Sweet-Tooth Fix For Baby Boomers: Nostalgic Candy

wlky ^ | 10-30-03

[wheelgunguru]

Baby Boomers can't seem to grow up, at least when comes to their taste in candy.

People who want to celebrate Halloween with wax lips, Gold Mine Gum and other hard-to-find candies from their youth are finding more companies catering to the middle-age sweet tooth.

The Woodstock Candy company in upstate New York is doing a booming business, catering to the boomers' sweet-tooth.

They have retro goodies like wax lips, candy cigarettes and those candy buttons on paper. But the company is up-to-date in marketing.

Boomers can buy their sugar fix from the Web site WoodstockCandy.com.

There's also a bow to the political correctness of the 21st century. Candy cigarettes are now called candy sticks. But some old-time favorites still provide a puff of sugar when you blow through a hole in the middle.

Bridget Sweeney-Bell says people are usually thrilled to find candy from their childhood is still available. She says candy buttons, Nik-L-Nip and candy cigarettes are big sellers this year on her Web site.

Tom Scheiman stocks 2,500 items in his Cleveland candy store, 200 of which he classifies as "nostalgic."

Nostalgic candy has become a niche in the $24 billion U.S. candy business, in part because the biggest candy makers like Wrigley and Pennsylvania-based Hershey have concentrated on fewer items, especially chocolate.

That means wax lips and Atomic Fireballs can be hard to find on store shelves.

[mafree]

Didn't like Teaberry Gum but the commercial with the "Teaberry Shuffle" was kewl.

[abbi_normal_2]

Was it a mal-o-mar? (sp) You all are making me wonder what candy I have in the house. BTW, I can find sweet tarts in N Fla. Introduced my grandkids to them.

[lawdude]

Black Jack and Beeman's Pepsin gum.

Oh, Cinnamon gum too.

[tubebender]

Here is a link to one Whiz Bar. It says it's a ad form 1938. Whiz Bar

[djf]

Nehi Grape!! Can you still get Nehi Grape soda anywhere?

[djf]

Nehi Grape!! Can you still get Nehi Grape soda anywhere?

[djf]

Black Jack is on sale again.

[tubebender]

I had forgotten Nehi Grape. I think they made Nehi Root Beer also.

What about POP ROCKS... Not that old as my kids ate? them in the 70s. They were little crystals that "exploded" in your mouth...

[Hildy]

Candy necklaces and those weird white candy cigarettes were my favorites!!!!!!

[tubebender]

This thread is really testing my resolve to stay with Atkins, especially knowing where my grandson's stash of Crunch Bars is hidden...

[Mjaye]

But please get rid of candy corn. I hated it when I was 8 years old and it's still around decades later<<<<<<<<<

I didn't like it either, until my late uncle used to mix Candy Corn with salted peanuts, halved, (I never liked peanuts much, either). The combo was terrific, and many skeptics converted to the concoction as a tasty snack.

[Mjaye]

Breck shampoo was the best. Does anyone know where I can find it ? <<<<<<<<<<<

Hate to sound like a broken record, but Vermont Country Store carries the Breck as well as the nostalgic candies. I bought it there since I couldn't find it in the stores, but I've seen it retail since (can't recall where, though).

When I got it, there were no other products (conditioner, etc.), but maybe they've added more to the line. It is still fantastic shampoo, smells great, etc. I wonder if it's really much better than other shampoos or if we love it because of the memories it brings back? Also, do you think they'll bring back the Breck Girls, or have they already?

[djf]

Mum used to get us those big Sugar Daddy suckers for Christmas. Suckers were big as a brick and would last weeks. Everything in the house reeked from sugar daddy and kid slobber. Delicious!

[djf]

About a year ago, I saw those in a small store off of I-5 in Oregon. Bought about a half dozen or so. Taste like Butterfinger candy bars.

[OMalley]

I was just thinking of junkit! do they still make it? we used to heat it up and eat it over ice cream..sure miss the stuff;)

[Dscott_FR]

Mmmmmm..oh yeah..and then around this time of year there were the wax mustaches, wax lips, and wax buck teeth. I loved 'em!!

[tubebender]

Oh ya...and they were guaranteed to pull the fillings out off your teeth...

[Dscott_FR]

Oh..and how about the gum that was wrapped in paper that had a tattoo on the back...I think they were Popeye cartoon tattoos?

[Dscott_FR]

How about Pommac? It didn't taste all that great but looked just like beer.

[TASMANIANRED]

I was the little sis tag along when my 3 teen aged sisters and their 2 friends would go to the swimming pool to tan and show off their newly grown bo-zuums . Seemed like I was the only one to get wet. They suntanned with their freshly coiffed hair, I really didn't see the point of them going to the pool at all.

Anyway, the concession stand sold banana bikes. I hate banana and they were still good. Even with hyperchlorinated water they were tasty.