[continued from above] The jellies were wrapped by hand in a rolled
package. A twist at each end of the roll kept the candies from falling
out. Today they are packaged in a strip of 5 flavors to compete with
candy bars sold at store counters. Much of the early candy was sold in
bulk to syndicate stores such as the F. W. Woolworth Company. With
business growing a new plant was built in Danville, IL in the 1930s.
Originally the company was in downtown Chicago.
At the start of World War II, the popular candy became the center of
an extensive advertising campaign for the Amend Company. The campaign
was launched in twenty-one markets east of the Mississippi River and
north of the Mason-Dixon line. Billboards, car cards, newspapers and
radio stations were used to promote the product. Slogans used were "5
flavors - 5 cents, America's favorite jelly candy," "Purest candy tastes
just dandy, keep it handy" and "Best candy buy in town."
In September of 1974 the candy teamed up with Evel Knievel, the
motorcycle daredevil and his unsuccessful jump of the Snake River
Canyon. With national coverage it brought a lot publicity for the candy
but it wasn't so successful for Knievel.  When my sisters and I were younger, my mom would let us walk to the corner store and get candy. And my favorite was always chuckles!! I would start by putting them in order according to color. Starting with the black one. We used to save our pennys and went to grandma and grandpa's on our summer vacation to West Virginia to visit family. Well, Aunt had a penny candy store. Just a little country store. And she sold my favorite candy chuckles. All year long we would save our money so we could go to the penny candy store. My sister's had their own favorite's, but mine was always chuckles! Still is today, and when I do find them, I snatch them up. They are hard to find. ~ Kathy from Georgia |
