I'm sad to hear that Fruit Stripe Gum was discontinued, though, admittedly, I was part of the problem, not buying this colorful product in ages. My most committed period of purchasing of Fruit Stripe is when I was in college, dating a fellow that got me hooked on the tattoos. I loved those cruddy tattoos, or maybe it was just the fellow.
Thanks for sharing the rich history of the gum and of Beech-Nut, which I knew little about. The ads and commercials you included are great, made me nostalgic for an old familiar chew that I can no longer have.
To Robert Denny, I would also like a zebra, please!
The first time I tried Fruit Stripe gum near adulthood, I was probably 17. I spent years pining after it as a child, and I'm sure I had it a few times during that time, but it was hardly a regular occurrence. (This, honestly, was probably a good thing. Like another commenter here, it was probably about the sugar.) I thought the taste was a nice blast of (artificial) fruit flavor, but I was sorely disappointed several minutes later when the flavor was completely gone.
Anyway, I probably swallowed that gum, so maybe there's still some Fruit Stripe left in me after all. (Just kidding, that's a myth. I hope.)
That first minute of the gum was amazing. I can't think of another gum that turned on its chewers as quickly. I "ate" a lot of gum myself over the years and I am glad that is a myth or I am mostly gum at this point.
The big deal for me was the comic book ads, with mazes, puzzles, etc. I think my mother must have known that the gun flavor didn't last, or that it had a lot of sugar because she didn't like to buy Fruit Stripe gum when we chose it. Or maybe she was anti Zebra 😉
I'm sad to hear that Fruit Stripe Gum was discontinued, though, admittedly, I was part of the problem, not buying this colorful product in ages. My most committed period of purchasing of Fruit Stripe is when I was in college, dating a fellow that got me hooked on the tattoos. I loved those cruddy tattoos, or maybe it was just the fellow.
Thanks for sharing the rich history of the gum and of Beech-Nut, which I knew little about. The ads and commercials you included are great, made me nostalgic for an old familiar chew that I can no longer have.
To Robert Denny, I would also like a zebra, please!
The first time I tried Fruit Stripe gum near adulthood, I was probably 17. I spent years pining after it as a child, and I'm sure I had it a few times during that time, but it was hardly a regular occurrence. (This, honestly, was probably a good thing. Like another commenter here, it was probably about the sugar.) I thought the taste was a nice blast of (artificial) fruit flavor, but I was sorely disappointed several minutes later when the flavor was completely gone.
Anyway, I probably swallowed that gum, so maybe there's still some Fruit Stripe left in me after all. (Just kidding, that's a myth. I hope.)
That first minute of the gum was amazing. I can't think of another gum that turned on its chewers as quickly. I "ate" a lot of gum myself over the years and I am glad that is a myth or I am mostly gum at this point.
It would take a lot to eat one's body weight in gum, but I wonder at what age I'll reach that point. Hmm.
The big deal for me was the comic book ads, with mazes, puzzles, etc. I think my mother must have known that the gun flavor didn't last, or that it had a lot of sugar because she didn't like to buy Fruit Stripe gum when we chose it. Or maybe she was anti Zebra 😉
Anti-Zebra prejudice set us all back.