FOHBC 2016 Sacramento National Antique Bottle Convention & Expo | Sacramento Shootout

Sacramento Shootout | Lions Gate Hotel Club Ballroom, Thursday evening, August 4th, 8:00 – 11:00 pm

The Sacramento Shootout bottle competition will be held at the Lions Gate Hotel Club Ballroom on Thursday evening, 04 August after the General’s House Reception. There will be three (3) categories. Each category will have three (3) judges. Awards will be give for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place. The categories are: 1. Jesse Moore Sole Agent (cylinder fifths), 2. U.S.A. Hosp. Dept. quarts 3. Hostetter’s Stomach Bitters (limit 4 entries per competitor). Security will be provided. For additional information contact Richard Siri, Sacramento Convention Chair, PO Box 3818, Santa Rosa, California, 707.542.6438, rtsiri@sbcglobal.net

All photographs are by our official show photographer, Angelina (Gina) Pellegrini unless otherwise noted.

The Sacramento Shootout poster and directional signs leading guests to the Lion’s Gate Hotel Club Ballroom.

Richard Siri (on stage) making final inspections and adjusting his new, custom made LED light box. Looks like Bill Ham with Richard.

The next Sacramento National event, after the FOHBC Board meeting, American Bottle Auctions Open House, Early Registration, and Generals House VIP Reception was the Sacramento Shootout. This bottle competition concept seems to have originated in the west or at least is preferred in the west as an event to slug it out and see great bottles while competing to win bragging rights for the best bottle in a category.

This year was no different. Sacramento National co-chair Richard Siri spearheaded this even with primary assistance from Eric McGuire and Warren Friedrich. Richard was the moderator or emcee for the event and up until the doors opened for the registrants to enter, was concerned that few bottles would show up. Boy was he wrong. You see, people hold their cards (or bottles) tight and typically do not fill out entrant forms and send in early. They show up at the gate with their baby or babies in hand.

The crowd was healthy with anticipation as the bottles were registered and inspected. The judges were pre-selected for each category and included Frank Ritz, Lou Lambert and Ferdinand Meyer V for Hostetters, Dale Mlasko, Dennis Eastley and Sheldon Baugh for U.S.A. Hosp. Dept. bottles and Fred Kille, Ralph Hollibaugh and Andrew Koutsoukos for Jesse Moore Sole Agent fifths.

So enjoy the pictures. We have heard nothing but compliments for this event. Thank you to all involved and congratulations to the winners.

R E G I S T R A T I O N

Master of Ceremonies, Richard Siri briefing the crowd on rules of the competition.

FOHBC First Vice President, Sheldon Baugh working with Richard Siri.

Numbered bottle entrant boxes to keep each entry organized and protected.

An axious crowd awaits to enter their bottles.

Eric McGuire (seated) records bottle entries by Lou Lambert.

Dale Mlasko entering his Jesse Moore Sole agent fifth.

Larry Westfall entering his bottles.

Henry Guillen and Doug Hanson (right)

The legendary Betty Zumwalt (left) in the house.

U. S. A. Hospital Dept.

First Place: Richard Siri, Second Place: Jeffrey Burkhardt, Third Place: Richard Siri

Judges: Dale Mlasko, Dennis Eastley and Sheldon Baugh

Judges Dale Mlasko, Dennis Eastley and Sheldon Baugh for U.S.A. Hosp. Dept. bottles

Look at three examples. Judges Dale Mlasko, Dennis Eastley and Sheldon Baugh for U.S.A. Hosp. Dept. bottles

A healthy crowd on hand for this popular bottle.

Dale Mlasko looks at two entrants.

Bobby Hinely and Lou Pellegrini

Three finalists on the table. The light box review is next.

Making the final selections.

Three finalists. Killer bottles.

And then there were three.

A amazing photo of a U.S.A. Hospital Dept. bottle with bubbles on bubbles. WOW. This bottle won first place. Congratulations Richard Siri.

Photo op for the excited crowd.

Group shot in light box.

First Place: Richard Siri

Second Place: Jeff Burkhardt

Third Place: Richard Siri

J E S S E M O O R E S O L E A G E N T

First Place: Dale Mlasko, Second Place: Stephen Hubbell, Third Place: David Storey

Judges: Fred Kille, Ralph Hollibaugh and Andrew Koutsoukos

Ralph Hollibaugh inspection.

Fred Kille selects a bottle to inspect.

Andrew Koutsoukos inspects an entrant.

Fred Kille again with an example.

Full house in rapt attention.

Four extraordinary examples in the light box

Three finalists.

All examples pictured together in light box.

All contestants again in the light box.

Dale Mlasko proudly holding his 1st Place winning bottle.

Dale Mlasko with his 1st Place award.

Stephen Hubbell with his 2nd Place award plaque.

David Storey with his 3rd Place award plaque.

David Storey with his 3rd Place plaque and bottle.

The three award winners together (L-R) Dale Mlasko, Stephen Hubbell & David Storey

Hostetter’s Stomach Bitters

First Place: Mike Henness, Second Place: Jerry Forbes, Third Place: Richard Siri

Judges: Frank Ritz, Lou Lambert and Ferdinand Meyer V

Judges: (L – R) Ferdinand Meyer V, Lou Lambert and Frank Ritz

Ferdinand Meyer V and Frank Ritz inspect to entrants.

Hostetter’s Bitters judges looking at examples to cull out for next round in light box.

Yellow green example held up for inspection.

Reverse “J” Dr. Hostetter’s Stomach Bitters

Many examples out of the entrant box for preliminary review.

The Hostetter’s Stomach Bitters crowd.

An extremely whittled Hostetter’s in apricot.

Frank Ritz inspecting examples in the light box.

Emcee Richard Siri checking out a pontiled example.

Look at all the colors and sizes.

Three top examples of green Dr. Hostetter’s Stomach Bitters.

Three finalists in a pose together.

Lou Lambert speaks to the audience on judging criteria for the Hostetter’s Stomach Bitters.

Lou Lambert references what the judges looked for in each example.

Straight line grouping of second round finalists.

Awesome examples of Hostetter’s Stomach Bitters finalists.

Group pose of all examples.

Judges making final selections.

Extraordinary sizes, shapes and colors.

An admiring crowd awaits the announcement of the winners. Here we see left to right Andrew Koutsoukos, James Bell, Lance Westfall, James Campiglia, John Shroyer, Stephen Hubbell and Ed Barber.