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

By: Candy Professor

Candy Professor — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 15:15:41 +0000

I hear you! Happily, Tootsie Roll and Leaf remain independent companies…some of the last survivors from the golden age of American candy companies. Hershey’s actually acquired Reese’s a long time ago, back in the 1930s, but has successfully maintained a separate brand identity for that candy.

By: Larry Schnitt

Larry Schnitt — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 03:48:28 +0000

I notice that Hershey now owns Tootsie Roll. How did that come about ? Hershey seems to have acquired several companies over the last decade or so, including York mints, (which I remember as Mason Mints as a kid), any relation there? Hershey also owns York mints now. Then there was the Leaf Company which made the Whoppers Malted Balls, which is also now owned by Hershey. Reeses is another company bought by Hershey several years ago. It gets confusing because I remember the name Mason on the box with Black Crows, Juicy Fruit, and Jujubs etc. There is a lot of history here. Lastly, Tootsie Rolls taste nothing like they did when I was a kid – they had a definite texture, with a real chocolate taste, and now they are smooth and extruded like salt water taffy. They also split into 5 mouth size sections. Another example of a candy just brought back by a company on Long Island is Bonomo’s Turkish Taffy, but tastes nothing like the original – but no one seems to care because the newer generations don’t remember how good the real taste was. Chalk off some of this flavor change to “CORN SYRUP, which even changed the taste of Coca Cola. Pardon me if there are any inaccuracies above, since I am just an old time consumer with a good memory for nostalgia. Of course as prices rose and sizes declined, ingredients changed as well to keep profits in line. Just remember the Three Musketeer’s Bar which for a Nickel broke into three large pieces – but inflation in the Candy business is another story altogether.

By: Gina

Gina — Sun, 04 Nov 2012 03:02:48 +0000

I love my Tootsie Pops, and I loved this incredible, tragic story. It’s almost past imagining that the inventor of Tootsie Rolls – named for his spunky daughter – would have ended up putting a bullet in his brain in a lonely hotel room. Please, it’s been almost three years since this post; are either you or Steve ready to tell the tale of “how the Tootsie tale spins its sticky tentacles into surprising corners of American commerce”?

By: monica

monica — Tue, 23 Oct 2012 23:33:42 +0000

nicely written, CP!

By: monica

monica — Tue, 23 Oct 2012 23:32:37 +0000

whee i need this info thx for helping me!

By: Candy Professor

Candy Professor — Wed, 17 Oct 2012 12:27:10 +0000

I believe that is true, although what I know about it is based on the same secondary sources as Wiki is likely using.

By: Deborah Kaufman

Deborah Kaufman — Tue, 16 Oct 2012 03:54:07 +0000

I was always taught that my family way back, the Rubin’s, had something to do with the tootsie roll. Is this blurb mentioned in Wikipedia true?

According to wikipedia,
“In 1935 the company was in serious difficulty. Concerned about the possible loss of an important customer, its principal supplier of paper boxes, Joseph Rubin & Sons of Brooklyn, became interested in the possibility of acquiring control. The company was listed on the New York Stock Exchange, but Bernard D. Rubin acquired a list of shareholders and approached them in person in order to purchase their shares. The Rubins eventually achieved control and agreed that Bernard would run the company as president. Bernard D. Rubin was able to steadily increase sales and restore profits, changing the formula of the Tootsie Roll and increasing its size, moving from Manhattan to a much larger plant in Hoboken, New Jersey,

By: gyglygirl

gyglygirl — Thu, 23 Aug 2012 09:06:28 +0000

neat story. sad ending. money does not equal happiness but at least he did what he loved.

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?