There
are very few items from pop culture that remain as popular as they were when
they first arrived on the scene. The things from my youth that I loved would be
laughed at by kids today. The generation gap is increasing every day by leaps
and bounds but I don’t feel it does our culture any good. Kids should be
outside playing, riding their bikes to “the first tree”, and begging to stay
out just a little bit longer. Those are the moments I cherish but it’s hard to
picture in this day and age.
I
remember the toys that were around when I was growing up most of which still
bring a smile to my face. I love seeing a Jem doll or Teddy Ruxpin photo on
Instagram. There is still nothing feared as much, by parents of young children
receiving gifts, than of Play-doh which is of course why I like to be the cool
aunt who is doing the gift giving. As pay back I once had to play with the
Play-doh and my niece and nephew before it was six a.m. I feel us adults are
even now.
Luckily
I was made aware of a factory I could visit where I could see a childhood
memento of mine in all its glory. It is in Orange, Connecticut where the Pez
Factory still creates our favorite characters filled up their necks with
treasures for us to delight in.
Ordinarily
when I am in Connecticut it is to visit my best friend while we go sightseeing
(see links below). I like it even better when we go to Rhode Island. The
smallest state has left quite a large impression on my heart.
But
the trip to the Pez Factory started with a neighbor telling me about the
factory. I thought it could be a fun day trip with my aforementioned niece and
nephew and their mom. The four of us set out super excited.
To
break up the long car ride for the kids we stopped at Bishop Orchards to go
pumpkin picking (this was back in October) and pick up some yummy apple treats.
The kids and their mom got to climb up and down this enormous mountain made of
hay and I got to sit there and soak in some sun, everybody won.
After
lunch we were arrived at the Pez Factory. I was pumped to see what we would
see. I had been secretly hoping to lay my hands on a Sheldon Cooper Pez. Spoiler
Alert! They didn’t have one and I cannot think of a logical reason why. Maybe
this blog will launch a petition to correct this offense.
The
factory doubles as a museum of sorts. The factory is in the back surrounded by
clear glass. You can see the tools of the trade. The assembly line is alive in
that factory although because it was a Saturday we didn’t get to actually see
the Pez being made. They are a strictly Monday to Friday operation.
Never
you mind we put our tickets a.k.a. press pass around our necks and we were off
exploring. It is really well laid out and much to my delight not that big. Like
Goldilocks would say, it was just right.
As
you walk in you see the entire history and evolution of Pez on its walls. It
starts from the moment of conception in 1927 and proceeds to go through each
decade to the present moment explaining what changes were being made and how it
enhanced its product. The explanations were short, sweet, and colorful that
they were able to capture the kid’s attention as well.
Throughout
the center there are glass cases and cabinets filled with literarily every Pez
ever made, including the special edition packages that held entire casts of
movies like Harry Potter and television shows like The Muppets. My desire to
bring home a piece of this place led me to pick up a Miss Piggy and bring her
to the cashier.
I
found the personal history behind the Pez invention fascinating. It was created
in Vienna, Austria in the 1900s originally as something to satisfy those trying
to stop smoking. It was only offered in one flavor, peppermint. At the factory
they have every possible flavor or color you desire. I think the most popular
were the chocolate ones.
Vienna
has been on my travel bucket list for some time. I hope when I go they have the
founder’s house preserved as a museum for me. It would be a nice full circle
moment. Naturally I will have some dispensers in my purse.
According
to their website:
“The name PEZ was
derived from the German word for peppermint... PfeffErminZ. Today, over 3 billion PEZ
Candies are consumed annually in the U.S.A. alone.”
A
few dozen were about to be consumed by the four of us.
My
most favorite part was the step and repeat they had in the back. The top read
“You’re not famous until they put your head on a Pez dispenser.” This is now my
number one career ambition. For kicks I took my picture with my nephew there
anyways. We are going to do big things. I happen to think I would make a
marvelous Pez dispenser but I would like them to invent a coffee candy by then.
I feel it is best to keep things as real as possible.
If
you can’t find the Pez dispenser you are looking for then you have problems
(obviously I was just too creative with my choices). They have every holiday,
person famous or not, sports figure, and politician, you can think of. I was
blow away with each new category I saw. We were totally screaming out what we
found to each other as we walked around. The place wasn’t crowded at all and I
am sure we sounded like nutcases, but excited nutcases.
Aside
from the hole in my heart from the failure to see any of the Big Bang Theory
characters I was equally disappointed to realize that the President caricatures
were only sold as a boxed set. They had every President from Washington onward
but came in sets of twenty-six. Even I don’t need that many Presidents staring
back at me. For now Miss Piggy will do just fine (especially since I love the
new Muppet show on ABC more than life itself).
It
was after this very long day with an even longer drive home in our future that
my BFF and I sat back, took a deep breathe, and were grateful for another day
spent having fun and the very sleepy children we were traveling with.
Go
online (http://www.pez.com/collectors/index.php?type=cat&ID=13)
to see the Pez dispensers arranged by the year they were made. It is really
something.
For a review besides mine, check out this video from my blog interns:
For
More Information:
For
Connecticut Food and Activities:
http://thequeenoff-ckingeverything.blogspot.com/2013/02/for-my-birthday-getaway-that-brought-me.html
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