Duncan Hines 

(1880-1959)

Betty Crocker is a fictitious character created for marketing purposes. 

Duncan Hines was a real person. 

Duncan Hines was an American author and food critic who produced restaurant ratings for travelers.  He branched out to marketing food under his name which continues as a brand, today. 

"Upon purchasing our first car, we decided to see as much of America as possible..."

Duncan Hines, Adventures in Good Eating

Circa 1936

Hines was born in Bowling Green, Kentucky, the son of a former Confederate soldier in the Civil War.  His mother died when he was four years old andhe was raised by his grandmother.  Hines attended Bowling Green Business University which later merged with what is now Western Kentucky University.  He worked in the American West for Wells Fargo and other companies settling in Chicago, Illinois.

Hines worked as a traveling salesman for a Chicago printer and he had eaten many meals on the road across America by 1935 when he was 55.  At this time, there was no American interstate highway system and only a few chain restaurants, except in large populated areas.  Therefore, travelers depended on local restaurants. 

Hines and his wife, Florence Chaffin began assembling a list for friends of several hundred good restaurants around the country. The list became popular and he began selling the paperback book Adventures in Good Eating (1935), highlighting restaurants and their featured dishes that Hines had personally enjoyed in locations across the United States.  Following Florence's passing, he married Clara Ursula Wright (often referred to as Mrs. Clara Hines) in 1946.  She survived her husband, Duncan.

In 1952, Duncan Hines introduced Duncan Hines bread through the Durkee's Bakery Company of Homer, New York.  Principals Albert Durkee and Lena Durkee were the bakery proprietors.  This was Duncan Hines' first foray into baked goods. 

By 1953, Hines sold the right to use his name and the title of his book to Roy H. Park to form Hines-Park Foods which licensed the name to a number of food-related businesses.  The cake mix license was sold to Nebraska Consolidated Mills in Omaha, Nebraska which developed and sold the first Duncan Hines cake mixes.

In 1957, Hines appeared as a guest challenger on the TV panel show To Tell the Truth.

Hines is honored in his hometown of Bowling Green and a portion of U.S. Route 31W north of the city was named the Duncan Hines Highway.  A museum exhibit at Western Kentucky University's Kentucky Museum in Bowling Green showcases Duncan Hines. 

Duncan Hines Cherry Crunch McCall's Magazine Advertisement

Circa 1969

Crisco Oil & Duncan Hines Deluxe Cake Mix Circular Coupon Advertisment

Circa 1983

When Americans think of store-bought brownie and cake mixes, two names spring to mind:  Betty Crocker and Duncan Hines.  Betty Crocker is a fictitious character created fro marketing purposes though Duncan Hines was a real person. Despite his name being synonymous with packaged baking products, Hines was not a baker.  Nor was he a chef.  He didn't create any of the recipes or mixes found in the boxes that bear his name. He didn't really know his way around a kitchen at all!  He was a traveling salesman for a printing and advertising company.   

Though not a baker himself, Hines oversaw the quality of the products, ensuring they met the high standards he had set for his restaurant recommendations. Before the cake mixes achieved dominant success, the Hines-Park Foods, Inc. joint venture licensed the Duncan Hines brand name to over 250 different canned, bottled and boxed grocery products.  Hines required that every licensed product meet strict, premium quality specifications before it could carry his "Seal of Approval" endorsement. 

Duncan Hines and his wife, Clara cut a cake at the Duncan Hines test kitchen in Ithaca, New York.

Circa 1957

Roy E. Park

The Duncan Hines test kitchen was in Ithaca, New York because Roy H. Park, a prominent Ithaca-based advertising entrepreneur, partnered with Duncan Hines in 1949 to form Hines-Park Foods, Inc. which was headquartered in Park's home city to commercialize the brand. The Ithaca facility served as the development and quality control center for the brand's rapid expansion inot grocery products including the famous cake mixes introduced in 1951. The facility was located at what is now known as The Foundry in Ithaca located at 416 East State Street.

Roy H. Park and Duncan Hines met because Park actively sought out Hines in the late 1940s to pitch a business venture after an agricultural cooperative asked Park to find a way to market their food products. Park targeted Duncan Hine because Hines was America's most trusted restaurant critic and travel author with immense name recognition. Initially, Hines was highly reluctant to use his respected name for commercial product endorsements. After extensive persuasion and "wooing" by Park, Hines agreed to license his name.  

Duncan Hines

The Foundry in Ithaca was made up of several buildings built at different times.  The original wood-sided house was built in the late 1800s.  In the 1940s and 1950s, Roy H. Park, who later became a well-known media tycoon, purchased the property and built an industrial warehouse addition. The addition was first home to the original headquarters of Hines-Park Foods, a brand of food products including the famous Duncan Hines Cake Mix and also a print press for several of Roy H. Park's publications. 

Historically, Duncan hines licensed his name in 1949 for a high-quality, high-butterfat ice cream which was the brand's first product before cake mixes.  Today, Duncan Hines primarily focuses on baking mixes and frosting.

For more than 85 years, the Duncan Hines name has represented excellence in quality and the brand is one of the most recognized trademarks in the United States.  The Duncan Hines product line has included 60 different baked-good mixes ranging from layer cakes and brownies to cookie and muffin mixes plus ready-to-spread frostings. The brand has experienced a resurgence after a partnership in 2022 with the Queen of Country resulted in the Dolly Parton Baking Collection.

Duncan Hines, the man, gave us much more than some wonderful products for the kitchen, he gave us a higher standard of dining in America

.. so ..

the next time you have an exceptional meal while dining out, give him a little nod! 

DUNCANHINESDAYS.COM

The Duncan Hines Days Festival honors the famous food explorer and entrepreneur featuring a restaurant week celebrating local dining and much more. In previous years, the festival has included a nostalgic block party, themed nights, live entertainment and a National Corvette Museum scavenger hunt.

Duncan Hines's guidebooks were discontinued in 1962 though market research by Proctor & Gamble in the 1990s showed that 99 percent of people going into a grocery store recognized the name Duncan Hines.

When Duncan Hines debuted its first cake mixes in 1951, the original offerings featured a "3-Star" cake mix (versatile vanilla base that could be adapted into white, yellow or spice cakes) and a Devil's food cake mix. These early, innovative mixes were designed to offer a "homemade" taste and texture, often requiring consumers to add their own eggs and milk to the mix, resulting in a notably moist product. 

 

Elmer's Bottle Tree Ranch

Oro Grande, California

24266 National Trails Hwy.

(Old Route 66)

"Elmer's Bottle Tree Ranch is not just a roadside attraction, it's earned its place as a destination. On windy days the bottles create sound, acting like a giant wind chime."

"Its a unique folk art installation."

Nestled along the iconic Route 66 in the heart of the Mojave Desert, Elmer's Bottle Tree Rach is more than just a destination, it's a celebration of creativity, history and the spirit of adventure.  Originally conceived as a labor of love, the ranch has grown into a symbol of ingenuity and a must-see stop for road trippers and desert wanderers alike.

Beyond the bottle trees, Bottle Tree Ranch pays homeage to its desert roots and agricultural heritage with a myriad of trinkets and decorations carefully place amongst other historic treasures of the past.  It serves as a gathering place for those seeking a connection to the stories, landscapes and cultures of the Mojave.  Whether you're a history buff, a road trip enthusiast or simply looking for a moment of tranquility our ranch offers a unique experience that blends nostalgia with discovery.

As Elmer's Bottle Tree Ranch continues to grow the place is dedicated to fostering a deeper appreciation for preserving the desert's beauty and the enduring legacy of Route 66. Through events, artisan collaborations and community engagement, the ranch aims to create a space where creativity flourishes, memories are made and the past meets the present.

Elmer's Bottle Ranch is a place where the spirit of the desert comes to rest and every visit is an unforgettable moment in time.  The family will welcome you to their corner of Route 66, where history, art and nature intertwine.

Elmer's Bottle Tree Ranch is a unique roadside attraction featuring over 200 hundreds "trees" constructed from scrap metal and thousands of glass bottles.  Created by the late Elmer Long in 2000, this forest-like two-acre setting in the Mojave Desert showcases a diverse collection of Americana including an old rusted cash register, retro tools, sewing machines and various intriguing and sometimes bizarre found items such as old signs, typewriters, telephones, brass headboards, a Coca-Cola machine, Coca-Cola signage and even a vintage Jeep.

Elmer's Bottle Tree Ranch is a free-to-enter, sunrise-to-sunset art installation that serves as a popular, quirky stop for travelers with a donation box available encouraging visitors to help the family maintain it and to continue to share Elmer's story and his vision.

Elmer Evan Long began the project to honor his father's bottle-collecting habit. Now Elmer's son, Ellsworth Elliot" Hayes Long is carrying on the family tradition. 

A "forest" of metal poles adorned with thousands of glass bottles creating shimmering, colorful sculptures.  The location also includes various other items like old street lights, railroad insulators, railroad lanterns and a boat making it a "treasure hunt" for folks traveling along historic Route 66 making it a classic and nostalgic stop .. especially this year with Route 66 celebrating 100 years!

Elmer Evan Long 

(10/8/1946-6/22/2019)

Elmer Evan Long passed away on June 22, 2019 surrounded by friends and family.  He created an amazing place that became a thing of wonder and a destination for people all over the world.  His family is doing everything in their power to preserve and protect his legacy.  He is greatly missed and will be forever remembered for the love fostered with family, friends and strangers alike who continue to be brought together by Elmer's amazing creations. 

RIP

Michael Joseph Jackson 

(1958-2009)

Also known by his initials MJ, he was an American singer, songwriter, dancer and philanthropist.  Dubbed the "King of Pop", he was often regarded as one of the most culturally significant figures of the 20th century.  Over a four-decade career, his musical achievements broke racial barriers in the United States and made him a dominant figure across the world.  Through songs, concerts and fashion, he proliferated visual performance for artists in popular music.  MJ popularized street dance moves including the moonwalk, the robot and the anti-gravity lean.  Jackson is often deemed the greatest entertainer of all time!

Jackson in 1983

As the eighth child of the Jackson family, Michael began performing in 1964 with his brothers in the Jackson 5 (later known as the Jacksons) at the age of 6.  The group gained worldwide fame with him as its lead singer and recorded multiple successful singles. In  the early 1970s, he began his solo career releasing the albums Got to Be There (1972).

Jackson remains a global figure to this day in popular culture.  He created some of the best-selling albums in music history. His contributions to music and dance had a major cultural impact. Jackson was the most awarded individual music artist in history.  His awards included 15 Grammy Awards and a Golden Globe.  Jackson traveled the world attending events honoring humanitarianism.  In 2000, the Guinness Book of World Records recognized him for supporting 39 charities, more than any other entertainer.

Michael Jackson was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame twice.  First as a member of the Jackson 5 on May 6, 1997.  The induction took place at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York and again as a solo artist on March 19, 2001.  Michael was also inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame on June 13, 2002 and posthumously into the Rhythm & Blues Music Hall of Fame in 2014.

Jackson is one of the the best-selling music artists of all time with estimated sales of over 500 million records!

.. THRILLER .. 

The Thriller album was the sixth studio album by MJ and was released on November 29, 1982 through Epic Records.  It was produced by Quincy Jones.  Recording took place from April to November 1982 at Westlake Recording Studios in LA with a budget of $750,000 (equivalent to $2,502,155 in 2025).  Thriller was Jackson's first number-one album and remains the best-selling album of all time, having sold an estimated 70 million copies worldwide. 

In the film, Michael it covers some of Michael's early hits songs and remakes the iconic "Thriller" music video .. in its entirety!

Amongst the dancing zombies, popcorn shenanigans, creepy Vincent Price monologues and Jackson's tight red pants, one of the most memorable parts of the video was ..

THAT HOUSE!

The "Thriller" house used for the final scene from Michael Jackson's iconic 1983 music video is located at 1345 Carroll Avenue Los Angeles.  Situated in the historic Angelino Heights neighborhood near Echo Park, the Victorian-era home is known as the Sanders House and remains a popular spot for fans to visit.  The 3,532-square-foot Sanders house was built in 1887 for businessman Michael Sanders.  The Queen Anne/Eastlake Victorian home was a 4 bedroom, 4 bathroom single family residence.

In 1971, the home plus the entire block on Carroll, was declared cultural historical momuents. The house was designated a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument (No. 74) on February 3, 1971.  The home is famously maintained to look historic, with some reports noting the porch is deliberately left in a somewhat "ratty" or original condition.  The homes, particularly the 1300 block of Carroll Avenue, are known for theirhigh concentration of Victorian homes in California. 

 

1300 BLOCK CARROLL AVENUE

A STREET OF HOUSES DESIGNED IN THE EASTLAKE AND QUEEN ANNE STYLES OF THE LATE 19TH CENTURY, EXHIBITING THE FINEST COLLECTION OF VICTORIAN DOMESTIC ARCHITECTURE REMAINING IN LOS ANGELES FROM THEIR VANTAGE POINT ON ANGELINO HEIGHTS, THESE HOUSES HAVE WATCHED THE CITY CHANGE, SHOWING US WHERE WE HAVE BEEN, GIVING MEANING TO OUR DYNAMIC GROWTH.

HOUSES DECLARED HISTORIC-CULTURAL MONUMENTS BY THE 

CULTURAL HERITAGE BOARD

MUNICIPAL ARTS DEPARTMENT 

CITY OF LOS ANGELES

Jaafar Jackson 

is

MJ

'Michael' Biopic star Jaafar Jackson Kept a Huge Secret From His Famous Family

"I kept it pretty quiet until I felt comfortable enough to share it. But when my mom saw it on-screen it blew her away.  It was hard for her to connect it to me, so it was very emotional for her. No one in my family knew for a full year."

Jaafar Jackson

As promotion for the upcoming biopic Michael ramps, Jaafar Jackson, the 29-year-old actor taking on the role of his uncle, Michael Jackson, is sharing new behind-the-scenes details about the film's production. Speaking with Interview Magazine, Jaafar shared the story of how he revealed his involvement in the upcoming film to his family members once the movie wrapped production. Jaafar expressed his eagerness for his father, Jermaine Jackson of The Jacksons, to witness his performance in the highly anticipated movie.  

Jaafar Jackson Recounts One 'Crazy' Moment Recreating MJ's Iconic Dance Moments for 'Michael'. 

Jaafar later reflected on the experience of seeing his portrayal of the King of Pop on the big screen for the first time!

"It went by so fast.  I was like,'Wait, that's it?' But the second time I saw it was a completely different experience.  I was able to understand what the story was and really allow myself to enjoy what's on the screen, rather than thinking of all the things we shot that aren't in there.  Because that was my problem the first time.  I was like, "Where's all that footage?"

Jaafar Jackson Shares the Process Behind Recreating 'Thriller'.

During the appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Jaafar shared intimate details about the process of filming the recreation of the legendary 1982 horror-themed music video, "Thriller". 

"We actually had a full moon on one of those nights which was crazy.  We had a full moon and it was cold. I know Michael Jackson shot during the summer, but just being at that location, seeing the zombies around me;  Thriller was one of my favorite videos besides 'Smooth Criminal'.  To be at the real location was incredible.  It really was."

Jaafar Jackson

According to Jaafar, the production spent two straight nights filming the recreation at the original Los Angeles site, located at the intersection of South Calzona Street and Union Pacific Avenue. 

Regarding his performance of "Billie Jean" for the television special Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever Jaafar mentioned that he received "incredible guidance" while recreating the iconic moment. 

The film tells the story of Michael Jackson's life beyond the music, tracing his journey from the discovery of his extraordinary talent as the lead of the Jackson Five, to the visionary artist whose creative ambition fueled a relentless pursuit to become the biggest entertainer in the world. Highlighting both his life off-stage and some of the most iconic performances from his early solo career, the film gives audiences a front-row seat to Michael Jackson as never before.

Michael Jackson's nephew, Jaafar was just 12 years old when his uncle, Michael Jackson died in June 2009.  Growing up in Encino, California, he would see Michael often at family gatherings and spent time at his uncle's Neverland Ranch which contained a private amusement park and zoo.  

Jaafar had an Unusual Audition Process for Michael

Despite having no prior acting experience, Jaafar was actually approached for the role by Michael producer, Graham King in 2020.  In lieu of a traditional audition, he sent King a voice note of himself, in character, as his uncle.  While King was impressed, it took a while for Jaafar to actually accept the part as he wanted to "think about it for a couple days".  He spent two years training and working with coaches to mimic Michael's unique speaking and singing voice, as well as his iconic dance moves, before he officially landed the role.  Jaafar kept his success under wraps from his family, waiting a full year to tell even his mother that he was the star of Michael. 

Jaafar Jackson at a screening of Michael in Gary, Indiana

April 2026

Learning to spin and moonwalk like Uncle Michael

Jaafar had never acted, but truly found "his groove" as the "King of Pop" in the new musical biopic 

simply

titled

 

 

Bob Evans Farm

Rio Grande, Ohio

Robert Lewis Evans

(1918-2007)

Bob Evans was an American restaurateur and marketer of pork sausage products.  He founded a restaurant chain bearing his name. Evans was born to Stanley and Elizabeth Evans both of Welsh descent in Sugar Ridge, Ohio. The family moved to Gallia County, Ohio in 1929 to be near relatives.  The family settled in Gallipolis, Ohio where his father owned and managed a grocery store.  

Bob Evans got its start when he began making sausage on his southeastern Ohio farm to serve at a 12-stool diner he owned in nearby Gallipolis in 1948.  Evans could not find a  source of satisfactory sausage so he began making his own.  The original Bob Evans restaurant on the farm was called The Sausage Shop.  Although it started with 12 stools, today the restaurant can seat 134 patrons.

In 1953, the business was incorporated as Bob Evans Farms Inc.  In 1957, the company opened four sausage plants to keep up with demand.  In 1963, Bob Evans Farms Inc. had its IPO (initial public offering).  Evans served as a director and president of the company until his retirement on December 31, 1986.

The first Bob Evans restaurant was located in Chillicothe, Ohio.  By the early 1970s, the restaurants had expanded throughout Ohio.  Expansion into other states was started in the late 1970s.  By 2012, Bob Evans Farms, Inc. was a $1.7 billion restaurant and retail products company with over 500 restaurants in 19 states.  

The Bob Evans Farm

Bob  and Jewell Evans purchased the Niamiah Woods Farm near Rio Grande, Ohio from Rio Grande College in 1952.  They lived in the farmhouse for nearly twenty years.  Now the old homestead is called Bob Evans Farm and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on December 14, 1987. The house is the home of the Homestead Museum about Bob Evans and his company.  The Bob Evans Farm Festival, featuring crafts, antiques, demonstrations and entertainment is held every year at the farm in Rio Grande during the second weekend of October. 

Evans passed on June 21, 2007, three weeks after his 89th birthday.  Upon learning of his death, Governor Ted Strickland of Ohio was quoted.

"Bob Evans was a true original.  His life's work was bringing the warmth, hospitality and good food of Ohio to the rest of the Nation. We, here, in Ohio are all proud of him and we are all deeply saddened by his passing."

Bob Evans has a toal of 421 locations across the United States with Ohio hosting the largest share at 179 locations, representing 42.5% of the total.  The top three states, Ohio, Michigan and Florida account for 61.0% of all locations.

Job Well Done, Bob Evans

RIP 

 

Former Welch Grape Juice Company Administration Building

Westfield, New York

The Welch Grape Juice Co.

A Ghost Sign (faded ads on brick) Today

Thomas Bramwell Welch (1825-1903) and his son, Charles Edgar Welch(1852-1926) were from Vineland, New Jersey.  The Welch's first pasteurized Concord grape juice in 1869 as an alternative to fermented wine for church communion services.  Welch's Grape Juice was originally marketed as Dr. Welch's Unfermented Wine.  Thomas Welch was a Methodist minister and heavily involved in the Underground Railroad moving slaves up from the south and into Canada.  He was against drinking alcohol and a prohibitionist working to reduce or end the sale of alcoholic beverages.  He, along with the Methodist Church, thought the consumption of alcohol as a bad thing and was opposed to using wine for communion, but substituted unfermented grape juice, instead. Thomas Welch became a dentist settling in Vineland, NJ where he built a successful dental practice.  He had seven children with Charles going into the field of dentistry along with Thomas' daughter, Emma.  

Thomas Bramwell Welch

Thomas Welch was fascinated by Louis Pasteur and in 1869, Welch invented a method of pasteurizing grape juice so that fermentation was stopped and the drink was non-alcoholic.  He persuaded local churches to adopt this non-alcoholic wine for communion services, calling it "Dr. Welch's Unfermented Wine".  In 1869, Thomas and Charles Welch started the Welch Dental Supply Company along with a dental journal.  The grape juice was a sideline project where the industry slowly grew until 1890 when Thomas and Charles Welch founded the Welch Grape Juice Company. Thomas retired and Charles devoted his efforts to the company while retiring from dentistry.  

 From dentists to grape juice moguls.  It was quite a trip!

Charles Edgar Welch

Eventually, cute ads like the one below appeared on television starring this cute kid.

Welch's Television Ad

Circa 1994

with

Travis Tedford

Travis was born on August 19, 1988 in Dallas, Texas. Travis became a bank teller in his early 20s after his acting career ended.  His Welch's Grape Juice & Jelly ad won him the organization's Television Commerical Award for Outstanding Young Performer.  Though his acting days are over, Travis has left a meaningful imprint on the entertainment industry. In 1994, Welch Foods Inc. featured Travis in its grape juice commerical making the Texas native the first face of the American food company's advertising-spokes-kid campaign.  His professional acting career kicked off that same year.

Travis Tedford, Today

Sidenote: Welch's Grape Juice Company headquarterss relocated to Concord, Massachusetts in 1983 from Westfield, New York.  The Chess Family Farm in Ripley, New York have been grape farmers for 7 generations.  They have 65 acres of Niagara grapes.  

"Some of our vineyards are as old as 100 years."

Mary Beth Chess