The history of Bazooka Joe in the Netherlands and Belgium 1958–1976
Introduction
On this website I’m trying to uncover the history of Bazooka Joe chewing gum in the Netherlands from 1958 till about 1976, as completely as I can. The Belgian history starts in 1961 and is covered as well. Additions and remarks are very much appreciated.
19 years, 263 scans of gags, wrappers, club cards, coins and ads. Pick a year above or scroll through the timeline.
Timeline by year
-
Bazooka Joe in 1958
Bazooka the Atom chewing gum was likely introduced in 1954 in The Netherlands, with initially gags from Henry, by Carl Anderson. Promotion really started in 1958 however.
View 1958 (17 images) -
Bazooka Joe in 1959
Bazooka introduces the first 50 textless gags. They are identical to the American and British series. The banner has the numbers 1-59 followed by a number. The numbering is illogical, some numbers exist twice, other numbers don’t exist.
View 1959 (21 images) -
Bazooka Joe in 1960
In the year 1960 the first gags with text were introduced, numbered 1-60-1 until 1-60-56. In 1964 the Dutch mail tariff was raised from 12 to 15 cents, and the text for the gadgets one could obtain was slightly changed from 12 to 15 cents.
View 1960 (3 images) -
Bazooka Joe in 1961
1961 was the most interesting year in the Dutch Bazooka Joe-history. The Dutch Bazooka Club was founded, and an immediate success! Membership cards were issued. The translator all of a sudden names Henkie (Pesty in the USA) Sjors!
View 1961 (39 images) -
Bazooka Joe in 1962
It was probably in the year 1962 that the Dutch H-2 series appeared. This series matches the American 2-1959 series, though so far only 28 gags seemed to be used in the Netherlands.
View 1962 (15 images) -
Bazooka Joe in 1963
The year 1963 is special. The Bazooka Joe Club has over 100,000 members now. The H-6 series is released, with 30 (?) gags from the American 1-61 series.
View 1963 (32 images) -
Bazooka Joe in 1964
Not much news that year. The American 1-60 series is still reprinted, but this time with the new postage of 15 cents. Children have contests: blowing the biggest bubble.
View 1964 (13 images) -
Bazooka Joe in 1965
Five years Bazooka Joe Club! That must be celebrated with a commemorative coin in a nice cardboard holder! Bazooka Blony goes along with 5 coins with sea-heroes.
View 1965 (13 images) -
Bazooka Joe in 1966
Postage rises to 20 cents. Gags get smaller: 6,5 x 5 centimeters! Belgium starts its own gags, in 2 languages: Dutch and French. In 1966 both Holland and Belgium used the American D1-62 series, 32 gags.
View 1966 (18 images) -
Bazooka Joe in 1967
Wesley gets help writing gags from 1967 on from Jay Lynch (born January 7th 1945 – died March 5th 2017). Holland releases 36? gags from the American D1-63 series, and Belgium releases 39? gags from the American D2-62 series.
View 1967 (14 images) -
Bazooka Joe in 1968
Not much news in that year. A special coin was released, some advertisements for club gadgets were issued.
View 1968 (6 images) -
Bazooka Joe in 1969
Not much news in 1969. A nice envelope with birthday rosettes appears and promotion for club articles continues.
View 1969 (4 images) -
Bazooka Joe in 1970
The number of members of the Bazooka Club seems to have diminished drastically. The Dutch H-5 series is presented, probably a selection of 24 gags from the American D9 and D10 series. On the right side they have wise texts.
View 1970 (5 images) -
Bazooka Joe in 1971
A year with little news. Seems Holland uses the American 71-series, 45? A nice birthday card for members comes out.
View 1971 (4 images) -
Bazooka Joe in 1972
A new type of vending machine comes out! Gum comics advertise club articles.
View 1972 (10 images) -
Bazooka Joe in 1973
Not much to report. Membership cards came out, perhaps there were still 17,000+ members.
View 1973 (2 images) -
Bazooka Joe in 1974
In 1974 there was a colouring contest, new membership cards came out, the Bazooka Club still has 20,000+ members, and the Magic Circle is still active!
View 1974 (5 images) -
Bazooka Joe in 1975
In 1975 the Bazooka P.O. Box moves to Rijswijk, near The Hague, and 2 nice stickers come out. Belgium had a riddle series, of which only 7 gags are known so far.
View 1975 (16 images) -
Bazooka Joe in 1976
Bazooka gum is still on the market. Till 1979 it is still advertised as Super Bazooka bubble gum, in various flavours. The original pink chewing gum is still for sale in certain Jamin franchise shops, e.g. in Alkmaar.
View 1976 (26 images)
