Close but no Cigar origin

[CigarInspector]

Found this today and thought it was interesting to share. Apparently the saying comes from the US fairgrounds in the early 1900s. Walking the midway with various games to be played, one of the apparent prizes was a cigar. The carnies would yell out “Close, but no cigar”when someone didn’t win trying to entice others to play. Anyone have any other cigar history or lore or sayings to share?

[Nightwingvyse]

I actually knew this. I just wish they still had prizes like that lol.

[TJCoro]

Yup. That sounds about right, se?or detective.

Now, does anyone know the origin of expression "What This Country Needs is a Really Good 5-Cent Cigar?"

Hmmmm....?

El Perro

[RickMG]

Yup. That sounds about right, se?or detective.

Now, does anyone know the origin of expression "What This Country Needs is a Really Good 5-Cent Cigar?"

Hmmmm....?

El Perro

Google is an amazing thing. Seems the Vice President of the U.S. said this in 1917.
"Despite Marshall?s many accomplishments, he remains best known today for a chance remark he made while presiding over the U.S. Senate in 1917. During a long speech by Sen. Joe Bristow of Kansas on the needs of the country, Marshall turned to a clerk and said, ?What this country needs is a really good 5-cent cigar.?

http://www.indianahistory.org/our-collections/library-and-archives/notable-hoosiers/thomas-r.-marshall

And in the who knew category. Little did anyone know that less than 80 years later a President of the U.S. wished he'd never had seen a cigar.

[OldWestChris]

Apparently, a “stogie” actually got its roots from the Conestoga wagons that were used to advertise these cigars. The term actually originated in Pennsylvania, where they were frequently found and sold. Pretty interesting stuff, isn’t it? I would have never expected Pennsylvania, where they’ve always had pretty strict rules on almost everything, to be the origin of anything related to cigars.