Even now days it would be a rare “thingy” to attend a public event and not find at least one, per se, “sidewalk vendor” doing his/her damnest to sell “mementoes” of said event to anyone attending said.
And I am sure that merchandizing technique wasn’t invented in the late 20th Century.
So, with all the Wild West shows and Rodeos being held all over America, especially during the late 19th and early 20th Century, …… “sidewalk” vendors were ‘hawking’ all sorts of memorabilia, ….. old, new, fake and actual. Yup, …… the ‘flea markets’ ……. and ‘garage sales’ of yesteryears.
During the Depression Years, ……… “apples” was a fresh selling item. 😊