Contests of the Early 1900s
It probably comes as no surprise, but one of my favorite things to do is search old newspapers. I’m always scanning the entire page of a newspaper from a search result. As so often happens, when I’m looking for one thing, I find something else that catches my eye. These intriguing finds might be related to my search, or, my personal favorite, they might not. Such was the case when I was looking for vacation and tour advertisements from the early 1900s. I found what can only be described as a vacation contest in the Cincinnati Commercial Tribune from 1905. I had seen this before when looking for ancestors in Cincinnati, but I had totally forgotten about it. This time, I wanted to investigate further!
Travel to Europe Contests
Fifty Tourists Will Travel Where Great Kings Lived
In 1905, the Commercial Tribune in Cincinnati announced an exciting initiative. It offered fifty women a free tour of Europe as special guests of the newspaper. This grand venture was designed to reward the most ambitious and dedicated readers. It gave them an opportunity to experience the historical and cultural treasures of Europe. The trip promised to be a comprehensive journey by water, rail, carriage, and coach, covering multiple countries and iconic destinations.
The selection process for this exclusive tour was based on a popular vote. The Commercial Tribune invited readers to participate by collecting and submitting ballots printed daily and on Sundays in the newspaper. Each ballot counted as one vote. Additionally, special coupons were available for those who subscribed in advance. Or even more votes, depending on the subscription length and amount paid.
The contest was structured to ensure a broad representation of women from Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky. There were specific quotas allocated to different localities, including Cincinnati, Hamilton County, and other regions.
To further encourage participation, the Commercial Tribune provided detailed information about the tour conditions. This ensured that all potential travelers were aware of the itinerary, travel arrangements, and the luxurious accommodations awaiting them.
One of my favorite aspects had to be the updates published throughout the contest. Entrants were listed by their location and the number of ballots each had received – even down to the day and minute. They even published photos of some of the entrants!
Itinerary Includes Historic Places of the Old World
In 1909, the Commercial Tribune ran a similar contest. The winners would enjoy an all-expenses-paid trip, visiting some of the most historic and culturally rich locations across Europe.
The itinerary, carefully crafted to provide a comprehensive European experience, included visits to iconic cities and landmarks. The tour would begin with a transatlantic journey aboard the steamer Ionian, a luxurious ship that would set the stage for the grand adventure. Upon arrival in Europe, the group would explore the picturesque Scottish capital of Edinburgh, the vibrant streets of London, and the romantic canals of Amsterdam. From there, the tour would continue to the medieval charm of Bruges, the cultural grandeur of Paris, and the scenic beauty of Switzerland.
Highlights of the tour included a ride through the Dutch countryside to the seaside resort of Scheveningen, a visit to the Palace of Versailles in France, and a tour of the historic battlefield of Waterloo in Belgium. The travelers would also experience the Rhine River’s majestic castles and the stunning landscapes of the Swiss Alps. The trip promised to be both an educational and awe-inspiring experience. It offered participants a rare chance to immerse themselves in the history and culture of the Old World.
Contests Galore!
Curious to see if the newspaper had a history of sponsoring contests, I decided to dig deeper into their archives. To my delight, I discovered that it had a rich tradition of hosting various competitions in the early 1900s. Each contest seemed designed to engage and excite its readers. It was fascinating to see how the Commercial Tribune used these contests not just as promotional tools but as ways to connect with and reward their readership.
Booked for Paris
Not one, but two contests! In March 1900, the Commercial Tribune celebrated the conclusion of a successful contest that sent one fortunate school teacher on a free trip to the Paris Exposition. The contest, which had generated significant interest among readers, involved daily voting through coupons clipped from the newspaper. Miss Ahlendorf of Avondale emerged as the winner. She led a competitive field of teachers and secured the coveted trip to Paris.
Marked by intense competition, particularly in its final weeks, the contest got friends and supporters to rally behind their favorite candidates. Miss Ahlendorf clinched victory in the last days of the contest. Her supporters delivered a surge of votes, outpacing her closest rival, Miss Neff of Woodward High School.
In response to the overwhelming success of the first contest, the Commercial Tribune immediately announced a second contest. It would select another school teacher to attend the Paris Exposition. The new contest began with the same format of daily coupons. It encouraged students, friends, and families to rally behind their favorite teachers.
150 Popular Ladies to the World’s Fair in St. Louis
The Commercial Tribune was busy with contests in 1904. In January, the newspaper announced an extraordinary opportunity for 150 women to attend the World’s Fair in St. Louis with all expenses paid. The selected women would embark on a two-week journey to the World’s Fair, traveling on a special train of palace cars, which included dining and observation cars, ensuring a luxurious and comfortable trip. From the moment they left their homes until their return, every aspect of the journey—including railroad fare, hotel accommodations, daily admissions to the World’s Fair Grounds, and streetcar fare—was covered by the Commercial Tribune.
The selection process was open to the public. Readers voted for the women they believed deserved this remarkable experience. Ballots were printed in each issue of the newspaper. Additional special coupons were available for those who subscribed to the Commercial Tribune. These ballots and coupons counted as votes, with the highest vote-getters securing their place on the trip.
Delegates to the Republican National Convention
Another unique opportunity was for students from Hamilton County and neighboring cities to become delegates to the Republican National Convention in Chicago on June 21, 1904. The newspaper arranged for eleven students to represent their schools as “Commercial Tribune Delegates” at the convention. The newspaper covered all expenses, including travel in a Pullman Palace Car and hotel accommodations. A representative from the Commercial Tribune would accompany the students, ensuring they received proper recognition and had a memorable experience.
The selection process was competitive. The public voted for their preferred student delegate through ballots clipped from the newspaper. Students from a designated list of schools were eligible to participate, with one delegate being chosen from each school or group of schools. Nominations required a coupon signed by both a nominator and the principal of the student’s school.
A Study in Government and Politics
To round out the year, the Commercial Tribune launched a grand intellectual contest, offering a staggering $50,000 in prizes to its subscribers. This contest engaged readers by having them estimate the total vote count in Ohio for the upcoming Presidential election on November 8, 1904. The contest promised substantial rewards, with the first prize increased to $25,000 for the most accurate estimate. Prizes were also available for the next 774 closest estimates, with amounts ranging from $10,000 for the second place down to $5 each for the final 400 closest guesses.
To assist participants in making their estimates, the newspaper provided historical voting data from previous Presidential elections in Ohio, going as far back as 1864. This data served as a reference to help subscribers make informed guesses.
Play Ball!
In 1911, baseball fever gripped Cincinnati as the Commercial Tribune launched an exciting contest for local fans. The newspaper advertised 10 FREE TRIPS TO 10 BASEBALL ENTHUSIASTS to see the upcoming World’s Championship Series (now known as the World Series).
The contest was simple yet engaging: readers were to collect coupons from the newspaper, with daily coupons worth one vote and Sunday coupons counting for five. Anyone could participate, subscriber or not, and the paper encouraged entrants to rally friends and family to help gather votes. Running until October 5th, the promotion also offered bonus votes for new subscriptions or renewals, cleverly boosting the paper’s circulation.
Conclusion
As I read these fascinating stories, I couldn’t help but imagine the excitement that must have buzzed through the streets of Cincinnati as readers eagerly clipped their coupons, rallied their supporters, and dreamed of the adventures that awaited them in these contests. It’s a vivid reminder of the power of community, the thrill of competition, and the joy of unexpected discoveries—whether it’s a surprise win or an intriguing find in the pages of an old newspaper.
So next time you’re researching or simply browsing through historical newspapers, keep your eyes open—you never know what forgotten gems might be waiting to catch your eye and spark your imagination!
