THE WATCHER

It’s a Wrap

How can you say no when those baby blues look you in the eye and ask for the prize. The prize they legitimately won having secured the elusive Tootsie Pop wrapper with the Indian shooting at a star. I folded it neatly and placed it into my wallet and had scheduled a quick stop to…where? I literally did not know where to go. Should I drive to a supermarket, a gas station or a corner drug store to get the prize? What would that prize be? I had a vague recollection of this story from my childhood; a playground rumor that I blindly assumed was the truth. I didn’t stop at any markets; I came home and checked the online to see if this was indeed an urban legend. I went directly to the source, toosie.com. There I discovered that:

“Many years ago, a rumor surfaced that said if the wrapper of a Tootsie Pop with a star was found and returned to the company, a free Tootsie Pop, or any number of things would be sent to the lucky person. We truly don't know why or where this rumor started, as our records do not indicate that our company ever sponsored any type of promotion surrounding images on the wrapper.”

This was not the news I had hoped for. I anticipated finding an address of participating stores, or an address that I could send the wrapper to. More research revealed that Tootsie Roll Industries have been politely deflecting mail-in requests for free Tootsie Pops since the 1930’s. I also found out the American Indian shooting an arrow at a star is on over one-third of all Tootsie Pop wrappers, not so unique after all.

All this news made me sad, what a great myth, what a great marketing opportunity to print not so many and actually give away prizes, have they not heard of Willy Wonka? With candy that costs fractions of pennies, how hard would it be to give away a few extra million? I read that some clerks actually give children who present the wrappers a free Tootsie Pop! It would be smarter to send my blue eyed wonder to deliver the wrapper and take her chances. Who knows, with an almost seventy year old legend to contend with, she might find a sympathetic clerk who doesn’t want to squash the wonder and delight that children find in believing that free candy is only a wrapper away.