A beautiful box of chocolates just says, Valentine's Day (among other celebrations. I thought it would be fun to look up some of the popular chocolatiers of the 1950s. Enjoy your walk down memory lane.
Whitman's is one of the largest and oldest brands of boxed chocolates in the United States. Whitman's confections have been produced since 1842, originally by Stephen Whitman in Philadelphia and currently by Kansas City, Missouri-based Russell Stover Candies. Whitman's Sampler, an assortment of boxed chocolates, is still popular after more than a century.
It was originally a "confectionery and fruiterer shop" set up in 1842 by Stephen F. Whitman. A confectionery store sells confectionery often a selection of old-fashioned treats and sweets from different countries.
He first became popular with traveling sailors and their wives. They would often bring fruits, nuts, and cocoa obtained during their voyages to Mr. Whitman so that he could make the popular European confections people craved during that era. Soon Whitman's chocolates were popular throughout the northeastern United States.
Whitman's produced the first pre-packaged candy in 1854—a box of sugar plums adorned with curlicues and rosebuds. Whitman began advertising in newspapers shortly before the beginning of the Civil War and the business grew so large that in 1866 the company occupied an entire building in Philadelphia. In 1877, he introduced Instantaneous Chocolates in tin boxes that became much-admired. Whitman's would later, be known as Stephen F. Whitman & Son, Inc.
Whitman's introduced the perennially popular, and still best-selling, Whitman's Sampler in 1912, marking the first use of cellophane by the candy industry. In 1946, the company helped General Electric develop a refrigerated display case to guard the product against warmer temperatures and extend the selling season through the summer months.
So, taste buds ready for some chocolate now?
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