Who Was Betty Crocker? by That History Lady

Learn the fascinating history of America's first lady of food, Betty Crocker. Who was she? And why are we still cooking from her famous 1950 cookbook?
Betty Crocker is one of the most recognized names in American history. In the 1940s, when she was receiving up to 5,000 letters a day, she was called the second-most recognized woman in the world, behind only Eleanor Roosevelt. The Betty Crocker Picture Cook Book, which debuted in 1950, has sold more than 75 million copies and is now in its 12th edition.
If your mom ever cooked from Betty's "big red cookbook" .... if you ever made a cake from a Betty Crocker cake mix ... or if you just love 1950s nostalgia, you don't want to miss this fun trip down memory lane which answers the question, who WAS Betty Crocker?

[@ashledashnaw2575]

There are so many documentaries supporting that Betty Crocker was a real person.

[@user-lz6dm5lk9y]

This was fun. Thank you.

[@nicolenew1708]

THANK YOU

[@lauracarlanell3012]

Fascinating, loved this, I have the 1969 Cookbook that my mom bought me and it is still such helpful cookbook with practical features. I was totally surprised by this story. Thanks for this treat "History Lady", a real history dessert. Hey teachers out there... this is a must have video for Home Economics classes.

[@garyk.nedrow8302]

"Betty Crocker" was one of the most successful advertising promotions of all time, right up there with the Marlboro Man and the Morton Salt girl. Little boys grew up with Betty Crocker. She was the image of the ideal homemaker -- a wholesome woman who knew her way around the kitchen -- in a time when the refrigerator and stove were not yet viewed by women as badges of slavery. Her hair was perfectly coifed; she always wore a red jacket with a white shift collar or jabot; and her cooking was not mere food, but an expression of love for her family. Her image and name became synonymous with hot rolls, scrumptious cakes, and dozens of other delicacies. Ravenous little boys sang her praises, and most of us married someone very much like her when we grew up. And those who marry with family and food in mind tend to stay together. Most of those marriages lasted.
So for many of us, "Betty Crocker" transcended the brand. She represented a way of life and a devotion to family, an image that still resonates even in our jaded age, 100 years after "Betty Crocker" signed her first letter. Not bad for an advertising concept.

[@maurinehoeppner9172]

Great Way to learn History. Thanks Leslie Maurine

[@lesliegoddard8333]

Maurine Hoeppner Thanks! So happy to hear you enjoyed it.

[@mikelynn9533]

Looking forward to when you're out of quarantine and on the road again.

[@debbiealtman4572]

Wow very interesting. I’ve loved Betty Crocker. Now I know and still love her more. Amazing.
Learn something new every day.

[@gerimcb3663]

Thanks for this Leslie. As a child I spent countless hours perusing the colorful photos in Betty's Cookbook for Boys and Girls.

[@laonafleischer8466]

Missing you Leslie - can't wait to have you back in the library. Great video!

[@Happy_nessa]

Great video!

[@cindykline3929]

This was wonderful!

[@michaelbrockman5742]

Thank you for this. Sam Gale was my great uncle, a young genius of advertising. Did you know that he also was responsible for the promotion of his companies new cereal, Wheatie’s, with the ad campaign around a fellow from his fraternity, Jack Armstrong? Yes, the same fellow who became a symbol of America, Jack Armstrong - the All American Boy,

[@mattwas2896]

Thanks Doc great video

[@gumba5]

Very interesting! However I don’t remember seeing a yappachino recipe in her cookbook

[@pfdesilva2076]

I received an honorable mention award from the Betty Crocker family leader of tomorrow scholarship program in 1976. I forgot to mention the use of General Mills products in the written home economics exam.

[@bettyc.parker-young1437]

I loved HomeEc! I took three years!😃So much fun! Congratulations on your award from the past.

[@johnathin0061892]

Home Ec needs to make a come back, in a MAJOR way!

[@kathleencahill7905]

This was delightful!

[@focusedfifille]

Informative and tremendously entertaining ! I look forward to more videos from *That History Lady*!

[@johngordon2933]

Entertaining, and I learned a lot!

[@bettyc.parker-young1437]

My name is Betty and I started cooking at around ten years of age. I watched my mom cook and yes I loved food but I loved how to make it look good. So when my older married sister ask me what I wanted for Christmas at 12 years old I said the Betty Crocker cookbook! I began my journey! I took three years of HomeEc in Highschool and loved it! I still love cooking and baking and have bought some older volumes of the Betty Crocker cookbook . I have many different ones but they are special.

[@Hollywood103]

Well done! Really enjoyed this. Are there any other similar stories of companies that manufactured a pseudo character or product? There were so many marketing, business & entrepreneurial gold nuggets to pick up along the way!

[@kbergeron9063]

Leslie, you always present a fascinating study! Thank you for sharing!
Btw- For a moment, I thought you were in the kitchen at the Magic Chef Mansion.

[@lesliegoddard8333]

K Bergeron It really DOES look like that, doesn’t it? I wish I were - what an awesome historic house.

[@kshinokevin]

Duncan Hines, Sara Lee (Desserts) / Hostess (Cakes), Mrs. Field's Cookies, Martha Stewart, and McCormick - spice rack items "Lawry's" "French's" (mustard) = other brands

[@somethingbeautiful2212]

Fast talker Betty Crocker 🤪

[@Tom-pc7lb]

Use to be Americans came together. Great story

[@nombreapellidos1959]

You forgot to mention that Betty Crocker is a space mermaid hermaphrodite alien

[@launderine]

canon