I dream in chocolate.
No, seriously, I have dreams where I am sitting in a pile of chocolate just stuffing my face in a pseudo-Wonka fantasy, right out of the pages of R. Dahl sequel. Freud would have a field day, but it probably has something to do with the fact that I am trying to eat healthy. Despite all the sumptuous treats I devour and describe in this blog, I try to restrict most of my other meals to healthy options in order to maintain my rugby flanker physique. Working in a pizza shop doesn’t help either. I stare at the pizza slices while I eat my lunch of raw broccoli, grilled chicken, dices tomatoes and slices of avocado. But chocolate is what I fantasize about the most. Ever since Rheb’s candy, I’ve been thinking of another delicious Baltimore confection ever since. Mary Sue Easter Eggs. The melt-in-your-mouth chocolate shell, the creamy fillings of coconut, vanilla, peanut butter and chocolate… my heart breaks as I drink my v8 this morning thinking about it.
The Mary Sue Candy Company is replete with Baltimore culture and tradition. The company was founded in 1948 in the basement of a Southwest Baltimore rowhouse (similar to, and not far from the Rhebs) on South Smallwood Street. The founders of the company’s names were Samuel Spector and Harry Gerwig but the company was named after Gerwig’s daughters Mary and Sue (arguably much more sweet-sounding and appetizing than Spector and Gerwig Candies or Samuel and Harry Easter Eggs).
In the 1950’s, business was so good that Spector (the only founder still alive) opened a factory on South Caton Avenue and started producing copious amounts of candy, some even say 8 million eggs were sold one Easter season. Business was so good, Spector advertised on the radio with a jingle sung by none other than the young Baltimore Colt’s quarterback, Johnny Unitas.
“Here’s a treat that is sunny For your Easter bunny, The creamiest candy that’s made. Mary Sue Easter eggs, Mary Sue Easter eggs, Brighten you Easter parade.We have those Easter eggs, Mary Sue Easter eggs, People are making the switch. Cause’ using pure butter Makes Mary Sue better, And you never had it so rich.
Mary Sue Easter eggs, They’re the best Easter eggs Honey your money can buy. So sweet and delicious, So rich and nutritious, Give Mary Sue Candies a try.
Brighten your Easter parade Try Mary Sue Candies Today!”
Even today, Mary Sue Candies prides itself on using tried and true candy recipes, traditional equipment such as copper pots, and keeping their candy cheap and accessible; although not as cheap as in Baltimore past, the eggs are usually still less than a dollar (which is more than can be said for the plain old Hershey bar. In fact, the giant ½ pound Mary Sue Easter egg only retails for about $4.00; the egg is so large and rich, it is almost equivalent to an entire Easter basket. Mr. Spector is long-gone, but Mary Sue (along with another Baltimore favorite, Naron candies) is now owned by Ruxton Chocolates, whose president is Bill Buppert. Although it seems like a cold, corporate takeover, Mr. Buppert has kept things very old-fashioned and prides himself on the originality the candy companies have maintained. He prides himself that the candies are all hand-made and unique products and that most of the employees have been making candy for many years. Fun fact, though, is that most of the employees are women because they supposedly have colder hands which are more capable of keeping the candy from melting. THAT is dedication to hand-made chocolate.
The combination of ever-low prices, old-fashioned flavors and techniques, a strong home-town tradition and a plethora of pop-culture symbology tied to Charm City (the iconic candy wrappers, the old jingles, the flowy and vintage “Mary Sue” that appears on each candy…) all are contributing factors as to why the candies are beloved in their hometown of Baltimore and shipped all over the world to enjoy.
After this short but very sweet blog entry, the candy craving is really starting to get to me. Too bad it’s way past Easter season…
Terms:
Symbology: the art of expressing language, culture and meaning through symbols
References:
http://www.marysue.com/index.html
Is Mr. Spector still alive or no? You have that he is still alive in (), but than later on you have that he is long gone. Also, lets get Mary Sue Easter Eggs next Easter!
ReplyDeleteSacha Spector passed away in 2002.
ReplyDeleteBTW.....the MarySue of today could not hold the sweatsocks of our product in the 1960's-1999. Crap ingredients + great marketing does not equal a superior product.
ReplyDeleteMy mom did a radio spot in the late 40's-50's. Wish I could find a recording.
ReplyDeleteI live in Bel Air, Maryland and can find no individually foil wrapped Mary Sue vanilla or chocolate butter cream Easter eggs anywhere! WalMart sells Mary Sue but do not have the vanilla or chocolate foiled eggs. The individually wrapped eggs are more creamy than the ones with several eggs in one box. Every pharmacy here used to carry all kinds of Mary Sue eggs but now all I can find are Russell Stover eggs. There are no Russell Stover vanilla or chocolate butter creams anywhere either! I can purchase Mary Sue eggs online but they are 24 for $30.00! I am 76 years old and only want to purchase about 6 eggs! What's going on? I miss my Mary Sue foil wrapped eggs! They are a tradition!
ReplyDelete