Halloween is a little over a week away, so it got me reminiscing about my childhood, and the types of treats we had back then.

Candy seemed to taste so much better back then, and my memory recalls it being bigger in proportion.

My parents owned a small grocery store on the West Side of Binghamton when I was very small. I remember “Buck”, the candy man, who would come to the store and open his display box of tasty new treats for us to sample.

One of the earliest candies I can remember is the candy buttons on paper tape. You would bite off the candy that was stuck to the paper and 9 times out of 10, you snacked on some of the paper too.

Do you remember the miniature wax soda bottles filled with flavored syrup, candy cigarettes, marshmallow ice cream cones, wax lips, and chick-o-sticks?

How about penny candy? I remember going into Al’s Market on Bigelow Street with a quarter, and filling up one of those brown paper bags with all kinds of goodies. Some were even 2 for a penny!

In the 70’s we had Charms sour lollipops, Fun Dip, Lik-M-Aid. Pop Rocks and Jelly Bellies, Ring Pops, Big Buddies and Charleston Chews were also popular.

There were so many wonderful treats back in the day! I distinctly remember my parents putting a lock on the candy display in the store just so I couldn’t get into it. When ever I think of these treats from so long ago, I’m 8 years old again.

Which was your candy of choice?

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