Astro Pops® were very unusual to manufacture because the cone-wrapper became the mold for the candy. Hot candy was poured directly into the wrapper, then a paper stick was added and capped off with a layer of wax. Astro Pops were created at the perfect time in history when the ‘Space Race’ was in full force, kids were drinking Tang® and eating Astro Pops®, dreaming of going into space. Millions and millions of Astro Pops® were sold!
In 1987, Spangler Candy acquired the Astro Pops Brand from the Nellson Candy Company of Los Angeles California. Astro Pops®, rocket-shaped lollipops, were reputed to be the longest lasting lollipop on earth. In September of 2004, Spangler discontinued the product line. In 2010 the brand was purchased and is now available again.
When my brothers and sisters were young we used to have to drive from Las Cruces Nm, to Silver City NM and it took about and hour each way. We used to go every weekend to visit my dad who worked in a mine there. There was a KOA store and they had Astro Pops for what must have been very cheap because there were five of us kids and we all would get several every trip. We would try to save one for the ride 'home'.
Now this was back when Astro pops were the other way on the stick, with the wider point near the base... My family is convinced they changed the design just because of the five of us kids. We would have a weekly competition to see who could get the sharpest 'point' by licking their astro pop to a most deadly status. We judged the 'sharpest' point by poking each other with the tips. Needless to say with five kids this turned to much craziness and the pops were finally outlawed by my mom.
All five of us are grown and we have hooked our kids on astros too so now the cousins will have to figure out how to get a sharp point with the end reversed the way it is. ~ Nicole from Georgia
