Bazooka (chewing gum)

Bazooka is an American brand of bubble gum that was introduced in 1947. [2] It is a product of "Bazooka Candy Brands", a division of The Topps Company Inc.[1][2]

Bazooka
Product typeChewing gum
OwnerTopps [1]
CountryUS.
Introduced1947 (1947)
MarketsWorldwide
Websitecandymania.com

History

Bazooka bubble gum was first marketed shortly after World War II in the U.S. by the Topps Company of Brooklyn, New York. The gum was probably named after the rocket-propelled weapon developed by the U.S. army during the war, which itself was named after a musical instrument.

The gum was packaged in a red, white, and blue color scheme and originally sold for one penny. Beginning in 1953, Topps changed the packaging to include small comic strips with the gum, featuring the character "Bazooka Joe". There are over 1,535 different "Bazooka Joe" comic-strip wrappers to collect.[3] Also on the comic strip is an offer for a premium and a fortune.[4] Older Bazooka comic strips were larger in size and are no longer available.

Bazooka gum package

In addition to "Original", Topps eventually included the flavors "Strawberry Shake," "Cherry Berry," "Watermelon Whirl," and "Grape Rage." Bazooka gum also makes sugar-free flavors such as "Original" and a "Flavor Blasts" variety, claimed to have a longer-lasting, more intense taste. Bazooka gum comes in two different sizes.

Bazooka bubblegum is sold in many countries, often with Bazooka Joe comic strips translated to the local language. Bazooka gum is sold in Canada with cartoons in both English and French, depending upon the city. In Israel, it is manufactured under license by Elite in the company's factory in Nof HaGalil; the cartoons are written in Hebrew.

In Spain it was sold under the name "Chicle Bazoka" (with only an "o") starting in the middle 1960s, and featuring the Bazooka Joe strips. One of the publicity slogans was "Chicle bazoka, siempre en la boca". Rhymes were a popular publicity trick then.[5]

In 2012, Bazooka Candy Brands announced they would no longer include comics, instead using brain-teasing puzzle wrappers in an attempt to modernize the brand.

In Argentina, sales continue with the comics in Spanish using the name "Yo amo Bazooka" (I love Bazooka). Topps lists all information about all of its Bazooka Candy brands through its website Candymania.[6]

In April 2019, the company announced the launch of the Bazooka Throwback pack.[7][8]

Bazooka Joe was referenced in the Seinfeld episode "The Cafe."[9] Bazooka Joe also was referenced in the King of Queens episode "Thanks Man."[10]

Bazooka Joe gum was lampooned on 30 Rock, with Alec Baldwin's character telling a fictional story of the founder inheriting a "useless pink rock quarry" and turning it into gum by baking it. Later, a "softer version of their gum was used to make armor-piercing bullets."[11] A fictional advertisement for the gum, starring Stacy Keach, encouraged viewers to chew Bazooka Joe gum "because life is hard," and "it's like chewing a mountain that someone shot a freeze ray into."[12]

In a November 2013 episode of How I Met Your Mother, it was referenced by Marshall when he made a joke that was not submitted to be part of the Bazooka jokes.[13]

In the January 23, 2018, episode of The Flash titled "The Elongated Knight Rises", it was referenced synonymously by Cisco as his favorite gum that disappeared in the 1990s due to the actions of the original Trickster and Prank.[14]

See also

References
  1. "Press Release: CandyMania : Bazooka Candy Brands". Cision PR Presswire. November 4, 2019.
  2. Newman, Andrew Adam (November 29, 2012). "Change Comes to Playground Funny Papers". New York Times. Retrieved December 14, 2014.
  3. "Bazooka Joe and his Gang". Bubblegum Comics. Retrieved October 22, 2018.
  4. "1950s Topps Bazooka Bubble Gum Salesman's Sample Archives (with 112 uncut Bazooka Comic Sample Proof Sheets!)". Robert Edward Auctions, LLC. Archived from the original on July 15, 2011.
  5. "CHICLE BAZOKA UN NÚMERO 1" [GUM BAZOKA IS NUMBER 1]. El Kiosko de Akela (in Spanish). February 19, 2018.CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  6. "Nostalgic Candy, Drops, Gum, Lollies & Push Up Pops". CandyMania. Retrieved January 20, 2020.
  7. "Bazooka launches Throwback pack featuring original comics". Candy Industry. April 5, 2019. Archived from the original on August 3, 2020. Retrieved January 13, 2021.
  8. "Bazooka Joe And His Gang Are Back With New Bazooka® Bubble Gum Throwback Pack" (Bazooka Candy Brands). Cision PR Newswire. April 4, 2019. Retrieved January 20, 2020.
  9. Leopold, Tom (November 6, 1991). "The Cafe". Seinfeld Scripts. Retrieved January 13, 2021. Jerry: Bazooka Joe.
  10. "The King of Queens s06e09 Episode Script - Thanks Man". Springfield! Springfield!. Archived from the original on October 22, 2018. Retrieved October 22, 2018.
  11. Semigran, Aly. "'30 Rock' Recap: We Need To Talk About Kevins". Hollywood.com. Retrieved May 3, 2013.
  12. "Bazooka Joe Gum: Because Life Is Hard". Broadsheet. Retrieved May 3, 2013.
  13. "How I Met Your Mother Episode Scripts - No Questions Asked". Springfield! Springfield!. Archived from the original on June 24, 2017. Retrieved October 22, 2018.
  14. "The Flash Episode Guide: Season 4, Episode 11 - The Elongated Knight Rises". My Geeky Geeky Ways. Retrieved October 22, 2018.
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