Friday, March 1, 2013

From the Candy Aisle: Marathon Bar

Product: Marathon Bar
Company: Mars Inc.
Years: 1973-1981

Marathon bar wrapper - M&M Mars - 1973-1974
Image by Jason Liebig


Talk to Jason Liebig.
Visit his outstanding blog called CollectingCandy.com. Specifically, his post about Marathon Bars. I mean, the man lives, sleeps, and breathes Marathon Bars. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if at some point in his life, he owned a pet named "Marathon". A miniature pony perhaps? Not really sure. But he's got the entire low down on the candy bar everyone loved and now longs for.

Me? I've never even eaten one. Well, I guess I can't say I've never eaten one. I was around at the same time they were, for a few years anyway, so I guess my parents could have given me one in those years before I start forming meaningful memories. It's totally possible. So I guess I should really say "I've never eaten a Marathon Bar" in the same way I'd say "I've never eaten a spider" (FACT: people do sometimes sleep with their mouths open). Hey, Things happen in our lives sometimes that we for whatever reason just don't remember. I mean, I must have had a run in with a Marathon Bar at some point.....right?  They sure do sound like they were popular from what people tell me.

It was an 8 inch braided caramel inside, covered in chocolate, with the iconic red wrapper. On the wrapper? A ruler, so you knew without a shadow of a doubt you were getting what was advertised. Genius. I wish other companies that supply food based on length did that same thing. Subway, I'm looking in your direction.
Marathon bar front
image by 197?now

An interesting note about Marathon's TV commercials: they featured John Wayne's son Patrick as Marathon John who would regularly confront villain Quick Claude.



So that's all I got on the Marathon Bar. It was a candy bar that I certainly needed to add to the shelves here at Gone But Not Forgotten Groceries, even if I've never had one that I can remember. But I wish I had. They look delicious. There is a similar bar in the UK called the Curly Wurly. I'll have to contact my UK friends* and see if they can hook me up.

*(Note to self - make some UK friends).

Until then, I'll have to keep eating the same old boring candy bars I've been eating for the last 30+ years. And possibly a few spiders.**

**(Second Note to self - keep your yap shut while sleeping).

Marathon Fun Size Ad- 1977



19 comments:

  1. Anyone who has eaten a Marathon Bar remembers that, with every bite, the chocolate coating shattered in little crumbs down the front of one's shirt. Made quite a mess, but was so worth it. I loved this candy!

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  2. I've had Marathon bars and Curly Wurlys and both are good. The Marathon bars were messy as the chocolate came off in chunks as you bit into the bar, the Curly Wurly bars have overcome that flaw. BTW, you can find the Curly Wurly bars at Cost Plus World Market stores, so no need to jump the pond to get one.

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  3. Another candy delight from my tweenhood. And yes, the chocolate did indeed flake all over my shirts. But this confection was still delectable

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  4. I just want the damn candy bar!!!

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  5. I had one once. Not really impressed. It was messy because the chocolate covering broke off and fell on you, and then there you were .... forever chewing on caramel. Chewing and chewing and chewing ... 10 minutes you are still on that first bite! Annoying stupid candy! Like a frustrating game I rage quit it and threw it in the trash before finishing it! I had only done that with coconut before.
    Redonculous caramel thing >.<

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  6. What's not to love 12 inches of caramel covered in chocolate! One of the best never should've been stopped. Lighter than a Caramel Milky Way, hit the spot perfect. Wish there was an online candy store to order old candies! Like zagnut, summit bars & Marsthon bats!!!

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  7. In Canada we had our own version called the Wig-Wag. Same product. I ate a few in the late 70's.

    https://flic.kr/p/7x8DnP

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  8. I remember these. They were pretty good.

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  9. I remember these ...I ate them in the 70s!! chocolate and caramel and if I remember correctly...it was shaped chain like. and it was chewy which is why it was a marathon bar. funny I don't eat candy bars anymore but I did as a child.

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  10. This was by far the best candy bar ever made. My mother would get me one every Friday when she would get paid along with an A-treat grape soda. It was awesome yes the chocolate would break but is was 8" long and longer if you stretched the Carmel goodness. I love this candy bar was upset when they quit making them and started stocking the shelf with whatchamcalits instead. They are good to but no where near as satisfying as a marathon bar.

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  11. very interesting post.this is my first time visit here.i found so mmany interesting stuff in your blog especially its discussion..thanks for the post! brus på nett

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  12. As a '70s kid, Marathon was one of my favorites. But I liked just about anything that contained caramel.

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  13. I remember Marathon bars very well. Other than Curly Wurlies (not as good), the closest thing there is eating a Marathon bar is eating the caramel layer off of a regular Twix Bar, which I often do, before crunching the cookie layer.

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  14. Marathons were best when they were frozen. Loved those things.

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  15. Get a Marathon Bar, a bag of popcorn and a Dr. Pepper. Greatest football game snack from the concession stand I ever had.

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  16. This was a really great contest and hopefully I can attend the next one. It was alot of fun and I really enjoyed myself.. candy shop singapore

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  17. Yes I remember it as being about the chewiest candy bar in the history of mankind. 8" x 1" and very thin (maybe 1/8"). You chewed and chewed and chewed. Today we have PowerBars. They are much worse tasting, but it does take forever to chew them up ...

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