Retro Fair 50/50 Booth Buds — Rumson-Fair Haven Retrospect

Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair 50/50 Booth in the 1970s
Photo/FHFD media archives

The Fair Haven Firemen’s Fair’s opening night is Friday. And, with the fair come games of chance spins and wins.

From the prize booth wheel spins to 50/50 and Super 50/50 tickets taking a tumble in a big bin, there are winners every night. The winnings? Everything from candy to tens of thousands of dollars.

Some of the booths have varied over the years, with prizes ranging from the ever-popular 60s kewpie doll (remember that?) to televisions, cars, SUVs, boats, and even cigarettes.

One game of chance booth, though, has a prize that’s remained the same over the years — the 50/50. From way back when until now, guys donning styrofoam mock straw hats, aprons with change and rolls of paired tickets roam the fair grounds selling tickets that bear the winnings of a few to hundreds or potentially thousands of dollars. The match of the pair goes into a bin and, you know it, the bin gets a few twirls with someone at the booth reaching in to grab the winning number. This goes on at intervals each night, all night, every night.

It’s a mainstay. Been on the grounds pretty much as long as the fair has existed. The only change has likely been price.

And the booth has been in the same spot for decades. The faces there, though, have changed with loss.

So, the Retro Pic of the Day pays ode to the 50/50 tradition and some of the fire company members long known to man the booth. Most pictured are now gone. RIP.

Remember these folks? One is the oldest living Auxiliary member. Which one? Who remembers the price of tickets in the 70s when this photo was shot?

See you at the fair!