What is billed as the largest collection of Pez memorabilia in the world resides in a former computer store, sandwiched between a rug-cleaning business and a music shop in Burlingame, Calif., a town about 15 miles south of San Francisco.
Gary Doss, the founder of this quirky joint, recounts the history of Pez. The candy was invented in 1927 in Austria, he said, to freshen the breath of smokers. So, the first Pez dispenser was designed to look like a cigarette lighter.
The dispensers eventually evolved to attract kids, with the addition of faces such as those of Santa Claus, the Smurfs and Chicken Little, among others.
The Pez museum has one of every variety of dispenser ever made, or about 750 versions, according to Doss. The rarest: a Mr. Potato Head-type with tiny removable parts. It was recalled because of a potential choking hazard, so it’s hard to find, he said.
Doss and some buddies also built the world’s largest Pez dispenser, a giant snowman that stands 7 feet tall.
Take a virtual visit of the museum at www.Burlingamepezmuseum.com where you can view Pez dispensers down through the ages, order your favorites and take a walk down memory lane at the Classic Toy Museum. Remember Tinkertoys and Colorforms? They’re here.
You can visit the Burlingame Museum of Pez Memorabilia, 214 California Drive, Burlingame, Calif., from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays. It costs $3 for adults and $1 for children ages 4 to 12. Call 650-347-2301 for information.
Los Angeles Times
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