Tasteful Inventions: Walter E. Diemer: Dubble Bubble Bubble Gum

Sunday, January 8, 2012

Walter E. Diemer: Dubble Bubble Bubble Gum

I'm So Happy I Could Burst!


Hi Everyone! My eye has healed, I bought a new pair of "specks" and I'm ready for action!

Pop Quiz! What if I told you the man who invented the world's first Bubble Gum, Dubble Bubble, was born on this day? Would I be stretching the truth if I told you that same man, Walter E. Diemer, was a 23 year old accountant who concocted his first batch of Bubble Gum purely by accident? Nooooooo Waaaaaay!

There are gobs of stickiness orbiting the History of Dubble Bubble and Walter E. Diemer, the man most likely responsible for causing me to write "I will not chew gum in school" way too many times! If I recall, wearing bubble gum on the tip of my nose, was one of my favorite past times in school too, besides blowing bubbles of course. Nowadays, there's quite a debate as to the benefits of chewing gum in school. According to this article, there is scientific evidence showing that chewing gum improves concentration and reduces stress.

...Teachers may outlaw chewing gum in class, but chewing gum in class makes kids smarter. How could that be? Chewing causes our hearts to pump more blood to our brain than it usually does. More blood carries noggin-nourishing oxygen and that will help brain function better. It also increases the glucose level, making the student more alert. The rhythmic chewing also increases attention. Mental tasks are done 20% more effectively while chewing gum and that's why it makes students "smarter"...


"Chewing gum while peeling onions will keep you from crying.
Learning how to blow bubbles isn't easy. It takes practice. Lots of practice! In fact, when Mr. Diemer slapped together his first successful batch of Dubble Bubble, he then found himself in a rather glutinous situation. He had to teach the company's salespeople how to use the stuff! Imagine, a teacher teaching people how to to blow bubbles with bubble gum? But wait, Mr. Diemer wasn't a teacher. He wasn't even just an accountant anymore. After his amazing discovery, Fleer promoted him to senior vice-president of the company.

National Bubble Gum week, which originated at Northern Michigan University as a way to "relieve tension among students preparing for final exams", isn't until the second week of March but, I thought perhaps in honor of this special occasion, we could do just a smidgen of celebrating today. What do you think? I thought you would agree:)

I was so intrigued by the "Bubblicious" Bubblegum Martini that I spied over on Kate's post, that I just had to get my hands on some Dubble Bubble and give it a whirl. Look at how cool it looks after just 4 hours of "marinating." In 24 hours, we'll have our very own Bubble Gum Vodka. Truth be told, you could try this recipe with Bazooka too!!!

Dubble Bubble had no competition until after World War II. According to the International Chewing Gum Association, during WWII bubblegum was handed out by US military personnel as gifts, thereby spreading its popularity among the peoples of Europe, Africa, and Asia. Dubble Bubble was part of the US military’s ration kits. And in the 1930s the first bubblegum cards were issued. The pictures ranged from war heroes to Wild West figures to professional athletes. After the war, Topps began wrapping bubble gum in comics and called it, Bazooka!



Why is Bubble Gum Pink?


It seems, America's first Bubble Gum was a dingy gray. Mr. Diemer wouldn't have it! The only handy food coloring in his lab that August day was Pink and that dear readers is why the preferred color of Bubble Gum the world over is Pink!

Mr. Diemer never received royalties for his invention. He did, however, receive hundreds of letters from children thanking him for "inventing" bubble gum. Although he rarely chewed gum, he would invite groups of children to his home and tell them about his invention, then he would preside over bubblegum-blowing contests. He is quoted as saying, "I've done something with my life. I've made kids happy around the world." In 1991 Walter E. Diemer moved to Lancaster, PA. There he enjoyed life riding around town on his tricycle. He died in 1998 at the the age of 93!

So what does one do when they've conjured up their very own Bubble Gum "extract?" First, one "plays" with the concoction, of course.

Then one bakes cupcakes! Oh no, not your every day ordinary cupcakes. Bubble Gum Cupcakes!!! That's right kiddies, I baked Bubble Gum Cupcakes with Bubble Gum Marshmallow Frosting! And, let me tell you, they are Dee...li...cious!!! Oh, they may not look like much but, they taste just like Bubble Gum!

FYI: Frank Henry Fleer was involved with chewing gum long before Mr. Diemer made history with the invention of his bubble gum. Curiously, Blibber-Blubber was never brought to market.

Resources
1. Brush Up on Bubble Gum Trivia

2. Bubble Gum Lip Gloss Recipe

3. World Bubble Records

4. Fleer History

5. An odd tale about chewing gum and the Alamo.

6. Bubble Gum Ball Surprise Cupcakes with Strawberry Swiss Meringue Buttercream & Pink Rock Candy Crystals

7. Bubble Gum Marshmallows (made with bubble gum food flavoring, no Vodka:)

8. Mr. Diemer, New York Times Obit

This post was checked for links in December of 2015.

11 comments:

LoLy said...

LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE BubbleGUM :D

LoLy said...

Thank you for passing by my blog :)
xx
Loly

Zoe said...

This is my first time visiting your blog. I like all your very interesting information and they are all bout food :D

~~louise~~ said...

Hi Loly hope all is well with you.

Welcome Zoe. So glad you enjoyed your visit:)

Cakewhiz said...

I was blog jumping and found your blog. I love the little tid bits of baking and food that you are sharing! :)

Anonymous said...

Thank you for joining The Higley Kitchen!

What a great guy Walter E. Diemer was. :)

~~louise~~ said...

Hi Abeer!

Thank you so much for "finding" me. I have been to your blog quite a few times, lurking I'm afraid:)

You are such a talented baker. Your creations are simply gorgeous!!!

Thank you so much for dropping by. I really do need to update this blog:)

~~louise~~ said...

Hi Higley!

Thank you for sharing such delectable recipes. Your Parmesan and Poppy Seed Bread looks simply heavenly!!!

Thanks for visiting...

Sonia said...

Hi Louise,
It is looking so good with all the lovely pictures and write up as well. I have been here after a while but enjoyed scrolling through your rest of the wonderful recipes. I've bookmarked this special recipe of yours and would love to give it a shot.
Have a wonderful week ahead. Thanks for sharing awesome recipes.
Best Regards, Sonia !!!

Judy said...

Thanks for visiting my blog. I chewed many a Dubble Bubble in my younger years.

~~louise~~ said...

Thank you Sonia you're so sweet:)

Hi Judy! Thanks for popping by. Glad you enjoyed this post:)