The next photo is the PROMPT. Remember, all photos are property of the photographer, donated for use in Friday Fictioneers only. They shouldn’t be used for any other purpose without express permission. It is proper etiquette to give the contributor credit.
PHOTO PROMPT © Lori Wilson
The photo is of a storefront with mannequins in the window. The building architecture is old stone with filigree trim on the awnings. At the top of the building it has 1898 which I imagine is the year it was built. Bubbles float in colorful array across the scene.
Click the Frog to join the Fun!
Genre: Historical Fiction
Word Count: 100
DUBBLE BUBBLE
At twenty-three, Walter Diemer, an accountant, had a flair for experimentation. For months he’d been working on a chewy formula, adding a pinch of this and a dash of that.
“Now for the moment of truth,” he told his Fleer coworker, popping a flavorful wad into his mouth.
Walter rolled it around until it felt right. He stretched it on his tongue and blew a breath of air into it. A rosy balloon emerged from his lips. It popped and covered his cheeks.
Triumphantly, he stuffed the pink substance back into his mouth and exclaimed. “I dub thee bubble gum.”
Walter in 1928
Rochelle Wisoff-Fields-Addicted to Purple 
Very interesting. Thank you Rochelle
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Thank you, Geeta.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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That’s real interesting, Rochelle! 1928, the year when the first bubble gums were invented.
For the storefront, actually it says 1898, not 1888. Otherwise, it looks so beautiful!
Have a great week! ☺️
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Dear Aptivi,
Actually the Fleer company had been trying for sometime to get the formula right. It took young Mr. Diemer to do it.
Thanks to your sharp eyes I’ve corrected the date to 1898. Much appreciated. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Now, that’s a very interesting piece of history 👍
Thank you so much for your flattering words, Rochelle. I appreciate you always. You just made me smile. 😊 Yeah, my eyes are sharp on details. 👍
Enjoy your day 😀
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Invent a car and you need roads. Invent bubble gum and you need insolent teenagers.
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Dear Neil,
I suppose that’s one way to look at it. 😉 LOL Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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And a legend was born.
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Dear James,
The perfect pairing for baseball cards. Nu?
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I wasn’t a sports fan as a kid and I’m still not, but I remember bubble gum.
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Actually the Topps company put out bubble gum with Beatles cards. You better believe I collected those. 😉
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Thanks for the history lesson on bubble gum. Now, who taught the school kids to stick it u dear their desks and chairs. lol
Sent from the all new AOL app for iOS
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Dear Jan,
Now there’s a question I’m not sure even research will answer. 😉 Thank you for reading, commenting, and supporting. ❤
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I loved this little glance back in to history!
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Dear Violet,
It’s so much fun to research the origins of certain things. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Fun story, m’lady, although I confess the appeal of that stuff has always escaped me!
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Dear C. E.
I used to like the little comics that were included with each piece of Dubble Bubble. Later Topps came out with Beatles cards and a flat slice of bubble gum. By then I was much more interested in the four lads from Liverpool than the gum. And later there was the fun of getting chewed gum out of my sons’ hair. 😉 See the fun you missed? Thank you re my story.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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wow who’d have thought it great bit of history Rochelle 😅
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Dear Angela,
Most things have to have originated somewhere. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Great history piece.
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Thank you, James.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle,
And we’ve been blowing bubble gum since! of course, it had to start somewhere so we can always count on you to teach us.<
Shalom and lotsa bubble love,
Dale
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Dear Dale,
Finding the origins of the things we tend to take for granted is one of my greatest pleasures. 😉 But you know that. Thank you for the lovely comment.
Shalom and lotsa sweet hugs (from a moving truck),
Rochelle
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I love bubble gum! I’m glad he didn’t give up on his idea.
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Dear Clare,
It’s been a while since I’ve had a good chew. Glad you enjoyed my story. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Cool history to know, 🙂
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Dear Lily,
Most things had to start somewhere. I love finding them. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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who would have thought? nice piece of history.
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Thank you, Plaridel.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Gosh, bubble gum… fancy that! But I would say – yuk!! 😂
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Dear Chris,
Bubble gum isn’t for everyone. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Now I know! They do say you learn something every day!
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Dear Keith,
Oh the trivia. Happy to pass along information. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I never thought about the origins of bubble gum, and the strange unique flavour of it! Thanks Rochelle
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Dear Jen,
Nothing tastes quite like bubble gum, does it? It’s so much fun to find the origins of things we take for granted. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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It’s crazy to think how someone could come up with bubble gum in the first place. In Newfoundland, people would chew pine sap, which they called frankgum, which was very similar to gum, but it’s such a nonintuitive thing besides that. I wonder how many iterations he went through before he found the perfect gum.
Have a great weekend,
David
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Dear David,
I can’t imagine why anyone would want to invent bubble gum either. On the other hand what would our childhoods have been like without it? And what else would mothers have to work out of their kids’ hair. Right? Thanks for dropping by. Hope you’re having a great week. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Love this!
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😀 Thank you, Dawn.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I appreiate how I learn a bit of history and biography in your stories. Your description of blowing the bubble with the gum reminded me of my childhood. I also remember scrounging between couch cushions looking for pennies to go to the candy store!
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Dear Michele,’
Your sweet comment makes me smile. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle – I love this! We’re all focusing on the mannequins and you zero in on the bubbles. Brilliant! Thank you for another fascinating story.
Shalom
🕊️
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Dear Nancy,
It’s all about what you see, isn’t it? And that’s what makes it so much fun. Thank you for your lovely comment.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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What an interesting story! The history of bubble gum… it’s always the accountants getting up to something creative at home
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