Popsicle (brand)

Popsicle
Product type Ice Pops
Owner Good Humor-Breyers
Country Oakland, California, U.S.
Introduced 1905
Related brands Fudgsicle
Creamsicle
Yosicle
Markets U.S./Canada
Registered as a trademark in U.S./Canada
Website popsicle.com

A Popsicle is a Good Humor-Breyers brand of ice pop consisting of flavored, colored ice on a stick.

History

In 1905 in Oakland, California, 11-year-old Francis William "Frank" Epperson was mixing a powdered flavoring for soft drinks with water. He accidentally left it on the back porch overnight, with a stirring stick still in it. That night, the temperature dropped below freezing, and the next morning, Epperson discovered the drink had frozen to the stick, inspiring the idea of a fruit-flavored 'Popsicle'.[1][2]

In 1922, he introduced the creation at a fireman's ball, where according to reports it was "a sensation".[2] In 1923, Epperson began selling the frozen pops to the public at Neptune Beach, an amusement park in Alameda, California.[3][4] By 1924 Epperson had received a patent for his "frozen confectionery" which he called "the Epsicle ice pop".[2] He renamed it to Popsicle, allegedly at the insistence of his children.[1] Popsicles were originally sold in fruity flavors and marketed as a "frozen drink on a stick."[5][3]

Lawsuit and sale

Six months after receiving a patent for the Popsicle, Good Humor sued Popsicle Corporation. By October 1925, the parties settled out of court. Popsicle agreed to pay Good Humor a license fee to manufacture what was called frozen suckers from ice and sherbet products. Good Humor reserved the right to manufacture these products from ice cream, frozen custard, and the like.[6]

In 1925, Epperson sold the rights to the Popsicle to the Joe Lowe Company of New York. "I was flat and had to liquidate all my assets," he recalled years later. "I haven't been the same since."[7][3] In 1989, Good Humor, now a subsidiary of Unilever, bought the rights to the Popsicle.[7]

Popsicle Pete

In April 1939, Popsicle Pete was introduced on the radio program Buck Rogers in the 25th Century as having won the "Typical American Boy Contest."[8][9] The character told listeners that they could win presents by sending wrappers from Popsicle products to the manufacturer. Pete continued to appear in the company's advertising campaigns for 50 years.[10] During the 1940s, Popsicle Pete ads were created by Woody Gelman and his partner Ben Solomon, and appeared on Popsicle brand packages for decades.[11]

Products

Fudgicle advertisement from 1938. Popsicle brands sponsored the Popeye radio show in 1938–1939.

The Popsicle brand began expanding from its original flavors after being purchased by Unilever in 1989.[3] Under the Popsicle brand, Unilever holds the trademark for both Creamsicle and Fudgsicle.[12] Creamsicle's center is vanilla ice cream, covered by a layer of flavored ice. Creamsicle flavors include orange, blue raspberry, lime, grape, cherry and blueberry. Fudgsicles are flat, frozen desserts that come on a stick and are chocolate-flavored with a texture somewhat similar to ice cream.[13]

Firecrackers are a brand of Popsicles that come in a shape resembling a firecracker. These take a similar appearance to the bomb pop.[13][14] Slow Melt Pops include a small amount of gelatin that helps them stay frozen longer than traditional ice pops. Slow Melt Pops are available in several varieties.

Yosicles are a brand of Popsicle that contain yogurt.[15][16] Revello Bars, chocolate covered ice cream on a stick[17]

See also

Notes

  1. 1 2 Stephanie Butler (August 16, 2013). "Frozen History: The Story of the Popsicle". the History Channel. Retrieved 19 July 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 Associated Press (October 27, 1983). "Frank Epperson, 89, Inventor of Popsicle, Dies in California". The New York Times.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "How An 11-Year-Old Boy Invented The Popsicle". NPR.org. Retrieved 2018-08-15.
  4. ↑ eikeme (2018-05-17). "Neptune Beach Brought Back to Life". Alameda Sun. Retrieved 2018-08-15.
  5. ↑ "Brain-Numbingly Cool Popsicles". WIRED. Retrieved 2018-08-15.
  6. ↑ Moak, Jefferson M. (2005). The Frozen Sucker War: Good Humor v. Popsicle. U.S. National Archives & Records Administration.
  7. 1 2 Jordi, Nathalie. "Don't Use the P Word: A Popsicle Showdown". the Atlantic. Retrieved 9 September 2011.
  8. ↑ Buck Rogers radio program; Episode #1, Apr 5 1939, Generic Radio Workshop Script Library, Accessed November 1, 2010.
  9. ↑ Buck Rogers radio files, Internet Archive, Accessed November 1, 2010.
  10. ↑ "Sweet mistake: How a pre-teen invented popsicles". Washington Examiner. 2018-07-29. Retrieved 2018-09-04.
  11. ↑ Friedman, Drew (2014-09-10). Heroes of the Comics: Portraits Of The Pioneering Legends Of Comic Books. Fantagraphics Books. ISBN 9781606997314.
  12. ↑ "Popsicle giant threatens B.C. ice pop maker | CBC News". CBC. Retrieved 2018-08-15.
  13. 1 2 "The 7 Greatest Packaged Frozen Treats, Ranked". The New York Times. Retrieved 2018-08-15.
  14. ↑ "Popsicle claims rival 'confusing customers with tri-color logo'". New York Post. 2014-03-31. Retrieved 2018-08-15.
  15. ↑ "Four Types of Advertising Are Emerging in Social Games, EA Says". AllThingsD. Retrieved 2018-08-15.
  16. ↑ "Seattle Pops Will Bring Its Semi-Drippy Ice Pops to a Permanent Home in Wallingford". The Stranger. Retrieved 2018-08-15.
  17. ↑

References

  • Jones, Charlotte Foltz (1991). Mistakes That Worked. Ashley. ISBN 0-385-26246-9.
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