Doublemint

Last updated
Doublemint
Doublemint logo.svg
Product type Chewing gum
Owner Wrigley Company
CountryUnited States
Introduced1914;110 years ago (1914)
Related brands Juicy Fruit
Wrigley's Spearmint
Website Mars Wrigley

Doublemint is a variety of chewing gum made by the Wrigley Company; according to early advertisements, it is "double strength" peppermint flavored. It was launched in the United States in 1914, [1] and has had variable market share since then.[ citation needed ]

Contents

The Doublemint Twins history

1914 newspaper ad for the new Doublemint. Wrigleys Doublemint ad 1914.png
1914 newspaper ad for the new Doublemint.

As a play on the word "double" in the name, one of the most notable aspects of this brand is the advertising campaign featuring identical twins wearing matching outfits. Beginning in 1939 with stylized illustrations of twins, advertisements continued with print ads and later television commercials, featuring actual twins as spokespersons.

The first set of women to portray the Doublemint Twins, were sisters Marie and Mildred Maier of Silverhill, Alabama. [2] [3] [4]

New Doublemint Twins were heard on the radio at WBBM-AM. Jane and Joan Boyd were regular performers as the Doublemint Twins on "The Music Wagon," a program on WBBM from 1957 until 1963. This program was hosted by Mal Bellairs whose notes indicate the understanding that the Boyds were the first Doublemint Twins.

Mal Bellairs with the Doublemint Twins Processed-AC09E637-BC70-4F58-B5E1-EF8D4AF37655-43B0552A-B18E-4F61-B897-E0F9AF01230E.jpg
Mal Bellairs with the Doublemint Twins
Mal Bellairs handwritten note on back of photo: Bellairs & the Boyd Twins, Jane and Joan on Music Wagon. Jane and Joan went on from their debut with us to become the first Doublemint Twins. Processed-EAAE7060-1CEA-47A8-8983-64D734019F59-6E64889C-BE2D-4085-854F-E67A197FCD44.jpg
Mal Bellairs handwritten note on back of photo: Bellairs & the Boyd Twins, Jane and Joan on Music Wagon. Jane and Joan went on from their debut with us to become the first Doublemint Twins.
External audio
Boyd Twins
Nuvola apps arts.svg The Music Wagon January 30, 1959, from Mal Bellairs family website.


The first Doublemint Twins to appear on television came along in 1959. The role belonged to 21-year-old twins Jane and Joan Knoerzer (professionally using their mother's maiden name, Boyd) of Hammond, Indiana, who appeared in advertisements for Doublemint until 1963 when Joan became pregnant. [5] The company, however, continued sporadically to promote the campaign, which included twins Jennie and Terrie Frankel in the late 1960s; later "Doublemint Twins" included June and Patricia Mackrell through the 1970s (who had also been the Toni Twins for Toni Home Permanent, which used the slogan "Which twin has the Toni?"), Patricia and Priscilla (aka Cybil or "Cyb") Barnstable, Denise and Dian Gallup, [6] Cynthia and Brittany Daniel (future co-stars as the Wakefield twins in the TV series based on the Sweet Valley High novels), Tia and Tamera Mowry in the early 90s (future co-star of The Game with both Tia Mowry and Brittany Daniel and future co-stars of Sister, Sister ), Heidi and Alissa Kramer, figure skaters Pamela and Jeremy Green, and Jean (née Barbara) and Elizabeth Sagal (daughters of TV director Boris Sagal and sisters of Married... with Children 's Katey Sagal). The Sagal twins enjoyed a brief run as the stars of a sitcom, Double Trouble , in 1984. Later twins projected more sex appeal in keeping with trends in American advertising; the Barnstable twins were later asked to pose for Playboy [7] due to their popularity as spokeswomen for the gum. In 1987, Denise and Dian Gallup spoofed their roles as the Doublemint Twins in cameo roles in the Mel Brooks film, Spaceballs . [8]

"Doublemint" trademark denied in EU

In 2004, the European Union Court of Justice ultimately denied Wrigley's request for trademark status on the name "Doublemint"; the Court found that the mark DOUBLEMINT was descriptive of the product and in violation of trademark law. [9]

Known ingredients

The actual flavorings used in Doublemint gum are a trade secret, but the company does say that the main flavor ingredient is peppermint. Although it is not a sugarless gum, in 2003 Wrigley's replaced some of the sugar with artificial sweeteners aspartame and acesulfame potassium.[ citation needed ]

Listed

Sugar, gum base, dextrose, corn syrup, natural and artificial flavors; less than 2% of glycerol, aspartame, gum arabic, soy lecithin, acesulfame K, color (titanium dioxide, blue 1 lake, beta-carotene), BHT [10]

The 2008 Commercial

R&B singer Chris Brown performed a modified version of "Forever" in a 2008 commercial for Doublemint, which introduced a thinner Plen-T-Pack package. [11]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chicago Cubs</span> Major League Baseball franchise in Chicago, Illinois

The Chicago Cubs are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago. The Cubs compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) Central Division. The club plays its home games at Wrigley Field, which is located on Chicago's North Side. They are one of two major league teams based in Chicago, alongside the American League (AL)’s Chicago White Sox. The Cubs, first known as the White Stockings, were a founding member of the NL in 1876, becoming the Chicago Cubs in 1903.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pepsi</span> Soft drink by PepsiCo

Pepsi is a carbonated soft drink with a cola flavor, manufactured by PepsiCo. As of 2023, Pepsi is the second most valuable soft drink brand worldwide behind Coca-Cola; the two share a long-standing rivalry in what has been called the "cola wars".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wrigley Field</span> Baseball stadium in Chicago, Illinois, US

Wrigley Field is a ballpark on the North Side of Chicago, Illinois. It is the home ballpark of Major League Baseball's Chicago Cubs, one of the city's two MLB franchises. It first opened in 1914 as Weeghman Park for Charles Weeghman's Chicago Whales of the Federal League, which folded after the 1915 baseball season. The Cubs played their first home game at the park on April 20, 1916, defeating the Cincinnati Reds 7–6 in 11 innings. Chewing gum magnate William Wrigley Jr. of the Wrigley Company acquired the Cubs in 1921. It was named Cubs Park from 1920 to 1926, before being renamed Wrigley Field in 1927. The stadium currently seats 41,649 people and is the second stadium to be named Wrigley Field, as a Los Angeles ballpark with the same name opened in 1925.

<i>Spaceballs</i> 1987 film by Mel Brooks

Spaceballs is a 1987 American space opera parody film co-written, produced and directed by Mel Brooks. It primarily parodies the original Star Wars trilogy, but also of other popular franchises such as Star Trek, Alien, The Wizard of Oz, 2001: A Space Odyssey, Planet of the Apes, and Transformers. The film stars Bill Pullman, John Candy, and Rick Moranis, with the supporting cast including Daphne Zuniga, Dick Van Patten, George Wyner, Lorene Yarnell, and the voice of Joan Rivers. In addition to Brooks playing a dual role, the film also features Brooks regulars Dom DeLuise and Rudy De Luca in cameo appearances.

WGN-TV is a television station in Chicago, Illinois, United States, serving as the local outlet for The CW. It is owned and operated by the network's majority owner, Nexstar Media Group, and is sister to the company's sole radio property, news/talk/sports station WGN. WGN-TV's studios are located on West Bradley Place in Chicago's North Center community; as such, it is the only major commercial television station in Chicago which bases its main studio outside the Loop. Its transmitter is located atop the Willis Tower in the Loop.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Juicy Fruit</span> Brand of gum by the Wrigley Company

Juicy Fruit is an American brand of chewing gum made by the Wrigley Company, a U.S. company that since 2008 has been a subsidiary of the privately held Mars, Incorporated. It was introduced in 1893, and in the 21st century the brand name is recognized by 99 percent of Americans, with total sales in 2002 of 153 million units.

<i>Girlfriends</i> (American TV series) American sitcom television series

Girlfriends is an American sitcom television series created by Mara Brock Akil that premiered on September 11, 2000, on UPN and aired on UPN's successor network, The CW, before being canceled in 2008. The final episode aired on February 11, 2008.

<i>TGIF</i> (TV programming block) American television programming block

TGIF was an American prime time television programming block that has aired on ABC at various points since the late 1980s. The name comes from the initials of the popular phrase "Thank God It's Friday"; however, the stars of the lineup touted the initialism as meaning "Thank Goodness It's Funny." In its various incarnations, the block mainly featured situation comedies aimed at a family audience, and served as a lead-in to the long-running newsmagazine 20/20.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sister</span> Female sibling

A sister is a woman or a girl who shares parents or a parent with another individual; a female sibling. The male counterpart is a brother. Although the term typically refers to a familial relationship, it is sometimes used endearingly to refer to non-familial relationships. A full sister is a first-degree relative.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">5 (gum)</span> Chewing gum brand from Wrigley

5 is a brand of sugar-free chewing gum that is manufactured by the Wrigley Company, marketed toward teenagers. The name "5" hints at the five human senses and that it has 5 calories.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peyton List (actress, born 1998)</span> American actress (born 1998)

Peyton Roi List is an American actress. She began her career as a child model for tween magazines and companies before transitioning to acting with a minor role in the romantic comedy film 27 Dresses (2008). As a child actress, she appeared in films such as the coming of age drama Remember Me (2010) and the crime horror Bereavement (2010), before her breakthrough role as Holly Hills in the Diary of a Wimpy Kid film series (2011–2012). She gained further attention for portraying Emma Ross on the Disney Channel series Jessie (2011–2015), a role which she reprised in the spinoff series Bunk'd.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Melanie Barnett</span> Fictional character in the American sitcom The Game

Melanie Barnett-Davis is a fictional character, portrayed by actress Tia Mowry, who appears in the American sitcom The Game, which aired on the CW Television Network and BET from 2006 to 2015. Introduced in a backdoor pilot on the sitcom Girlfriends as Joan Clayton's cousin, Melanie chooses to support her boyfriend Derwin Davis' career with the San Diego Sabres, a fictional National Football League (NFL) team, rather than attend medical school at Johns Hopkins University. The series focuses primarily on Melanie and Derwin's complicated relationship, with her fears of his infidelity at the center of many of the episodes' storylines. Mowry left the series in 2012 upon learning that her role would be reduced as a result of co-star Pooch Hall's decision to reduce his role on The Game to appear in the crime drama series Ray Donovan. Both actors reprised their roles in the series finale, in which Melanie gives birth to twins.

<i>Gene Autrys Melody Ranch</i> Western variety radio show in the United States

Gene Autry's Melody Ranch is a Western variety radio show in the United States. A 15-minute pilot show aired on December 31, 1939. The program ran from January 7, 1940 to August 1, 1943, and from September 23, 1945 to May 16, 1956. The show's entire run was broadcast over the CBS radio network, sponsored by Doublemint gum. The approximately two-year interruption resulted from Autry's enlistment in the United States Army to serve in World War II. Initially titled Doublemint's Melody Ranch, the show's name was changed to Gene Autry's Melody Ranch in early 1941. Episodes were 30 minutes long except for a 15-minute version that ran from September 23, 1945 to June 16, 1946. The theme song was "Back in the Saddle Again".

References

  1. "Wrigley Co.". Encyclopedia of junk food and fast food. Greenwood Publishing Group. 2006. p. 288.
  2. "Baldwin County, AL Genealogy Trails: Marie Louise Maier". genealogytrails.com. Retrieved 2023-03-22.
  3. "Silverhill, Alabama Obituary - Marie Louise Maier". sites.rootsweb.com. Retrieved 2023-03-22.
  4. "Need a distraction or fun activity?: Silverhill's 'Where's the Mayor?' fun, educational way to pass time". Gulf Coast Media. Retrieved 2023-03-22.
  5. MacArthur, Kate (26 November 2011). "Doublemint Twins deserted as Wrigley shifts ad spending". Crain's Chicago Business. Crain Communication, Inc. Retrieved 20 February 2017.
  6. Denise/Dian Gallup - IMDB
  7. "My Sister, My Self". Playboy. March 1981. pp. 146–147.
  8. "Spaceballs (1987): Full Cast and Crew". IMDb . Retrieved July 7, 2011.
  9. Ryan, Patrick S. (2004). "DOUBLEMINT: Case C-191/01 P, Office for Harmonisation in the Internal Market (Trade Marks and Designs), v. Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company (E.C.J. October 23, 2003)". Columbia Journal of European Law. 10 (2): 393. SSRN   559702.
  10. "U.S. Nutrition Information". wrigley.com. Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company. Retrieved 16 January 2017.
  11. "Wrigley's Pulls Chris Brown Doublemint Ad". Access Hollywood. NBC Universal, Inc. February 9, 2009. Retrieved February 2, 2011.