The return of the Gum Fighter! (Bubble Gum Weekend)

Once Don Collier's Gum Fighter character cleared up initial misunderstandings about Hubba Bubba bubble gum, the product was a smash hit.

At first, gum connoisseurs feared that Hubba Bubba's "no-stick" bubbles meant that the bubbles wouldn't pop in a person's face. Bubbles not bursting in one's face would defeat the entire purpose of bubbling. But the Gum Fighter's ads proved that the bubbles did indeed pop in one's face - and that the burst gum was easy to remove from one's skin.

Hubba Bubba sales soared upon this discovery. So much so that stores ran out of the stuff!

Bubble Yum faced a similar supply-and-demand problem several years earlier, when it had to curtail its own marketing (Flavor Fiend and all) so production could meet the amazing demand.

The grueling Hubba Bubba shortage was highlighted in this 1980 commersh featuring the Gum Fighter:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4wSBPjBmLyE

Man, I feel so sorry for the people in that Western town for having to do without Hubba Bubba for so long. Most Americans these days only have to do without little things like health care or reliable employment. But the folks in that ad had to do without Hubba Bubba! Can you imagine?

But once again, the Gum Fighter saved the day!