Wednesday, July 9, 2008

Thursday Thirteen #26 – Retro Candies and Snacks


I am a fan of retro stuff. I have rotary dial phones in three rooms in my home. I own a turntable with loads of vinyl from a variety of artist from Duke Ellington to Rufus Featuring Chaka Khan. I was over visiting Pop Art Diva blog (a wonderful blog about all things retro) and she inspired this week’s Thursday Thirteen about snack foods I ate as a child. So come take this trip down memory lane with me and feel free to share some of the candies and snacks you loved as a kid. You can find all the candies and snacks mentioned below and so many more at The Old Time Candy Company.



1.Indian Brand Pumpkin Seeds – I love pumpkin seeds as a child and this brand was my favorite. They cost a nickel a package and they were well worth it. I remember eating the seed, shell and all. They were so good and salty.

2. Kits - We had a candy store around the corner from my house called the Confectionary. Mr Jarrod suggested I buy this candy call kits-he let me choose the flavor-chocolate. I took off the outside wrapper to discover it held 4 pieces. I shared them with my friends. I liked the smooth texture in my mouth. I made sure to always pick up some kits!

3. Mary Janes - In 1884, Charles H. Miller and his three sons founded a small business manufacturing and selling homemade candy. The building where they began making their candy had a notable past -- it was the Paul Revere House in Boston's Faneuil Hall/North End area.

4. Squirrel Nut Chews – I have fond memories of stopping at Eddie’s corner store on my way to Roosevelt Elementary school in Flint, Michigan and purchasing this chewy peanut concoction.

5. Bit-O-Honey – That sweet chewy morsel with the bits of almond was and still is one of my favorite. Bit-O-Honey first appeared in 1924 and was made by the Schutter-Johnson Company of Chicago. Bit-O-Honey was a new kind of candy bar consisting of six pieces of candy wrapped in wax paper and then packaged in a wrapper. Today, Bit-O-Honey is made by the Nestle Company.

6. Bazooka – How cool is a bubblegum that has a comic in every pack. The Bazooka Joe comics were introduced in 1953 to add interest for children.

7. Candy Necklace - When I was little I used to eat candy necklaces all the time. I loved the chalky taste.

8. Coconuts Neapolitan Sundaes - I still remember the somewhat tedious process of unwrapping this candy (could be tricky at times because they were pretty sticky, but so worth it!) But most of all I remember the particular way I would eat them - usually nibbling off the pink end, then the white center and leaving the chocolate part for last! Yummy coconut goodness!

9. Mallo Cups – I was a fan of coconut back in the day and Mallo Cups has a marshmallow coconut filling that was so good.

10. Smarties – I still eat these today when I can find them. As a young girl when I would go trick or treating I would always hope that those old folks would throw some Smarties in my little Trick or Treat bag.

11. Tootsie Rolls – This candy is one that has stood the test of time and never lost its popularity. Leo Hirshfield was looking around for a name for the new confection he was making from a recipe he'd brought over from Europe in 1896. He chose the name of his 6 year old daughter, Clara, whose nickname was Tootsie. This is the first candy to be individually wrapped in paper.

12. Sweet Tarts – This is my first experience eating candy that was sour, yet sweet, a wonderful combination.

13. Cracker Jacks – Who growing up in the 60’s didn’t love Cracker Jacks? Not only did you get syrupy sweet caramel corn, but a prize too! According to legend, in 1893 a unique popcorn, peanuts and molasses confection that was the forerunner to Cracker Jack caramel coated popcorn and peanuts is introduced by F.W. Rueckheim and Brother, at the World's Columbian Exposition, Chicago's first World's Fair.

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!





40 comments:

pussreboots said...

Most of the candy on your list is new to me. I have heard of Bazooka, Cracker Jacks, Smarties (though I've never had any) and the candy necklaces (again, something heard of but not tried). Happy TT.

SJ Reidhead said...

When I had a gift shop in my father's old flour mill I sold just about all of those candies. I lost money. He and his buddies would come in and "steal" a few of 'em at a time. My best friend's husband was the worst offender!

SJR
The Pink Flamingo
http://thepinkflamingo.blogharbor.com/blog/_archives/2008/7/9/3785066.html

Karen Coutu said...

I loved Mary Janes when I was little. I almost broke a tooth on them everytime though. LOL!!

I also loved Sugar Daddies! Let's see. What else? Can my brain think back that far? I loved Nerds and Volcano Rocks.

SandyCarlson said...

I LOVE Mary Janes! Wish they were easier to find around here.

Hootin Anni said...

Mallo Cups!!! I used to love them...but not the ones with coconut...just the plain ones.

My 13 is published, hope you can stop by sometime.

Lilibeth said...

mmmm...sweet tarts. I used to buy the huge ones. The candy necklaces made for some sticky little necks too...and cracker jacks were my favorite for long trips. The prizes were much better back then too and they actually had peanuts in them: today you might get one or two in a whole bag.

Malcolm said...

I used to love sucking on the pumpkin seed shells because they were so salty! I haven't thought of Smarties and Sweet Tarts in years... I loved them both. Some of my other favorite candies were:

Now and Laters- The way we said though made it sound like one word (Nowlaters)

Jolly Ranchers- I remember at 2 cents apiece I could afford to get pockets full of those things.

Fun Dip (aka Lik-M-Aid)- It was fun to see how much of the colored sugar I could get on my Lik-A-Stix.

Mama Duck said...

Ooo, I'd forgotten about the coconut ones, so yummy!

sobeit said...

Oh....love Bit O Honey and Cracker Jacks! I don't see them as much as I used to.

Visit soon!
sobeit
http://sobeit89.squarespace.com

marcia@joyismygoal said...

2 4 and 5 are still favorites of mine Fun post down memory/sensory lane

Jill said...

Why am I hungry for Cracker Jack after reading this! The one candy I miss from my childhood was a sugary flavor syrup that was giving into a wax cylindar!

kay said...

Memories, memories!

Anonymous said...

They used to sell all of that candy at our local vid rental - but the vid rental is now a hole in the ground.... sigh. Great stuff!

Happy TT!

Anonymous said...

Mmmm...sweettarts...used to love those.

Happy TT...y'all come by now, y'hear?

bernie said...

You hit a spot on my sweet tooth. You forgot bonanno's turkish taffy and Double Bubble Gum.

Becki said...

Yum!! Smarties make you smarter, right?

Diana M said...

Great List. I should not have looked. Now I want Pineapple Now & Laters. I loved them so much.

Anonymous said...

How fun! I knew all but two of the candies on your list. I remember candy necklaces, I loved them so much!

Janet said...

I love T13s like this...memoooooorieeeeeeeees!!!

Carol said...

Woah! That really took me back.

Fun 13!

Unknown said...

I used to love those rockets and still ge the bulk of them from my kids Halloween bags lol Fun list, Happy T13!

Jody W. and Meankitty said...

I totally lose some baby teeth on Bit o Honey candy. Do you remember those horrible wax "bottles" filled with sweet syrup? Ack. Thanks for the blast from the past, and happy TT!

Jody W.

pjazzypar said...

pussreboots; There is a link in the post for all the candies listed and much more.

sj; sorry you lost money, but at least you have the memories, which are priceless.

karen; Mary Janes can take your teeth out.

sandy; You can get Mary Janes at the Old Time Candy Store online.

hootin anni; I still get Mallo Cups sometimes.

lilibeth; Cracker Jacks certainly are not the same.

Malcolm; Pumpkin Seeds were the bomb. I didn't eat too many Nowlaters and never had Fun Dip, but I did have a few Jolly Ranchers in my time.

mama duck; They are good. Thanks for visiting.

sobeit; I had Bit O Honey yesterday.

marcia; You are welcome for the trip down memory/sensory lane:)

jill; Loved Cracker Jacks, hated the wax bottles.

kay and on a limb; Thanks for visiting.

mama luxe; I use to love Sweet Tarts too.

bernie; I had forgotten about Double Bubble. Good Stuff.

harmony; Yeah right! lol

diana m; I never had the pineapple Now and Laters.

popping bubbles; The candy necklaces go way back with me.

janet and carol; Thanks for visiting.

adelle; I never had the rockets before, but they sound pretty good.

writer & cat; loved Bit O Honey, hated that wax with syrup.

Kim said...

I really enjoyed this post my favorite candy was Black Jack Gum. kim

Anonymous said...

Sounds tasty! I still eat smarties too. And Candy necklaces are great! And those neopolitan things, and... I could go on.

Nice list, but you've woken my sweet tooth!

Happy TT!

Anonymous said...

I was a huge kits fan!!!

Nice list Happy TT!

Unknown said...

Ooooh smarties and sweettarts and tootsie rolls oh mY! Love the old school candy! :)

Anonymous said...

Oh my gosh, #1 & #8 ! Now I need them.

What a fun T13.

Anonymous said...

You didn't list Abba Zabbas - my personal childhood favorite. We'd stop at 7-11 on our way home from school and pick up this white taffy with a creamy peanut butter filling...mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!

Always Been Different said...

YUMMY!!!!

Happy TT!

Stagg said...

Yummy! these were awesome. We had completely different candies when I was growing up in Canada I don't thinkw e had half the variety. i am now familair with many of those. The pumpkins seeds were a remarkably healthy choice for a kid!

Cheers...I am going to try to get a Thursday Thirteen for next week...

Candy Minx said...

Oh oops Pjazzypar...that was me above...my boyfriend forgot to log out of his blogger account, and I didn't notice. He is "Stagg"

Cheers
Candy

~RaenWa~ said...

Oh man some of those candies bring back memories I loved Mary Jane & Squirrel Nut Zippers great list

Anonymous said...

I hadn't heard of a lot of those, but the neopolitan sundaes were a favorite of mine as well. Happy TT

Lori Watson said...

I remember those huge Dinasour Eggs and how everyone would be in school with a huge bulge in the side of their cheek.

And Nerds. Nerds were a big thing.

And Gobstoppers.

"I want candy..."

Anonymous said...

Where's the Look and the Big Hunks??? I adored those when I was a kid - and my teeth are proof of it, lol.

I have never seen or heard of the pumpkin seeds!

Malcolm - we had fun dip in my day only they came in a straw and were called Pixie Sticks!

Sweet Tarts were one of my favorites as a teeny-bopper. When the Beatles movie premiered I went with, I swear to God, A Mickey's Beer Bottle filled with Sweet Tarts. I had put a label on the bottle that said "Beatlemania Pills" - OMG, I was such a geek, lol.

One other favorite of mine - Chicken Legs - They were made by Toms Candy and there were peanut butter crunch covered with toasted coconut flakes - yum. Found the Toms mini peanut butter crunch candies last summer but have never found the Chicken Legs! (I think they were called Chicken Legs - it was so long ago!)

Happy Thursday Thirteen - I'm joining next week - can't this week I'm getting ready for my NEW POP CULTURE RADIO SHOW!! I'll post the info on my blog next Tuesday and Wednesday!

Thanks for the mention, Pjazzypar!

Anonymous said...

Great idea for TT! I remember going to store as a child and getting a bag full of candy for a dollar. Those days are long gone, aren't they? :)
One candy I am glad not to see anymore is those darned candy cigarettes.
I will definitely have to check out that site though!
Have a great day!

Anonymous said...

my fave 'candy' as a child was those super hot cinnamon tooth pics.. man i wish you could still get those.. they would burn my mouth they were so hot!

X. Dell said...

You know, some of these confections I haven't seen in years.

Anonymous said...

I loved a sugar daddy(long piece of caramel taffy on a stick)
you could buy them at the movie
theater and they would last all thur
the movie.