Grape JELL-O Explained
The University of Hellenback: Episode One, Scene Four
Up until recently, there was no grape flavored JELL-O™. I used to wonder why. After all, they had all of the other common fruit flavors. <shrug> No big deal. I incorporated it into the Hellenback mythos as a joke. As something you'd think would exist, but didn't. Then I got a real surprise. I keep running into other people who had wondered the same thing! Somehow I'd stumbled on one of the great unspoken mysteries.
Then Kraft foods pulled a nasty trick on me. In April of 1994, they introduced grape JELL-O™ into the market. Poor Incredible Dude, he's just toast, now.
Just out of curiosity, I found the JELL-O™ home page and looked around. I sent them a message, and this is what they had to say:
From: OnlineTeam3@Kraftfoods.com
> Thank you for visiting our Web Site.
>
> Our JELL-O Brand Gelatin Dessert Grape Flavor was
> discontinued in the 1960s due to lack of consumer
> interest. The flavor was reintroduced in April
> of 1994 and is still available today.
>
> We hope this information is helpful to you.
> Please visit us again soon.
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According to the "Cool History of JELL-O", "Grape
reappeared with the help of dinosaurs from Jurassic
Park" in the 1990's". I would like to know:
a) When (and why) did Grape JELL-O originally
"disappear" from the market, and
b) When (month and year) was the flavor
reintroduced?
Thanks,
S
Now, back to our story, already in progress...
OK - Since you're interested enough to have made it all the way down here, I have another funny to add to the story. I told a one of my players about how the joke was a little killed by the re-introduction of Grape Jell-O™ into the market. Ever helpful, he suggested, "Well, why don't you make it white grape JELL-O™ instead?" This was in 1997, the year that Kraft Foods, Inc. introduced a new flavor of JELL-O™. You guessed it (according to the promotional materials, you make it with club soda instead of water to make it "sparkling"). Poor Incredible Dude, he just can't win on this one.
Marginalia