Clark's Teaberry
Encyclopedia
Clark's Teaberry is a brand of chewing gum
. It was developed by the D. L. Clark Company
and is currently a product of Clark Gum Company in Buffalo, New York
and made in Mexico
. The gum dates to 1900. It was featured in some of author Dean Davis' mystery novels.
Its popularity peaked in the 1960s. It was additionally popularized when Pelican Films (292 Madison Ave., NY, NY) did a series of commercials using Herb Alpert
and the Tijuana Brass who performed the song "The Teaberry Shuffle" (originally a Tijuana Brass tune titled "Mexican Shuffle"). In each commercial, a bored-looking person would unwrap a stick of Clark's Teaberry gum and start chewing it. The chewer would abruptly break into a rapid, energetic dance with distinctive shuffling steps for several seconds, then would just as abruptly return to his or her original activity. For instance, one commercial in the campaign featured a column of marching soldiers: one soldier in the middle of the column chewed the gum and stepped out of the column to dance the Teaberry Shuffle, then resumed his position in the column and fell back into step. In all the commercials, the dance steps were quite simple; the creators of the ad campaign may have hoped that the commercials would inspire a dance craze
.
Teaberry is not a fanciful name, but refers to the Eastern Teaberry
, which the gum, with its vaguely wintergreen-like flavor, tastes like. The gum is pink in color individually wrapped in white paper, and wrapped again in a pink teaberry printed paper.
Chewing gum
Chewing gum is a type of gum traditionally made of chicle, a natural latex product, or synthetic rubber known as polyisobutylene. For economical and quality reasons, many modern chewing gums use rubber instead of chicle...
. It was developed by the D. L. Clark Company
D. L. Clark Company
The D. L. Clark Company was founded in 1886 in Allegheny, Pennsylvania, now part of Pittsburgh, by David L. Clark , an Irish-born candy salesman. In 1921, Clark Brothers Chewing Gum Company was spun off as a separate corporation . The D. L...
and is currently a product of Clark Gum Company in Buffalo, New York
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
and made in Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
. The gum dates to 1900. It was featured in some of author Dean Davis' mystery novels.
Its popularity peaked in the 1960s. It was additionally popularized when Pelican Films (292 Madison Ave., NY, NY) did a series of commercials using Herb Alpert
Herb Alpert
Herbert "Herb" Alpert is an American musician most associated with the group variously known as Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass, Herb Alpert's Tijuana Brass, or TJB. He is also a recording industry executive — he is the "A" of A&M Records...
and the Tijuana Brass who performed the song "The Teaberry Shuffle" (originally a Tijuana Brass tune titled "Mexican Shuffle"). In each commercial, a bored-looking person would unwrap a stick of Clark's Teaberry gum and start chewing it. The chewer would abruptly break into a rapid, energetic dance with distinctive shuffling steps for several seconds, then would just as abruptly return to his or her original activity. For instance, one commercial in the campaign featured a column of marching soldiers: one soldier in the middle of the column chewed the gum and stepped out of the column to dance the Teaberry Shuffle, then resumed his position in the column and fell back into step. In all the commercials, the dance steps were quite simple; the creators of the ad campaign may have hoped that the commercials would inspire a dance craze
Dance Craze
Dance Craze is a 1981 British documentary film about the English 2 Tone music genre.The film was directed by Joe Massot, who originally wanted to do a film only about the band Madness, who he met during their first US tour. Massot later changed his plans to include the whole 2 Tone movement...
.
Teaberry is not a fanciful name, but refers to the Eastern Teaberry
Eastern Teaberry
Gaultheria procumbens is a species of Gaultheria native to northeastern North America from Newfoundland west to southeastern Manitoba, and south to Alabama. It is a member of the Ericaceae .- Growth habit :It is a small low-growing shrub, typically reaching tall...
, which the gum, with its vaguely wintergreen-like flavor, tastes like. The gum is pink in color individually wrapped in white paper, and wrapped again in a pink teaberry printed paper.
External links
- 1960s Teaberry Gum commercial on YouTube, complete with an English Queen's GuardQueen's GuardThe Queen's Guard and Queen's Life Guard are the names given to contingents of infantry and cavalry soldiers charged with guarding the official royal residences in London...
undertaking the Teaberry Shuffle