Food - 2/13 - Retroland

Tony the Tiger

Extolling the virtues of Frosted Flakes for over half a decade, Tony the Tiger has exclaimed his way into the hearts of kids and adults everywhere with his exuberant expression, “They’re Grrrreat!” But Tony did more than that, he taught every kid a lesson along the way – the importance of having a balanced breakfast every morning.

Candy Canes

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They are the quintessential Christmas confection, a traditional treat beloved the world over. One glimpse of their prominent red and white stripes is all it takes to recognize them as candy canes, a treat that has been putting kids in the holiday spirit for well over three hundred years

Ribbon Candy

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Although perhaps not as prevalent as its confectionery cousin, the candy cane, there are few traditional holiday treats as regal in appearance as ribbon candy. Festively-colored and possessing a satin sheen, it has remained a staple of Christmas candy dishes since the turn of the century.

Trix Rabbit

Astronaut Food

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Throughout most of the 20th century, it was no secret that dreams of space travel captured the hearts and imaginations of just about every tyke in existence. As the 60s arrived and astronauts started venturing out into this unexplored territory, one particular area of interest was the food that the astronauts took with them. And realizing some serious marketing potential here, numerous manufactures decided to give young consumers a taste of what these brave explorers were munching in their zero gravity environment.

Hostess Cupcakes

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Always moist, always yummy, always with precisely seven squiggles of white icing atop a bed of chocolate icing, filled with a dollop of rich vanilla cream. That’s right, it’s the chocolatey goodness that could only be a Hostess Cupcake, a treat coveted by every youth that ever set eyes on that squiggly stripe that distinguished it from all other inferior cupcakes. And only time will tell if we ever see these beloved snacks occupy a store shelf again.

Chef Boyardee

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More often than not, a product mascot is a figment of the imagination of some advertising executive. But once in a while, you get the real deal, such as Ettore Boiardi, better known by the phonetic spelling of his last name, Chef Boyardee.

Pop Rocks

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Inventing a new candy can be somewhat akin to reinventing the wheel, but when Pop Rocks exploded onto the market in the 70s, they were unlike any confection that preceded them. Word-of-mouth quickly propelled them to the top of the "must have" list among young consumers, and also contributed to one of the most fanciful urban legends of all time. We'll get to that in a moment but first, let's take a look back at the origins of this effervescent treat.

Jiffy Pop

Smarties

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You've just spent the evening knocking on every neighborhood door within sight, watching your pillowcase or plastic jack o' lantern gradually fill with tasty confections. Returning home, you eagerly dump out the rewards of your labor and scan to see what you've collected. And, much like every other kid who has ever performed this ritual, you are likely to come across a few rolls of little tablet-shaped candies wrapped in clear plastic. Both sweet and tangy, with a distinct powdery consistency, Smarties have been a staple of Halloween for over six decades.