Tootsie Roll - Definition and Overview

Tootsie Rolls are a 'chocolatey chew' candy that has been manufactured in the United States for over 100 years. The cylindrical chocolate candies come individually wrapped in a slip of brown paper, and are a well known piece of Americana. They are one of the best selling candies in America and throughout the world today.

Product History

In 1896 Leo Hirshfield came to America and started producing his chocolatey-chew candy in a small New York City shop, naming the product after his daughter Tootsie. By 1905 production moved to a four-story factory in New York. In 1931 the Tootsie Pop, a lolly pop with Tootsie Roll filling was invented. During World War II Tootsie Rolls were added to soldier’s rations because of their ability to withstand ‘severe weather conditions.’ In 1996 Tootsie Rolls celebrated their 100th anniversary. Currently sixty million Tootsie Rolls and twenty million Tootsie Pops are produced every day.

The Commercial

In 1970, Tootsie Roll Industries aired one of the most famous TV commercials of all time, featuring a boy trying to ascertain how many licks it takes to get to the center of a Tootsie Roll Pop.

Boy: Mr. Turtle, how many licks does it take to get to the Tootsie Roll center of a Tootsie Pop?

Mr. Turtle: I never made it without biting, ask Mr. Owl.

Boy: Mr. Owl, how many licks does it take to get to the Tootsie Roll center of a Tootsie Pop?

Mr. Owl: Let's find out! One...two...three....

Mr. Owl: Crunch!

Mr. Owl: Three.

Narrator: How many licks does it take to get to the Tootsie Roll center of a Tootsie Pop?

Narrator: Crunch!

Narrator: The world may never know.

According to The official Tootsie Roll website (http://www.tootsie.com), Tootsie Roll Industries has received over 20,000 letters from children claiming to have solved the riddle since the commercial first aired in 1970. The typical range of responses is between 100 and 5,800 with an average of 600-800. There is no official number, as everyone’s saliva is different.

The Jingle

Whatever it is I think I see

The world looks mighty good to me

‘cause Tootsie Rolls are all I see

Whatever it is I think I see…

Becomes a Tootsie Roll to me

Tootsie Roll how I love you chocolatey chew

Tootsie Roll I think I’m in love with you

Whatever it is I think I see…

Becomes a Tootsie Roll to me.

References

• Tootsie Roll Jingle (http://www.tootsie.com/whatever.html)
• The “How Many Licks?” Commercial (http://www.tootsie.com/howmany-sb.html)