Beware . . . BLENDOR!!!!!!

Wikipedia tells us that the Waring Blendor was introduced in 1937. It wasn't the original blender; it wasn't even Waring's original blender. The first blender was patented in 1922, and Waring produced the Miracle Mixer in 1933. The Blendor was an improved model, and Fred Waring used the O in the name to differentiate it from the other blenders out there. We learn that "The Waring Blendor became an important tool in hospitals for the implementation of specific diets, as well as a vital scientific research device. Dr. Jonas Salk used it while developing his polio vaccine."

It was also useful for these:

This booklet, from 1956, was among the family heirlooms I found in my late mom's cookbook. I don't recall us ever having a Blendor---or boozy drinks out of the blender we did have, for that matter. I came along well after 1956, though, so she may have inherited the booklet from someone who did have a genuine Waring, and a taste for frozen champagne punch.

Here's the panoply of Waring products from the back cover:

You notice that the mixer is a Mixor. I guess it was Fred's thing. Oddly, he did not trademark Blendor, but he did trademark Mixor. It is a dead trademark now, though. Maybe the trademark office thought Blendor was too silly to trademark.

The Ice Jet was no doubt useful for daiquiris. The Durabilt travel iron probably didn't make very good cocktails.

But "Pickups and Cheerups" is full of wonderful blend(o)r drinks. In fact, there are some seasonal beverages. Let's have a look at what's inside!

You may be surprised to see that Halloween Punch is mainly iced tea and ginger ale and no alcohol, but Halloween really did used to be considered a children's holiday in the United States. (Note the cover of the booklet: "Alcoholic Drinks for Grown-ups / Nutritious, Delicious Beverages for the Whole Family".) I don't quite know when the adults started buying costumes for themselves. but it wasn't that way in 1956. The Graduation Punch is also boozeless, but easily spiked. I've heard of the Tom and Jerry, but I didn't know it was considered a Christmas beverage.

As before with Mom's promotional booklets, I have to find the most appalling recipe to feature; that brings us to the Fizzes page:

Right across from the ever-popular daiquiris are the Fizzes, two of three of which contain raw egg. Yes, that death-dealing salmonella bomb. Don't worry, though; the rum or gin will kill the germs. (Maybe. I don't know. Probably not.)

I have to confess that many years ago a friend of mine and I were hanging out in his family's rec room, which featured a full bar, and we dared each other to pull a drink recipe at random out of the ol' Mr. Boston book and try it. We got the Silver Fizz---gin, egg white, and all. As I recall, it tasted like a mix of cardboard and anxiety.

Over the years I've known many people who were quite attached to blender drinks, either for health or for dessert or for alcoholic stupor. I think we all owe a debt of thanks to visionary bandleader Fred Waring and his Blendor. Dr. Salk, too.*



*Recipe for Salk vaccines not included in booklet.