A plaque remaining from the Big Apple Night Club at West 135th Street and Seventh Avenue in Harlem.

Above, a 1934 plaque from the Big Apple Night Club at West 135th Street and Seventh Avenue in Harlem. Discarded as trash in 2006. Now a Popeyes fast food restaurant on Google Maps.

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Entry from October 16, 2004
Tootsie Roll
It's universally accepted that Leo Hirschfield invented the "Tootsie Roll" in New York City in 1896, naming it after his daughter.

That might be correct, but I have a few questions. Why does the trademark date have 1908? What are we to make of a brief New York Times story that credits Samuel F. Williams?




http://www.tootsie.com/faq.html
How did you come up with the name "Tootsie?"
An Austrian immigrant, Leo Hirshfield, producing the candy in a small store in New York City and ended up naming the candy after his five-year-old daughter, whose nickname was "Tootsie."

http://www.tootsie.com/history.html
Tootsie Roll Historical Timeline 1896-2003
1896
Austrian immigrant Leo Hirshfield brings to the U.S. his recipe for a chocolatey, chewy candy, which he begins producing in a small store in New York City.Hirshfield names the candy after his five-year-old daughter, whose nickname is "Tootsie."
1905
Tootsie Rolls are now produced in a four-story candy factory in New York City.
1917
The name of the company is changed to Sweets Company of America.Sweets Company of America begins to advertise nationally.

17 October 1980, Elyria (Ohio) Chronicle-Telegram, pg. D-11, col. 7:
Her husband pointed with pride to the fact that despite soaring costs, Tootsie Rolls can still be bought for a penny, the same price charged by Leo Hirschfield, the immigrant founder of the company who hand-rolled the first familiar roll 84 years ago and named it for his daughter.

The first Tootsie Rolls also were the first penny candy to come in a wrapper and all of the ten million rolls that are produced daily still are individually wrapped - no small factor in making it one of the most popular Halloween "trick or treat" handouts.

17 October 1931, New York Times, pg. 12:
SAMUEL F. WILLIAMS.
Originator of "Tootsie Rolls" Dies
in His 48th Year.
Samuel Ferebee Williams, former vice president of the Sweets Company of America, died on Thursday at his home, 310 West Forty-fourth Street, in his forty-eighth year.

(U.S. Patent and Trademark Office)
Word Mark TOOTSIE ROLLS
Goods and Services IC 030. US 046. G & S: CANDY. FIRST USE: 19080900. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 19080900
Mark Drawing Code (3) DESIGN PLUS WORDS, LETTERS, AND/OR NUMBERS
Design Search Code 261111 261121
Serial Number 71204379
Filing Date October 24, 1924
Current Filing Basis 1A
Original Filing Basis 1A
Registration Number 0199794
Registration Date June 16, 1925
Owner (REGISTRANT) SWEETS COMPANY OF AMERICA, INCORPORATED, THE CORPORATION VIRGINIA 414 WEST 45TH STREET NEW YORK NEW YORK(LAST LISTED OWNER) TOOTSIE ROLL INDUSTRIES, INC. CORPORATION BY CHANGE OF NAME FROM VIRGINIA 7401 SOUTH CICERO AVENUE CHICAGO ILLINOIS 60629
Assignment Recorded ASSIGNMENT RECORDED
Prior Registrations 0062197;0075218;0112327
Disclaimer APPLICANT DISCLAIMS THE EXCLUSIVE RIGHT TO THE USE OF THE WORD "ROLLS" APART FROM THE MARK AS SHOWN.
Description of Mark THE OBLIQUE LINING ON THE DRAWING IS INTENDED TO DENOTE THE COLOR BROWN. THE OTHER LINING, NAMELY THAT IN DOTS, IS INTENDED TO DENOTE THE COLOR GOLD.
Type of Mark TRADEMARK
Register PRINCIPAL
Renewal 3RD RENEWAL 19851001
Live/Dead Indicator LIVE

Posted by Barry Popik
Food/Drink • Saturday, October 16, 2004 • Permalink


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