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THE HEINZ KETCHUP CAPER
REMINISCENCES OF THE SUMMER OF 1961
It’s a funny thing how as one grows older the things of our youth come back to mind. I was reminiscing about the summer of 1961 just a few days ago. I remember my old friend Skip Chaddock, and how his father Clyde had a Saturday dinner tradition. Skip was also named Clyde but he just dispised that name and he would fight anyone who called him Clyde. He even went wild at the Ray Steven’s song which referred to a camel named Clyde. Back to the point about the hamburger and french fries dinner tradition. Clyde insisted that every Saturday night the family have hamburgers and french fries for dinner. Mrs. Chaddock was a very loving wife and mother and she tried her best to satisfy Clyde’s wishes.
The first Saturday night in July of 1961 dinner was ready, but Clyde had not yet come home from the bar up the street. Wow he just arrived in time. The whole family sat down at the table and said Grace. After Grace it was time to eat the hamburger and french fries. Mrs. Chaddock had bought a big surprise for Clyde a brand new bottle of Heinz ketchup. Clyde picked the bottle of ketchup up and opened the brand new bottle and shook it up over his french fries. He even pounded on that bottle of ketchup but it just wouldn’t come out of the ketchup bottle. He then threw it through the screen door. Got up cussing and spitting, and stormed off back to the bar.
The next Saturday night in July of 1961 Mrs. Chaddock had fixed the traditional dinner for the Chaddock family. She had a plan she opened the new bottle of ketchup and poured some out and added a little teensy bit of water to the ketchup. When Clyde came to the tabel he had a look of determination on his face. There was another problem. In the meantime Skip’s little sister Martha had also done the same thing as her mother had done. When Clyde picked up that ketchup bottle and took a powerful shake the whole bottle spewed all over his plate. Once again he stormed back off to the bar after throwing the empty bottle through the screen door again along with his whole dinner plate.
It just goes to show ya some folks just can’t be satisfied.
Comments
Author50 Caliber,
I think they still make them, but I always buy the squeeze bottles to reduce the frustration.
Tom, great hub on the aggravation of Heinz and the aggravating bottles. Getting them open and then getting some out! My brothers mother was a lousy cook so we ate a lot of ketchup. I still do, but I buy by the quart, do they still make those little glass bottles? I should know but I guess I'm not paying attention or just getting forgetful....
- Author
Gary,
I agree that would at least one possible moral to the story.
The moral to this story is to not assume too much in life!
- Author
ehern
I wonder if this isn't the primamary reason for the implementation of squeeze ketchup bottles.
This was funny and have had that happen to me on a few occassions. I don't throw the bottle out the door but have had it splatter all over the palce. My family usually laughs and I become the target of laughter for a few hours.. Oh the memories!!
- Author
Robert,
I don't travel very much anymore. I'd love to hear your ketchup story. Please email it to me through Hubpages. If there's more than will fit I will send my email address back to you. Happy New Year!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Tom I love Ray Stevens songs specially the Mississippi Squirrel and have great memories of Clyde the Camel. If we ever meet face to face I got to tell you one about the Heinz Ketchup bottle that I can't put in a hub. lol
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Pop,
Thank you have a Happy New Year!!!!!!!!!!!
Dear Tom,
You have a point!
- Author
Pop,
I don't think Heinz would use this incident in a commercial. Maybe a Home Depot commercial for replacement screen doors.
Dear Tom,
First of all I loved the hub and I can see I have a lot of catching up to do. As to the ketchup bottle, do you think that this is where the phrase 'Shake, shake the ketchup bottle, none will come and then a lot'll, came from?
- Author
Pamela,
I was playing out in Skip's back yard. I saw the ketchup bottle come flying through the door both times. Then I saw Clyde and the rest of the family rushing through the broken door. The first week I didn't have a clue what was going on, but by the second week I thought "Oh no,not again!!!"
Isn't it funny as we age how this these old memories just pop up. Some little incident will just trigger an old forgotten memory. I would like to have seen the look on every ones face when that ketchup shot our everywhere.
- Author
dahoglund,
Indeed they can they are even dangerous in some instances. I have other capers I'll be writing about with Skip and our friend Dave Minor.
Ketchup bottles can be a challenge.
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