Tuesday’s Tip: Tip to the Top!

Mickey Finn Photo domu.com history-map

–  photo courtesy of domu.com

Here is a bit of Tuesday Trivia that will hopefully not leave a bad taste in your mouth!  Back in 1903, local Chicago bartender and manager of a fine, upstanding restaurant called the, “Lone Star Saloon and Palm Garden Restaurant”, created a unique and inducing way to put a few extra coffers in his apron pocket.

Michael, “Mickey” Finn took the liberty of providing his customers with a bit of extra bang for their boozing buck.  Mickey was implicated for adding a drug (chloral hydrate) to libations in order to render patrons knocked-out, and consequently robbed of their moonshine money.

Not to be outdone by their money-making Mickey, in 1918 over 100 waiters were arrested for poisoning abominable tippers; this was done by, “slippin’ someone a mickey”, as it became known throughout the waiter crowd.

 

Mickey Finn Newspaper article chicagoreader

– photo courtesy of chicagoreader.com

The illustrious, “Waiters’ Union Headquarters” was only too happy to fulfill requests by its membership for small packets of, “Mickey Finn Powder”, as it was called.  At a bargain-basement price of only 20 cents, a jilted spirits server could elicit in its cheapo customer feelings of dizziness, sluggishness, and in some cases, it became lethal.

Mickey Finn Photo whatdoyouknowshow.com

– photo courtesy of whatdoyouknowshow.com

A Tuesday Tip to the Wise:  A slip of the tip might just wind you up encountering a spaced-out trip!

  28 comments for “Tuesday’s Tip: Tip to the Top!

  1. andy1076's avatar
    July 29, 2014 at 9:50 am

    wow how about putting THAT poster in bars these days, for cheap tippers? *CACKLES MANIACALLY*

    Like

    • seaangel4444's avatar
      July 29, 2014 at 9:52 am

      Haha, yeah, um, one of those things that makes you go, “hhhhmmmmm”!!! ;-P xo

      Like

      • andy1076's avatar
        July 29, 2014 at 11:39 am

        Kindly warn before serving 😛

        Like

      • seaangel4444's avatar
        July 29, 2014 at 12:14 pm

        I have a sneaking suspicion these Chicago guys circa 1918 weren’t too, um, shall we say, ‘concerned’ about their kind offerings! 😛

        Like

  2. georgeforfun #MATURE, YOU'VEBEEN WARNED Life's too short to be miserable or serious anymore!'s avatar
    July 29, 2014 at 10:49 am

    Reblogged this on georgeforfun.

    Like

  3. YVONNE KUNCE's avatar
    YVONNE KUNCE
    July 29, 2014 at 11:19 am

    Unfortunately, I can’t read your posts on my ipad.

    >

    Like

    • seaangel4444's avatar
      July 29, 2014 at 12:15 pm

      Hi Yvonne!! It is so nice to hear from you! Hope you are doing well, and can read my posts on another device sometime!!! I wonder why the ipad won’t let you read my posts? Cher xo

      Like

  4. foresterartist's avatar
    July 29, 2014 at 2:46 pm

    Great story! Thanks for sharing.

    Like

    • seaangel4444's avatar
      July 29, 2014 at 4:21 pm

      Thank you so much! This city is certainly rich in its colorful characters!!! Cher xo

      Like

  5. Joanne's avatar
    July 29, 2014 at 5:34 pm

    Revenge of the waitstaff isn’t as new and as nasty as I thought – love my new knowledge on being “slipped a mickey”! 🙂

    Like

    • seaangel4444's avatar
      July 29, 2014 at 6:53 pm

      Isn’t it interesting! *LOL* Cher xo

      Like

  6. Don's avatar
    Don
    July 30, 2014 at 5:28 am

    Wow! Cher, I’m going to a restaurant tonight. Going to keep my eyes open. 🙂 Wonderful story.

    Like

    • seaangel4444's avatar
      July 30, 2014 at 7:12 am

      *LOL* Well just to think it all started here in Chicago! *grin* Thank you, dear Don! I guess it ‘pays’ to have this knowledge!! Cher xo

      Like

  7. imagesbytdashfield's avatar
    July 30, 2014 at 1:45 pm

    Oh my!!!! LOL

    Like

  8. Sunshinebright's avatar
    July 30, 2014 at 9:13 pm

    Interesting story about the way the “slip him a Mickey” saying began. Always love your “little tidbits.” Ha.

    Like

    • seaangel4444's avatar
      July 31, 2014 at 4:05 pm

      *LOL* Thank you, dear Carol! I wondered about that saying too!! I hope you are having a lovely day!! Cher xo

      Like

      • Sunshinebright's avatar
        July 31, 2014 at 7:26 pm

        It has been rather a pleasant day, thank you Cher. Hope yours has been, too! Looking forward to you next post. 🙂

        Like

      • seaangel4444's avatar
        July 31, 2014 at 7:38 pm

        That’s good to hear, Carol! Yes, I had a lovely day, thanks! I’ll be posting tomorrow!!! Cher xo

        Like

      • Sunshinebright's avatar
        July 31, 2014 at 7:40 pm

        Right! Friday.

        Like

      • seaangel4444's avatar
        July 31, 2014 at 7:46 pm

        The Friday file! 🙂

        Like

  9. IdealisticRebel's avatar
    August 1, 2014 at 8:08 am

    What an interesting bit of information. Just what I need to share on the weekend. Hugs, Barbara

    Like

    • seaangel4444's avatar
      August 1, 2014 at 8:09 am

      Thank you dear Barbara! I found it quite interesting!! I had never heard where the term, “slippin’ a mickey” came from until I found this Chicago information!!! Hugs, Cher xo

      Like

  10. IdealisticRebel's avatar
    August 1, 2014 at 8:08 am

    Reblogged this on idealisticrebel.

    Like

  11. Sue Dreamwalker's avatar
    August 6, 2014 at 6:16 am

    Loved the History lesson, And I never knew there was a REAL Mickey FInn.. So I learnt something new today 🙂 always good for my old brain cells.. 🙂

    Like

    • seaangel4444's avatar
      August 6, 2014 at 7:59 am

      Hehehehe, why yes, I felt the same way when I was researching for this post! A REAL Mickey Finn indeed, and from right here in Chicago! Wow! *LOL* I agree, dear Sue! Hugs, Cher xo

      Like

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