For those housewives listening to Betty Crocker on the radio since the late 1920s, it must have been quite a shock after World War II to learn Betty had no address nor baked anything. The fictional character was created by the Washburn-Crosby Company, later General Mills, in 1921 to give a personalized response to consumer product questions. The name Betty was selected because it was deemed an all-American name. It was, however, paired with the last name of William Crocker, a Washburn-Crosby director. The portrait of Betty Crocker was first commissioned in 1936. It has been updated numerous times to reflect the changes in fashion and hairstyles (1955 at left). The equally famous red spoon logo was introduced in 1954. The fictitious Betty Crocker has endured to this day.
Before Duncan Hines cake mix hit grocery stores, there was a traveling salesman, author, and amateur restaurant critic who recorded details about restaurant food as well as the cleanliness of those establishments. His notes became a trustworthy guide in a 1938 self-published book, Adventures in Good Eating by Mr. Duncan Hines (1880-1959). For travelers in America during this era, most restaurants were not only few and far between, but also local. An agreement with a 1940s businessman, Roy H. Park, led to the formation of Hines-Park Foods in 1949, which licensed Hines’ name to various food products. Their first was "Duncan Hines Ice Cream." In time, Procter & Gamble sold Duncan Hines to Aurora Foods, followed by a merger with Pinnacle Foods Corporation in 2004, and the eventual acquisition by Conagra Brands. By the way, Mr. Hines did not cook or bake, either.
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