Ceremony honors 'Bubblegum King' of South Texas

McALLEN, TX -- A new marker in South Texas honors the man who refashioned bubblegum from an expensive indulgence for the rich to a 1 cent treat for the masses.

A ceremony Friday in McAllen honored entrepreneur Andrew Paris and the factory he launched, Paris Gum Corp., now long shuttered. A Texas Historical Commission plaque recognizes Paris and the building that once housed the factory.

The Monitor reports Paris in the aftermath of World War II cornered the Mexican latex market and flooded America with cheap gum. Life Magazine in 1947 dubbed him the "Bubblegum King."'

According to lore, Paris decided to produce gum in volume after watching several boys fight over a single, expensive piece. His factory employed 50 women before closing in 1955.

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