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Chocolate in the Cards

Bridge was a popular card game in the early to mid-1900s: it was strategic and engaging, where partners played against other partners, for hours on end. Besides, what better way to escape the horrors of the Depression, the Second World War, and the Cold War? Naturally, the players grew hungry so candy-makers, among others, served as the perfect finger foods where players could nibble away using one hand while holding the cards with another.

Soon, the candies found homes in movie theaters, Halloween collections, grandmother’s candy bowls and just about any other candy-friendly places. So here’s the back story to a few of these shiny little wonders:

  • Bridge Mix: A compilation of chocolate covered nuts and fruits, this was the ultimate bridge players’ sweet snack. Also comes in licorice, reminiscent of the 19th century licorice allsorts, still available today.
  • Malted Milk Balls: The malted milk was invented by a British food-maker living in Wisconsin as infant formula. It was a dud with parents but a hit with explorers who took it to the North and South Poles, among other places. Later, it was encased with chocolate and appeared in the less dangerous living rooms of American homes.
  • Chocolate Covered Raisins: To me, the perfect companion to the ultra-sweet chocolate, with a hint of tart. These guys also became popular in movie theaters in the mid-20th century in ultra-big movie theater sizes…still there today.
  • Milk Duds. Candy-makers at the F. Hoffman Company of Chicago wanted the chocolate treat to have the malted milk balls shiny finish but the chocolate kept denting the caramels, making the balls wobbly and misshapen. The balls were, in fact, duds. So, savvy marketers called the result “Milk Duds.”

Featured Products:

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Bridge Mix
Bridge Mix

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Malted Milk Balls

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Chocolate-Covered-Raisins

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Milk Duds

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Betty Boop

Betty Boop: The International Sensation

The animated Betty Boop began life in 1932 as a flapper, a relic of the gay ‘20s when women did as they pleased from the kitchen to the Speakeasy. Gradually Betty became more proper, due to the Hays Code, which restricted unseemly content in movies.

Getcha Candy Here!

The ‘30s were a bad time for the nation but movies were a great escape. And to sweeten the occasion, movie theaters started adding candies in the increasingly popular concession stands.  Among the leading sweets were Jujubes, Milk Duds, chocolate covered raisins and malted milk balls.

The Max Fleischer/Helen Kane/ “Baby” Esther Jones Controversy

Max Fleischer, a Jewish immigrant from Krakow, created Betty Boop.  Singer Helen Kane claimed Fleischer based the character on her – and ruined her career in the process. They had a show-down in court and just as Fleischer appeared to be losing, a sound test surfaced revealing “Baby” Esther Jones, an African American singer, as the true Betty Boop.

Featured Products:

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Malted Milk Balls
Malted Milk Balls

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Chocolate Covered Raisins
Chocolate Covered Raisins

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Milk Duds
Milk Duds

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