Bazooka (chewing gum) facts for kids
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| Owner |
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| Introduced | 1947 |
| Markets | Worldwide |
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Bazooka is a famous American brand of bubble gum. It first came out in 1947. Bazooka gum is made by "Bazooka Candy Brands" (BCB). This company used to be part of The Topps Company. In 2022, another company called Fanatics, Inc. bought Topps. Then, in October 2023, a company called Apax Partners bought Bazooka Candy Brands.
Contents
History of Bazooka Gum
How Bazooka Started
Bazooka bubble gum was first sold in 1947. It was launched by The Topps Company in Brooklyn, New York. This happened shortly after World War II. The gum was probably named after a special rocket-powered weapon used by the U.S. army during the war. That weapon itself was named after a musical instrument.
Bazooka Joe Comics
When Bazooka gum first came out, it was wrapped in red, white, and blue colors. It cost just one penny. In 1953, Topps started putting small comic strips inside the wrappers. These comics featured a character named "Bazooka Joe". There are more than 1,535 different Bazooka Joe comic strips to collect. Each comic also had a special offer for a prize or a fun fortune.
In 2012, Bazooka Candy Brands decided to change things up. They stopped including the comics. Instead, they started putting brain-teasing puzzles on the wrappers. This was done to make the brand feel more modern. However, in Argentina, Bazooka gum is still sold with the comics in Spanish. The brand there is called "Yo amo Bazooka," which means "I love Bazooka."
Flavors and Fun Facts
Besides the "Original" flavor, Bazooka gum has offered other tastes. These include "Strawberry Shake," "Cherry Berry," "Watermelon Whirl," and "Grape Rage." Bazooka also makes sugar-free versions. There is a "Flavor Blasts" variety too, which is said to have a stronger and longer-lasting taste. Bazooka bubble gum comes in two different sizes.
In April 2019, the company launched a "Bazooka Throwback pack." This pack brought back some of the classic feel of the gum. In December 2022, the brand celebrated its 75th birthday. To mark this special event, they released a 16-minute documentary film. It was called Bazooka Bubble Gum Turns 75.
Around the World
Bazooka bubble gum has been sold in many countries since the 1960s. 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. This depends on the city. In Israel, a company called Elite makes Bazooka gum. The cartoons there are written in Hebrew.
In Spain, the gum was sold as "Chicle Bazoka" starting in the mid-1960s. It also featured the Bazooka Joe strips. A popular advertising slogan there was "Chicle bazoka, siempre en la boca." This means "Bazooka gum, always in the mouth."
See also
