San Francisco Urban Fair and Exposition Contest Records, 1982-1987

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Summary

Creators:
Goldstone, Merle
Extent:
1 carton (1 cubic foot)
Language:
Collection materials are in English.
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], San Francisco Urban Fair and Exposition Contest Records (SFH 738), San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library.

Background

Scope and content:

Includes contest entry forms, contest books and programs, photographs, administrative documents and manuals, lists of judges and winners, press kits, broadcast news audio and video coverage, and newspaper clippings.

Biographical / historical:

The San Francisco Urban Fair and Exposition was the first urban county fair in California, operating in the 1980s. The first fair was held June 25-27, 1982 at Moscone Center, and was the inaugural event there. It celebrated San Francisco through ethnic dances, foods, wines, exhibits and informational booths, children's activities, local art efforts and contests. Later sites included Fort Mason, Brooks Hall, and the Telegraph Hill Neighborhood Center.

Events tested fog calling, waitperson and one-liner come-on skills. There were food contests as well as a bicycle messenger olympics, pet competition, lowrider car show, parking space contest, Herb Caen column-writing event, Ghirardelli Square treasure hunt, and Financial District businesswomen's team competition.

Merle Goldstone served as the fair's contest director from 1982 to 1987. Goldstone was also a juggler and street performer with the San Francisco Mime Troop, a publicist for Macy's, and later the Public Information Officer for the city's Department of Public Works.

The program was governed by State Fair guidelines, beginning with California legislation authorizing the formation of the San Francisco Fair Board of the Fifth Agrictultural District. Fair logos were donated by Landor Associates, and the cow artwork was designed by Vince Romaniello. The fair was downsized after 1987 and became a Youth Fair, with a big skateboard competition sponsored by Thrasher magazine. The fair eventually closed.

Acquisition information:
Donated by Merle Goldstone on Nov. 13, 2015.
Processing information:

Processed by Tami J. Suzuki.

Arrangement:

Organized alphabetically.

Physical location:
Open for research. The collection is offsite and advance notice is required for retrieval. Material must be requested at least 4 business days in advance of visit.
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

The collection is available for use during San Francisco History Center hours. Collections that are stored offsite should be requested 48 hours in advance.

Terms of access:

All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the City Archivist. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the San Francisco Public Library as the owner of the physical items.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], San Francisco Urban Fair and Exposition Contest Records (SFH 738), San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library.

Location of this collection:
San Francisco Public Library
100 Larkin Street
San Francisco, CA 94102, US
Contact:
(415) 557-4567
sfhistory@sfpl.org
Website