Weekend Trivia -- Sunday

18 years ago

Trite weather report -

I know I often start out with a little weather report, and I apologize if they are boring, but boy, I wish you all could have the weather we are having here in northern Michigan today. It's sunny and about 70 F right now, with low humidity and a slight breeze. The breeze will pick up enough around noon to give the local sailors a great afternoon on the water with temps maxing out at about 80. It sounds like the perfect summer day to me, and I plan to be out there soon, though not sailing. Sorry, Martha. :-)

Actual trivia question -

In 1885, in Waco, Texas (note the four letter Texas town tie-in?) one Charles Alderton liked to invent his own soft drinks at the drug store where he worked. One of these drinks became very popular, to the point where his customers would come in and say "shoot me a Waco." Alderton then had others produce the drink for him, which was introduced to the world at the St. Louis World's fair in 1904, along with hamburger and hot dog buns, and ice cream cones.

You can still buy this drink, but Alderton didn't name it Waco, and it doesn't have a four letter name. What do you think the name is?

ThinMan

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Comments (15)

aftermidnight Zone7b B.C. Canada
18 years ago
Good Morning TM, I'm going to take a wild guess, something comes to mind probably not right but it starts with an S. It's a lovely day so I'm for the garden won't be lurking around looking for clues. I'll be back later to spell it out.

Annette
PattiOH
18 years ago
After the stormiest July on record, we're having wonderful weather here in beautiful Massachusetts too. I've been having fun in the garden all morning and am going right back out there!

I was going to say "Moxie", but I don't think you can buy it anymore, so I'll guess the equally horrible "Dr. Pepper" instead.

Patti
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sierra_z2b
18 years ago
Good Morning T-Man.

Achoooooo Achoooo, darn allergies. I hope I don't have to visit the doc.

Sierra
downeastwaves
18 years ago
Moxie is ALL MAINE!

I guess sasperilla not real sure how to spell it but I've seen it on old time signs and I think Dr. Pepper only came out in the 70s my Gram loved it but that may not be right as I do not know much about soft drinks but I sure missed playing so game on!
aftermidnight Zone7b B.C. Canada
18 years ago
Yep, I was thinking sasperilla (sp) too, DH thinks it's Dr. Pepper.

Annette
midnightsmum (Z4, ON)
18 years ago
Weather here is fabulous!! Breezy, sunny, about 24C/75F. I am still painting doors from yesterday, but will escape to the garden later to pick green beans. My first tomato is turning rosy!!! I dug a few potatoes this am - yum.

I'm going with Dr. Pepper. I think Sasparilla been around a long, long time - but as always, I could be wrong!!!

Nancy.
solana
18 years ago
Moxie was my first thought, too. Never heard of it before I moved to New England, so not from Waco. Patti: it's still available if you look hard enough (got a Hannaford's -- a Maine-based grocery chain for the uninitiated -- nearby?) but you're right: why bother?! Oh, ahem, I mean it must be an acquired taste.

2nd thought was 7-Up, but that might be a 4 letter word, so I'll go with sneezy Sierra.
lorna-organic
18 years ago
I believe sasparilla evolved into root beer. I was thinking Pepsi, but that is a cola, therefore, the equivalent of a four letter word. There is Knee High, and something made with orange, like Orangina or something like that. I think I'll go with ginger ale.

Lorna
proudgm_03
18 years ago
I believe it was Dr. Pepper also. I think I remember that story from somewhere.
plantlady999
18 years ago
I think it is Dr. Pepper also. Can remember drinking it as a kid in the sixtys.

Sue

Sue
thinman
Original Author
18 years ago
Well to be technical about it, and remember, I was a physics teacher, so I love to be technical, you are all incorrect. The answer is Dr Pepper. See the difference? No period.

But hey, I'm retired now, so I need to lighten up. I say five stars for Patti, Sierra, Annette, Nancy, Ana, proudgm, and Sue. Good job, ladies!

Actually, you were all exactly right anyway. When Alderton named it, it was called Dr. Pepper, with the period. If you want a REAL trivia question, ask when the period was dropped from the name.

Thanks for playing this weekend, dear trivia friends.

ThinMan
PattiOH
18 years ago
When was the period dropped, TM?

Leasa and Ana, Thanks for putting me straight about Moxie. My grandparents loved the stuff. They were Vermont yankees, living near the Canadian border . . . so maybe living in chilly climates makes your tongue numb or something. I can't think of any other way one could drink it.
Ugh.

Thanks for the fun trivia, TM. (so WHY did he call it Dr. Pepper?)

Patti
aftermidnight Zone7b B.C. Canada
18 years ago
Oh darn, I'd like to keep my stars but it was my DH that thought it was Dr Pepper, I was thinking it was Sasparilla. So I'm grudgingly handing it over to him :o(.
Annette
thinman
Original Author
18 years ago
The period was dropped sometime in the 1950s. According to the Dr Pepper museum in Waco, no one knows exactly where Alderton came up with the name. Apparently, there are a dozen different stories floating around.

Another Dr Pepper trivia question might be "How many different fruit flavors are in the recipe?" The answer is 23.

Hey Annette, just go ahead and keep those stars. You might need one some day. :-)

Catch a falling star and put it in your pocket,
Save it for a rainy day. (1958)

TM
sierra_z2b
18 years ago
Hey, Patti's answer wasn't there when I posted. lol Patti you beat me to it. :)

T-Man this was fun, I was actually in slow mode so had a chance to play, before it was time to get out and work in the garden. Another day of sun here so plan on getting the dead heading done....and maybe spliting some iris' that I didn't get done yesterday.

Sierra