By: Scarlett Windsor
Before we immerse ourselves in the storied history of our fair pink friend, SPAM, we must inquire, what exactly IS* SPAM? This question has boggled minds since its creation. I think that SPAM is something different for everyone. For some, it's just a can of artificial meat byproduct. But for others, it's much, much, more than that! SPAM just possibly could be the secret of life. Maybe SPAM is the missing link! In some countries spam is a sacred beacon of hope. SPAM takes a lot of abuse but takes the ridicule with dignity. It carries on in its own special way, THE SPAM WAY!!! SPAM is a role model to us all. SPAM is that friend you can tell your deepest darkest secrets too. SPAM is the one that's always there to cheer you up when you're down. But the significance of SPAM cannot be summed up in words. The true importance of SPAM is immeasurable! Ask not what your SPAM can do for you, ask what you can do for your SPAM!!! Open your ears my children, I shall now tell you the story of the little blue can that could. You may think that spam was the result of some radioactive mishap back in the 50s or even a genetic project gone a wry in the late 70s, but I assure you, dear reader, that spam has been around since 1937. You never would know it from that stylish blue label. It all started at Hormel Foods © where they developed the first canned meat in 1926. Then eleven years later brought us the first canned meat that did not need refrigeration and possesses a shelflife determined by the manufacturers to be "indefinite." The "distinctive chopped pork shoulder and ham mixture" wasn't especially lucrative in the early days when John C. Hormel, son of Hormel founder, George A. Hormel, marketed SPAM as "Hormel Spiced Ham." This cumbersome moniker wasn't too appealing to consumers at first and with the fledging Hormel Foods Company struggling to stave off competitors in the canned meat market they decided to rechristen the pink stuff. Legend has it that a contest offered $100 to the person who came up with the new name. Of course the winning entry was SPAM and the greatest foodstuff of the 20th century was born.
SPAM was launched with much high-profile advertising in mid-1937. It was dubbed "the Miracle Meat," and promoted as meat great for every meal of the day. In 1940, SPAM was the subject of one of the first singing commercials (The ditty followed the tune of the chorus of "My Bonnie Lies Over The Ocean," and the lyrics were: SPAM, SPAM, SPAM, SPAM/ Hormel's new miracle meat in a can/ Tastes fine, saves time/ If you want something grand/ Ask for SPAM!). A catchy ad also ran on the George Burns and Gracie Allen radio show, which included a bit called, "Spammy the Pig."
During World War II and the 1940s, sales of SPAM flourished. Not only was SPAM great for the military, as it required no refrigeration, it wasn't rationed as beef was, so it became a prime staple in American meals. SPAM wasn't just fighting for the American soldiers, however. The Soviet premier, Nikita Kruschev, credits SPAM with the survival of the Russian Army during WWII. During the late 1940s and early 1950s, the Hormel Girls performing troupe advertised SPAM as they performed throughout the country, distributed SPAM door-to-door, and even had a national weekly radio show. The slogan during this time was, "Cold or hot, SPAM hits the spot!"
In 1960, SPAM began to be sold in 7 oz. cans in addition to the 12 oz. original size. SPAM began to spawn variations in 1971, when smoke-flavored SPAM was introduced. The next generation of SPAM was the less salt/sodium SPAM, in 1986, followed by the 1990s SPAM variations, SPAM Breakfast Strips and SPAM lite. This still popular artificial meat has inspired countless web pages and was the basis for a very funny Monty Python sketch. Today you can find some SPAM knockoffs in the grocery store, like TREET. But beware if Hormel didn't have a hand in it then it's just not SPAM.
Disclaimer: Hormel Foods © or SPAM © in no way endorses this article.
*No definition for "is" available
