When I think of bubble gum, I think of one… Bazooka Bubble Gum. Talk about retro-candy! Don’t you remember wanting bubble gum just because of Bazooka Joe? I did.

Everything seems to revolve around WWII. Bazooka is no different. Did you realize that the name, the packaging was no accident? No kidding! Of course, you recognize the color of the packaging: red, white, and blue. Bazooka Bubble Gum came into being shortly after the war.

Do you know where the name came from? After a little research, I found that the name of the gum was not named after the armor piercing weapon used in WWII, but was named after Bob Burns, the entertainer. You see, he developed a musical weapon from two gas pipes and a funnel in the 1930s and called it the Bazooka. I wonder IF the name of the armor was, in fact named from the same? Some claim that it was.

What about Bazooka Joe? He didn’t grace the gum until 1953, and has starred in some 700 comics since! He was created just to grab the attention of young ‘uns. I understand that he is not ready to retire, but will continue on with his antics for the next decade.

Did you also know that up until 1970, the price of Bazooka Bubble Gum didn’t increase? For some 20-odd years, the price of this piece of entertainment was only one cent. Remember penny candy? Well, there it is….retro-candy at it’s best!

Alas, nothing stays the same. Not only did the price change, but so did the colors, the flavors, and the ads. You can visit YouTube to see the original, as well as the new commercials. TOPPs has added a lot of new twists to their gum. They now offer, not only the original Bazooka Bubble Gum, of course, but also Strawberry Shake, Cherry Berry, Watermelon Whirl, and Grape Rage. They also have sugar-free gum now.

As the flavors progressed, so did the packaging. It now comes in different colors, according to the flavor that you purchase. The American color scheme notwithstanding, Bazooka bubble gum is sold in many countries, often with Bazooka Joe comic strips translated into the local language.