Classic Americana

The Hot Dog Glove

Hot dogs are another American favorite that originated overseas. Marc says hot dogs started out with Vienna sausages in Austria and Germany. In 1904, they were introduced to Americans at the World's Fair in St. Louis—served with a glove.

"When hot dogs first came out, they did not have buns. They gave you a glove to keep the grease and to keep the heat away from you," Marc says. To try and simplify things, the purveyor enlisted some help. "[He] had a brother-in-law who was a baker. He said, 'Is there something you can come up with to put the hot dog in?' He came up with the split bun, got rid of the gloves, and there you go."