Chum Gum (History, Marketing & Pictures)
Let’s take it back to some of the memories of candy from years past. Chum Gum is one that many of you might remember. Some of the memories about this gum say things like “it brings me back to the days when life was good” or “in my opinion Chum Gum was the best gum ever made”.
Unfortunately, despite all these memories and many other people with reminiscent feelings just like these, Chum Gum is no longer on the market. But that doesn’t make their history any less important.
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History
Since Chum Gum was only around for a limited time, and that was mostly before the days of internet, it’s a bit challenging to find a lot of history for the brand. However, we know a lot about bubble gum as a whole. The rumors of old fans are that no other gum has been able to compare to this delightful option, although it’s not for lack of trying.
It is described as having a very unique original bubblegum flavor with a smooth but powdery pink gum. That being said, it was made by the same company that created Dubble Bubble, Bazooka, and several other similar gums. You can still find many of those on the market now.
Chum Gum came out as early as the 1950s from what we can tell and was available until sometime in the 90s. It was popular for the entirety of the gum because it was soft and easy to chew but also because it had good flavor.
For the most part, these came in either 2 sticks or 5 sticks to a pack. They were in a white pack that blue writing with individual pieces. History says that Chum Gum was produced from 1950 to exactly 1971. Many people were still able to find the gum for up to 20 years after it had been discontinued.
The reason it was discontinued was because Fleer turned their focus to Dubble Bubble instead. He focused all of his marketing and efforts to the new gum and it was impressive. That one is still on the market today. So many different types of gum came out in those years that it was challenging to compete against them.
Eventually, Chum Gum sales dwindled enough that Fleer simply stopped production. He instead focused solely on Dubble Bubble, much to his success.
Fleer Company
Knowing that the Fleer Company was responsible for Chum Gum, let’s dive in there just a tad. Frank Fleer was very young when he decided to start creating bubble gum. His company originally began in 1885 and unfortunately, it went bankrupt in 2005.
Frank Fleer and member of his family owned the business clear until 1989, more than 100 years after they began. One of his first bubble gum creations was Blibber Blubber, which came out in 1906. It didn’t go over well and needed quite a lot of improvements so this one never actually was marketed.
However, in 1928, they used that idea to create Dubble Bubble, which is where the true fame and sensation of Fleer’s bubble gum works began. That pink color set the stage and bubble gums continue to follow that grand design. Dubble Bubble is still available in some areas.
Fleer eventually shifted his interests to trading cards and eventually sold Dubble Bubble, as well as several other brands. However, by that time, the company had already discontinued Chum Gum as it simply couldn’t keep up in a market where the advertisement was primarily focused elsewhere.
In 2005, Fleer Company ended up declaring bankruptcy and they never bounced back as some companies do. The assets were liquidated for creditor repayment and even the Fleer name was auctioned off with several other holdings. It was a sad ending to a fruitful history for the company.
The Fleer name is now owned by a company known as Upper Deck, who had previously made a huge offer to the company and had been declined.
When Was Chum Gum Invented?
The history for the stories behind Chum Gum is limited but to our knowledge, the gum was first produced in 1950 by Fleer Company. The bubble gum was cheap with really great flavor that simply didn’t last.
If that sounds really familiar to what you know about Dubble Bubble, it’s because they were extremely similar. In fact, you might be able to say that Dubble Bubble was a spinoff of Chum Gum. After all, it came from the same brand and had a lot of the same qualities as well.
Who Owns Chum Gum?
Chum Gum was owned and produced by Fleer Company from 1950 to 1971. Unfortunately, they stopped producing it in 1971 so it hasn’t been available for a lot of years now. One thing we did find to be interesting was the fact that people were still finding Chum Gum for sale almost 20 years after it was officially discontinued.
Fleer Company eventually turned their focus to toys and trading cards but their Dubble Bubble brand remained strong. You can still find Dubble Bubble on the market today but you don’t find Chum Gum.
If you do find any, it’s certainly just memorabilia and probably not in any condition to be chewed now after having been discontinued 50 years ago. There are still wrappers that you can find online though, if the nostalgia is something that appeals to you.
Logo
Pictures
More About Dubble Bubble
Dubble Bubble was created by Fleer, through an employee who was named Walter Diemer. Walter took a recipe that had been founded in 1906 and adjusted it to create this delicious gum. They made it into a round barrel shape and colored it pink.
Much like Chum Gum, it was pink, powdery, and soft. It wasn’t sold in a stick like Chum Gum, though. The idea was to create a tasty gum that would blow really great bubbles. Since that time, they’ve also even created a host of other flavors to add, although the original will always be the top choice among fans.
Unfortunately, from what we could find, it seems like Chum Gum fell out of the spotlight because so much focus was turned to Dubble Bubble by the company. They lost sight of a historical favorite and it eventually was no longer popular or desired on the market.
Conclusion
While Chum Gum was a bright spot in candy history for only a short time, it’s one worth remembering. It very well could have set the stage for that soft, pink bubble gum we all know and love.
While it’s no longer here, you can reminisce with Dubble Bubble and appreciate the time it was here and successful.
Krysta Wood is a freelance writer that loves to bring a story to life. She is a candy fanatic that likes to try different types of candy and learn more about their histories.
Please leave a review or any memories of this snack in the comments below. Thank you!
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Best gum ever made. Wonderful flavor and texture . Would love to see it come back, at least for a trial year or two. Might be a big hit again. I miss it so much.
Amen
Chum gum was the best ever
Would give anything to taste that flavor and texture again. I’m 74 yrs old still miss it to this day. CHUM GUM was the best
Chum Gum 2 pieces for a penny ❤️
I remember Chum Gum from a candy store across the train-tracks (scary!) near my home close to Marquette Michigan when I was four or so. I remember the two to a wrapper scheme, which is why I thought one should share it with a friend. But I remember it was blue. Your article shows one picture with a blue wrapper. Hmmm?
___ But I bother to write because at 19 in 1975 I was stationed in Deutschland in Bamberg, Bavaria in a Hawk Missile Unit. My company was stationed 60 klicks from our battalion headquarters in Schweinfurt. It was the “New, Improved Hawk Missile”, of greedy, pork-barrel-proficiency peddlers Raytheon Corp. That damned system’s mobile radar units were so dependent on (apparently) cheaply made electronics that they were constantly failing when taken to the field and bounced around two-tracks and farmers fields. (The Comrades reeeealy didn’t like us for tearing up there countryside. Us and other G.I.’s in or out of the field. And I couldn’t blame them!!!)
___ But anyway, from our semi-permanent tactical missile site we “Glorified Grunts” would often have to drive a lil’ ole’ Jeep or a Deuce’n-a-Half truck the 60 k’s to headquarters for some part or circuit board for repairs. Now then there was this Gasthaus, or pub midway to Schweinfurt* that had their own brew that tasted so good we always tried to stop and buy a case or a few of. As a German might say, that was really güte BIER!!! I would betch’a that no other beer in Europe or anywhere on planet tasted like that stuff. And I swear as God is my witness that my first reaction was OMG, this stuff tastes just like CHUM GUM!!! I kid you not. One of my fondest memories of Germany.
(*The town may have been Steinbach, Ebelsbach which rang a bell for me. Barney-Google Maps wouldn’t co-operate for a finer search.)
I’ve reminisced about Chum Gum since 1958. I was only seven back then, but anytime the subject turns to candy when we were kids, Chum Gum’s were the first you’d hear from me!
You’d get two sticks, for a penny mind you, and the flavor literally lasted through an entire day of baseball, hula hoops and other fun kid stuff. I’d give my eyeteeth for just one more spin with Chum Gum.
Alas, I have searched the world over for many years, searching and hoping that somewhere I would find Chum Gum. I also remember the outer wrapper being dark blue, with two fat sticks of perfectly flavored pink gum wrapped separately in white paper. The aroma of perfectly flavored bubble gum tickled your nose, and the white powder coating of real powdered sugar was the perfect finish for the longest lasting flavor of any bubble gum product. And only A PENNY! so much different than that plastic crap they call bubble gum now, With flavor that lasts for five minutes if you are lucky. I miss you, Chum Gum.
Remodeling my house built in 1900 and I just found a pack of this in the walls. Wouldn’t even consider trying to taste it, but searching the history has been interesting.
Chum Gum was the most flavorful gum I loved it and I feel that if this was made again and put out in stores everyone everywhere would buy this best bubble Gum in all the world Please anyone from the company who use to make chum gum Please bring it back Please , Thank you. sincerely Nancy
Chum Gum was unique (way better than Bazooka) and belongs to the baby-boom generation of neighborhood moms&pops grocery stores, don’t even bother trying to describe it to generations X, Y, Z, Millenials, etc….
My favorite gum EVER!!!!
I would buy a pack every day if they still made it. I have looked for years to see if they sold it anymore.
Bought Chum Gum at Rapid Mart in Phoenix, Arizona (12th street and Glendale) in the 50’s and 60’s. I know everyone says it was 2 sticks for a penny but I swear (unless I’m truly getting old and senile) it started out 3 sticks for a penny, then went to 2 sticks, then one stick, and then disappeared altogether. Best gum ever (along with baseball card gum of that era, also with powdered sugar coating) and a reminder of a gentler time.
I grew up in East Lansing Michigan and in mid 1950s walked to a corner store every day and bought a red safety sucker (lollipop) and a pack of Chum Gum. I too remember it was three sticks for awhile. I also remember a green color as well as the pink or perhaps the wrapper was green.
Best ever gum growing up. Please take a hard look at having it again. After all you can still but teaberry gum and the other nostalgic gum.
I loved chum gum, my grandmother owned a small grocery store and we always had it it was by far the best gum we had a endless supply and it was free to us .
I always ask if anyone remembers Chum gum and people look at me like I’m nuts. The best part was there was always a piece to share with your chum that was with you at Hollywood Bowl Candy Store! Wish it was still around!
I remember Chum Gum from when I lived in Gladstone, Michigan until 1961. They sold it at Ben Franklin. In around 1968 out in California my cousin and I went to a Ben Franklin and they still had it there. It had such a unique flavor and it was my absolute favorite gum. I miss it so much.
Grew up in Indpls, IN, at every mom & pop store on the way to & from school. I loved Chum Gum, so fun sharing with your Besties!! Absolutely the BEST FLAVORED BUBBLEGUM with the powdered sugar!! Always the first candy mentioned when we talk about nostalgic candy from our childhood.
I grew up in the 60’s and I loved this gum. I have to say I disagree with the article about the flavor not lasting long. That’s why I chose it as kid because the flavor did last longer than Double Bubble and Bazooka. Bazooka was my second choice. Wish I had a pack now so I could prove it.
I loved chum gum!! It was my favorite!! I sure wish they could make it again. I live in Kenosha, WI
I grew up in East Lansing Michigan and in mid 1950s walked to a corner store every day and bought a red safety sucker (lollipop) and a pack of Chum Gum. I too remember it was three sticks for awhile. I also remember a green color as well as the pink or perhaps the wrapper was green. I often think of these days when I’m in the dentist’s office getting fitted for a new crown.
I too remember it being in a blue package. We bought it at Stan’s Store, a neighborhood store. It was great gum, when I got my allowance (10 cents) that was the first thing I would buy! Minneapolis, Minnesota