02/07/2025
Happy National Bubble Gum Day!
Chewing gum has a history that spans as far back as the ancient Greeks, who chewed the resin from mastic trees. But it wasn't until 1928 that Walter Diemer happened upon just the right gum recipe to make the very first bubble gum, a special type of chewing gum that allows the chewer to blow big pink bubbles.
To test his new recipe, Diemer took 100 samples of the new gum to a nearby store, selling it for a penny apiece. It sold out in a single day. Realizing they had a new, popular type of gum, the owners of Fleer marketed Diemer's new gum as "Dubble Bubble."
To help sell the new bubble gum, Diemer himself taught salespeople how to blow bubbles so that they, in turn, could teach potential customers. Sales broke $1.5 million in the first year.
Dubble Bubble remained the only bubble gum on the market in the United States until Bazooka bubble gum appeared after World War II, with the competing comic Bazooka Joe.
Today, bubble gum remains a nostalgic treat enjoyed by people of all ages, from classic brands like Dubble Bubble and Bazooka to a variety of new flavors and innovations. While it started as a simple penny candy, bubble gum has become a symbol of fun, creativity, and even stress relief. Whether for blowing the biggest bubble, enjoying a burst of sweetness, or reminiscing about childhood, bubble gum continues to be a small but joyful part of everyday life.
