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It was after World War II ended that Topps developed its Bazooka bubble gum product in Brooklyn, New York. It was named after the humorous musical instrument which entertainer Bob Burns had fashioned from two gas pipes and a funnel in the 1930s. (This contraption also gave its name to the armor-piercing weapon developed during the War.)
Bazooka, with its distinctive name, taste, and red, white and blue logo and packaging, soon became a familiar part of Americana. As a matter of fact, a psychological study of tastes and smells that bring back memories found that one of the most frequently identified items was Bazooka Bubble Gum.
Bazooka is also famous for the popular series of Bazooka Joe comics, first introduced in 1953 to add extra interest for youngsters. There are 500 to 700 different comics that Topps has developed over the years, and a new series of 75 Bazooka Joe comics are in the market right now. Besides reading them, thousands of children each year send in for the premiums offered on these comics.
Bazooka itself is now available in a wide variety of flavors and forms, including Original, Grape, and Strawberry Shake flavors, as well as Sugarless Bazooka. Bazooka Blasts, with "Super Flavor Crystals," provides longer lasting, more intense flavor.
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