A Look Back in Time

This spirited Beemans ad captures the playful charm of mid-century marketing. With bold type, lively illustration, and witty copy, it turned chewing gum into a story of style & energy. With its crisp, minty wintergreen flavor still delighting today, Beemans remains a refreshing classic that carries the same spark and personality seen in ads like this one.

Step back to 1884, when Adams Black Jack Gum made history as America’s very first flavored chicle. Praised as “good for the throat” and adored for its bold licorice taste, Black Jack quickly became a household favorite. Sealed with tradition and bursting with that unmistakable flavor, it’s the gum that started it all.

From sandlots to grandstands, baseball and chewing gum have always gone hand-in-hand. This classic ad shows a young ballplayer reaching for Adams Black Jack, the licorice-flavored favorite that brought a burst of refreshment to America’s pastime. A timeless chew that kept spirits high—Black Jack was a true hit, both on and off the field.

Learn more about the link between chewing gum & America’s favorite game in the 1950s’!

This early Beemans advertisement features the gum’s founder, Dr. Edwin E. Beeman (1839-1906), proudly promoting his formula that blended pepsin with chicle to create a gum once believed to ease indigestion. Using the doctor’s distinguished portrait, the ad reflects turn-of-the-century confidence in science and self-made remedies. While adding pepsin to our gum is a thing of the past, Beemans enduring wintergreen flavor remains the true hallmark of this nostalgic classic.

Learn more about Beemans legacy in America from the skies to the silver screen!

This whimsical Beemans ad features a rosy-cheeked girl in an old-fashioned frock, calmly knitting away with a ball of yarn (which bears more than a passing resemblance to Black Jack gum!). With its quaint charm and clever visual play, the design reflects how early chewing gum ads often relied on novelty to catch the eye, turning everyday scenes into memorable little stories.

And now you can enjoy that classic Beemans charm in sugar-free, so the nostalgia’s even sweeter!

This lighthearted Beemans ad shows a soda fountain scene where a fashionable young woman reaches eagerly into a jar of gum, while a flustered gentleman looks on. With its warm colors, expressive faces, and touch of humor, the illustration captures the everyday appeal of Beemans, an irresistible treat no one wanted to miss.

Learn more about how Beemans has been adding the same charm to the Silver Screen for decades!

This nostalgic Black Jack ad shows two well-dressed children sharing a stick of gum under the amused gaze of their parent. With their sly smiles, the youngsters look as if they’re sneaking a little treat, while the bold slogan drives home the brand’s signature licorice taste. Ads like this captured both the wholesomeness and mischievous charm that made Black Jack a household favorite.

Discover how Black Jack changed chewing gum forever!

This cheerful Black Jack ad features a freckle-faced boy grinning with stick of gum in hand, perfectly embodying the playful energy that made Adams’ licorice-flavored classic so beloved. With bold red lettering and a simple, striking design, the ad captures the straightforward charm of early chewing gum promotions—where one look was enough to make you crave a chew.

Today, with a Sugar-Free Black Jack to enjoy, that grin is easier than ever to keep, both for nostalgia’s sake & your sweet tooth.

This playful ad features a flustered gentleman realizing the one item he nearly left off his list—his favorite stick of licorice gum. With its sly humor and bold artwork, the ad turns an ordinary shopping trip into a reminder that Black Jack was simply too important to overlook.

This bold Clove ad makes its point with rich red tones, a smiling boy, and a tagline that leaves no doubt about its message: flavor rooted in tradition. From the rosy flush on the boy’s cheeks to the cheerful bite of clove, the design captures the warmth and nostalgia that made this gum a lasting favorite. And today, you can enjoy that same classic taste in a sugar-free version—a truly timeless chew with a modern twist.

This 1920 photograph captures a towering Black Jack Gum billboard perched above the bustling New Jersey boardwalk, right over the Canton Tea Parlor. Against a backdrop of storefronts and early automobiles, the bold signage shows how chewing gum had become not just a treat, but a fixture of American advertising—colorful, eye-catching, and impossible to miss. (Image courtesy of Duke Library)

Curious about the man behind it all? Read more about Thomas Adams & how Black Jack came to be on his quest for innovation!

In 1927, Black Jack Gum invited customers to put their creativity to the test—offering a whopping $1,000 prize (about $18,000 today!) for the best title or caption to pair with this cheerful illustration. With its playful contest and eye-catching design, the ad shows just how far Black Jack was willing to go to keep gum lovers engaged and talking about that “good old licorice flavor.”

This photo captures Gerrit J. Verburg during his early days selling chewing gum across Scandinavia, where brands like Stimorol—originating in Denmark—were local favorites. The sleek trade booth design, bold graphics, and modern flair highlight how gum companies marketed themselves internationally, blending style with salesmanship to win over new markets.

Want to learn more about Gerrit and his history as a candy man? Read all about his sweet adventures all around the world!