At the corner drug-store I worked in -- from late-1960's to early-1970's, I remember we sold a lot of boxed-candies -- at-least very-popular with one or more of the generations before us. (I think Fannie May [including Frango Mints -- Andrew] and Dove candies were most liked).
Also -- while sparing the details, I spent a lot of time each day stocking the 'candy-rack' in that store. I can still fairly remember the order of the candies in the rack (semi-engrained in my mind I think), and these are some of the most popular (credit to those already mentioned):
Hershey's Choclate Bar (Andrew)
Hershey's Choclate Bar with Almonds (Andrew)
Hershey's Krackel Bar
Nestle's Crunch Bar
Snickers
MilkyWay
Three Musketeers
$100,000 Bar
Baby Ruth
Charleston Chew (Ed)
Mounds (Andrew)
Almond Joy
Fifth Ave Bar
Bun Bar (Maple and Vanilla [and I think Coconut too])
Junior Mints
Astro Pop
Banana Splits
Bit-O-Honey (Bob, Marie)
Turkish Taffy
SweetTarts
Smarties
Red Hots (Timmy)
Dots (Timmy)
Hot Tamales
Mike and Ike
Indian Pumpkin Seeds
Good-n-Plenty (Bob)
Good-n-Fruity
Lemonheads (Anne, Marie [as alt-Lemondrops])
Plain M&M's (Marie, Frank)
Peanut M&M's (Marie, Frank)
Cracker Jack’s
Gold Mine Bubble Gum
Pez Candy
Pixie Stix (Andrew)
Candy Necklace
Bubble Gum Cigarettes (Timmy)
Bubble-Gum Cigars
Razzles
Satellite Wafers
1-cent Pretzels (cost a penny – got to pick your own out of big screw-top glass-jar on the counter [always used like smoking a pretend-cigar before and during its consumption])
Baseball Cards with stick chewing-gum
At Halloween --- always lots of different wax-novelties (I think wax-lips and some juice-filled wax-items [including wax bottles -- Timmy] were most popular])
At Christmas -- always lots of different sized Brach's peppermint candy-canes (Ralph)
Frank -- I have no excuse. You are absolutely correct. Ah, the memory of Miss Lee's Chemistry. Good times ... good times.
Plain M&M's waswere was were [geez, English much John?] a staple of my diet back then and such remains to be the same today (2-pack minimum per day mostly).
I've corrected the error of my ways -- above, along with a range of choclate-bars (stocked those on the top row and to the left) that I also completely missed -- and a few others too.
By the bag or by the box
Candies of quality come from Brach's!
Once upon a time there was an engineer
Choo-choo Charlie was his name we hear
He had an engine and he sure has fun
He used Good-n-Plenty candy to make his train run
Some times you feel like a nut
Sometimes you don't
I remember the jingles better than the candy!
Michelle, no offense, but I hated Bikes. They were 2 for a penny, which shows how unpopular they were. Not as bad as circus peanuts (the candy), which were even worse than candy corn. But Root Beer Barrels were great.
FYI, long before our time, my grandfather ran a candy store across the street from Lane, on Western Ave. My dad went to Lane, and would sneak out of school at lunctime to help with the rush.
What a trip down memory Candy Lane, Laneites! What were those wax tubes called that had fruit-flavored liquid in them? I can't believe I used to buy such things. Ahh, and Hot Tamales, yum! My husband Marc, I guess he's a Laneite-by-marriage, still loves Good-N-Plenty's more than anything else. I think my still-fave are Smarties, if I had to pick.
Full disclosure... I made my purchases based on how the wrapper colors looked in the candy dish. It's all about set design Bliss... I know you appreciate that!
Personally, I am a Mounds and Almond Joy girl now but these were my early coconut vices. Didn't even know the names until I googled 'em!
Wow, John. That was a pretty extensive list of retro candies. Two of my favorites weren't on there though. They were Sugar Babies and Slow Pokes. Can you tell I like caramel? No wonder I've had so many cavities over the years. I agree with Michelle about getting Dental coverage with Medicare!
Please? John Bliss --- but, didn't you know this would happen?
I only read your post -- just that one time. I found it on YouTube -- I watched and listened to it -- just once. I thought it would be safe to do so -- but, it was not.
And -- now, that thing has already squirmed to life -- from a place, deep-deep-deep within my head. Yes -- it has come and it grows. That little musical bandwidth in my brain -- has begun to play.
And, its just that same bit of that same song too --over and over and over again! "Charlie Says!!.. Love My Good And Plenty!.. Charlie Says!!.. Really Rings A Bell!.." "Charlie Says!!.. Love My Good And Plenty!.. Charlie Says!!.. Really Rings A Bell!.." "Charlie Says!!.. Love My Good And Plenty!.. Charlie Says!!.. Really Rings A Bell!.."
And, research says it could be stuck there now -- just repeating itself --- playing on and on and on -- uncontrollably -- for hours, days, weeks,or -- more!!!!
Oh, help me John Bliss!! I Have An Earworm Now, And It just Won't Go Away!!I Think Its Eating My Brain!Oh No!!!LOL!!!!
[Please do not watch this 32 second clip. Or, if you must, do so at your own peril!!]
John Simmers, welcome to my world! I don't know what I had for breakfast but I have commercials from 50 years ago on an endless loop. Sometimes, for no reason at all, I'll hear
We are Santa's elves,
Filling Santa's shelves
With a toy
For each girl and boy.
Oh, we are Santa's elves.
We work hard all day,
But our work is play.
Dolls we try out,
See if they cry out.
We are Santa's elves.
I exchanged a couple messages with Michelle on the following topic and it may be that this is something you may have already done.
I suspect that when our yearbooks were made that for every picture that made it in there were 10 that did not get in. What happened to those never published pictures ?
I would also imagine that many of our school events were photographed: ceremonies, proms, auditorium events, sporting events and more – are pictures available ?
I think it would be a huge gift to the alumni if we could make those pictures available on line. I’m not necessarily talking about digitizing which may be cost prohibitive – if digitalizing =’s no can do, then I’d be happy to take the lower quality / lower cost path of taking a picture of the pictures using a cell phone and saving / sharing those with our classmates. Something is better than nothing.
But maybe something like this has already been done ? Let me know.
And, for those of us who were lucky enough to "procure" a key, those doors behind you led to ladders that went from floor to floor. Good way to avoid the crowds during passing periods!
I am loving all these posts about candy "Back in the Day". We had a little candy/food/novelty store around the block when I was a kid called "Nickels" (supposedly the store owners name). We would go there for the candy treats, rubber balls, caps for our cap guns, click-clacks, trading cards, etc. They had most of the candy treats that were mentioned here. Also, does anybody remember that raunchy "Birth of a Candy Bar" story that went around?
I am actually getting a taste of retirement this summer because we have been on strike since May. It's another MFTE for me: My First Time Ever I have been on strike. I am enjoying my free time this summer as there are always lots of things going on around here over the summer. But I'm not ready to do the permanent retirement yet and I am looking forward to heading back to work soon.
Wow! Earth shoes! I remember PF Flyers (from Johny Quest). Also Easy walkers and Marshmallows.
And a note to a certain Lane 76'er: I am now on Book #9 of your series and I am LOVIN IT!
Wow, thank you Andrew, Robert and Georgette for your kind wishes and words! These birthdays keep coming by faster and faster, don't they? Our class needs to plan a get together sooner than the 50th class reunion. We have an amazing long time connection! Even though I rarely post, do read them all. Keep 'em coming! Much mahalo, Mai Tai Na Lahaina 🧜♀️🌺🌴🤙🥰... yes, have moved to the middle of the Pacific... if not now, whe>
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