During 2013’s CountdownToHalloween, I dedicated a post to the Halloween-seasonal marshmallow Peeps known as Witchmallows. The packaging I featured was from the 1970’s and I had assumed that was about as far back as Witchmallows went. But recently I discovered an even older example dating back to the 1950’s. So make the jump to check out the oldest, spookiest Peeps yet!
I’ve spoken about the 60-year history of Peeps on this site before, and even documented how they celebrated their 50th Anniversary back in 2003. Seasonal Peeps have long been a part of the Peeps tradition, but it turns out they go back much farther than I would have ever guessed.
Earlier this year, Mr. Toast creator and cartoonist Dan Goodsell sent me the following scan of an item he discovered in his collection. It was a Rodda Halloween Witchmallows box tray that dated back to the 1950’s-60’s, the earliest days of Peeps – and boy was it cool! Here it is:
Rodda – Halloween Witchmallows – Marshmallow Peeps – cardboard tray – 1950’s-1960’s – courtesy Dan Goodsell
Here’s a better look at the artwork from the side panels of that tray:
Rodda – Halloween Witchmallows – cardboard tray graphics isolate – 1950’s-1960’s – courtesy Dan Goodsell
It’s a far sight different than how the same bit of packaging would appear in the late 1970’s – though the Witchmallow name would remain:
Just Born – Rodda – Witchmallows – Halloween Marshmallow Peeps – candy package tray – 1970’s
[Note: For those that might not be aware, Rodda were the original manufacturers of Peeps but they became a division of Just Born some decades ago.]
Now I’d like to showcase a few more bits of Halloween Peeps imagery from previous posts, as well as showcasing the new style of packaging that Halloween Peeps received for 2014.
Just Born – Peeps 50th Anniversary Brochure – Halloween Peeps page – 2003
Just Born – Halloween Peeps Cocoa Bats catalog image – 2003
Just Born – Halloween Peeps Vanilla Creme Ghosts catalog image – 2003
For as long as I can recall and certainly the last few years, Halloween Peeps have come in cellophane-wrapped cardboard trays like these:
Just Born – Peeps Marshmallow Ghosts – Halloween candy package tray – 2010
Just Born – Peeps Marshmallow Pumpkins – Halloween candy package tray – 2010
This year in 2014 those trays have been replaced with an all-plastic packaging design. Here they are:
Just Born – Peeps Marshmallow Ghosts – 1 1/8 oz 3-ghost cello pack – October 2014
Just Born – Peeps Marshmallow Pumpkins – 1 1/8 oz 8-ghost cello pack – October 2014
So that’s the new look of Halloween Peeps. What do you think?
As for me, I think the new packaging looks modern and slick, though I’d be lying if I didn’t say that I’m going to miss the old-fashioned cardboard trays.
That’s everything for today’s post and our look back at the oldest Halloween Peeps ever discovered. See you next time!
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Today’s post has been part of CollectingCandy.com’s 2014 Countdown to Halloween. To check out other sites celebrating Halloween all month long, visit the official CountdownToHalloween site. For more of CollectingCandy.com’s CountdownToHalloween posts, just click here.
