One of the more clever uses of cellophane in candy packaging had to be when confectioners started utilizing the protective wrapping as a kind of catch-all canvas for lollipops. By printing up a custom cellophane wrap, they could turn that lollipop into whatever design or fad they thought would sell best. Such was the case with Spangler’s Zodiac Pops.
In the wake of the counter-culture revolution of the 1960’s, the signs of the Zodiac were more than just the basis of a pickup line – they were a fashion statement and pop-cultural phenomenon. I recall my mother placing a good bit of Zodiac-emblazoned artwork around our house in the 1970’s and as a child I found the imagery compelling and curious. Having experienced that popularity firsthand, I was not surprised when I recently discovered that during this era, the Spangler candy company produced a line of Zodiac-themed “Big Pops”.
Spangler – Zodiac Big Pops – candy trade magazine clipping – December 1971
I would imagine that those Spangler Zodiac Pops looked pretty groovy on shelves. I’d love to find some of the Zodiac cello wrappers for my collection, though I’d guess that not many survived as opening the candy would have resulted in a good shredding of the cellophane material.
Though I may never find actual examples of the Zodiac Pops, I was able to get a glimpse of what they looked like in color, as they were included on a two-sided Spangler sales flyer I recently picked up. This flyer also features Spangler’s early 1970’s lineup of Super Pops and Big Suckers – all using the printed cellophane wrapping to provide them with their identity:
Spangler – Super Pops Profit – promotional candy flyer – early 1970’s
Spangler – Big Suckers for Big Profits – promotional candy flyer – early 1970’s
It’s great to be able to see that trio of Zodiac Pops wraps in color. It’s also interesting to note the variety and scope of the other styles they were using. For instance, the “CB Talk Super Pops” are a great reflection of the huge CB Radio cultural fad of the 1970’s.
Though it might seem a bit antiquated by today’s standards, this method of packaging lollipops is still used today. I found examples of it at a Walgreens just a few months ago, with a pair of pops sold under their private label Nice! brand:
Walgreens – Nice! – Hot and Sour Swirl Pop and Red White and Blue Swirl Pops – 2013
It’s remarkable how easy it is to transform a colorful lollipop into one that reflects whatever character or theme you might want. But even unwrapped, the canvas is far from plain, and still delicious:
Walgreens – Nice! pops – unwrapped – 2013
And that’s everything for today’s look back at Spangler’s 1970’s Zodiac Pops (and Super Pops and Big Suckers).
See you next time!
–>> Siiiicc ‘
~ t