The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

FOLK ART

GUM CHAIN

Submitter comment: IN THE MID-1960'S, THE MAKING OF GUM CHAINS WAS AN ESPECIALLY
POPULAR FAD AMONG HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS. THE IDEA WAS TO MAKE A CHAIN
THE SAME HEIGHT AS YOUR BOYFRIEND, AND THEN HANG IT IN YOUR ROOM.
EVERYONE WHO KNEW A GIRL WHO WAS MAKING ONE HAD TO SAVE ALL THEIR GUM
WRAPPERS FOR HER. SOON, HOWEVER, YOUNGER GIRLS (OF GRADE SCHOOL
AGE) LEARNED HOW TO MAKE THE CHAINS, AND THE TEENAGE GIRLS STOPPED.
CHAINS WERE SOMETIMES MADE BY PATTERNS--FIVE WRAPPERS OF ONE
COLOR IN A ROW, FOLLOWED BY FIVE OF ANOTHER COLOR, ETC.--OR MIGHT BE
ONE SOLID COLOR, OR MIGHT BE A CONGLOMERATE OF RANDOM COLORS.

Where learned: OHIO ; MASSILLON

Date learned: 10-00-1973