An American Icon died today: Twinkies, the Golden Sponge Cake with Creamy Filling. Born 82 years ago in Schiller Park, Illinois, Twinkies was murdered by a selfish Baker's Union. When it passed away the snack cake was in good health and frankly most people thought they were indestructible.
During the Great Depression, Hostess' parent Continental Baking Co. was looking for an inexpensive treat to market to a penny-pinching public. Chicago-based Baker Manager James Dewar startsed experimenting, injecting cakes with banana-cream filling. He decided to call them Twinkies after passing a billboard for "Twinkle Toe Shoes." The original cost was two for a nickel.
Banana rationing during World War II caused Continental to switch Twinkies from banana-cream to vanilla-cream filling.
Banana rationing during World War II caused Continental to switch Twinkies from banana-cream to vanilla-cream filling.
Twinkie solidified itself as a lunch-box staple in the 1950s when it partnered with "The Howdy Doody Show," and Buffalo Bob Smith urged kids to ask their moms for the treat.
"Twinkie the Kid" was born and the boot-clad, bandana-wearing image stars in numerous commercials. Taglines include "The snacks with a snack in the middle" and "You get a big delight in every bite." In 1970, Continental begins advertising Hostess fruit pies alongside Twinkies, touting a "major nutritional advance" featuring "body-building vitamins and iron." Packages include a big "V" for vitamin fortified.
In 1979 Twinkies hit the courtroom when San Francisco City Supervisor Dan White was on trail for the murder of Mayor George Moscone and gay-rights activist Harvey Milk, his legal team includes what the press called the "Twinkie Defense." A psychiatrist suggests that Mr. White's diet of Twinkies, potato chips and Coca-Cola led to extreme variations in his blood-sugar levels, which exacerbated his manic depression.
President Bill Clinton put a Twinkie in a millennium time capsule in 1999 along with a piece of the Berlin Wall, a World War II helmet and a pair of Ray Charles' sunglasses. "When it's opened in 2100, will people know what a Twinkie is?" asked the Associated Press at the time.
"Twinkie the Kid" was born and the boot-clad, bandana-wearing image stars in numerous commercials. Taglines include "The snacks with a snack in the middle" and "You get a big delight in every bite." In 1970, Continental begins advertising Hostess fruit pies alongside Twinkies, touting a "major nutritional advance" featuring "body-building vitamins and iron." Packages include a big "V" for vitamin fortified.
In 1979 Twinkies hit the courtroom when San Francisco City Supervisor Dan White was on trail for the murder of Mayor George Moscone and gay-rights activist Harvey Milk, his legal team includes what the press called the "Twinkie Defense." A psychiatrist suggests that Mr. White's diet of Twinkies, potato chips and Coca-Cola led to extreme variations in his blood-sugar levels, which exacerbated his manic depression.
President Bill Clinton put a Twinkie in a millennium time capsule in 1999 along with a piece of the Berlin Wall, a World War II helmet and a pair of Ray Charles' sunglasses. "When it's opened in 2100, will people know what a Twinkie is?" asked the Associated Press at the time.
Seven years later in 2006 Twinkie became an author with the publication of the "Twinkie Cookbook". Recipes include Twinkie Sushi, Twinkie Pancakes and a Twinkie Wedding Cake. Just two year ago at age 80, Twinkie hit the headlines again thanks to a story about a professor shedding 27 pounds on a "Twinkie diet."
Twinkie in the Movies
What most people may not remember is that Twinkie had a key role in some movies such as Ghostbusters
Twinkie in the Movies
What most people may not remember is that Twinkie had a key role in some movies such as Ghostbusters
and Zombieland where one character had a prophetic search for the last Twinkie on Earth.
Twinkie had an interest in serving humanity... subjecting itself to a series of experiments in the name of science.
Sadly there will be no more contributions to the entertainment or scientific world from Twinkie. Perhaps its better that way, after four more years of Obama our grandchildren will be so far in debt they won't be able to afford Twinkies.
Twinkies brother Ho-Hos, a favorite of former NY Governor Elliot Spitzer was also murdered by the Baker's Union today, but they will be easily replaced by Yodels.
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