telephones.

It reads:

Fond Dad: Darling How-s Baby? Bless Her 
Dear Little Tutsy-Putsy 



Maiden Lady: Good Gracious! 



And the punch-line?

THEY RUNG HIM UP THE WRONG NUMBER 

Ha! See, she was scandalized by his filthy, filthy, dirty, nasty talk. The cad! Ain’t technology scary?

And, then, in red script…

Chicago Fair 

What’s sold at Chicago Fair? Corny dogs? Prize pigs? Pies? Fried butter?

Nah.

FOR 

GREAT BARGAINS 

IN 

Dry Goods, Fancy Goods, 

CARPETS, 

Tinware, Glassware, 

Crockery, 

and all kinds of Notions, 

GO TO 

THE CHICAGO FAIR 

I. GORDON, Prop. 

NORTH MAIN ST., near 1st Nat’l Bank 

FORT ATKINSON, WIS.