The Curtiss Candy Company was founded in 1916 by Otto Schnering outside of Chicago, Illinois. Wanting a more "American sounding" name (as German surnames were not an asset during the time of World War I), Schnering named his company after his mother's maiden name instead.
Their first confectionery item was Kandy Kake, later refashioned in 1921 as the log-shaped candy bar known as the Baby Ruth. Their second confectionery item was the chocolate-covered peanut butter crunch candy bar known as Butterfinger.
In 1964, Standard Brands purchased Curtiss Candy Company. Standard Brands merged with Nabisco in 1981. In 1990, RJR Nabisco sold the Curtiss brands to Nestlé.
The Baby Ruth / Butterfinger factory, built in the 1960s, is located at 3401 Mt. Prospect Rd. in Franklin Park, Illinois, just south of O'Hare Airport. Interstate 294 curves eastward around the plant. At that curve, there is a very prominent, large rotating advertising sign, resembling a gigantic candy bar. It originally read "Curtiss Baby Ruth" on one side and "Curtis Butterfinger" on the other. The sign was repainted to read "Nestlé", following the acquisition.
There was a "Curtiss Baby Ruth" sign on an apartment building across from Wrigley Field for several decades. Wrigley and the Curtiss plant are both situated along Addison Street, although they are over 10 miles away from each other.
Further reading
- The Great American Candy Bar Book (ISBN 0-395-32502-1)
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