WELCOME BACK OTTER

A TRIBUTE TO THE GREATEST FREEZER POPS OF THEM ALL!

Artist S.Britt with his take on Louie Bloo Raspberry, Strawberry Short Kook, Sir Isaac Lime, Poncho Punch, Alexander The Grape, and Little Orphan Orange

There's just something magical about Otter Pops that I can't explain.  These Freezer Pops (don't call 'em Popsicles, or you'll get in legal trouble) which have been around since 1970 have a storied and complex history.  The frozen fruity delicacies that boast "Six Zippy Flavors", feature 6 characters that I'd rank as the 2nd coolest product spokespersons of all time (#1 to my heart is still Count Chocula and the other General Mills cereal monsters). 

Sitting in the backyard on a summer day with a mild breeze blowing on my face while sucking down a Little Orphan Orange pop is one of my favorite childhood memories.  Well, that, and burning up GI JOE dolls.

One fine day several months ago, I sheepishly e-mailed the company that makes Otter-Pops, Jel Sert, and humbly asked for information about these crazy Otters for a feature I wanted to write.  I was overwhelmed by the enthusiastic response.  Not only did ObieCo (Jel Sert's exclusive media and advertising rep), give me lots o' great Otter facts, but they sent a box-load of great Otter Pops stuff to give away to lucky retroCRUSH readers (more on that later). 

Shortly afterward, I was talking about this to retroCRUSH's own lovely Amber Kloss, and was amazed to learn that she's a super Otter Pops nut as well.  No lie, she's got a freezer full of them, and has even given them away at concerts she's promoted.  So like The Wonder Twins, we decided to team up and activate our powers to bring you some super friendly Otter Pops goodness, the likes of which the world has never seen! 

You see, Amber is a clothes horse of an Olympic caliber.  Her collection of vintage dresses is one of the world's best, so we thought, why not pay tribute to all the different Otter Pop flavors in a special fashion gallery?  Why not indeed!  So without further adieu ... retroCRUSH is proud to present to you

AMBER'S OTTER POP FASHION JUBILEE OF AMAZEMENT

all photos (c)2004, retroCRUSH and Amber Kloss, and may not be reprinted without permission

THE OTTER POPS PRIZE CONTEST!

Think you got what it takes to be a Super retroCRUSH Otter Pops Model?  Mail a picture of yourself posing with your favorite Otter Pops flavor and we'll pick the best entries to win swell Otter Pops prizes.  Every entry will get something, so don't miss out!  We'll have great Otter Pops t-shirts (from the way cool folks at E. Goodwith, CLICK HERE To check out their online Otter Pops fashion store), Otter Pops hot wheels, CDs, and even Otter Pops freezer pops (sorry, you'll have to freeze 'em yourself).  And if you can't take a picture, you can submit an Otter Pops story, poem, song, or original artwork.  Send 'em to rberry@retrocrush.com by June 30th!

OTTER POPS TRIVIA
R.I.P, RIP VAN LEMON

(pictures courtesy of retroCRUSH favorite site, THE IMAGINARY WORLD,
visit them now for tons more retro product goodness, OK?)

Though the current lineup of Otter Pops has been unchanged for quite some time, there was a discontinued flavor, Rip Van Lemon that was later replaced with Poncho Punch.  Rip Van Lemon did little else but sleep, so he wasn't a very dynamic character to begin with.  It's interesting to note that Poncho Punch is the only Otter Pop character that does not have 3 names.

BIRTH OF THE FREEZER POP

Though Otter Pops may be the most famous of Freezer Pops, they weren't the first. That honor goes to Pop Ice flavored bar, which made their first appearance in 1963.  Jel Sert acquired Pop Ice, and in 1969 introduced their own Freezer Pop, Fla-Vor-Ice.  A year later, National Pax introduced Otter Pops on the West Coast, and the two brands had an East/West rivalry that rivaled Biggie and Tupac.  In 1996, Jel Sert acquired the Otter Pops brand and helped make it available nationwide.  Since Otter Pops have been introduced, America has eaten more than 3.5 billion of them.  If we could only harness the power of that freezer-headache, we could have peace on earth.

ALEXANDER THE GRAPE

Not only was Alexander The Grape an original Otter Pop flavor, but the name was also used for a completely unrelated hard candy by Ferrara Pan, as well.  As of a few years ago, the candy has been renamed Grape Heads

OTTER POPS DRINKS

While at the Claim Jumpers restaurant a while back, I was surprised to see that there's a mixed drink called an Otter Pop.  Here's the recipe.  That drink does not actually use an Otter Pop in its ingredients, however if you want to "keep it real" try taking your favorite Otter Pop flavor, eat about 30% of it, and then put Vodka, Rum, or another spirit in the empty portion of the package.  Smash it all up with your fingers and you'll have a nice boozy Otter Pop treat!

Gabe Kaplan's failed treats, Kotter Pops, are a rare collector's item!

REAL OTTER STUFF!

In all seriousness, the real life otters that these pops are based on are in a world of trouble.  Did you know that the Sea Otter population has dwindled from about 300,000 in the early 70s, to just over 65,000 now?  You can CLICK HERE to see what you can help do about it.

Otter Pops artwork used by permission.  Otter Pops and their respective character images are the trademark and copyright of Jel Sert.