A Well Known Physician and Two Men…
Johnny-on-the-Spot … by John Foster …
What’s your favorite soft drink?
Most would probably respond with Coca-Cola or Pepsi.
But what about Dr. Pepper?
Did you know Dr. Pepper is the oldest soft drink in America?
It was created in 1885, one year before Coca-Cola.
Wade Morrison, a drug store owner in Waco, Texas created the drink and named it Dr
Pepper, the name of the father of a girl he (Morrison) was once in love with.
Now, Dr. Pepper was a real person.
He was a physician and surgeon for the Confederacy in the Civil War.
After the war, Pepper opened a drug store in Rural Retreat, Virginia.
Reports indicate the Dr Pepper drink was created by a Waco pharmacist, Charles Alderton and was only available at soda fountains or drug stores.
The drink was originally called “a Waco”.
In 1891, Wade Morrison and Robert Lazenby formed the Artesian Manufacturing and Bottling Company.
Dr. Pepper really took off after being introduced to visitors of the 1904 St. Louis Worlds Fair where we also found out about ice cream cones as well as hot dog rolls and hamburger buns.
The Dr Pepper logo designed in the late 1890’s emphasized the “health qualities” that the soft drink was supposed to have.
A Waco artist created the logo of wheat fronds and an anvil to symbolize those health benefits.
There’s a Dr Pepper Museum in Waco, Texas.
By the way, the period after Dr. Pepper was dropped in the 1950-‘s for “stylistic and legibility” reasons.
Recent surveys of soft drink consumers show Coca-Cola is far and away the first choice but Dr Pepper is in a virtual tie with Pepsi for 2nd place.
Speaking of some other well-known names, what about Mr. Bubble?
It was invented by Harold Schafer in the early 1960’s.
Schafer was spurred into action after he heard a late night radio commercial for foam cleaner Mr. Clean.
(We’ll look into that story in a bit.)
Schafer wanted to make bubble bath more affordable for families by selling it at grocery stores and pharmacies.
When Mr. Clean bubble bath came out in 1961 for 59 cents, it flopped.
Why?
Too pricey.
So Schafer worked with suppliers to get the cost down to 39 cents a box.
Mr. Bubble rose to a worldwide success in 1972 with the introduction of the now- standard liquid bubble bath in bottles.
There’s now Mr. Bubble bubble bath, body wash, shampoo, conditioner, bath bombs, hand soap and baby wipes.
“Bubbles kids clean, leaves no bathtub ring”.
It became a media sensation of sorts with Mr. Bubble showing up in an episode of “The Simpsons”, “Family Guy” and “Everybody Loves Raymond”.
It’s had movie moments in “Ed”, “The Jerk”, “The Entity”, “The Big Lebowski” and “Gran Torino”.
Ving Rhames played Cobra Bubbles in “Lilo & Stitch” in 2002.
Mr. Bubbles also got involved with some negative press when kids mixed the powdered version with “Pop Rockz”.
The mixture of candy and bath salts created a cheap buzz for some.
Now, Mr. Clean, who we mentioned earlier, came out in 1957.
The character’s original model was a bald, muscular, tanned U.S. Navy sailor from Pensacola, Florida.
Some thought he looked like a genie because of the earring, the folded arms and his tendency to appear magically at appropriate times.
Remember the Mr. Clean jingle?
“Mr. Clean gets rid of dirt and grime and grease in just a minute.
Mr. Clean will clean your whole house and everything that’s in it.
Floors, doors, walls, halls, white sidewall tires and old golf balls
Sinks, stoves, bathtubs he’ll do
He’ll even help the laundry, too
Can he clean a kitchen sink?
Quicker than a wink.
Cam he clean a window sash?
Faster than a flash.
Can he clean a dirty mirror?
He’ll make it bright and clearer
Can he clean a diamond ring?
Mr. Clean cleans everything.”
Mr. Clean always smiled except for when he became “Mean Mr. Clean”, frowning, because he hated dirt.
He was always the strong, silent type but in the mid 60’s, he did speak briefly in commercials while wearing a suit and tie.
In Spain, Mr. Clean is “Don Limpio”, while in Germany, they call him “Meister Proper” and the French refer to him as “Monsieuir Propre”.
The facts behind the stories of Dr. Pepper, Mr. Bubble and Mr. Clean.