Elder Care Cafe

This article is the first part in a two part series written by Jason Miner. I hope you enjoy this fun trip down memory lane. You can read more about Jason at the end of this article and also click on the link to read Part Two. We would love to hear about your memories of the past decades. Just leave a message in the comment section following the article.  

When you are a kid getting a piece of candy is one of the great highlights of your day. I remember being a kid in the late 50’s and on into the 60’s, we would collect pop bottles to take back to the corner store for money. I would even pull weeds for my grandma or dust her furniture for a nickel or a dime. Kids these days would be surprised to see how much candy we could get with just a quarter! Everything was a penny, or even two for a penny, and candy bars were a nickel.

I thought I’d reminisce a little about the candy in my day and perhaps even go back to the candies of my Mother’s, Grandmother’s, and Great Grandma’s era. I’m sure we can all remember a favorite and have special memories attached to each candy. You will be surprised to find out when some of these candies were made that are still with us today! Take a walk with me from the pre 1920’s through the 1940’s and see how many candies you can remember.

Starting with the pre 1920’s (and my mother tells me that my great grandma loved these) were Anise Squares. I have not seen these around but there are all kinds of licorice variations. What I have seen is Beeman’s and Black Jack chewing gum, they are still making those today. Another favorite from this era areButter Mints, the yummy melt in your mouth mints that you find at your local restaurants cash register.

Of course you know that butterscotch candy was made then but did you know that Butterfingers candy bars were from that era? And they are still going strong today. Candy Canes, Candy Corn, Candy Drops of all different flavors from cherry to horehound (which my mom says great grandma liked too) and candy rods. Tootsie Rolls are another treat that was born long ago and are still around today. Candy creams are still one of my favorites. Chocolate covered cherries came out then also.

Does anyone remember Charms Squares? They were kind of like Life Savers in square form. I haven’t seen those in years. My mother says she used to love something called a Cherry Mash which was made during this time; I myself have never seen one. Chiclets gum, Cinnamon Discs, Circus Peanuts, and Clark candy bars are all candies made before the 1920’s.

Do you remember coconut slices? Cracker Jacks and the pretty cut rock Christmas hard candies we have out at Christmas every year for the sake of nostalgia. Dentyne gum, Double Mint gum, and French Burnt Peanuts were a favorite then too. Goo Goo Clusters, Good & Plenty, Gum Drops, and Gum Balls are a few more that are still around today.

I was shocked to find out just how many candies were made pre 1920’s that are still here today! Hershey’s chocolate bars, Jaw Breakers, and Jelly Beans were some other favorites. Some others youprobably remember are Juicy Fruit gum, Soft Peppermint candies, old fashioned Lollipops, Mary Janes, Moon Pies, Necco Wafers, Spice Drops, Salt Water Taffy, Candy Sticks in every flavor imaginable and Thin Ribbon candy! Who knew that a major part of the candies we still eat today were made then? Not me.

The 1920’s brought in even more great candies. Did you know Almond Roca is that old? I found one I never, ever heard of, maybe you have? Abba Zaba Peanut Butter and Jelly bars were news to me. Then I found Baby Ruth bars, Bit-O-Honey’s, BB Bats (you know, the little soft lollipops that were strawberry, banana, chocolate, and vanilla flavored?), and Black Cows (which I liked better than Sugar Daddy’s) that were all very familiar to me. Some others were Brach’s Bridge Mix, Charleston Chews, Charms Lollipops, Dubble Bubble gum, Clove gum (which I never did take a liking to), and Dum Dum lollipops which I still see today, even the Clove gum!

Some that I wasn’t aware of but you might be were Cherry Cocktails, Old Faithful, Chuckles, Mexican Hats, U-NO bars, Squirrel Nut Zippers, and Walnettos. My Grandmother always liked the Fruit Slices, especially the Orange Slices. Some of the favorites while attending the movies were Goobers, Jujubes, Jucyfruits, Milk Duds (yum, but another teeth puller), Mounds, Mr. Goodbar, Oh Henry, Slo Pokes, Raisinets, and Sno Caps.

Do you remember the Kits Taffy? This is another one we got at the corner store for a penny or maybe it was two for a penny. They were similar to the BB Bats only in squares, wrapped four squares per pack in the same flavors as the BB Bats. Reese’s came out then too along with Sixlets, Wax Fangs and Mustaches. A few more that need to be mentioned are Teaberry gum, Zero bars and almost everyone’s favorite Turtles.

You can read the rest of Jason’s article about the 1930’s and beyond by clicking this link to read Take a Sweet Trip Down Memory Lane Part Two.

Author Bio: Jason Miner an expert freelance writer loves writing articles on different categories. He is approaching different bloggers to recognize each other’s efforts through www.blogcarnival.com.  He can be contacted through e-mail at jasonminer8atgmaildotcom.