Comments on: Tootsie Roll Tragedy: The Real Leo Hirschfeld Story

By: Lisa Deak

Lisa Deak — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 18:21:04 +0000

This is what I’ve been looking for! How fascinating! I was always told that my great-grandmother worked at the Tootsie Roll factory in NY. She immigrated from Italy in 1919 and lived at 451 W 46th St. (where my mother was born). After seeing the Stern & Saalberg Co. ad for the Tootsie Roll it makes perfect sense. The factory located at 416-418 W 45th St. is practically in their backyard! Thank you for helping me realize the story told to me as a child, was most probably true. Great, great article and well told, you should write a book!

By: Liz Williams

Liz Williams — Sat, 12 Feb 2011 19:26:18 +0000

Has anyone ever heard the old allegation by certain Jehovah’s Witnesses that early Tootsie Rolls contained blood as an ingredient?

By: Candy Professor

Candy Professor — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 14:03:14 +0000

Great story, but I’ve never found any reference in my research. I did write about the patent Hirschfeld filed for the process that makes Tootsie Rolls: http://candyprofessor.com/2010/02/05/tough-tootsie/ As you can see, a part of the story seems connected, as the process involves baking the candy for a couple of hours. But was it Clara? Was it an accident? Alas, no one who was there that day is here to tell us what really happened.

By: Aliya Cheskis-Cotel

Aliya Cheskis-Cotel — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 08:58:35 +0000

I just happened on this site because there was a question on Millionaire about Hirschfeld and Clara and I went to Google to look up the history. The reason I was curious is that my husband (of blessed memory) told me the story for years of the inventor of the Tootsie Roll having come up with this candy serendipitously. The story, as he told it, was that one day Clara (Tootsie) came to visit her dad’s chocolate factory and, when a vat of chocolate was burned that day, she said “Don’t throw that out – it’s delicious.” Leo supposedly took the burnt chocolate and formed it into a roll and the rest is history.

Is there any truth to this story? If not, how was the Tootsie Roll invented?

Thanks for letting me know.

Aliya

By: Louise

Louise — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 01:49:11 +0000

Thank you so much for sharing this extensive research. I happened upon your blog while researching Bro-Man-Gel-On. I have a very early advertising booklet which features Tattling Tootsie and Bromangelon. If you would like to share it with your visitors, just let me know and I would be delighted to scan a copy and put it online or send it on over. Although my blog, Months of Edible Celebrations, attempts to uncover these sorts of myths and legends, it seems I never have the time to “dig a big deeper.” I appreciate your effort and am thankful should I delved into the history of Tootsie Rolls, I have a source that I can simply link to.

Thank you for that too!!! Louise

By: Candy Professor

Candy Professor — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 16:30:18 +0000

Thanks so much for your comment, I’m so happy to know this work is of such personal interest to you and your family.

By: Sandy Williams (Saalberg)

Sandy Williams (Saalberg) — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 16:18:52 +0000

I am soooo thrilled that this story is being investigated! We, as a family find it very interesting. My husband (a Saalberg) is the great-grandson of Jacob Saalberg (which incidentally is my nefew’s name). My husband’s father has always told us the Tootsie Roll story, but only that his grandfather was the inventor of the Toostie Roll. Keep up the great work! My kids have used your material for school reports on family history

By: Black Crows and Roses « Candy Professor

Black Crows and Roses « Candy Professor — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 12:33:52 +0000

[...] like the story of why Hershey’s named their candy “kiss,” or the story of the invention of the Tootsie Roll. They are all nice stories that add to the mystery and romance of the candy past. Candy is a [...]

By: Leona

Leona — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 19:47:29 +0000

nicely written, CP! I think you nailed it on the head with Leo being a brilliant scientist buy lousy businessman. Quite interesting about the patented texture. I’ll admit, I like the semi-longevity of the tootsie roll-eating process. And I do loves me my Tootsie Pops!

By: Tough Tootsie, and How It Got To Be That Way « CandyProfessor

Tough Tootsie, and How It Got To Be That Way « CandyProfessor — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 13:38:06 +0000

[...] Tootsie Roll Tragedy: The Real Leo Hirschfeld Story [...]