Bubblegum

Bubblegum is a type of chewing gum especially designed for blowing bubbles. Bubblegum is available in many different colors and flavors. The most common flavor is the distinctive one also known as “bubblegum,” which is a combination of wintergreen, peppermint, vanilla and cinnamon. Bubblegum with this flavor is traditionally colored a light shade of pink. The first bubble gum was developed by Frank H. Fleer, the founder of the Fleer Company, in 1906. This gum was too sticky and broke too easily, so it was quickly abandoned. Bubble gum was first introduced to the American public in 1911, but was not commercially successful.

The reason Bubble Gum is traditionally pink is that it was the original color used by Frank H. Fleer, as it was the only one in stock when he made it. The Fleer company later developed an improved bubblegum, which they marketed under the name Dubble Bubble. The invention of Dubble Bubble is commonly attributed to Walter Diemer,  an accountant at Fleer. It has been claimed this story was fabricated in the 1960’s by the Fleer company so the “inventor” of bubblegum could appear on the popular game show What’s My Line? The true inventor, Fleer president Gilbert Mustin, had passed away by that time and Fleer did not want to lose the publicity opportunity.

Up to the 1970s, bubble gum had a tendency to stick to one’s face, if given the opportunity. But with the advent of super-soft, non-stick gum like Bubble Yum, Bubblicious, and Hubba Bubba, bubble blowing became a less dangerous sport. In the years that followed, the fear of gum sticking to one’s face actually ceased to be a cultural phenomenon, despite having been a common humorous reference in entertainment, previously.