Popeye Cigarettes

I just raided the remnants of James' Halloween treats and there's not much left. We're down to the nitty gritty here. I did find a package of Popeye cigarettes which I've already devoured.

Of course, they aren't called Popeye cigarettes anymore. They're called Popeye candy sticks and they're exactly like they were when I was a kid except they no longer have that red tip that let you know which end is lit. I remember pretend smoking these cigarettes before chomping them down. I'm sure every person born before 1982 or so remembers this ritual of youth.

The intent of this entry is not to chastise society for a politically correct overreaction but to question how it is these things were sold until so recently. Was there ever a time when candy cigarettes seemed like an appropriate staple of a candy store diet? I'm almost certain I was enjoying these things in the 80s and I'm shocked they held on that long.

Sometimes a politically correct overreaction is just what the doctor ordered.