I'm in the process of doing a final re-read on my old comic book collection before selling them on eBay. The "comic" aspects of them have disappeared over the years, but there are some other interesting features, including the advertisements. Most of the back-cover feature ads have been for bicycles, BB guns, toys, or related comics, but the one above from 1960 was particularly interesting.
I wonder how many "Kraft Ball Parks" were constructed, and if any still exist. Google didn't locate any for me.
Addendum: A tip of the hat to reader krossbow, who found this story about Bentleyville, Pennsylvania:
Community life is a focal point of Bentleyville, and residents gather at Richardson Park to support local sports teams, hold graduation parties and weddings, do laps on the walking track or play on the playground.
Caramel Park is home to Bentleyville Youth Baseball. The baseball fields were built in 1960 when Bentleyville won a national contest sponsored by Kraft Corp., after residents sold more than 55,000 bags of the sweet, chewy caramels. Members of Bentleyville’s Little League baseball team were invited to New York City to appear on the Perry Como Show after they won the contest...
I looked in the Archives in a Google search in News. I searched [ kraft caramels built baseball park ] to find this page https://observer-reporter.com/publications/monvalleymagazine/proud-to-live-in-this-town/article_b16fc39d-8d59-5fe9-aa17-1863d7e82630.html
ReplyDeleteExcellent!! I've added the information to the body of the post. Thank you, krossbow!
DeleteJust out of curiosity, what comic books are you talking about here?
ReplyDeleteThat particular ad was in a Woody Woodpecker (Dell). I'm starting my re-reads with the least interesting ones (Jerry Lewis, Bob Hope, Casper, Four Color movies, Dennis the Menace etc) and will save the superheroes ones for last, after my New Year's diet is over and I can enjoy them with a recreational beverage.
Deletea mention of the contest: https://newspaperarchive.com/somerset-daily-american-aug-08-1960-p-5/ Somerset Daily American Newspaper Archives, August 08, 1960 Page 5 "in their efforts to win a $20,000 ball park in a national contest sponsored by Kraft ...". i am not subscriber, so i cannot see the full article. that is somerset as in PA.
ReplyDeleteI-)
Kraft has been doing something similar with hockey arenas for a number of years. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kraft_Hockeyville
ReplyDelete"Hey! Boys and Girls" is surprisingly non-sexist for something coming from the 60's.
ReplyDeleteKraft's baseball field contest appeared in several Dell comics published in mid-1960, one example being Little Iodine 049 Jul-Sep 1960. Probably also Marge's Little Lulu 145 July 1960. I hated those candies when I was a kid and by today's standards they are probably unhealthy. I wonder how many baby boomer kids are no longer alive today because they habitually ate those things.
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