Posted 12 years ago
PopMachine…
(4 items)
Ol Smoothie Rootbeer was a Midwest brand of rootbeer that was invented in 1953 and produced through 1986. The rootbeer was only distributed in the midwest from WI,MN,IA,ND,SD and I'm sure made it's way a little further by popularity.. The Rootbeer was invented by my Grandfather and his Brothers out of the Pine City MN Bottling Plant and later bottled there as well as the Rice Lake WI. bottling Plant.
I do own one other upright cardboard peice that was made in limited run and of course the bottles, cans and some carriers that where used in the early years for the bottles... No coolers, machines or such items where produced for the brand due to budgetary reasons... I had heard that there was a cardboard sign produced and for over 20 years have been searching for it since I heard that it did exist... I didn't even know what it looked like , just knew it was blue and had the logo on it.. We'll low and behold after following a lead on a guy who had some vending machines for sale.. I was looking around his place and on the wall was this sign! I could not believe my eyes and did a double take and then realized... this HAS TO BE IT.. without ever seeing one of course didn't know . so after some conversation and heavy negotiating with the owner.. I did end up with the sign for my collection.. I'm guessing it's on one of a few remaining or possible the only one left? but I'm sure glad to own it now...
If you have seen or heard of any other Ol Smoothie Rootbeer items , please let me know... Thanks
Ol'Smoothie was my favorite rootbeer! I worked at the Pine City plant just after it was sold to CocaCola. They took out Ol'Smoothie and put in Barq's. I miss Ol'Smoothie so much! Also, I remember the old owners would stop by from time to time in the beginning and they were just the nicest people. The workers that remained said they treated them just great. It is too bad the Ol'Smoothie recipe was not sold to a small bottler and continued to be sold. It was simply the best! Many of the items in the plant were given to the employees after Ol'Smoothie was discontinued. Maybe try more locally to find items - I was too late to get any, sorry.
Hey, very cool! When we were in our teens in the early '70s, we’d canoe Wisconsin's Flambeau River from Turtle Flowage down to Flambeau Lodge — a good 10-day journey of 100+ miles of Class I-III whitewater. At the lodge, we’d order up an Ol’ Smoothie, which tasted like the best thing ever after two weeks on the trail. Then, one day back in Minneapolis, I found a six-pack of Ol’ Smoothie at the grocery and flipped out! I bought it and brought it straight to my best buddy’s house. We eagerly popped open some cans, but it just wasn't the sam! Those days of canoeing had made it so wonderful. Still, when I ran across a vintage cardboard advertising sign this week, I was thrilled.
I found an old Ol' Smoothie bottle in my Grandparent's basement. It has taken me a long time just to find out where it was made and such. I asked my dad if he remembers drinking it and he said he remembers the brown bottle. It was going to be thrown out with several other old soda bottles. After finding this post, I cannot help but feel as if I saved a piece of Minnesota history.