On the way to the bowling alley, The Bowler, was a small diner where some candies were sold. As I recall, they had a fair candy selection which included a our favorites like Chuckles, Nibs, Salted Nut Rolls and, most important, Licorice Babies. Salted Nut Rolls at the time were packaged in yellow cellophane and a whopping 5 cents a piece. Nibs, then only black I think, were in the yellow and red package, as I recall depicting a camel and palm tree type scene. Also 5 cents a pack.

Licorice babies were however our favorite! The cheapest too as they were one of the "penny candies." And they were sold in open boxes, loose, and you grabbed a little brown bag in which to put your "loot" for purchase. No tongs, no gloves, just grabbed them by hand.

Every time we loaded in the car to head to the Bowler Mom would ask us if we wanted to stop and get some licorice babies. Mom was a single mother, working as a waitress and going to business school to get a secretarial degree so she could be home more and make a better living for us.

Even though we had very little in the way of money, she always made enough tips to buy us or 5 or 10 cents worth of those chewy little licorice babies. I was all boy because I would taunt my sister by showing her how I would bite off the heads first. She of course would nibble as gently as any "pretend mommy" would.

Licorice babies have always been in my heart and mind but I was unaware they were available anymore. Today I typed them in to the internet and there I saw them on the Old Time Candy site! Now they are on my Christmas list. ~ Rick from Minnesota