Big Red (gum)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Big Red is an artificially flavored cinnamon chewing gum made by Wrigley's. The brand was released in 1975. If you lick the wrapper of a stick of Big Red, and place it on your skin, holding it down for about a minute, a chemical reaction causes redness and irritation on the affected area. Some Jr. High children refer to it as the "Big Red Challenge." Despite it not being a sugarless gum, in 2003 in the United States, Wrigley's replaced some of the sugar with aspartame and Ace K, both artificial sweeteners.
Big Red was available in the UK in the mid-to-late 1990s, but is no longer available there.
[edit] The "Big Red" Song
(Sung by Ryan Devereaux) Like its sister product, Juicy Fruit, Big Red also had its own jingle, originating from the 1980s:
- Announcer: No little cinnamon gum freshens breath longer than Big Red.
- So kiss a little longer,
- Snuggle up a little longer,
- Pull tight a little longer; longer with Big Red!
- That Big Red freshness lasts right through it.
- Your fresh breath goes on and on while you chew it.
- Say goodbye a little longer, make it last a little longer,
- Give your breath long-lasting freshness with Big Red!
"Snuggle up a little longer" was replaced with "Stay close a little longer" in later versions of the commercial. Many of the commercials showed couples passionately kissing in a romantic setting, which would be spoofed during a skit on Saturday Night Live featuring Tim Meadows that advertised a fictional toothpaste.
In the 2001 movie Get Over It, the main character decides on the spur of the moment to try out for the school play. But when he doesn't have a song prepared for the audition, the only song he can think of is the Big Red Song.
In the 2006 film Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby, when Ricky (played by Will Ferrell) does a Big Red commercial, he simply says, "I'm Ricky Bobby. If you don't chew Big Red, then (bleep) you."
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- Wrigley's page on Big Red
- Retro Junk, an 80s nostalgia site allows you to view two different Big Red commercials.
| Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company | |
|---|---|
| William Perez, CEO & President • William Wrigley, Jr. II, Chairman | |
| Past CEOs and Presidents: William Wrigley Jr. • Philip K. Wrigley • William Wrigley III • William Wrigley, Jr. II | |
| Chewing Gum Products | |
| United States: Juicy Fruit • Wrigley's Spearmint • Doublemint • Freedent • Big Red • Extra • Winterfresh • Surpass • Orbit • Orbit White • Eclipse | |
| Canada: Excel • Juicy Fruit | |
| United Kingdom: Airwaves • Doublemint • Extra • Ice White (Later Orbit Ice White) • Juicy Fruit • Orbit • Orbit Professional • Wrigley's Spearmint | |
| Bubble Gum & Candy Products | |
| Alpine • Altoids • Big League Chew • Bubble Tape • Cool Air • Eclipse • Excel • Hubba Bubba • Life Savers • Gummi Savers • Life Saver Minis • Life Saver Fusions • Creme Savers | |
| Subsidiaries | |
| The Wrigley Company Limited • Amurol Confections Company • Northwestern Flavors, LLC | |
| Other Wrigley Brand Name Uses | |
| Wrigley Building • Wrigley Field—Chicago • Wrigley Field—Los Angeles • Wrigley Square • Catalina Island | |
Annual Revenue: $517 million USD (FY 2005) | Employees: 14300 | Stock Symbol: NYSE: WWY | Website: www.wrigley.com/ |
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