Bazooka (chewing gum) facts for kids
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| Owner | The Bazooka Companies |
|---|---|
| Introduced | 1947 |
| Markets | Worldwide |
Bazooka is a famous American brand of bubble gum that first came out in 1947. It's made by "Bazooka Candy Brands," which used to be part of The Topps Company Inc. until another company, Fanatics, Inc., bought Topps in 2022.
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The Story of Bazooka Bubble Gum
Bazooka bubble gum was first sold in the U.S.A. shortly after World War II. The Topps Company in Brooklyn, New York, created it. The gum was likely named after a powerful rocket-propelled weapon used by the U.S. army during the war. Interestingly, that weapon was also named after a musical instrument!
How Bazooka Gum Looked and What Came With It
When it first came out, Bazooka bubble gum came in wrappers with red, white, and blue colors. It originally cost just one penny.
In 1953, Topps started putting small comic strips inside the wrappers. These comics featured a fun character called "Bazooka Joe". There are more than 1,535 different "Bazooka Joe" comic strips to collect! The comic strips also included offers for special prizes and a fortune. Older Bazooka Joe comic strips were bigger, but you can't find them anymore.
Different Flavors and Sizes of Bazooka Gum
Besides the "Original" flavor, Topps later added other tasty options. These included "Strawberry Shake," "Cherry Berry," "Watermelon Whirl," and "Grape Rage."
Bazooka bubble gum also offers sugar-free flavors, like "Original" and a "Flavor Blasts" type. These "Flavor Blasts" are said to have a stronger taste that lasts longer. You can find Bazooka bubble gum in two different sizes.
Bazooka Gum Around the World
Bazooka bubble gum is sold in many countries all over the world. Often, the Bazooka Joe comic strips are translated into the local language.
For example, in Canada, the gum is sold with cartoons in both English and French, depending on the city. In Israel, a company called Elite makes it under a special agreement. Their factory is in Nof HaGalil, and the cartoons are written in Hebrew.
In Spain, the gum was sold as "Chicle Bazoka" (with only one "o") starting in the mid-1960s. It also featured the Bazooka Joe comic strips. A popular advertising slogan at the time was "Chicle bazoka, siempre en la boca," which means "Bazooka gum, always in the mouth." Catchy rhymes were a common way to advertise back then.
Changes to Bazooka Comics and New Products
In 2012, Bazooka Candy Brands announced a change. They decided to stop including the comic strips. Instead, they started using wrappers with brain-teasing puzzles. This was an effort to make the brand more modern.
However, in Argentina, the gum is still sold with the comics in Spanish. It goes by the name "Yo amo Bazooka," meaning "I love Bazooka." Topps shares all information about its Bazooka Candy brands on its website, Candymania.
In April 2019, the company announced a new product: the Bazooka Throwback pack. This pack brings back some of the classic feel of the gum.
