WigWag Bar from the Tuck Shop

While we are speaking of candy and cultural touchstones: does anyone else remember the WigWag bar? It was a long, thin chocolate bar that consisted of caramel shaped in a lattice pattern, covered with chocolate. I used to buy them at the tuck shop at the Hamilton YMCA.

The tuck shop is something that Catherine and I share: we both had tuck shops figure prominently in our childhoods, hers at summer camp, and mine at both summer camp and at the YMCA. I’ve met a lot of people, though, who look at me strangely when I start talking about tuck shops (or about “tuck,” the products they sell), so I gather the term is not universal.

Comments

Leslie's picture
Leslie on October 25, 2005 - 23:44 Permalink

Does any one remember the “Crunchwich”? It was a wafer bar with peanut butter and jam inside, covered in chocolate. Bar six and Wig Wag were my ultimate favorites, as well as an ice cold “Tahiti Treat”.

Shane Nesbitt's picture
Shane Nesbitt on November 1, 2005 - 02:04 Permalink

Hey everyone,
I am also mystified by what you term the “danish” bar. I remember a white bar much like a Mr. Big but with a unique flavour. I thought it was called a Tiger something…. It came in a clear cellophane wrapper an had chocolare stripes…
Anyone remember the exact name?

Steve's picture
Steve on November 2, 2005 - 15:16 Permalink

Shane:

The bar you are describing sounds like the “Danish” bar many of us are referring to. It definitely was called “Danish” — I can even visualize the package!

Ahh, memories.

Terri's picture
Terri on November 6, 2005 - 18:42 Permalink

Wow, memory lane,
Eating that sticky long mess of a WigWag in the back of the car, trying to lick off all the chocolate first! Yes I remember the Chew Chew — orange taffy/nougat. I haven’t seen anyone mention a white nougat bar I used to get. It was a white nougat with different colored ju jube like candies in it…… Aren’t there still Mojos around? I’m sure I have seen them. Spearmint was my fav! mmmmmmmm candy

Elise's picture
Elise on November 13, 2005 - 15:59 Permalink

Was that white nougat thing with jujubes in it called Turkish Delight? I loved it. Doe anyone remember the Ice Breaker? It had dark chocolate with blue pieces of sponge taffy. It also had an interior wrapper made of blue foil. Very pretty.

ktelqueen's picture
ktelqueen on November 21, 2005 - 07:03 Permalink

hi Terri..you’re talking about a bar called ‘Roman Nougat’ by Ganong..they’re very popular here in New Brunswick[home of Ganong}

http://www.ganong.com/retail/c…

Robert Jones's picture
Robert Jones on November 23, 2005 - 07:10 Permalink

I was just thinking about a cuban lunch bar and i stumbled across this page…….. I dont know if these folks have the cuban but they have mojo’s
http://www.sugarmountain.ca/

wayne's picture
wayne on December 29, 2005 - 08:48 Permalink

Holy Crap!, I almost cried. I have been looking for a picture of the old four flavors liquid chocolate bar and found not a trace that it even existed until found this site. The Danish was GREAT, the cuban lunch and a coke was a big thing for me when I was a kid in Edmonton, The WIG WAG!, I had almost forgot (NEVER freeze the damn things). The Bar six is still available, it is british I believe..I use to get it here in BC. The treasures were beautiful, I always thought of them as a mini box of chocolates!

Rick's picture
Rick on March 6, 2006 - 16:54 Permalink

Holy crap, i remember the bar six,4 flavors(my favorite),the wig wag,mo jo’s, koo koo bar, pizza chips etc.Oh my dod i miss these.I have to get a four flavors or a wig wag in me once again before i die.Oh yes and rum & butter were good also.where did the world go wrong.

Sue's picture
Sue on March 30, 2006 - 01:47 Permalink

I can’t believe I stumbled across this site. Everytime I talk about candy from the past the wig wag comes to mind. My favorite is the Koo Koo. I read on one of the other sites that they are coming back soon. I really hope so. If you ever visit Halifax, Nova Scotia you have to go to the Freak Lunchbox on Barrington Street. It’s like a blast from the past Oh I just remembered something else. Does anyone remember the buried treasure ice cream. It was white and orange ice cream on a plastic stick that was an animal figure

San's picture
San on April 11, 2006 - 02:24 Permalink

I was wondering if anyone besides me, has been missing the BAr called “PEP CHEW” i can’t get that bar out of my head , my aunt used to buy that bar all the time and i know i used to get it for .50 I heard a story out there about the owner dying and taking the recipe with him !! :S But i have no clue, i just want some answers and want to know if there is a Company out there selling the bar!! Thanks San

ktelqueen's picture
ktelqueen on April 12, 2006 - 07:23 Permalink

Hi Sue!Growing up in Dartmouth,NS Buried Treasures were one of my faves..I used to buy them at Dorey’s in Woodlawn..do you happen to remember a small tub of kind of peachy ice cream with a gumball or something at the bottom..clear plastic cup..ring any bells?

edna's picture
edna on September 7, 2015 - 11:55 Permalink

the one with the bubble gum at the bottom was called a screw ball

Sue's picture
Sue on April 18, 2006 - 04:03 Permalink

I sure do remember the ice cream cups. I’m not sure I know where Doreys was though, How long ago was this. Have you visited the Freak Lunchbox

ktelqueen's picture
ktelqueen on May 5, 2006 - 06:05 Permalink

Dorey’s was on Day Avenue,across and down a bit from Woodlawn Mall..and yes,I’ve been to the Freak Lunchbox..very cool place!

Todd's picture
Todd on May 11, 2006 - 06:08 Permalink

hey guys they started selling something here in Saint John, NB last summer called country store old fashioned TAFFY it is packaged just like the koo koo bar only the ends are crimped/sealed shut there was a website on the back of the wrapper along with nutritional info (unheard of in the seventies hah!) anyways i bought the whole box. they were about 50 cents each. they taste nothing like the original koo koo and snapped/broke where the koo koo was more soft and you could pull it or fold it. these taste more like salt water taffy although the box i bought was neapolitan. i was excited just to see it and the kids i work with did enjoy them. i just wish someone would make the original again that was cheap and tasted really good.
here is the web address: www.countrystorecandy.com/orde…
by the way those ganong roman nougat bars rock! does anyone remember the onion ring chips in the late seventies that were good but you couldn’t eat the whole bag cause the salt was so sickening (they were NOT sour cream just onion flavoured)I remember getting a bag of those and a bag of gold rush bubblegum (that came in a drawstring pouch and the gum was shaped like gold nuggets) at the boys and girls club dances on sat nite here in NB circa 1979/80

ktelqueen's picture
ktelqueen on May 16, 2006 - 05:33 Permalink

hey,Todd..as I was writing my last post the goldrush gum was in my head..too funny!I don’t think we got those onion ring chips in Dartmouth back in the day but they sound like a good time..and cheers from Saint John.

Melinda's picture
Melinda on May 17, 2006 - 07:03 Permalink

It’s so cool that this dialogue has been running for a couple of years. I was searching for Cuban Lunch info and wound up here — what a great trip down memory lane.

I grew up in Winnipeg, and remember lots of this stuff. Bar Six, the Danish bar, gold rush gum, ice cream cups with gumballs at the bottom, pep chew, kookoo thing, treasure chest, and even the rum & butter!! I never would have thought of that!

A couple of my other favourites were Pink Elephant popcorn — my grandpa always brought me some, and I always dug around to find the pinkest of the pink kernels. Also old-time Cracker Jack was awesome. They had the best prizes. What about Thrills gum? (not a favourite — but memorable) It tasted like soap.

I agree that the big candy companies are missing out on a huge retro candy market — I would buy all of this stuff again. Oh for the days you could visit the corner store with 25 cents and feel rich!

Sue's picture
Sue on May 18, 2006 - 02:24 Permalink

Hey for any of you looking for the koo koo bar, Sugar Mountain are going to start making it….it says (coming soon) on their website so we can only hope. It had to be my all time favorite. I’ve also tried the other lookalikes but not the same at all.

Does anyone remember the bags of chips. I think they were Schuler of something like that and some would have a coupon or whatever where you won a bag of chips

Tad's picture
Tad on May 29, 2006 - 19:00 Permalink

Wow, just finished reading all the posts…..brings back so many memories. Just thought I would clear up any confusion about the “danish” bar……it was Neilsons Cinnamon Danish bar. Very sweet off white coating with “icing” swirls and cookie type inside like Mr Big. They also had Lemon Danish bar for a while.

Anne's picture
Anne on June 12, 2006 - 14:05 Permalink

What a great site!! I was trying to remember the name of a bar (WigWag) and ended up on a lo-o-ong trip down memory lane. I can’t believe how many bars/candy I had forgotten about and was reminded of. My favourite memory of BarSix was sharing one with my Grandmother when she came over for Sunday dinner—there were 5 in our family, so we got 1 piece each! Not too many kids would be happy with a sixth of a chocolate bar now!!

I was reminded of the Gold Rush gum a few weeks ago at the Bulk Barn. I was buying some chocolate gravel and the clerk said it reminded her of gum that she used to get as a kid. We couldn’t remember the name first, just that it had ‘gold’ or ‘nuggets’ and came in a drawstring bag (real cloth, originally), but my sisters and I reminisced and came up with the name.

I also remember getting Thrills gum at Hallowe’en and trying to trade it for anything else!! Never a fan of eating soap! Goodies were another ‘treat’ I always tried to get rid of, but I don’t like any kind of licorice. I think these are both still available or, at least, were quite recently. Hard to believe that Thrills could outlast all the really good candy that used to be out there!! Note: A lot of the Ganong bars mentioned are still available—at least, here in the Maritimes.

To KTELQUEEN, I remember Doreys very well—grew up within walking distance of it. Also, Lakeside Grocery on Main Street/No.7 Highway. I can remember walking there once a week or so through the summer, and usually finding enough small change on the walk there to buy a bar and a bag of chips. (That was when KitKat bars came in a 2-finger size for 10 cents.)

Thanks for the memories.

Andy's picture
Andy on July 25, 2006 - 21:51 Permalink

How ‘bout Nestlee’s $100,000 bar!!
The song in the commercial….
Carmel,chewy, chewy carmel. Extra rich in flavor, Nestlee’s $100,000 Bar.

Shayne's picture
Shayne on August 28, 2006 - 00:28 Permalink

Yes, yes, yes..thank u all for remembering the Cinnamon Danish Bar! That was just so great & I wish it was still being made— is Neilsons even in business? It has been so long since I even bought a candy/ chocie bar, but I sure would buy a Danish Bar if it was still being made. The white chocolate/ pink swirl and the waffer crunch was just so darn good.

Talk ‘bout retro candy from the 70’s, anyone remember those great plastic garbage cans filled with candy pieces shaped like fish bones and stuff? There was also a coffin with candy bones that u could put together like a candy puzzle.

Also I have been searching all over the net to find the name of those temporary sailor tattoos. They had a piece of flat, white, almost square shaped soft gum in each pack. The tats where water based ink— wet your arm; place the paper/ ink side down; put a bit of water on the back of the paper; and presto a temporary tattoo! Does anyone remember these and what the product was officially called, the company that made them?

Thanks one & all for the memories!

Cheers,
Shayne T.

ThomD's picture
ThomD on September 12, 2006 - 01:47 Permalink

I remember the 4 flavours, my fovorite or one of my foavorites. I’m surprised anyone has seen one within 7 years. Seems like 20 since they were comonly available. Why is it that people can call in to the CBC with these kind of memories and someone will say “that bar is still available at bob’s dinner in red deer”? Seems like an all or nothing kind of business.

Sully's picture
Sully on September 15, 2006 - 21:22 Permalink

Wow…this site has been such a trip down memory lane. I had forgotten about so many of these bars…Bar 6, WigWag, Danish. Soooo good. Nothing they make now compares to these. My all-time favourite was the Graham Sandwich bar. A couple of people mentioned it in earlier postings but there were differing opinions on who made it…one cited Moirs (Ganong) and another claimed it was made by Lowney. Does anyone know which one is correct? I have been searching for this bar for years. Every time I pass a retro candy store, I pop in just to check. I would love to find it again…it was my favourite bar then and I have never found anything to replace it. Please let me know if it’s still available anywhere!!!

michael's picture
michael on October 7, 2006 - 04:39 Permalink

If anyone was wondering, I was in a candy store in Vancouver where they had a “memorial” placard on the counter about the Pep Chew Bar. Apparantly the factory burned down and that is what stopped the production.
(probably was also the reason they got so hard near the end they were probably selling out the old stock). I got nostalgic when I was at the freak lunchbox in Halifax, I bought a Barrets Sherbet stick, (licorice in a cylindrical cardboard tube with fizzy white powder at the bottom) Sen Sen candies, and those wax tubes with sugar/juice in the middle

Donya's picture
Donya on October 14, 2006 - 03:38 Permalink

My husband and I have found memeories talking about corner store memories on the east coast. We bought a case of curly wurly’s when we heard they were like wig wag. Expensive, but a close subsitute. Some of the few things I remember that no one has mentioned is Peter Puck candy, Astro pop (lost a tooth biting it once), black cat gum, and I don’t know what I do for Snow White Cream Soda or a Frosty Rootbeer. Oh yeah, and remeber The Pop Shop?!

John's picture
John on October 15, 2006 - 02:34 Permalink

Hi, all I was just searching google for Pep Chew chocolate bars. I found several posts and was wondering if any1 found out if it is available and who and where it was made. I would like to buy some or try and find out the recipe.

Thanks for any help you might be able to give me. John

Ellen Carleton's picture
Ellen Carleton on October 26, 2006 - 15:35 Permalink

Hi, I’m commenting on the entry from 2004 re: Peake Freen’s playbox cookies. I’ve been trying to find out if these are still made anymore. Looks like they are not. My brothers and I loved these cookies. Not only were they delicious, but it was so much fun to scrape the icing off with one’s teeth, trying not to affect the biscuit underneath. Never quite worked, but what a lovely attempt! I think we should start a campaign to get these manufactured again. I did come across some cookies called Zoo cookies — same idea but inferior quality, with animals stamped on the icing. That’s what got me started again on the Playbox search. Ellen

Lana's picture
Lana on December 9, 2006 - 01:20 Permalink

Hello fellow candy lovers,

Has anyone seen Nielsen’s danish candy bar. I remember back in the late 70’s. It had a cinnamon flavor and was made with white chocolate. It was most yummy! It had either a pink swirly stripe or brownish caramel swirly stripe. I would die for one right about now. Has anyone heard of it or know where they still sell these fabulous treats.

RobTheGob's picture
RobTheGob on December 19, 2006 - 16:51 Permalink

I remember the Danish! I remember really liking them, but I was one of the only that did… I’m a big fan of white chocolate, though…

Lory's picture
Lory on December 29, 2006 - 01:15 Permalink

Does anywone know if Liquid Four Flavour chocloate bars are still available? Maybe under a different name? Was it made by Neilsen? It’s worth the search!!

Lory's picture
Lory on December 29, 2006 - 01:32 Permalink

Please feel free to email any info or comments!

Melissa's picture
Melissa on February 7, 2007 - 05:15 Permalink

I want a wig wag! They were the best chocolate bar evah!

alistair campbell's picture
alistair campbell on March 10, 2007 - 23:38 Permalink

What Did happen to Cuban Lunch? Does anyone still make and sell it?

Licorice Babies? They used to be 4 for a penny, Alberta 1954. Now they are much smaller and much more expensive. 40 years ago I ordered 2 boxes of them from a store in Colwood, B.C., and recd what the boxes said were 1 gross. Turned out to be 1 gross of 2’s, as they were 2 for 1 cent. working my way thro 576 of ‘em darn near killed me.

berniece's picture
berniece on March 20, 2007 - 01:40 Permalink

Hey everyone! My husband and I (born 1967) talk about old chocolate bars all the time. Is it just us, or are all the best of all time no longer made? what’s with THAT? We would just about kill for a cinnamon danish, a wigwag, a Pep Chew or a Barsix!!

I always loved that Pepchew — which was absolutely perfect in every way, was always cheaper than all the other bars, ‘cause it had it’s own price tag.

Remember how you’d bite the wigwag and all the chocolate would come crumbling off?

Also, you can get Carmac bars at British import stores, but when I had one about 10 years ago (after not having had one for about 20 years) they were NOWHERE near as good as I remembered them. Perhaps that’s par for the course after 20 years, but still … I sure wish I had a Pep chew right now.

Trish's picture
Trish on March 27, 2007 - 20:01 Permalink

Hey, this is a cool site. So many of the things I was wondering about are on here — like WigWag (aka Curly Wurly) and MoJos. And some I completely forget existed, like the Rum & Butter Bar, Bar Six, Virgina Bar, Chunk, and Treasure Chest.

I was doing a search for the yellow tube with the licorice stick and the powder and someone on here mentioned the “Barret’s Shebert Licoric Stick”, which is probably what I am thinking about.

I was just in Sugar Mountain (Retro Candy Store in Ottawa) and was surprised I couldn’t find some of those things — especially MoJos. I remember when they were 2 for a penny ( was born in 1960). I also remember all the penny candy — licorice babies, black balls, spearmint leaves — and filling up the small brown paper bags at the Smoke & Gift Shop in the strip mall near where I grew up in Markham.

Now I live outside of Ottawa about 25kms from the “soon to be closed” Hershey plant in Smith Falls. I will miss it.

Roderick's picture
Roderick on April 3, 2007 - 04:18 Permalink

Do they still make Caravan bars? Haven’t seen any in about two years. What about Jelly Tots? Oh, and for the person inquiring about Frostie Root Beer, it’s still being made by http://www.leadingedgebrands.c…, which is in Texas, and Pop Shoppe is being produced again by some outfit in Burlington, Ontario. I’ve got a bottle of Lime Rickey in my fridge as I speak.

shirley's picture
shirley on April 12, 2007 - 18:51 Permalink

Does anyone remember or know where to buy “Chew Chews”? They were chocolate, caramel and coconut cookies—square and flat, sold in cardboard containers wrapped in plastic like fig neutons are. I remember them from the 70’s and early eighties. They were sold in the cookie aisle at grocery stores and places like Giant Tiger in the Ottawa area. Havent seen them in years although I look in every new grocery store I go to..

Bob Fisher's picture
Bob Fisher on April 23, 2007 - 04:38 Permalink

Curly Wurly and other old fashioned Chocolates/Candies in Edmonton area
My wife and her partner have been operating an old fashioned candy store in St. Albert for the past 8 years. The store also features British Chocolates and pantry items as well as Candy Bouquet arrangements.

Yes, they do have people who travel and call from afar for their Curly Wurlys…. we have to take a box to Lethbridge relatives when we travel….

www.candybouquet.tk
780 459-7022

Bob

beck2512's picture
beck2512 on May 10, 2007 - 21:27 Permalink

A great site,glad i found it, still see some people chatting about the Chocolate Bars (Molly-o ) was the best bar I ever had, not sure if there still made tho.Love the old days and the chocolate bars made!
Beck2512

candace's picture
candace on May 15, 2007 - 03:29 Permalink

Thank you Shirley for remembering Chew Chews!! I sorely miss them too. You even described them like I do when I’m reminscing with friends about childhood favourites. No one ever remembers them and I was beginning to doubt my memory of them. It’s good to be validated!! I remember being so frusterated as a kid having to wait for my turn to choose the weekly cookie when we were grocery shopping.(My sisters would always choose Fudgeeos or Coffee Breaks).

Here’s my 2 cents on a few other Oldies but Goodies:

I also miss Wig Wags and 4 Flavours,I never could get enough of the Bordeaux squares.

If memory serves I think Cuban Lunches were made by Pauline’s.

Tammy Smith's picture
Tammy Smith on May 15, 2007 - 22:31 Permalink

I just want to know if anyone was able to get pep chew bars, ANYWHERE? They were very good bars, if only they can continue making them, that will make alot of us happy. I myself truly miss them bars.

Linda's picture
Linda on May 17, 2007 - 18:30 Permalink

To answer the question regarding the Graham Sandwich bar. It was definitely made by Lowney. It was a white wrapper with blue lettering. Lowney is no longer in business. The last of the company’s product line now belongs to Hersheys, but I haven’t seen that bar since the 70’s. Has anyone seen Cadbury Snack Bar? It was similar to a Mr. Big. Would love to get my hands on one. Neilson’s Fudge bar and Cadbury’s Rum & Butter were awesome.

Kate's picture
Kate on May 18, 2007 - 21:14 Permalink

Shirley and Candace: I have been looking for Chew Chews cookies as well! I found something VERY similar at Superstore in Winnipeg last week — No Name brand Caramel Coconut Cookies. About 90% the same taste as Chew Chews. Was very happy to see them as i also look everywhere i go. Enjoy!

candace's picture
candace on May 19, 2007 - 03:47 Permalink

THANK YOU, Kate!!!!!! I will head out to a Superstore THIS weekend( I’m in BC,I’m sure they carry the same products across the country) and look for the No Name Caramel Coconut Cookies! I wil will probably cry and no doubt blow my “healthy eating regime” out the window, but it will be worth it and I wil raise a cookie in your honour. I’m soo happy. Thank you!! Have a great long weekend.

Shirley, I hope you find them too!! Enjoy!

Candace

dean e's picture
dean e on June 23, 2007 - 15:59 Permalink

Lowney’s caravan. The absolute best all time chocolate candy bar ever. I have been looking for it ever since I left Sherbrooke where I grew up in the fifties. I now live in the states but whenever I go back to Canada I stock up on the second best candy I ever ate, Mackintosh toffee bars. Used to buy them in the winter and crack em. Bring back Lowney’s Caravan, and while you are at it, Four flavors too….

The word Tuck shop floods me with almost fogotten memories of Camp Arrowhead on lake Memphremagog over 50 years ago..

Murray Clark's picture
Murray Clark on July 16, 2007 - 20:27 Permalink

I remember four flavors bars, and I remember caravan bars but don’t remember what was in them. What I miss is the old time penny candy stores. I went to Ed’s market in Pointe Claire for many years in the 70’s, and I would go to a little place in Calais, Maine when I would visit my grand parents in New Brunswick. Good times. Now it seems that everything is bad for you and I feel guilty if I have an occasional snickers bar. Damn medical science. Damn it all to hell!!!!

Dee's picture
Dee on July 19, 2007 - 15:31 Permalink

Has anyone seen Black Bart Gum? There is a neat candy store on Corydon in Winnipeg that sells lots of neat candy from “way back when”; not sure if they carry it or not and due to geography I cannot get there. Has anyone seen Black Bart Gum recently? Looked online, but alas, to no avail.

Cathryn's picture
Cathryn on July 28, 2007 - 06:31 Permalink

Is it me or did Mackintosh toffee change the recipe? To me it has a more grainy texture now- not as smooth. Anyway, I don’t buy it anymore because of that. I had Gold Rush yellow gum not too long ago (couple of years ago, in Victoria, BC). Hey, does anyone remember a toy called Slime? It was this green jelly like stuff that came in a garbage can I think. Us kids used to stretch it over our faces and try to blow through it-real smart eh? It’s a wonder any of us made to adulthood! I know this isn’t a candy but thought I’d ask. Where can I get a Rootbeer popsicle? Drooool….slurp, slurp……Anyway, I had a blast reading all of your comments! Thanks for the trip!

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