Black Jack (gum)

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Two 5-stick packs of Black Jack gum

Black Jack is an aniseed-flavored chewing gum currently manufactured by the Gerrit J. Verburg Co.^[1]

In 1869, exiled former Mexican president and general Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna (famous for losing the Texas War of Independence) was living in New Jersey.^[2] He brought Mexican chicle with him in hopes of selling it to raise funds to help him return to power in his home country. He persuaded Thomas Adams of Staten Island, New York, to buy it. Adams, a photographer and inventor, intended to vulcanize the chicle for use as a rubber substitute. Adams' efforts at vulcanization failed, but he noticed that Santa Anna liked to chew the chicle, which the ancient Mayans had done. Disappointed with the rubber experiments, Adams boiled a small batch of chicle in his kitchen to create a chewing gum. He gave some to a local store to see if people would buy it; they did and he began production.

1919 newspaper ad for the product.

In 1871, Adams received a patent on a gum-making machine and began mass-producing chicle-based gum. His first product ("Snapping and Stretching") was pure chicle with no flavoring, but sold well enough to encourage Adams in his plans. He began to experiment with flavorings, beginning with sarsaparilla. In 1884, he began adding licorice flavoring and called his invention Adams' Black Jack, the first flavored gum in the U.S. It was also the first gum to be offered in sticks.

Black Jack Gum was sold well into the 1970s, when production ceased due to slow sales.^[3] It was re-introduced in 1986^[4] and again in 2019.^[5]

Ownership[]

Warner–Lambert acquired the American Chicle Company, including the Adams brand, in 1962. The American Chicle Company was renamed to Adams in 1997. Pfizer, which had bought Warner-Lambert in 2000, sold Adams and all of Pfizer's other candy brands to Cadbury in 2003. This unit became Cadbury Adams.^[6]

In 2019, Gerrit J. Verburg acquired the Black Jack gum brand among several others from Mondelez International, the parent company of Cadbury.^[7]

In popular culture[]

In the book Deviant, author Harold Schechter mentions that American serial killer Ed Gein chewed Black Jack gum during his sanity hearing. Black Jack gum was also used in the television show Boardwalk Empire. It was featured in Nucki's flashbacks in Season 5, Episode 6.

In Seinfeld Season 3, Episode 5 ("The Library"), Seinfeld is reminiscing with an old friend. He asks if they were chewing Black Jack gum. She says, "Ugh licorice gum? Never!"

In the 1990 movie Pump up the Volume, Christian Slater's character prefers Black Jack gum .

In Don Rittner's 2017 Biopic feature film "Karen Or Bust," which takes place in 1966, BlackJack plays a role as a stress reliever for the lead character.

Referenced in the song "Back to the Hotel" by SF Bay area group N2Deep.

In the Sanford and Son episode "Coffins for Sale" Fred makes a reference to Black Jack Gum being chewed by General Pershing.

In Season 3, Episode 10 of the Showtime original series Homeland, acting director of the CIA, Saul Berenson ensures his secretary has an adequate supply during a tense moment. (Later it is referenced as his lucky gum). "I'm out of Black Jack. Anymore out there?" Secretary brings him a pack from her desk. "Is this the last pack?" Secretary: "I've got you plenty more. Don't worry."

Rage (1977) by Stephen King. In chapter 22 the lead character, Charlie Decker, says: "Black Jack gum - there is no finer."

In Season 3, Episode 16 of the American TV series Northern Exposure, "Three Amigos," Ruth-Anne offers Maurice a pack of Black Jack gum to bury with their late friend, Bill. She said he always liked it. Then, before they completely finish Bill's burial in the wilderness, Maurice offers Holling a stick and then he stuffs the pack of gum between the rocks that are covering the burial mound.

In Season 7, Episode 2 of Bosch, Detective Jerry Edgar is seen pulling a pack out of his locker, and chewing a piece after a rough night out and showing up late to duty.

In Season 2 of DuckTales (2017), It is revealed that Della Duck has been surviving on the Moon due to Dr. Gearloose's OXY CHEW, which being black licorice flavored, is clearly a nod to Black Jack gum.

References[]