Writer of Pop Culture

1896: The Tootsie Roll is Invented

In 1896, Leo Hirshfeld, an Austrian immigrant, started his candy business in New York City. He wanted to create a candy that was chocolately, chewy and could withstand heat. On this day, he created the Tootsie Roll. He named the treat after his daughter, Clara “Tootsie” Hirschfeld.

In 1931, the Tootsie Roll found itself inside the Tootsie Pop. Believe it or not, it became a standard part of the American soldiers’ rations since the sucker could withstand just about anything.

Today, Tootsie Roll Industries is one of the largest candy companies in the world producing about 64 million Tootsie Rolls every day and with the same recipe as it was in 1896! (Image: Wikimedia)

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2021: The Busiest Superman

Tyler Hoechlin didn’t have to audition for the role of Superman for the TV series, Supergirl. He was producer Greg Berlanti’s first choice. And unlike Henry Cavill’s rendition of the character, Hoechlin’s portrayal has been described by some as a “breath of fresh air.” He has been seen as a balance of heroic qualities and relatable human flaws.

Hoechlin’s character only appeared in six episodes of the show, but the role afforded him to replay the character again and again for appearances in other DC TV series including The Flash, Arrow, Batwoman and Legends of Tomorrow.

In 2021, Hoechlin got the chance to play Superman as a leading man for a new series, Superman & Lois which debuted on The CW on this day in 2021. In this series, Clark Kent and Lois Lane (Elizabeth Tulloch) with their sons, Jonathan and Jordan, move to Smallville. So yeah, this show features Superman as a dad. On one hand, it was a show about work/life balance while also fighting supervillains and aliens.

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