Company: Kraft Foods
Years: 1969 - 1996
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| Image by Gregg Koenig |
Quick, name the first 3 things that come to your mind when I say the word "MAGIC".
"White Tigers": OK, not really Magic, but I guess I'll give you...
"Doug Henning's Fantastic Magical Hair": Hmm....I guess it's magic related, but his hair? Really? That's what you remember the most....
"Jell-o 1-2-3": Ha ha ha.....I'm glad you're having fun dicking me around, jerk.
But guess what? The Jokes on you. Because I was going to talk about Jell-o 1-2-3 anyway. Hey wait, where are you going?
Jell-o 1-2-3 was one of many Jell-o products to be released in the 70's, and it actually was quite successful for Kraft. It came in 3 flavors that I know of: Orange, Strawberry and Mixed Berry. The whole idea was that you could make this awesome 3 layered Jell-o that would knock the socks off your easily impressed dinner guests.
Especially Cindy. That girl was dense.
The 3 layers set in different colors and different textures, one like Jell-o, one like a pudding, and one a soft foam/mousse like texture. I sort of remember eating this in the 80's, but I always just thought my mom was very talented at making jell-o. Now looking back, I guess without that skill she was a disappointment after all. (I kid, mom, I kid. I'm sure there was something else you were good at. When I think of it, I'll let you know.)
I'm not sure why this product was discontinued in the late 90's after such a long, successful run. But if I had to guess, it was probably because they were developing Jell-o 1-2-3-4, which they were over confident and cocky about. They were sure it was going to be the next big thing. But guess what? Riots broke out. Stores were looted. Fires were set. The world wasn't ready for a 4 layered desert.
Or maybe that never happened. The 90's were sort of a blur to me.
Anyway, there are petitions online for Kraft to bring this back, and there are recipes online showing you how you can make your own Jell-o 1-2-3.
But it's just not the same.
We miss you, Jell-o 1-2-3.
And we miss you too, Doug Henning.
This is amazing!, how did I miss it as a child?
ReplyDeleteI want the JELLO strawberry cheesecake cups back ....
DeleteYou can still buy that. They still make it.
DeleteYep, they totally do. I just bought a pack yesterday!
DeleteWhere can I buy it ?
Deletehttp://www.shoprite.com/pd/Dr-Oetker/Trio-Treat-Layered-Gelatin-Mix-Orange/2-10-oz/058336016110/
ReplyDeleteThis product was discontinued at a store I worked in a few years back (2004-2009, I don't recall exactly when), and the Dr. Oetker websites for North America are both down. It was available in at least four flavors: orange, strawberry, grape and lime.
I remember this product well. LOVED it as a kid. Sounds terrible now!
ReplyDeletethis was good stuff. wish they would bring it back because i would be first in line to buy it!!!
ReplyDeleteVermont Country Store tried to bring it back a few years ago. I guess I was the only one who bought it, because they were asking a lot for it. I wish I had bought more of them now. Loved that stuff.
ReplyDeleteIndeed, I remember this -- it was quite a treat when we had it, and that wasn't very often. (I think that my mom may have felt that it was more expensive and troublesome than other gelatin products, and one had to have a proper size receptacle in which to make it.)
ReplyDeleteI loved it too - and yes, it was more expensive than the 'regular' Jello. It's one of the few products I'd buy again.
ReplyDeletei remember this stuff- in fact, when i stumbled on your site today, i was all set to suggest you look for this and then, there it was! dessert on a week night for my brother, sister, and i in the 60's and 70's was a treat indeed, and jell 1-2-3 was like hitting the jackpot! we still talk about it! our theory on why it was discontinued was the growing interest in eating healthy- check those ingredients, literally every single one is a chemical! we're lucky to be alive!
ReplyDeleteIt was more expensive but it so worth it and sold well so i have no clue why it was discontinued but I miss it so much and not so sure if it was due to trying to eat healthier as the majority of American still do not read the labels so if was about the ingredients it would be much more likely that a key ingredient was removed from the safe additive food list but the sale might of been slowing down also
DeleteLoved it! Great childhood memories! Hope they bring it back:)
ReplyDeleteI miss 1 2 3 jello I loved it bring back, I also miss boston cream pie dessert in a box, Keebler frosted oatmeal raisin bars, PDQ egg nog, strawberry,chocolate drink mix, thank brand chocolate canned pudding, Milkshake candy bars, Swanson German style beef tv dinner, la choy frozen mini egg rolls, cheese doodles, Pepperidge farms chilli cornbread pot pie,
ReplyDeleteAnd let's not forget FIZZIES!!!
DeleteI remember it being by a Scandinavian company. I think it was junket. I do remember the 3 distinct layers, bottom clear, middle creamy, and top foamy.
ReplyDeleteYes, I remember Jello-1-2-3, but honestly, I wasn't a big fan of it. It was OK, I wouldn't complain if it was given to me, but I never asked for it. What I didn't like, I think, was the foamy top. I would have preferred just a plain old bowl of Jello with maybe a little whipped cream on top. I have never missed Jello-1-2-3. I will tell you what I DO MISS though... SPOON CANDY! That was an awesome dessert. If you never had SPOON CANDY, you missed out!
ReplyDeleteI loved this dessert! So sad that they discontinued it!
ReplyDeleteI absolutely loved it I remember going to my aunt's for a overnight and we would make deserts bake cakes but this was my favorite to the point my aunt couldn't stand jello, but I still make it the problem was kraft bought out jello which was from another company and they used dream whip which if ur lucky u can still buy and u make it the same way as on the old box so dream whip comes with a few packets in it I use 1 packet with a regular jello box u dump both powders into the blender u add boiling water mix for about 45seconds til dissolved and starting to foam then add ice cubes and cold water to and put blender on high for about a 90 seconds then pour into cups it separates just like it and it's perfect but u have to make sure u have some peaks forming for it to set prettier I use dream whip with jello pudding to make icings there really good my favorite is pistachio pudding and dream whip just follow instructions on box it was jellos best friend before the monster corporate bought them so there are tons of recipes for them together on the box of dream whip it's says ur favorite pudding mix but we know what the mean there best friend til corporate America went Godzilla on it.
ReplyDeleteWatch "Dream Whip Whipped Topping Mix Commercial--Dream Pie Contest with Sally Dwarf (1979)" on YouTube
ReplyDeletehttps://youtu.be/FJfGGU3TAmo
In fact if u watch the commercial they were shown together all the time.
Our daughters really liked Jello 123 back in the 60's,and 70's. They still talk about it to this day! I, for one, would buy it today if it could be found at the grocery store! Hopefully, Kraft will hear us asking to bring it back!
ReplyDeleteJello was, and has always been, my favorite dessert even at 60. So simple, so satisfying, so easy to build upon. What takes the cake is Jello 1-2-3.
ReplyDeleteI craved jello 1-2-3 when I was a kid and my mom would keep buying it. I really got totally upset when they discontinued it. To this day I crave it more then ever. Please please please I beg u please bring it back. I don't care if it's more expensive then the regular jello. This is how important it is to be able to purchase this product it is totally totally awesome. I would buy a whole lot of it at one time and keep buying it the rest of my life. We have already missed pretty much a life time of not having it.
ReplyDeleteBring it back pleaseeeeee
ReplyDeleteThe blue flavor would be totally awesome!!
ReplyDeleteJello 123 and the ORIGINAL Herbal Essence (the green stuff from the 70's)
ReplyDeleteI found a box of lime 123 at a food pantry a few years ago...I assume an elderly person died and their food was donated. We loved it growing up in the 70's... does anyone know how I can find out what year it was made? I have it in my closet wrapped in saran wrap
ReplyDeleteJust go ahead and make it. It's just a powered mix. It should last a long time. And if not, the product just won't solidify and form correctly and you'll know not to eat it.
DeleteBring back Jello 1-2-3
ReplyDeletei was on ebay and found a box of Jell o 123..i paid 40 dollars and i am making it ...I looked up dry powder shelf life and it said indefinite..so I will have the treat I remember from the 70s once again..
ReplyDeleteHow was it? Just curious,
DeleteI loved it as a kid,too!
OMG...you don't suppose Nancy M hasn't replied because she died from it??! 😳 Oh my - I hope not!
DeletePlease bring back 1-2-3 jelloðŸ˜
ReplyDelete