The History of Betty Crocker Quiz

The Creation and Evolution of Betty Crocker

• Betty Crocker was a fictional character created by the Washburn-Crosby Co. (later General Mills) in 1921.
• The character was invented as a response to baking queries from female readers who completed a puzzle contest.
• Initially, the advertising team responded to the letters, but advertising manager Samuel Gale thought the women would prefer advice from another woman.
• The name "Betty" was chosen for its wholesome and friendly connotation, while "Crocker" was a tribute to a retired company director.
• Marjorie Child Husted, a home economist, became the voice and writer for Betty Crocker on the radio show "Betty Crocker Cooking School of the Air" in 1924.
• The radio show became one of the longest-running broadcasts in U.S. history, lasting for 24 years.
• Betty Crocker's popularity grew, and she hosted a program called "Our Nation's Rations" during World War II.
• Betty Crocker transitioned to television with shows like "The Betty Crocker Show" and "Betty Crocker Star Matinee," portrayed by actress Adelaide Hawley Cumming.
• General Mills introduced a line of Betty Crocker products, starting with a dried soup mix in 1942.
• Today, Betty Crocker products are sold worldwide, except in Antarctica.
• General Mills still has a "Betty Crocker" available to answer culinary questions at their headquarters in Minnesota.
• Betty Crocker has become an iconic figure in the food industry, representing home baking and cooking expertise.