Monday, December 17, 2007

Space Age Treats


The Space Age ushered in calculators and computers, groovy electronic music, and all sorts of new snack foods. . . . .


Like Tang, yum yum. There was definitely Tang in the France household. In the South, it's sometimes used as a key flavorful ingredient to make instant "Russian Tea." Hard to beat fresh-squeezed orange juice, but when you're still living in the Space Age, Tang meets your every nutritional need.


JELL-O, yeah -- "Official State Snack of Utah." All those Mormons can't be wrong, right? Also in the France Space Age household. My mother would add healthy extras like grated carrots into the mold.


And with Jell-O, add a dollop of Cool Whip, oh boy! Cool Whip for Jell-O, Cool Whip for gingerbread, Cool Whip with pie, Cool Whip with ice cream. . . Frozen Cool Whip, even!


Here's the dude who dreamt it all up -- General Foods chemist and inventor William A. Mitchell (1911-2004). Though he looks vaguely Russian here, he was all-American.


Let's not forget Mitchell's Pop Rocks and the urban legends that helped spur their sales. . . Pictured here is an "inhibitor" that "PREVENTS EXPLOSION from DRINKING SODA while eating POP ROCKS." Ha!


Yes, folks, The Space Age is still very much in evidence -- and silver is back.

Today's Rune: Partnership.

4 comments:

lulu said...

I still love Pop Rocks. I also loved those space food sticks that were vaguely chocolatey.

Pythia3 said...

What a great post. So much fun to read - it took me back to the good ole days.
;)

Charles Gramlich said...

why does that top drawing make me think of the Jetson's art?

Joe said...

Clearly, the space age brought us to new levels of swankiness AND practicality.