BETTY CROCKER
Betty Crocker, an invented persona and mascot, is a brand name and trademark of
American food company General Mills. The name was first developed by the
Washburn Crosby Company in 1921 as a way to give a personalized response to
consumer product questions.
In 1921, the idea of Betty Crocker hatched as a Washburn-Crosby Company
advertising tool.
Betty as a common woman's name Crocker for the late secretary and director of
the Washburn Crosby Company, William G. Crocker
The company first used her name to sign replies to various personal requests for
household advice which they received from customers by mail.
1924 The "Betty Crocker Cooking School of the Air," began broadcasting on Friday
mornings; eventually becoming a network program with a nation-wide audience.
Marjorie Husted prepared the script for 10 years and (wo)manned the microphone
for the midwestern show.
1928 A merger of approximately 24 flour companies (including Washburn-Crosby
Company) resulted in General Mills, Inc.
1936 Artist Neysa McMein combined various common characteristics to create a
portrait of Betty Crocker. Betty's portrait has changed throughout the years to
accommodate mainstream cultural expectations.
1930 to 1950 General Mills published various promotional pamphlets by Betty
Crocker. Some of these include: 1933: Betty Crocker's $25,000 Recipe Set
Featuring Recipes From World Famous Chefs For Foods That Enchant Men.[1][2] 1933:
Betty Crocker's 101 Delicious Bisquick Creations As Made And Served by Well-Known
Gracious Hostesses; Famous Chefs' Distinguished Epicures and Smart Luminaries of
Movieland.
1941-1945: Betty Crocker Cook Book of All-Purpose Baking (published as an aid to
war-time considerations in cooking).
1950 General Mills published the hardback: BETTY CROCKER'S PICTURE COOK BOOK.
By 1991, and its seventh edition, twenty-six million copies of BETTY CROCKER'S
PICTURE COOK BOOK had been printed.
In 2005, the 10th edition of the Betty Crocker cookbook was published, as well
as a Spanish/English bilingual book that collects some of the more common
recipes for Spanish-speaking readers looking to cook American-style food. There
are also a number of Betty Crocker-branded products, such as hand mixers, which
support General Mills' product line of foodstuffs.
In 2006, it was announced that the Betty Crocker Catalog was going out of
business, with all of its inventory on sale. Points were redeemable until
December 15, 2006. A new online store was launched in April 2007;
BettyCrockerStore.com will be part of the BettyCrocker.com web site in
conjunction with Cooking.com.
In 2008, it was announced that the entire fruit snack line will be sold to
Nestlé, and the entire baking mix line (baking chips, cake mixes, etc.) will be
sold to Kraft Foods.
Betty Crocker, an invented persona and mascot, is a brand name and trademark of
American food company General Mills. The name was first developed by the
Washburn Crosby Company in 1921 as a way to give a personalized response to
consumer product questions.
In 1921, the idea of Betty Crocker hatched as a Washburn-Crosby Company
advertising tool.
Betty as a common woman's name Crocker for the late secretary and director of
the Washburn Crosby Company, William G. Crocker
The company first used her name to sign replies to various personal requests for
household advice which they received from customers by mail.
1924 The "Betty Crocker Cooking School of the Air," began broadcasting on Friday
mornings; eventually becoming a network program with a nation-wide audience.
Marjorie Husted prepared the script for 10 years and (wo)manned the microphone
for the midwestern show.
1928 A merger of approximately 24 flour companies (including Washburn-Crosby
Company) resulted in General Mills, Inc.
1936 Artist Neysa McMein combined various common characteristics to create a
portrait of Betty Crocker. Betty's portrait has changed throughout the years to
accommodate mainstream cultural expectations.
1930 to 1950 General Mills published various promotional pamphlets by Betty
Crocker. Some of these include: 1933: Betty Crocker's $25,000 Recipe Set
Featuring Recipes From World Famous Chefs For Foods That Enchant Men.[1][2] 1933:
Betty Crocker's 101 Delicious Bisquick Creations As Made And Served by Well-Known
Gracious Hostesses; Famous Chefs' Distinguished Epicures and Smart Luminaries of
Movieland.
1941-1945: Betty Crocker Cook Book of All-Purpose Baking (published as an aid to
war-time considerations in cooking).
1950 General Mills published the hardback: BETTY CROCKER'S PICTURE COOK BOOK.
By 1991, and its seventh edition, twenty-six million copies of BETTY CROCKER'S
PICTURE COOK BOOK had been printed.
In 2005, the 10th edition of the Betty Crocker cookbook was published, as well
as a Spanish/English bilingual book that collects some of the more common
recipes for Spanish-speaking readers looking to cook American-style food. There
are also a number of Betty Crocker-branded products, such as hand mixers, which
support General Mills' product line of foodstuffs.
In 2006, it was announced that the Betty Crocker Catalog was going out of
business, with all of its inventory on sale. Points were redeemable until
December 15, 2006. A new online store was launched in April 2007;
BettyCrockerStore.com will be part of the BettyCrocker.com web site in
conjunction with Cooking.com.
In 2008, it was announced that the entire fruit snack line will be sold to
Nestlé, and the entire baking mix line (baking chips, cake mixes, etc.) will be
sold to Kraft Foods.