Vintage Betty Crocker is cooler than you know!

In our archival research we unearthed a letter from the Betty Crocker radio show, "Magazine of the Air" inviting Frances Glessner Lee to be a guest on the show. (1949) Considering I've made documentary films about both Betty Crocker and Frances Glessner Lee, my mind is forever blown.

For the record, there was a carbon copy of the reply letter and Frances politely declined.

Oh Betty! Chiffon Cake at it's worst.

 How can something so wrong probably taste so right? Really, I think Betty's art directors were just dialing it that day. Anyway, more importantly, Betty is in YELLOW! Very rare to see Betty in anything other than red and white. And like always, she has the look of a First Lady. This looks like a post WWII ad to me. Maybe there is a little Eleanor Roosevelt in this Betty portrait? Decide for yourself.

Betty Crocker Retro Recipe Cards

Did your mom have one of these? Betty Crocker or otherwise? Why do you think they were just a passing fad? In theory they were amazing - photos of the meal, recipes, suggestions, well organized...yet you really only find them in thrift shops. The other theory could be that they just wore out from constant use? ;-)

Anyway, if you like this, you should know about this gal at Dinner is Served 1972.

Vintage Betty Crocker Billboard

Betty Crocker & Carnation Ice Cream Billboard

That's what I want to see - Betty Crocker's distinctive signature lighting up the night sky. I really wish these kinds of billboards would make a a come back. By the way, have I ever told you the story of how Betty got her signature? Find it here.

Betty Crocker Tree House Restaurant & Bakery

Betty Crocker Tree House Restaurant & Bake Shop

Did you ever eat at at Betty Crocker Restaurant in the 1970s? Did you work at one? I wonder if Betty Crocker's corporate parents opened up one of these today - would it be successful?

Update: This post has received more views (hundreds of thousands) than any of my other posts. Why do you think that is? I know some of you have a hankering for good old days. This restaurant concept was a bit before my time but I would have loved to see it in all its kitschy glory. 

The storyteller in me can't help but wonder if something really big shook down at one of the Betty Crocker Tree House Restaurant & Bake Shops? A mystery perhaps? A murder? A coverup? People have been living with a secret for so long that they can't help but look up some connections to the past and see what they find? 

Update #2: Seriously, hundreds of you visit this post daily. Please comment and let me know what you are looking for! I will try to find the info for you. 

Vintage Betty Crocker Military Christmas Cookies

WW II Christmas Cookie Ornaments by Betty Crocker 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This vintage wartime Betty Crocker ad always blows me away. Sending Christmas cookies to the troops overseas was quite common, but Betty takes it one step further with military-themed cookies for sharing and for Christmas tree decorating. Imaging decorating your tree with "field gun" cookies.

The Betty Crocker Search for the All-American Homemker of Tomorrow.

 Since I've had so many request for some basic information about the Betty Crocker Search for the All-American Homemaker of Tomorrow Scholarship Program, I promise to periodically post more about it. 

But for starters, if you are not familiar, here's the basics from the Betty Crocker website:

In 1954, the Betty Crocker Search for the All-American Homemaker of Tomorrow was initiated and continued until 1977. High-school seniors competed for college scholarships and trips to the national awards ceremony based on their knowledge of cooking, baking and household management.

Most people naturally assume that General Mills saved all the scholarship information in their archives. I, too, was once so naturally naive. They have almost nothing in their archives about the scholarship program. Like most companies, General Mills threw away a lot of the history because they didn't see its historical value. But before you judge them too harshly, remember that they are not in the business of saving history, they are in the business of selling processed foods. And, compared to many corporations (like J&J) General Mills actually saved an enormous amount of their history.

The fact that General Mills didn't save much information about the Betty Crocker Search for the All-American Homemaker of Tomorrow Scholarship Program, is precisely why I am preserving this special little slice of American history. So, as always, feel free to leave your Betty Crocker scholarship stories here! And if you have photos...we would love to see them!