lips, the tiny Easter eggs and the Peeps. I liked the penny candy when it still looked pretty; later it changed and a lot of it looked gross. Then we had the stuff that popped in your mouth (That was a really big deal), and then all the gummy candy, and then the sour stuff.� I did a little unofficial research to see if people remember their favorites or still have one. The responses only proved something that Michael and I had already suspected. There are at least two generations of penny candy. The generation that includes baby boomers and older responded with oldies like candy necklaces,
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which Cheryl Herman liked. I wonder how long ago Cheryl ate one of those yummy things? Others answered Mary Janes,
Root Beer Barrels, Peanut Butter Logs, tiny wax soda bottles with stuff inside, and those thin, stiff sticks of bubble gum with a powdery surface. (What was that
Spring • 2010
stuff?) Jaw Breakers and Licorice Whips. Oh, I remember now... Chum Gum. The younger generation, including anyone from 18 to 40, had answers like gold foil wrapped coins, Smarties, Tootsie Pops, Pop Rocks and pacifier lollipops. One mother and daughter, who were hundreds of miles away from one another each responded Tootsie Rolls. I didn't think anybody liked those, but Tootsie Rolls are the oldest wrapped penny candy in the United States. They have been around for 113 years. I guess somebody does. Remember Necco Wafers? The NECCO