Bubble gum was invented in 1928 by 23 year old Walter Diemer, an accountant for the Fleer Chewing Gum Company in Philadelphia, who enjoyed experimenting with recipes in his free time. Founder Frank Henry Fleer had made a batch of bubble gum in 1906 which he called Blibber Blubber, but it was too sticky and broke too easily. Diemer’s recipe, which he called “an accident” was found to be less sticky than regular chewing gum, and stretched more easily. Original bubble gum was pink because it was the only dye Diemer had on hand at the time.
Diemer’s gum became highly successful and was eventually named by the president of Fleer as Dubble Bubble. Sales surpassed US$ 1.5 million in the first year, at a penny a piece. Diemer did not patent his invention, and soon competition arose as bubble gum became a popular inexpensive treat during the Great Depression.
In 1937, the Dubble Bubble went on the market nationally. Novelties were an important element of the bubble gum business from the beginning and early on, Fleer added a comic strip starring Pud to the inside of the gum’s wrapper. (Fleer, wiki, wiki-Diemer, wiki-Dubble-Bubble)
