The days of sidewalk selfies with paper politicians
In 1985, people were paying to have their picture taken with cardboard likenesses of politicians
People paying for pictures with cardboard likenesses of politicians?
Only in Ottawa, you might say — and that's exactly where that was happening in the summer of 1985.
You could pay to have your picture taken alongside a cardboard version of Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, or his wife, Mila.
Ditto for Mulroney's American counterpart, U.S. President Ronald Reagan.
There was also the option of posing with former prime minister Pierre Trudeau.
And it was a competitive business: The CBC's Judy Darling reported that at least five such groups were trying to tempt tourists with a paid photo op.
'They wonder who she is'
Another challenge was being able to ensure that potential customers knew who the cardboard characters were.
Like the people unable to recognize Mila Mulroney.
"They wonder who she is," said a young woman working at one of the photo businesses, when speaking to CBC News.
"They ask if she is [the prime minister's] sister, or something like that."
