PEZ Pics

PEZstinations

Need something to do while in the San Francisco area? Sure you do! There's not like there is anything else to do there. All you need to do is head south of the airport for about 10 minutes and you hit:

The Burlingame Museum of Pez Memorabilia

It sounds likes everything you'd think it'd be...and more!

They have a PEZ exhibit choke full of dispensers, a PEZ store where you can get your very own PEZ starter kit and, most exciting of all, the Guinness Book of World Records recognized World's Largest PEZ Dispenser!!!

It stands 7 feet, 10 inches tall, more than 20 times the size of a normal dispenser, weighs a whooping 85 pounds and dispenses clear capsules that hold 6,480 candies.

Chomp!

PEZ in Pop Culture

Since "The PEZ Dispenser" episode from Seinfeld made an omen last week (and it's currently available to watch under TBS On Demand), here is a clip from that episode that set things in motion.

This clip appears courtesy of Sony Pictures Television. All rights reserved.

PEZ Flavors

Some of these seem run of the mill. Some of these seem awful. What's your favorite flav?

General
Apple
Cherry
Chocolate
Coffee
Cola
Dextrose
Flower
Grape
Lemon
Menthol/Eucalyptus
Orange
Peppermint
Raspberry
Strawberry
Yogurt

Sour Flavors
Sour Watermelon
Sour Green Apple
Sour Blue Raspberry
Sour Pineapple

Sugarfree Flavors
Sugarfree Orange
Sugarfree Lemon
Sugarfree Strawberry

Seasons Greetings

The Adventure Begins in 7 Days...

Prepare for PEZ...

PEZ Pics

PEZ: A Brief History

PEZ was first marketed as a compressed peppermint candy in Vienna, Austria. The candy was invented in 1927 in Vienna by a confectioner named Eduard Haas III. Haas invented peppermint candies using family owned baking powders, and decided to serve the mints in small, hand-size containers. He manufactured a small tin to hold the mints, similar to the modern Altoids tins. The first PEZ mint dispensers, known as "regulars," were similar in shape to a cigarette lighter, and dispensed an adult breath mint marketed as an alternative to smoking. They were invented by Oscar Uxa. Haas Food Manufacturing Corporation of Vienna, Austria, was the first to sell PEZ candies.

World War II slowed marketing and production. In 1945, manufacturers devised and promoted the PEZ Box Regular. In 1952 Eduard Haas introduced his product to the United States, and Curtis Allina headed PEZ's U.S. business. In 1955, the PEZ company placed heads on the dispensers and marketed them for children. Santa Claus and Mickey Mouse were among the first character dispensers. Since 1950, over 550 different PEZ dispensers, including the original character dispensers have been created.

In 1973, PEZ built their factory in Orange, Connecticut. In 1983, Scott McWhinnie became the president of the PEZ company. He would retire in 2003, transferring the presidential position to Joe Vittoria. In the 1990s the size of the plant was doubled, the PEZ dispenser was expanded, and peppermint flavored PEZ candies were reintroduced along with remakes of the "regulars."

In early 2006 the family of the original founder of the company bought back 32.5% of the stock from investment company PGH for €18M. They now own 67.5% of the company. The headquarters are in Traun, Austria. The candies are produced in Traun and Orange, Connecticut. Dispensers are produced in Hungary and China.

A Sign from the Universe

I have always felt my life has revolved around a bizarre sense of irony. That's probably where my apophenia kicks in. But I've found yet another delicious nugget.

As I prepare to embark on this insane journey, I've received a sign indicating approval from some power beyond our earthly bounds. That must be it. Yeah...

One of the episodes of Seinfeld airing today on TBS is none other than "The PEZ Dispenser."

The Lord has approved. Buddha is smiling on my endeavor. The Great Xenu is all about this.

PEZ in Pop Culture

PEZ has popped up all over our culture today. Here is a take on the Season 4 episode of Family Guy entitled "Model Misbehavior."

This clip appears courtesy of 20th Century Fox. All rights reserved.

PEZ Numbers

3,456 Pieces

10,080 Calories

2,592 Grams of Carbohydrates

5.22 Pounds

108 Feet in Length

If I were to eat just one piece a day, it would take 9 years and 171 days to consume them all.

Some PEZ Background

The name PEZ was derived from the first, the middle and the end of the German word for peppermint, Pfefferminz, the first PEZ flavor. PEZ was originally introduced in Austria, later exported, notably to the U.S., and eventually became available worldwide. The all-uppercase spelling of PEZ echoes the trademark's style of type on packaging and the dispensers themselves, drawn in perspective and looking as if the letter were built out of 44 brick-like PEZ candies (14 bricks in the P and 15 in each of the E and Z).

Despite widespread recognition of the PEZ dispenser, the company considers itself to be primarily a candy company, producing more than 3 million candy bricks each year in the U.S. alone. PEZ dispenser are part of popular culture in many nations. Because of the large number of dispenser designs over the years, PEZ dispensers are collected by enthusiasts.