Creative Marketing: Hats Off to Bazooka Joe!

A Comical Marketing Gimmick

By Chris Dunmire

Bazooka® Bubble Gum is wrapped in a comic featuring Bazooka Joe's corny humor and funny fortunes. A true creative packaging concept and a fun way to Be Creative! Adults while enjoying plain square pink bubble gum!

Have you ever noticed the various forms pink bubble gum has taken over the years?

Besides the traditional square and barrel shapes, it's been cut into sticks for baseball cards, shredded into mock “chew” for big leaguers, gelified for squeezing out of tubes, and even rolled up and dispensed as “tape.” And I have my suspicions that gum balls are made out of the same stuff, sans the pink color. I should write a book titled, “101 Ways to Slice, Dice, and Package Pink Bubble Gum.” Would anyone chews to buy it?

Speaking of packaging, are you familiar with Bazooka bubble gum? If not, it's a rectangular piece of gum wrapped inside of a comic. Despite the cornosity of the comic humor, I think the marketing genius who added it to the gum “to add more interest” should get the world's largest bright idea award. What a creative concept! It's the best part of the gum and the one thing that makes it stand apart from the rest of pink bubble gum family.

You might think that Bazooka gum's appeal is only to little children who aren't grown up enough to recognize awful humor. Actually, you'd be surprised to know how many adults like the gum and collect its comics. Do a search for “Bazooka Gum Comics” on eBay and you'll see what I mean.

So, if you've never experienced this gum, or if it's been a long time since you've unwrapped and chewed any, I implore you to pick some up on your next shopping trip.

Believe me, unwrapping and chewing the pink sugary confection while chuckling over the comic will add a momentary element of fun into your life. And that alone makes it all worth it.

What to do with those corny comic wrappers?

Make gum wrapper origami, that's what!! Just follow my simple step-by-step tutorial and make yourself a nifty shirt and pants set with the corny comics.

Take me to the Bazooka Gum Wrapper Origami Tutorial »

Fun Factoids about Bazooka® Bubble Gum

My gummy research has revealed the following about Bazooka Bubble Gum and its patch-eyed mascot, Bazooka Joe:

• Bazooka gum was developed right after WWII.
• The gum was named after a musical instrument from the 1930s.
• Comics were introduced in 1953 to add extra interest.
• 500–700 comics were developed over the years and a series of 75 comics were in the market in 2001.
• There is nothing wrong with Bazooka Joe's eye. He wears a patch because it makes him more “interesting.”
• Bazooka gum comes in other flavors besides “pink” (what exactly is that flavor anyway?)

© 2004 Chris Dunmire. All rights reserved.

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About the Author | More by Chris Dunmire
Chris Dunmire is an author, artist, humorist, workshop facilitator, and the driving force behind multiple creativity-inspiring features for Creativity-Portal.com, a Writer's Digest best Web site. Chris trained with Eric Maisel, Ph.D. as a creativity coach and inspires people of all ages at CoachingYourCreativity.com. She also develops printable project playbooks (including the world- famous Dollar Bill Origami Money Plant) available for instant download at CreativeSlush.com.

10/09/04