Bulk Candy Reviews, Candy Reviews, Retro Candy

I’m in Love With Mary Jane(s)

July 7, 2010 by
This is a paper cut out advertisement for Mary Janes and one of the oldest candy advertisements in our collection!

This is a paper cut out advertisement for Mary Janes and one of the oldest candy advertisements in our collection!

Sharability: 10

Denture Danger: 10

Convenience: 10

Novelty: 10

Overall: 9

I’m in love with Mary Jane.
She’s my main thing.
She makes me feel alright.
She makes my heart sing.

This Mary Jane I am referring to could be Spiderman’s woman or a certain plant, but instead it is NECCO’s classic peanut buttery, molasses flavored, chewy rectangle.

It all began with Charles H. Miller and his three sons. The Millers started a small candy manufacturing business in Boston in 1884. The building in which this business blossomed from was Paul Revere’s house until 1800. (For those who haven’t been to history class any time in the last decade: In 1775 Paul Revere made the famous ride from Boston to Lexington to warn the people in the countryside that the British were coming.)

In 1914 after Charles had died and the Miller boys had taken full responsibility of the family business, the Mary Janes hit the market. The candy was named after their favorite aunt, Susan. Just kidding, her name was Mary Jane.

The Miller Company tried its best to create variations of the Mary Jane, but all paled in comparison to the original. The Miller Company tried its best to manufacture other popular candies, but again, they all paled in comparison to the Mary Jane. Eventually, after failed attempts at variety, Mary Jane was the only candy that the Miller Company produced.

NECCO was lucky to take control of the Mary Jane in 1990, as Mary Jane is a poster child of the New England Confectionary Company. Nostalgia blooms when we talk about our love for Mary Jane.

Sources:

http://www.stlyrics.com/lyrics/friday/maryjane.htm

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1 Comment

  • Reply Shirley Martin November 30, 2021 at 8:28 pm

    Why did Mary Janes get smaller with less peanut butter? I’m really upset about this. They are not the same and I won’t buy them anymore.

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