LeRoy Pennysaver & News

LE ROY PENNYSAVER & NEWS - DECEMBER 2, 2018 What I Learned in Albany by Lynne Belluscio I had to travel to Alba- ny to join a panel discussion about the advertising promo- tion of Jell-O and Knox Gel- atin - - yes a rather esoteric topic. It was part of a three- day New York State History Symposium that is held at the State College at Albany each year. The other two panelists had some very interesting in- formation. Rachael Minkoff, who I have talked with several times, discussed Knox Gela- tin, which was based in John- stown, New York and actual- ly is older than Jell-O. Knox is the first company to offer granulated gelatin, which was a great improvement over sheet gelatin. Unlike Jell-O, it did not introduce flavored gelatin until 1930, but the interesting part, is that when Charles Knox died in 1908, his wife took over the com- pany and became a very suc- cessful business woman at a time that women were not part of the business world. Orator Woodward died in 1906, and his wife Cora be- came president of Jell-O, but it was in name only, and as far as I can see, she never guid- ed the company in any way. Her position was primarily to keep the company togeth- er until the youngest child, Helen became of age. Then Ernest, the oldest son took over Jell-O. Rose Knox ran the company and never let her son get involved. Rose directed Knox advertising to the direction of health and home economy. Jell-O, on the other hand, promoted the fun and entertaining aspect of their gelatin product. Jell-O took a food that took a couple of days to make and was made by servants in wealthy house- holds, and made it so easy to make – only add 2 cups of hot water - - and anyone could have a jelly on the table. In reality, Jell-O democratized an elitist food. On of the panelists was Cynthia Meyers, who pre- sented a paper about the Jack Benny radio show, which aired in the 1930s. Cynthia said that when the Postum Company bought Jell-O, sales were lagging. Then in 1929, when Postum and Jell-O be- came General Foods, they changed advertising agencies and contracted with Young and Rubicam.They hired Jack Benny to promote the six delicious flavors, touted by the announcer Don Wil- son. Every Sunday night, for almost ten years, Americans turned on their radios to lis- ten to Jack Benny. The entire show was a Jell-O ad. The skits were made into cartoon strips that were run in maga- zines. It was a daring move, because people didn’t like to hear radio advertisements and here was almost an entire show spoofing Jell-O, but the public loved it. In the comic strip, they decide to name the six dachshund puppies after the six Jell-O flavors – cherry, strawberry, raspberry, lemon, lime and orange. Cynthia and I discussed the Jell-O archives, which I had learned had been closed when Heinz took over Kraft Foods. She had heard that the archives had been moved to a warehouse. So when I re- turned to LeRoy I contacted some friends and I emailed my contact at Jell-O and learned that the archives have been moved, but to a facili- ty that is climate controlled in Chicago. the archives are not accessible and have been mothballed, but at least they are not languishing in a ware- house. I also contacted the former Kraft archivist and confirmed that for now, the archives are under lock and key. The other interesting thing that I discovered in Albany, was another plas- ter “Athena.” She stands in the entry hall of the Science Library on the Albany State University campus. Unlike the one we have at the Histor- ical Society, that lurks behind a curtain in the Jell-O gift shop, the one in Albany has been restored and she goes by her other name “Minerva.” Funny story, - -as I was stand- ing taking a picture of the Al- bany statue, a man asked why I was interested and I told him about the one in LeRoy. He told me that he always stops to say hello to Minerva, be- cause that was his mother’s name and he never met an- other Minerva. I invited him to LeRoy. The LeRoy statue was given to the school by (I think) the Class of 1917. In 1936, Howard Chalfant, a graduat- ing senior, made sketches for the yearbook, including Ath- ena. Minerva is the Roman goddess of wisdom and the strategy of war. Her story was derived from the Greek god- dess Athena. The Romans considered the two to be the same. She wears a Corin- thian helmet pushed back on her head. She is armed with a staff which she holds in her right hand and at her feet a serpent, symbol of wisdom. (The snake on the statue in LeRoy needs repair.) The statue came to the Historical Society when they school was cleaning out stuff they didn’t want. When I first visited the Academic Building – back in the 1970s, Athena was stand- ing in the room where the Jell-O Gallery is now. Then she was moved to where our library is now. Then she was moved behind the chimney - - behind the curtain. We tried to give her back to the school a few years ago - -af- ter all she is symbolic of wis- dom, but her application was turned down. I figured that if the Knight was the mascot of school sports - - why not Ath- ena – the goddess of wisdom. Maybe the school will recon- sider. Statue of Minerva at Science Library at State University at Albany. Minerva behind the curtain in the Jello museum.