Bubblegum

Bubblegum is a type of chewing gum that is especially designed for blowing bubbles. It is usually pink in color and has a particular flavor. Bubble gum tends to be less viscous than standard chewing gum in order to facilitate bubble blowing. Hubba Bubba is a brand of chewing gum that is especially non-sticky and tends to be favoured by children.

In the United States, bubble gum is often dispensed by gumball machines. Gumballs usually cost 25 cents each.

There are several methods for blowing bubbles. One method is to flatten the gum against the roof of your mouth then press it up against the back of your teeth. Next, you push it out a bit with your tongue then blow.

History

The first bubble gum formulation, Blibber-Blubber, was developed in 1906 by Frank Fleer. However, the gum was never marketed. In 1928, Walter Diemer, an employee of the Frank H. Fleer Company, improved the Blibber-Blubber formulation, resulting in the first commercially successful bubble gum, Double Bubble. Double Bubble's pink color set a tradition for nearly all bubble gums to follow.

During World War II, another gum manufacturer, The Topps Company, marketed a brand of bubblegum under the name Bazooka. Beginning in 1953, Topps added a small comic strip packaged with the gum featuring the character Bazooka Joe.

Cultural References

In the sixties, a whole genre of music called "bubblegum" emerged that blended soul, psychedelia, and the garage rock sounds of bands such as ? Mark and the Mysterians, into one kid-friendly sound that could appeal to a pre-teen market. In fact, bands such as the 1910 Fruitgum Company literally took on the names of archaic or invented bubblegum manufacturers. At the height of its popularity, it eclipsed most other forms of music in sales (the Archies' hit "Sugar Sugar" being the number one pop song of 1969) but later this format fell out of favor. In modern times, calling a musician or band "bubblegum" is an insult, implying the band is shallow, pre-fabricated, or appeals only to children.