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Chew On This
By Marc Flores
One of our favorite confections - found on the streets, underneath school desks, and on the soles of our shoes - chewing gum comes in many different flavors, shapes, and sizes. It would seem the popularity of gum is due to the fact that there is something out there for everyone regardless of pickiness and preference. We have peppermint, spearmint, citrus, grape, "bubble gum," and even more unconventional flavors like root beer, licorice, and even mojito! Chewing gum is available in a variety of shapes like candy-coated gumballs, sticks, blogs, rolls, and even bags of shredded gum (Big League Chew)! You may be thinking, "How is chewing gum made and how does it last for so long without dissolving?" Or you might be wondering, "This is so good. Is it bad for my teeth?" Let's take a look!
Chewing gum has been around for a very long time, even well before the industrialized era when it became easily manufactured and processed. The base of the gum has typically been chicle, latex or a synthetic rubber, hence the inability to dissolve the sweet, chewy stuff. Gum aficionados (they certainly exist!) have typically frowned upon the latex and rubber bases citing their potential health hazards, so chicle has been the base of choice. All the wonderful flavors, color, and sweeteners are then added to the gum base and brings chewing gum to life.
To start, the gum base of choice is melted to temperatures as high as 240 degrees Fahrenheit where it takes on a thick, syrupy consistency. This heavy syrup is then filtered through a mesh system, spun in a centrifuge to further separate impurities, and filtered once more. Preparing and refining the gum base is quite a process! While the base is still hot, the manufacturer adds all the goodies to the gum including a sweetener of some kind (usually powdered sugar or fructose), flavoring, and a softener to make it more palatable. Once the mixture is down to where the manufacturer likes it, the aromatic and colorful goop is cooled, rolled, extruded, or set into certain shapes where it will be cooled for the next two or three days.
Depending on the manufacturer and brand, gum will be coated with wax or colored candy. Pellets or balls of gum are spun in giant tumblers where a wax, sealant, or colorful candy is ladled or added very slowly. The finished product will have a shine and finish that can be spotted from across a grocery store staring back at its would-be chewer from inside a large, glass bowl.
There are several reasons for chewing gum from therapy to alertness. Many people chew gum for the sheer pleasure it brings: The act itself can be therapeutic and, coupled with the scents and tastes, will often lower blood pressure and bring on a state of relaxation. Some need the oral fixation as an alternative to smoking where many gum-makers saw an opportunity and started adding nicotine to gums that help smokers quit. Aside from kicking a nasty habit, there is a wide selection of energy gums on the market, too. There are lots of ways to get a kick from these high-octane chews. The chewing gum market is saturated with ginseng, caffeine, and supplement-infused gums.
Once chewing gum gets more interesting and filled with all kinds of additives, the first natural concern is whether it is bad for your health. The first concern has always been the effects of gum on dental health. Everyone knows that sugar is bad for your teeth and is the primary cause of cavities and tooth decay. Luckily for gum addicts, there are several sugar-free gums available for their chewing pleasure. Whether the synthetic sweeteners cause cancer is still left to be determined. The issue on teeth is a toss up because many dentists say the constant production of saliva due to gum chewing is good for your teeth and gums, but the sugar content may cancel any positive effects from doing so - not to mention the TMJ a chewer subjects him or herself to with all that chewing!
Another big, but oft-overlooked health concern is the toxicity of the gum bases used in modern-day chewing gum. Some gum makers use vinyl acetate in their gum base, which has been known to be a carcinogenic (nicotine gum chewers can't seem to get away from those carcinogens!). One would imagine that the likelihood of getting cancer from chewing gum is probably equivalent to drinking coffee or chewing on pen caps - what doesn't cause cancer these days?
Chewing gum is such a versatile little confection with so many benefits, few real risks, and a plethora of flavors and forms. So, the next time you pop another chewy treat into your mouth, take a second to ponder its history, manufacture, and the journey it has made to get from the boring gum base it was to the soft delight you chew on.
Bozo the Clown was the Man About Town
By Veronica Shine
Bozo the Clown is universal. But surprisingly, Bozo did not originate on TV, with either a live actor or as a cartoon.
Bozo the Clown's first appearance was through a young executive named Alan Livingston. Livingston worked for Capitol Records.
Livingston came up with an idea for a children's book accompanied by a record. Children could read the book while listening to the words spoken by a character from the story. He believed this type of book would encourage children to read more for entertainment and be entertaining for those who yet could not read. In 1946, the first read and listen along book was introduced and starred a clown name Bozo; a character created by Livingston.
Bozo the Clown was narrated by Pinto Colvig. Pinto was a former clown who went on to do voiceovers for Walt Disney Company. The book, "Bozo at the Circus," proved to be a colossal hit, selling over a million copies.
With success like that, fifteen more Bozo books were created. Children just did not seem to get enough of Bozo; mass merchandising was soon to follow.
Capitol Records realized that Bozo would be a natural to appear in the flesh. KTTV in Los Angeles, California televised the first Bozo Show, "Bozo's Circus" staring Pinto Colvig in 1949. The hair, suit and white faced clown make up became trademark. To meet the demand for other areas than Southern California, Livingston hired several other Bozos to make live appearances elsewhere.
"Bozo's Circus" lasted for only a year, but a 13-episode syndicated version was launched making Bozo's a persistent fixture on TV. Dell Comics tried to create a series in 1950 which lasted until 1954.
One of the "other city" Bozo performers named Larry Harmon was soon to become known as the Bozo with the most clout. Larry, along with several partners, bought the rights of Bozo the Clown from Capitol Records in 1956.
Bozo the Clown was not one show any longer. Harmon franchised a concept of an interactive live audience, while running cartoons using Bozo, in which he voiced. All across America, the Bozo franchise had a local actor wearing a "Bozo the Clown" costume performing the same type scenes and formats. Even NBCs' favorite weatherman and the host of many a Thanksgiving Day Parade, Willard Scott, played Bozo.
The most thriving Bozo show on TV was Chicago's station WGN, with Bob "Bozo" Bell, on the air for more than twenty years.
Bozos shows began to disappear with the exception of Bells in Chicago. By 1984, Bell retired and was replaced by Joey D'Auria, keeping the role of Bozo going until the show ended in 2001. It does not appear that Bozo will be back on TV any time soon.
However, the younger set can get a chance to see Bozo with a DVD that originated from the Boston area show from the 1960s. Sing-a-longs from Larry Harmon as Bozo have been made onto CDs. Be nostalgic or introduce Bozo to the next generation.
One thing to keep in mind is that original Bozo products are now considered collectables and each day only increase in value.