Candy Favorites from the 1800s through the 1960s

May 11, 2011
Teri Silver

Penny candy; Still great candy, no longer just a penny! - Svadilfari

Candy, Candy, Candy! Here's just a sampling of products to hit the United States candy market from the 1800s, 1900s, '20s, '30s, '40s, '50s and 1960s.

Candy, Candy, Candy! Candy bars and sweet novelties have come and gone over the years … some were a “sign of the times” and others were … and are … timeless classics. The cost of each item varied; the years (or decades) and locations listed are original to the founding of the businesses or creation, introduction or popularity of the products. Many candy bars and novelties that hit the market way-back-when but still sold today are now manufactured by other companies that have purchased the original brands. Some items are long gone (***) but some do reappear on occasion.

Wide-spread commercial candy production was taking place in the United States in the mid to late 1800s.

Beech-Nut chewing gum and mints: wintergreen, peppermint, fruit (Imperial Packing Company; Canajoharie, NY; founded 1891; several flavors discontinued; ***)
Beeman’s Original Pepsin Chewing Gum (Dr. Edward Beeman, 1897/American Chicle Company; Trenton, NJ; 1899; occasional availability)
Black Jack (Thomas Adams Company, 1870/American Chicle Company; Trenton, NJ; 1899; occasional availability)
Fralinger’s Salt Water Taffy (Joseph Fralinger; Atlantic City, NJ; circa 1885)
Good and Plenty (Quaker City Confectionery Company; Philadelphia, PA; 1893)
Juicy Fruit and Wrigley’s Spearmint Gum (Wrigley Company; Chicago, IL; 1893)
Tootsie Roll (Leo Hirschfield-Tootsie Roll Industries; Chicago, IL; 1896)
Twizzlers licorice (Young & Smiley Confectionary; Lancaster, PA; 1845)

More products were appearing on the market between 1900 and 1920.

Butter-Nut (Hollywood Candy; Hollywood, MN; 1916; ***)
Cadbury Dairy Milk Chocolate (Cadbury; United Kingdom; 1905)
Chase’s Cherry Mash (G. Chase Candy Company, St. Joseph, MO; 1918)
Chiclets peppermint chewing gum (Fleer/American Chicle Company; Trenton, NJ; 1906)
Clark Bar (D. L. Clark Company; Alleghany, PA; 1917)
Clove chewing gum (Thomas Adams Company/American Chicle Company; Trenton, NJ; 1914; occasional availability)
Goetze’s Caramel Creams/ Bulls Eyes (A & W Goetze; Baltimore, MD; 1917)
GooGoo Cluster (Standard Candy Company; Nashville, TN; 1912)
Idaho Spud Bar (Idaho Candy Company; Boise, ID; 1918)
Imperial Fruit Cocktail (Ferrara Pan; Chicago, IL; 1919; ***)
Konabar (Peter Paul Candy Manufacturing Co.; New Haven, CT; 1919; ***)
Lifesavers (Clarence Crane; Cleveland, OH; 1912)
Mary Jane Peanut Butter-Molasses Candies (Charles N. Miller Co./Stark Candy; Boston, MA; 1914)
Necco Wafers (Chase & Company, 1847/NECCO; Boston MA; 1912)
Sterling chewing gum (Sterling; New York, NY; circa 1915; ***)

Times were good during the 1920s; candy companies in the United States were mostly profitable and some were expanding their businesses.

Baby Ruth (Curtiss Candy Company; Chicago IL; 1921)
Bit-O-Honey (Schutter-Johnson Company; Chicago, IL; 1924)
Black Cow (Holloway Candy Company; Chicago IL; 1926; occasional availability)
Butterfinger (Curtiss Candy Company; Chicago IL; 1923)
Charleston Chew (Fox-Cross Candy Company; Emeryville, CA; 1922)
Cherry Cocktail (Idaho Candy Company; Boise, ID; 1926; ***)
Chuckles (F. W. Amend/Paul Beich Co.; Chicago, IL; 1921)
Dubble Bubble chewing gum (Fleer; Philadelphia, PA; 1928)
Fat Emma (Pendergrast Candy Co.; Minneapolis, MN; circa 1922; ***)
Goobers (Blumenthal Chocolate Co.; Philadelphia, PA; 1925)
Heath English Toffee (L.S. Heath; Robinson, IL; 1928)
Lindy Bar (Lion Specialty Co.; Chicago, IL; 1920, 1927; ***)
Milk Duds (Hoffman & Company/Holloway; Chicago, IL; 1926)
Milk Shake (Hollywood Candy; Hollywood, MN; 1927; ***)
Milky Way (Mars; Chicago, IL; 1923)
Mounds (Peter Paul Candy Manufacturing Co.; New Haven, CT; 1921)
Mr. Goodbar (Hershey Company; Derry Church, PA; 1925)
Oh Henry!(Williamson Candy Company; Chicago, IL; 1920)
OL Timer (Ucanco Candy; Davenport, IA; 1920s; ***)
Old Faithful Bar (Idaho Candy Company; Boise, ID; 1925; ***)
Papa Sucker/Sugar Daddy caramel sucker (Welch Company; Cambridge MA; 1925/1932)
Peter’s Chocolate Bar (P.C. Kohler-Swiss Chocolates Co.; Fulton, NY; 1923; ***)
Pez (Edward Haas; Vienna, Austria; 1927)
Raisinets (Blumenthal Chocolate Co., Philadelphia, PA; 1927)
Slo Poke caramel sucker (Holloway Candy Company; Chicago IL; 1926)
Sno-Caps (Blumenthal Chocolate Co., Philadelphia, PA; 1928)
Zero (Double Zero Bar) (Hollywood Brands; Minneapolis, MN; 1920)

The Depression of the 1930s made it difficult for some companies to stay profitable or in business altogether; people were buying nutritious food for their tables and not so much candy for their sweet tooth. The prices of most candy bars ranged from a penny to a nickel.

3 Musketeers; (Mars; Chicago, IL; 1932)
3 Pigs (Hollywood Candy; Centralia IL; 1930s; ***)
5th Avenue Bar (William Luden Co.; Reading, PA; 1936)
Aero Bar (Roundtree; York, England; 1937)
Amos & Andy candy bar (Williamson Candy Co.; Chicago, IL; 1930s; ***)
Broadway (Ucanco Candy; Davenport, IA; 1930s; ***)
Butterfinger (Curtiss Candy Company; Chicago IL; 1932)
Chase’s Black Walnut (G. Chase Candy Co.; St. Joseph, MO; 1930s; ***)
Chase’s Candy Dogs (G. Chase Candy Co.; St. Joseph, MO; 1930s; ***)
Chicken Dinner bar (Sperry Candy Co.; Milwaukee, WI; 1920s; ***)
Chunky (Philip Silvershein/Wrigley; New York, NY; circa 1938)
Cold Turkey (Sperry Candy Co.; Milwaukee, WI; circa 1933; ***)
Cool Breeze (Sperry Candy Co.; Milwaukee, WI; circa 1934; ***)
Forever Yours (Mars; Chicago, IL; 1939; ***)
Giants/Whoppers Malted Milk balls (Overland Candy; 1939 - Leaf; Chicago, IL; 1949)
Hail Candy (Hollywood Candy; Centralia IL; 1936; ***)
Mallo Cup (Boyer; Altoona, PA; 1936)
Maltesers Chocolate Malted Balls (Mars; Chicago, IL; 1936)
Mickey Mouse Toasted Nut Chocolate (Wilbur-Suchard; Philadelphia, PA; circa 1935; ***)
Oh Johnnie! (Ucanco Candy; Davenport, IA; 1930s; ***)
Payday (Frank Martoccio/Hollywood Candy; Hollywood, MN; 1932)
Rain (Hollywood Candy; Centralia IL; 1936; ***)
Roundtree’s Chocolate Crisp/Kit Kat (Roundtree; York, England; 1935/1937)
Seven Up candy bar (Trudeau Candy Co.; St. Paul, MN; 1930s; ***)
Sky Bar (NECCO; Boston MA; 1938)
Snickers (Mars; Chicago IL; 1930)
Snow Wonder (Candymasters, Inc; Minneapolis, MN; 1930s; ***)
Spot (Hollywood Candy; Minneapolis MN; 1930; ***)
Sugar Babies (Welch Company; Cambridge MA; 1935)
Walter Johnson’s Bucks (Walter Johnson Co; Chicago, IL; 1930s; ***)
Valomilk (Sifers Candy Co.; Merriam, KS; 1931)
York Peppermint Pattie (York Cone Co.; York, PA; 1940)
Zagnut (D. L. Clark Company; Alleghany, PA; 1930)

Candy production was up in the mid 1940s following World War II. Penny novelties sold well in addition to nickel and dime candy bars.

Almonets (Mars; Chicago IL; 1940s; ***)
Almond Cameo (Sperry Candy; Milwaukee, WI; 1940s; ***)
Almond Joy (Peter Paul; Candy Manufacturing Co.; New Haven, CT; 1946)
Bazooka Bubblegum (Topps; Brooklyn, NY; 1947)
Big Time (Hollywood Candy; Centralia IL; 1940s; ***)
Butter Crisp (Brown & Haley; Tacoma WA; 1943; ***)
Chase’s Brunch (G. Chase Candy Co.; St. Joseph, MO; 1940s; ***)
Chew A Way (Candymasters, Inc; Minneapolis, MN; 1940s; ***)
Clark’s Butterettes (D. L. Clark; Pittsburgh, PA; 1940s; ***)
Cocoa Fudge (Sperry Candy; Milwaukee, WI; 1940s; ***)
Coconut Grove (Curtiss; Chicago, IL; circa 1944; ***)
Fitger’s Barbecue (Fitger Co; Duluth, MN; 1940s; ***)
Giant (George Ziegler Co.; Milwaukee, WI; 1948; ***)
Hi-Mac (Shotwell; Chicago, IL; 1947; ***)
Holloway’s A to Z Coconut Candy (Holloway & Co.; Chicago, IL; 1940s; ***)
Hollywood (Hollywood Candy; Centralia IL; 1940s; ***)
Honey-Nut (York Cone Co.; York, PA; circa 1945; ***)
Jiminy Cricket (Schutter Candy Co., Chicago IL; 1940s; ***)
Junior Mints (Welch Company; Cambridge MA; 1949)
Kingfisher (Fisher Nut & Chocolate Co.; Minneapolis, MN; ***)
Koko Krunch (Sperry Candy; Milwaukee, WI; 1940s; ***)
M & M’s (Mars; Chicago IL; 1941)
Mairzy marshmallow confection (Topps Candy Co.; Brooklyn, NY; 1940s; ***)
MasterMint (Candymasters, Inc; Minneapolis, MN; 1940s; ***)
Munchies (York Cone Co.; York, PA; 1940s; ***)
Nickaloaf (Curtiss; Chicago, IL; 1940s; ***)
Nikel-Tikel (George Ziegler Co.; Milwaukee, WI; 1940s; ***)
North Pole (Candymasters, Inc; Minneapolis, MN; 1940s; ***)
Old Nick (Schutter’s Candy Co.; Chicago, IL; 1940s;***)
Pecan Pete (Paul F. Beich Candy Co.; Bloomington, IL; 1940s ***)
Pick-Up (Comet Candy Co; Brooklyn, NY; 1940s ***)
Ping (Mars; Chicago IL; 1940s; ***)
Powerhouse (Walter Johnson Candy Co.; Chicago, IL; 1940s ***)
Smooth Sailin (Hollywood Candy; Centralia IL; 1940s; ***)
Snow-Maid (Sperry Candy; Milwaukee, WI; 1940s; ***)
Taffee Giraffee (Curtiss; Chicago, IL; 1940s; ***)
Thumbs Up (Candymasters, Inc; Minneapolis, MN; 1940s; ***)
Top Star (Hollywood Candy; Centralia IL; 1940s; ***)
Troll’s Peppermint Candy (J.T. Troll Co.; Los Angeles, CA; 1946; ***)
Variety (Candymasters, Inc; Minneapolis, MN; 1940s; ***)
Walnut Hill (Candymasters, Inc; Minneapolis, MN; 1940s; ***)
Welch’ Coconut Candy (Welch Co.; Cambridge MA; 1947; ***)
Welch’s Fudge Bar (Welch Co.; Cambridge MA; 1947; ***)
Zero (Hollywood Candy; Centralia IL; 1940s)

The Golden Age of Television and advertising helped to increase candy sales in the 1950s. The average price of most standard-sized bars was 10 cents.

Bounty (Mars; Chicago IL; 1951; UK/Canada)
Carlton honey-peanut butter bar (Carlton Candy Co.; Chicago, IL, 1950s; ***)
Carlton Coconut Cream (Carlton Candy Co.; Chicago, IL, 1950s; ***)
Copy (of Oh Henry!) (Williamson Candy Co.; Chicago, IL; 1950s; ***)
Carlton honey-peanut butter bar (Carlton Candy Co.; Chicago, IL, 1950s; ***)
Cargo (Candymasters, Inc; Minneapolis, MN; 1950s; ***)
Dick Tracy candy bar (Schutter Candy Co.; Chicago, IL; 1950s; ***)
Dr. IQ (Mars; Chicago IL; 1950s; ***)
Echo Candy (Phyleen Candy Co.; Huntington, IN; 1950s; ***)
Hershey-Ets (Hershey Company; Hershey, PA; 1954; ***)
Hollaway (M.J. Hollaway Co.; Chicago, IL; 1950s; ***)
Hopalong Cassidy Bar (Ryan Candy Co.; New York, NY; 1950; ***)
Jack Dempsey chocolate bar (Loft; New York, NY; 1950s ***)
Jolly Jack (Curtiss Candy Co.; Chicago IL; 1950s; ***)
Love Nest (Euclid Candy Co.; Chicago IL; 1950s; ***)
Lucky Star vanilla bar (La Fean Candy Co.; York, PA; 1950s; ***)
Mars (Mars; Chicago IL; 1957)
Munchies (Necco; Cambridge, MA; 1954; ***)
Nestlés Triple Decker (Nestlé; White Plains. NY; 1950s; ***)
Nut Sundae (Hollywood Candy; Centralia IL; 1950s; ***)
Tuesdae (Hollywood Candy; Centralia IL; 1950s; ***)
Tuppence (Curtiss Candy Co.; Chicago IL; 1950s; ***)
Whiz (Paul Beich Co.; Bloomington, IL; 1950s; ***)
Wings (Curtiss Candy Co.; Chicago IL; 1950s; ***)

Baby Boomers of the 1960s loved their candy! The cost of a candy bar was in the 10 to 15 cent range.

Big Bite (Curtiss Candy Co.; Chicago IL; 1960s; ***)
Brazil Roll (Sperry Candy; Milwaukee, WI; 1960s; ***)
Butterscotch (Curtiss Candy Co.; Chicago IL; 1960s; ***)
Buy Golly (Curtiss Candy Co.; Chicago IL; 1960s; ***)
Curtiss Chocolate Almond Nougat (Curtiss Candy Co.; Chicago IL; 1960s; ***)
Dipsy Doodle (Paul Beich Co.; Bloomington, IL; 1960s; ***)
Hershey’s Almond Crunch (Hershey Company; Hershey, PA; 1967; ***)
Hershey’s Toffee Chip (Hershey Company; Hershey, PA; 1967; ***)
Klein’s Lunch Bar (Klein Chocolate Co.; Elizabeth, PA; 1960s; ***)
KokoNut Roll (Curtiss Candy Co.; Chicago IL; 1960s; ***)
Lemonheads (Ferrara Pan; Chicago, IL; 1962)
Wonder Bar (Ucanco Candy Co.; Davenport, IA; 1960s; ***)

Sources

Songbird Teri with ThankYouGoodNight, Teri Silver

Teri Silver - Teri Silver