Bazooka (chewing gum)

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For other meanings, see Bazooka (disambiguation)

Bazooka is a brand of bubble gum that began to be marketed in the U.S. by the Brooklyn, New York based Topps Company shortly after World War II. The gum was packaged in a patriotic red, white, and blue color scheme, although Topps claims that it took the name from the instrument, not the weapon. Beginning in 1953, Topps changed the packaging to include small comic strips with the gum, featuring the character "Bazooka Joe". Virtually unchanged in over 50 years, Bazooka remains a popular brand of chewing gum. Up until 1970, the price of a piece of Bazooka gum was one penny.

In recent years, Bazooka has been advertising some successful television commercials, most having someone doing something bad, then that person saying "I don't want no (blank) all I want--" that character then putting its hands in the air and shaking their hips "--is Bubblegum, Bazooka zooka bubblegum." Then four men, always the same, dressed in different things for different occasions, sing "Bubblegum, Bazooka zooka bubblegum." A voice is heard at the end of the commercial saying "Some gum." These commercials can be found on YouTube.

The Topps company expanded the flavors, making them Original, Strawberry, and Grape. The Strawberry flavor is in a pink and white wrapper and the Grape in a purple and white wrapper. Bazooka bubblegum is sold in Canada. The patriotism of the Original flavor's wrapper does not seem to bother or affect anyone in any way. People seem to rather, disregard the wrapper. They are more interested in the bubble gum and the Bazooka Joe comic itself.

Topps has a Garbage Pail Kids card named (Jow Blow) that depicts a Cabbage Patch Kid blowing gum. It was drawn by artist John Pound.