Was it Emily Post who said said politics and polite conversation don’t mix? Or was it Ann Landers? Conventional wisdom might suggest that candy and politics also don’t mix, but history has shown us otherwise. Today, the Candy Wrapper Museum offers this throwback to the Bicentennial when candy tossed its chocolate cap into the ring!
Luden’s Inc. from Reading, Pennsylvania, is well known for its cough drops, but it began as a candy company and sold a wide variety of candy throughout the decades, including Mellomints, Peanut Butter Plus, and the 5th Avenue bar. In the 1960s and 1970s, Luden’s aimed for the youth market, releasing far out pop music records promoting the 5th Avenue bar. With bands ranging from Archie Bell and the Drells, the Cyrkle, and Aretha Franklin, who could resist grabbing a candy bar and grooving in sweet harmony on the street?
In the 1970s, Luden’s kept on truckin’ with counter culture candy. They introduced the irreverent, scrappy underdogs, Super Nut and Rinkles, to compete against candy giants, Goobers and Raisinets by aiming straight at the youth market. As stated in their mission statement:
“Half of all U.S. consumers are under 25, 20 million in the 15-19 age group. And they have buying power. Super Nut & Rinkles turns them on.”
I don’t know about the rest of the country, but they sure turn me on! I mean–-just look at these guys!!!
And sparing no drop of youthful spirit, Luden’s promoted their dynamic duo with a cool chick wearing hot pants and go-go boots!
This was no half-baked campaign. Luden’s promoted Super Nut and Rinkles with T-shirts, pinbacks, and bumper stickers. My Corolla has never looked better!
Sadly, the inarguable fashion sense and endless optimism of Super Nut and Rinkles failed to sufficiently catch the public’s attention to win the election. They did, however, continue to be sold in stores up until the 1980s. Hershey purchased Luden’s in 1986, and only the 5th Avenue bar survived. However, Super Nut and Rinkles live on in the annals of U.S. political history.
This was not the first, and probably not the last time that candy and politics mixed. Check out the gallery to see more fun political candy artifacts from the Candy Wrapper Museum.
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- Campaign bubble gum cigars from the 1968 presidential campaign.
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- In 1972, Peter Paul promoted its No Jelly bar with buttons that read: “Yes Nixon—No Jelly” and “Yes McGovern—No Jelly.”
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- Richard Nixon was known for his sweet tooth, so it makes sense that his name keeps popping up when it comes to candy.
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- An example of the political mints sold as novelties in gift stores.
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- Super Nut was unashamed to run for president wearing a tiny thong.
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- Rinkles was too wrinkly to wear a thong, so a cap was his bag.
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- Greek gum from the 1970s paying tribute to our country.
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- Lots of patriotic candy this year, which is always a “win” for the Candy Wrapper Museum.
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- These came out this year for the Fourth of July. I thought the flavors tasted great!
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- Tootsie is an American candy institution, so why not candy wearing the flag?
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- With all the U.S. candy being made in foreign countries these days, we have started seeing candy promoted as being made in the USA.
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- Some candy is promoted as being made in the USA, but World’s Finest is also proud to make their candy especially for us.
For more candy memories, visit The Candy Wrapper Museum.
