[abb]

Born in 1950, North Central Louisiana, so I’m as Redneck as it gets. I don’t ever recall that commercial, nor do I ever recall that drink being a “thing” here in the south central US. Maybe just in the big cities?

[mylife]

I lived in Tx for 24 years and never heard of it.

[JudgemAll]

That drink is big at the NFL. All the idiots at work love it and watch football.

This country is screwed.

[Sans-Culotte]

Born in 1950, North Central Louisiana, so I’m as Redneck as it gets. I don’t ever recall that commercial, nor do I ever recall that drink being a “thing” here in the south central US. Maybe just in the big cities?

Have lived in the south all my life as well (6 years your junior). I don't remember commercials for hot Dr Pepper, but I do remember seeing print ads for it. I tried it once and hated it. Heating the drink removed the fizz.

[sarge83]

Kentucky hillbilly and this is a new one on me. We do the Dr Pepper with salted peanuts if we add anything other than ice. Preference is RC Cola and salted peanuts added. For the record I do like an occasional ice cold Diet Dr Pepper, way better than Diet Coke or Diet Pepsi.

[oldvirginian]

“Maybe just in the big cities?”

It was certainly a thing in my neck of the woods in Virginia. There was a morning guy on TV, Irving Sharpe I think his name was. Every winter morning he would extoll the virtues of Hot Dr Pepper. My family usually bought Pepsi when we had carbonated beverages, except in winter when we switched over to Hot Dr Pepper.
Good times.

[deport]

I was born a little earlier than you but I never heard of it either.

The name "Dr. Pepper" was first used commercially in 1885. It was introduced nationally in the United States at the 1904 Louisiana Purchase Exposition as a new kind of soda pop, made with 23 flavors. Its introduction in 1885 preceded the introduction of Coca-Cola by one year.

It was formulated by Brooklyn-born pharmacist Charles Alderton in Morrison's Old Corner Drug Store in Waco, Texas. To test his new drink, he first offered it to store owner Wade Morrison, who also found it to his liking. Patrons at Morrison's soda fountain soon learned of Alderton's new drink and began ordering a "Waco".[3] Alderton gave the formula to Morrison, who named it Dr. Pepper (later stylized as "Dr Pepper").