A Portland, Maine, Bar Once Played ‘Wheel of Fortune’ to Decide Beer Prices in the 1970s

There was a time not that long ago when Portland, Maine, was not the tourist hub it is today. Bars and restaurants still existed, but it was a lot more challenging to get people in the door and staying.

Throughout the late '70s as well as the '80s and '90s, bars and restaurants throughout Portland were in stiff competition with one another over happy hour and late night specials. The places offering the cheapest bites and beers generally won the night, and that included one of Portland's longest-running dives, Forest Gardens.

A Facebook thread in the Portland, Maine, group asked people to share memories of cheap beer and eats back in the day. Forest Gardens was fondly remembered for their version of Wheel of Fortune.

Forest Gardens' version of Wheel of Fortune had nothing to do with extravagant vacations, new cars, or big prizes. Instead, Forest Gardens would spin their wheel every 15 to 30 minutes and determine what the beer price would be for the given time frame. The wheel could land on prices from 10 cents per pint all the way up to a dollar. Yes, you read that right.

Since the good ole days of 10-cent pints, Maine has put additional laws into place to curb binge drinking at establishments for safety reasons. That's not to say some terrific deals on your favorite food items or adult beverages can't still be found, but playing a version of Wheel of Fortune to determine whether a dime can buy you a pint is the stuff of legend now.