Chuckles

Chuckles Candy History In March of 1921, Fred W. Amend went into business for himself manufacturing marshmallow. Later that year he began producing jelly candy from a formula he himself had developed. The formula solved a problem of the time which was the outbreak of "sweat" o...

Chuckles Candy History

In March of 1921, Fred W. Amend went into business for himself manufacturing marshmallow. Later that year he began producing jelly candy from a formula he himself had developed. The formula solved a problem of the time which was the outbreak of "sweat" on the surface of jelly candies. Fred's wife suggested the name of the product which hit the market in 1921.

Chuckles 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.

Chuckles Memories

Chuckles candy box

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