After reading Joe's entry on three new Tootsie Roll Pop flavors, Ann commented on the post:
I was told that the wrappers with the indian shooting the star can be turned in for a free pop. Any truth to that?
I replied:
Hi, Ann. I am the bookofjoe staff member who has been assigned to your Tootsie Roll pop question.
Unfortunately, the free Tootsie Roll pop you speak of is an urban legend. From soon after the introduction of Tootsie Pops in 1931 to the present day (currently generating about 150 letters a week), a rumor has circulated that a wrapper containing the Indian shooting a star icon could be traded-in for a bag of Tootsie Pops. However, according to Snopes.com, individual merchants have chosen to honor the wrapper legend over the years.
Now, of course, many of the queries to Tootsie Roll Industries are in the form of e-mail. Below is the company's response, dated March 24, 2005, to one such query:
"Thank you for your interest in our Tootsie Pop wrappers. We are pleased to have an opportunity to tell the true story about our Tootsie Pop wrappers. Many years ago, a rumor surfaced that said if the wrapper of a Tootsie Pop with a star was found and returned to the company, a free Tootsie Pop, or any number of things would be sent to the lucky person. We truly don't know why or where this rumor started, as our records do not indicate that our company ever sponsored any type of promotion surrounding images on the wrapper. We hope we have been able to clarify this matter for you and we thank you for contacting us. Given that the frequency of such a wrapper is high enough that the free bag of Tootsie Pops would itself contain several more such wrappers, it would not be economical for the company to have such a policy."
There you have it - the Tall Tale of the Tootsie (Roll Pop) solved. ;)
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