Charles’ 
Slide of the Week: February 23rd, 2007
Hawaiian Punch, Fullerton, CA 1962
Six seniors have just returned home from a tour of the Hawaiian Punch factory. Each shows off a complimentary can of the fantasy fruit-flavored and colored virgin cocktail. One of them snagged two cans. He is the only one smiling. All but one wears the Hawaiian Punch factory souviner hat in the normal position with the exception of Miss Floral Print, on the right, who sports her hat side saddle. Did one tourist call the others requesting that only blue, brown or white be worn for the exotic excursion? Color coordinating with friends for a day trip always makes the experience much better and far more memorable!
There is very little that is Hawaiian about Hawaiian Punch. The sweet taste treat sensation is yet one more wonderful creation the world has to thank Southern Calfiornia for. It was first concocted and manufactured in the fine city of Fullerton in 1934. Originaly it was sold as a thick syrup to pour over ice cream until shortly after a creative customer discovered it was even better mixed with water and served as a tutti-fruity something-to-drink on a warn summer day.
Punchy, the “Mr. Product” of Hawaiian Punch, was born in 1962, to star on TV commercials. He was violent and abusive. His long-time catch phrase was “Hey, how about a nice Hawaiian Punch?” which he would follow by attacking someone with his hard fist.
I LOVED Hawaiian Punch as a child and think about it often as an adult. I distinctly recall at about the age of ten discovering that it was even more delicious (and glamorous) when it sparkled after I blended it with 7up.
Several months ago I had the good fortune of being flown to New Your first class. Half way through the flight, long after I’d downed nuts served warm, shoe leather salmon and a make-your-own-sundae desert, the ever hovering stewardess asked if I’d like anything else. I said “well what do you suggest?” She replied, I can make you some fruit punch!” Do I look like a person that likes fruit punch?
Here’s to Fullerton, Fruit Punch –Hawaiian or otherwise- and YOU!
Charles Phoenix
Los Angeles
February 2007
Sets this Slide belongs to:
Food & Recipes
21 Comments on “Hawaiian Punch, Fullerton, CA 1962”
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February 23rd, 2007 at 5:51 pm
Is the Hawaiian Punch factory still in Fullerton? That might be a great place for a school field trip! Did you know you can find Hawaiian Punch in the 1/2 gallon size at the 99 Cent Store? Yum, Yum! When I was in school, my Mom used to freeze the cans of Hawaiian Punch overnight and then pack them in my lunch. What a nice frosty beverage to complement my bologna sandwiches!
February 23rd, 2007 at 7:29 pm
This looks suspiciously like the family from the boy’s graduation a few weeks ago. Did they tour the punch factory as a group graduation gift? Maybe they sent the boy to Hawaii?
February 23rd, 2007 at 8:25 pm
Charles you made me laugh until I cried! I love the part about the tv commercials being violent and abusive. You are too cool!
February 23rd, 2007 at 8:28 pm
What a snap! I mean, did these folks have fun at the factory or what?
My wife and I were just musing about HP just yesterday, those big tin cans that looked like the seam was sealed up with lead… mmmmm, good!
Thanks for reminding the rest of the world about the glory days of Hawaiian Punch.
February 23rd, 2007 at 8:30 pm
Yes, Charles, you look like someone who enjoys fruit punch…and so do I!
This picture is just way too funny. I’ve never seen more people less enthused about anything. And be sure to check out the shoes on Prunetta, 2nd from the left. Both of my grandmothers wore shoes like these, and I haven’t seen them in decades!
Another great pic (and pick), Mr. P!
February 24th, 2007 at 8:04 am
Charles, I’m hoping that Hawiian Punch contains some source of fiber, because it looks like 5 out of 6 of those folks could use some. Very funny, look forward to seeing you in Brea in April.
February 24th, 2007 at 8:50 am
Whoa! Fullerton sounds cool, just like Seattle did in the 90’s…Hawaiian Punch,Leo Fender’s Guitars…makes me wish my parents had raised me there instead of Westminster, where nothing cool ever happened.
February 24th, 2007 at 8:58 am
I had forgotten about Punchy! I think I’ll be heading to the 99 Cent store today in search of some Hawaiian Punch!
February 24th, 2007 at 12:44 pm
It looks like a shuffleboard deck they’re standing on. Ahhh, Hawaiian Punch, that’ll hit the spot after a “violent and abusive” er, I mean, rousing game!
February 24th, 2007 at 6:59 pm
Oh dear, a fashion faux pas to the lady on the left. Let’s hope she is carrying the handbag for one of the other ladies because you should never carry a dark handbag and wear light colored shoes. Or, perhaps her punch was “spiked”.
February 24th, 2007 at 8:37 pm
I noticed the shoes too. They were laceup affairs, and every old maid schoolteacher had a pair. As for the punch, I used to float thin slices of banana on top when the occasion called for a festive touch - kids’ birthday parties, etc. I used the concentrate - thick, viscous, implausibly brilliant in color, to make the beverage.
February 25th, 2007 at 5:13 pm
I lived most of this stuff….very kewl.
February 28th, 2007 at 9:41 am
They all look like they were influenced by Droopy. They’re all saying “Hello all you happy people” and “You know what? I’m happy. Hooray.” Hawaiian Punch is awesome. I have a VHS tape of a show called “Hullabaloo” from the sixties with an old Hawaiian Punch commercial on it. It’s in basic black and white. The “Hullabaloo” shows are hosted by Robert Vaughn and David McCallum from The Man From UNCLE.
March 2nd, 2007 at 6:31 pm
Hullabaloo and Shindig! Awesome!
March 5th, 2007 at 7:24 pm
Gee! They finally let us out of the nursing home and all we have to show for it is this Hawaiian Punch!!!
November 26th, 2007 at 5:26 pm
I grew up up the street from here. This Hawaiian punch factory is no longer there. It was on Acacia Steet just north of a set of railroad tracks. There is an office building there now. My Dad is a resident of Fullerton going back to the early 50s. He told me the Hawaiian Punch factory used to be downtown. Once they had a fire. The gutters flowed and overflowed red with syrup and water. He said the smell carried for a mile!
December 19th, 2007 at 12:23 am
I worked in the Q.C. lab at the Fullerton plant until they moved it back east in the early 80’s. Best job I ever had.
HenryWeiss@Juno.com
December 23rd, 2007 at 8:46 pm
Hey, I grew up in Fullerton, but I’ll be darned if I remember the Hawaiian Punch factory. I lived on Acacia in the late 80’s too, it must have been all the wild partying and excessive drinking I did that makes me block HP manufacturing from my mind.
I used to buy those hot lookin’ granny shoes from the thrifts back in the late 60’s-early 70’s. Not only did I have them in basic black with the perforations, I had a pair of purple suede ones and a pair of red ones too! They were extremely comfortable, stop making fun of them. If only I had them now!!
January 15th, 2008 at 9:51 pm
I love your punch!!! But I can not find the concrated any where I look! I live in Kingman AZ! My family gets together a lot and we ALWAYS have to but the cheap brand to make our punch. Is ther anywhere near us tat sells the punch we like to make a a great puch w/ice cream. I really miss making the punch! Please a loney punch bowel is waiting!
February 15th, 2008 at 7:28 pm
Love the Hawaiian Punch Memories! Being a kid in the late 60’s and 70’s I used to get something called Tahitian Treat - It was a Hawaiian Punch wannabe that was pretty good. I took it on every school Field Trip in a paper lunch bag bursting with candy to eat on the bus and a “ring ding” for desert in my sack lunch! My mom would wrap it in paper towels to keep cool. Those were the days! Kids aren’t allowed to eat on the bus anymore when they go on a field trip!
March 23rd, 2008 at 4:28 am
March 23,2008 My husband now 83 years young — Bernie Gottlieb, was 26 and owned the Fullerton Bowling Alley. I was 16 then and bowled there in college. We married when I was 26 in 1960. Bernie new the owners of Hawaiian Punch and it was mixed in one of the guys garages, Bernie was asked to put in 500 dollars but then things were too tight $$ wise, looking back, had he scrapped together the $$’s, he would have been an instant millionaire. SIGH, memories. Jo Anaheim High Class of 1951.