Candy Blog

1. If they haven’t changed the recipe since the Pittsburgh days...it went from D. L. Clark to Leaf to Necco...Clark used to refer to the center as a peanut butter “taffy” when showing how they made the bar on local TV, which would explain the difference in texture compared to the other bars and the chewiness.

   Comment by Matt on 12/07/05 at 4:16 pm

    

2. Hey Matt! That makes perfect sense. Also, I noticed it got more flavorful as I finished it than when I started. Odd, but it still doesn’t knock 5th Ave off my top spot.

   It just doesn’t feel like Pittsburgh anymore without the Clark bar thought.

   Comment by Cybele on 12/07/05 at 6:50 pm

    

3. Cybele,

   Tim Richardson’s “Sweets: a history of candy” (aka “A history of Temptation”—much the better title, don’t you think?) says that Clark bars are the first “combination” candy bar. (funny the things one remembers from a book). Amazon has cheap remainder copies in stock now!

   http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000BZ99RO/qid=1134028430/sr=2-1/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_1/104-3580035-0251915?s=books&v=glance&n=283155

   Comment by desertwind on 12/08/05 at 4:00 am

    

4. I live in Pittsburgh, the candy bars are still easy to find but I believe they got rid of the sign a few years ago when the factory changed hands…

   Comment by zac on 12/11/05 at 10:33 pm

    

5. Clark Bars are virtually impossible to find in any
   of the major stores in his area.
   Help!!

   Comment by bill kenney on 5/08/06 at 12:12 pm

    

6. Bill - I’m afraid I’m not sure which chains sell Clark bars currently. I’ve found them at Long’s Drugs and RiteAid from time to time.

   You also might want to try Cost Plus World Market (there might be one in your area).

   There’s always the internet, but you usually have to order by the box.

   Comment by Cybele on 5/10/06 at 10:02 am

    

7. Does anybody remeber the commercial with the talking ostrich asking for a Clark bar?

   Comment by Morris on 9/29/06 at 7:36 pm

    

8. The hospital I work for sells all three (the Clark bar, 5th Avenue, and Butterfinger) in the gift shop!  They are all three readily available here in Indiana.

   Comment by markz on 5/21/07 at 12:18 pm

    

9. I worked at the Clark Bar Factory the last 2 summers 1952-53 prior to graduating from West View
   High in 54.  My mom worked there, did the payroll for GOOabout 15 years.  Mom was a widow for 9 years,then married in ‘50. He also worked at Clark’s. I lived on Juniata Street, about a 20 minute walk to where the stadiums are now located.
   Hey, how amout Isaly’s Ice Cream Sandwich.
   They were great.  Or THE DIPS at West View Park.
   I lived on Bellevue Road, on top of the hill
   in back of Park. 
   Herb McFarland

   “The DIP

   Comment by Herb McFarland on 8/20/07 at 4:04 pm

    

10. i,m not have,n any luck finding clark bar in me area help akron/ canton

    Comment by john on 9/17/07 at 5:24 pm

     

11. I have a very old clark candy bar promotional item that I’m trying to find out what year it came out.  It’s a little boy squeeky toy - he’s holding a clark bar in one hand and pointing at it with the other.  anyone know of a site where I could find out?

    Comment by Michelle on 9/20/07 at 3:10 pm

     

12. fOLLOW UP TO #9 ENTRY
    SORRY ABOUT THE TYPO ERRORS, BUT PARKINSONS
    PLAYS A LOT WITH MY HAND & THE MOUSE.
    “THE DIPS” WAS THE ROLLER COASTER RIDE IN WEST
    VIEW PARK. IT WAS AT THE BOTTTOM OF THE HILL, I LIVED ON BELLEVUE ROAD.  I WOULD FALL ASLEEP TO THE MUSIC PLAYED ON THE LOUD SPEAKERS,AS THE
    SCREAMING FGOING DOWN THE FIRST DIP.
    CLARKS ALSO MADE ZAGNUT BARS& SOME LITTLE
    SQUARE CHEWY THINK, ITS COLOR WAS 4 SQUARES, 1 BLACK,1 WHITE 1 PINK 1 WHITE.CAN’T RECALL THE
    NAME RIGHT NOW.
    FOR MORRIS #7 ..
    THE LINE AT HE END OF THE AD WAS BY A GIRAFFE TOO,
    AS WELL AS BY AN OSTRICH ...I’D DO ANYTHING FOR
    A CLARK BAR

    Comment by Herb McFarland on 11/14/07 at 4:43 pm

     

13. I remember when Cartoon Network played the clark bar commercials too.  The phrase was “I want a clark bar.” It was giraffes, elephants, and ostriches.
    Mary

    Comment by Mary on 1/19/08 at 5:11 pm

     

14. We live in the Clark Estate, Mercer, Pa.  It was a summer home and of course, now converted to a year around home.  We have a few memorabilia things left here, after Bobby Clark lived here.

    Comment by Fran on 2/06/08 at 10:43 pm

     

15. Cybele, been threatening to Google Clark Bar and see what comes up.  Glad you posted this story! Hope your blog is still active on this subject.  As a native Pittsburgher, it brings back memories (Yes, Herb, Isalys! Also, good memories!BTW, I grew up not far from West View, in Ohio Twp.).  My dad worked for Clark’s from ‘39 to his death in ‘71 in management, in various capacities.  I made many a trip through their factory as a kid.  Great memories.  The Clark Bar of today is slightly different.  The Butterfinger-like center is a change.  Originally, it had a “center” within the Butterfinger-like portion.  Not sure what it was, maybe a caramel like substance.  And, of course, they were a lot bigger bars then.  I have pretty vivid memories of watching the candy machines turning out Clark Bars.  How times change.  Yes, Clark’s Teaberry was a popular gum.  Again, how times change and not necessarily for the better!

    Comment by Roger on 4/17/08 at 11:55 am

     

16. I was born in Pittsburgh, grew up in Beaver before moving to NYS. I, too, remember Isaly’s and of course the Clark Bar sign. I think the pink/white/black candies alluded to above may be Black Jacks, a licorice/anise-flavored chew that was very popular alongside the B-B-B-Bats and candy dots at our local store. This thread brought back memories… I can easily recall candy bars (and even Cracker Jack) for a nickel, stuff like Gold Nugget gum (came in a cloth sack like “real” gold nuggets) and Callard and Bowser brand butterscotch with tablets you had to break in half to eat. Best butterscotch ever, now gone for good.

    Bonomo Turkish Taffy was also great. And remember when Nestles Krunch actually was crispy-crunchy? I understand that when the Nestles factory closed in Fulton, NY, that was the end of the proper crisped rice; the stuff they use now is too weak to make for a good crunch.

    Odd, whenever I have Clark bars now (if I can find them) the interior just does not seem like I remember. Is it possible that corn syrup has supplanted white sugar in part? That would account for the change.

    Frankly what I miss is being able to buy gum that actually contained sugar. Juicy Fruit, Doublemint etc. all now have that yucky “off” aftertaste of fake sweetener. Used to love Teaberry gum, as well as Clove. I just don’t like the taste of aspartame and I know I’m not alone.

    So many treats of yore are endangered… even Breyer’s Ice Cream has turned crappy, with thickeners added to destroy its previously perfect mouthfeel.

    BTW even Kennywood has gone to the dark side, having been sold to a foreign concern. Didn’t see that one coming.

    Oh well. Snack on, people.

    Comment by Kinnakeet on 6/04/08 at 6:56 am

     

17. Where can i fan clark bars in the New York
    City area

    Comment by Erwin Johnson on 6/05/08 at 9:11 am

     

18. Erwin - I think your best bet in NYC is Economy Candy on the Lower East Side. Dylan’s Candy Bar also carries most regional bars.

    Kinnakeet - I was very excited to find Israeli Juicyfruit gum that’s still made with sugar!

    Roger - according to old advertising of the Clark bar, the center was a bit of peanut butter, which I’m guessing would be a little soupy from being surrounded by the candy part.

    Comment by Cybele on 6/05/08 at 9:19 am

     

19. Herb McFarland: That 4 colored candy bar is called the Sky Bar - one of my favorites and almost impossible to find, even in the ‘Burgh. I see it now and then in a vending machine and start diggin’ for change - lol

    Comment by Missy on 6/30/08 at 7:53 pm

     

20. Ahh… now I remember what Herb’s talking about - it’s a square layered thing, chewy and I think sugar-coated. Kinnakeet might be correct about the name - Black Jacks. So, not the Sky Bar - sorry.

    Yep - so much has changed in the ‘Burgh, some for the good (Primanti’s expended to like 3 or 4 more locations around the area) and some for the not-so-good. I’m not as upset over Kennywood being sold as I was when it happened. Went there a few weeks ago and nothing’s changed. In fact, there were a few improvements. Time will tell how long that will last, however. I still can’t handle what they did to the Haunted Hideaway a few years back (was still original owner then). They took a historic landmark ride and screwed it all up. Oh well, I guess some like it, I sure don’t. Well, we may not have the Clark sign or Three Rivers Stadium anymore, but last time I was in town (last summer) the Heinz bottle was still all lit up. Once that’s gone too it won’t be the same to me either. Can’t stop progress.

    Comment by Missy on 6/30/08 at 8:11 pm

     

21. Cybele, you’re right about the center.  I remember now, it WAS peanut butter.  I remember my dad (who for a time was in Clark’s Purchasing, I think maybe the Director) saying they got peanuts from Virginia plantations (I recall the name of Birdsong Industries) and ground them with large granite rollers to make the peanut butter for the center.  They separated the peanut “heart” from the peanut, that’s the little pointed nub when you separate the peanut pieces, and discarded it.  He said it would turn rancid if used in the peanut butter.  Since we lived in the country amidst the trees, he built a fairly good sized bird feeder and during the winters, he’d bring home large sacks of the peanut hearts for the birds.  Happy birds, they were!  Those were the days, my friend, as the song goes.  Thanks, Cybele, and others, for bringing back the memories.  A simpler time, it was…

    BTW, Kinnakeet, you’re right on the Aspartame.  It’s garbage.  Even the medical profession is waking up now to the problems it causes.  Best to stay away from it.  Just because the government approves it, doesn’t mean it’s ok.  They’ve made mistakes many times before.

    Missy, after nearly 20 years away, I visited Pgh for a week in July of 2000.  It was very different.  Not at all like I remembered.  Many familiar sights were gone.  Visited the Science Center and the submarine, which were neat, but I really missed the old Planetarium.  The old area where my high school was in Ben Avon was totally different (it’s gone now, replaced by houses).  The little valley where I grew up was full of freeway.  Very sad.  Being a “techie” I used Google Earth and looked at those areas a couple of months ago, there are even more changes.  As the saying goes, “you can’t go back home”.  How true. 

    Blessings to all.

    Roger
    Colorado

    Comment by Roger on 6/30/08 at 8:58 pm

     

22. Cybele and all, just Googled “Clark Candy Company” for the heck of it and found something I hadn’t seen before.  Here’s the link: 

    http://www.victoryseeds.com/candystore/clarks.html

    The Victory Seeds Company has a decent history of the D. L. Clark Co., and the Clark Chewing Gum Company.  Turns out, the Clark Gum Co., is still operating and on the Victory sight, you can still buy Clark’s Teaberry Gum!  Wonder of wonders!  And they say it has no artificial sweeteners, NO ASPARTAME.  Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus (yes, you dated yourself if you remembered that phrase)!

    Roger

    Comment by Roger on 6/30/08 at 10:00 pm

     

23. In 1967, I was pregnant with my 3rd child and all I craved and ate by the dozen, Was Clark Bars.  Here it is 2008 and I have great grand children and again I’m craving Clark Bars.  My husband has scoured our town, but to no avail, he can’t find me a Clark Bar.  WHY! Why are they so hard to find anymore?  They are so good.

    Comment by Joy Harvey on 7/28/08 at 7:16 pm

     

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