Say cheese: Worcester could set smile record
Historical Museum site of online album attempt
WORCESTER — Sixty years ago, freelance artist Harvey Ball came up with the beloved smiley face.
World Smile Day, a recognition of happy things, is Friday.
On that day, the Worcester Historical Museum is going to be the scene of an announcement worth smiling about.
From 10:30 a.m. to noon Friday at the museum, located at 20 Elm St., a Guinness World Records adjudicator will be in the city to verify if Smile Train has set the record for the largest online album of smiling mouths.
Smile Train, a charity that focuses on corrective surgery for children with cleft lips and palates, began its campaign in July as part of National Cleft and Craniofacial Prevention and Awareness Month. Photos of 20,000 smiles are needed for the title. Local dignitaries, community members and supporters are slated to be in attendance for the event.
Some of the photos were taken at Polar Park.
In 1963, Ball created the iconic symbol as part of a campaign by Worcester Mutual Fire Insurance to promote goodwill in its merger with State Mutual Life Assurance Co. after it purchased Guarantee Mutual Co. of Ohio.
In 1999, Ball created World Smile Day, which is held annually on the first Friday in October, to encourage people to devote one day to smiles and kind acts. Ball created the celebration as a response to the overcommercialization of the smiley face.
In addition to attempting the new Guinness World Record for smiling mouths, a World Smile Day event will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. at Elm Park, followed by the 22nd annual Harvey Ball from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. at St. Spyridon Cultural Center, 102 Russell St.
At the Harvey Ball, Gloria D. Hall and Art in the Park will be the recipient of this year’s Smile Award.
The World Smile Day event is free. Tickets for the Harvey Ball are available at www.worcesterhistory.org.