Monday, December 15, 2008
My First Visit With The Doctor
No, not that doctor...this one. Yep, we stopped at "The World Famous Dr Pepper Museum" in Waco, Texas.
Dr. Pepper, aka Dr. Charles Alderton, was a Waco native working in a corner drugstore. It seems that ol' Charlie was looking to pioneer a new type of laxative and decided to try carbonating prune juice. Well, that worked very well. So well in fact, that the whole business was stolen right out from under him by a Mr. Lazenby, who later had a career as James Bond, before moving into the more lucrative field of Prince Charles impersonators. Not to outdone by this "flash-in-the-pan" Bond, our own "Big Tam" decided to have a go of his own at the "wearing of the green".
OK, OK...I was just kidding. George Lazenby really never had a "career" as Bond. After all, he only did one movie. If you're interested in the real story of how Dr Pepper got its start, look here. So, we really did go to the museum and although I have never had a Dr Pepper in my life I thought it was pretty interesting. I figured if I was to have my first taste of this singular soda, what better place to have the experience than where it all started?
Admission to the museum is $6 for adults. It was a good thing I had this valuable coupon. It was a bad thing that I left it in the motorhome and ended up having to pay full price. I guess I won't be getting that new set of golf clubs this year. As we make our way into the museum, we pass a mockup of the outside of the old corner drugstore. Inside there is a replica of the soda fountain that Charlie used to work at. Also there is a room that houses the original bottle washing machine, cappers and the like. Original old bottles and signs are everywhere.
I think the second floor was my favorite. There was a 1924 pickup truck in a scene representing a 1930’s rural general store. There was also a whole area dedicated to Schweppes products. But the best thing about the second floor was a seating area in front of a TV playing DP commercials from the past. We watched the entire loop, which lasted a good ten minutes...and laughed...and reminiscenced. (Is that a real word?)
The third floor was dedicated to Dr Pepper's top salesman, W. W. "Foots" Clements. This guy ate, drank, and breathed Dr Pepper. Talk about an ambassador. Of course he really had little choice in the matter. Ya see, Foots wanted to be an actor, but lost his bid for stardom to this man. So, he threw himself whole-heartedly into touting Dr Pepper. The guy was so good at promoting the product that he started moving up in the company, ending up as an executive. They had a replica of his office there.
One whole wing of the building was dedicated to diet soft drinks. You name it, they had a can or bottle of it. Lots I had seen as a kid and some I'd never heard of.
After browsing the obligatory gift shop, it was finally the time we had both been waiting for. No, not that...it was time for...The Tasting! This was to be a treat in more ways than one. First, it would be my pioneering foray into the taste of Dr Pepper and second, they made it the old fashioned way. Yep, no twisting a lid or popping a tab for me! The girl behind the counter pumped some syrup into the glass and, holding the glass under the fountain, she first pulled the handle back, dispensing the water, then pushed it forward, for the carbonation part. I refrained from calling her a "real jerk" as she was young enough to probably not get the reference.
The moment of truth was at hand! As a true connoisseur and pop snob, I sniffed the glass to appreciate the nose and bouquet of the potation. (hmmm...smells like pop.) Oh well, down the hatch. Strangely enough, it tasted like pop...Cherry Coke, to be exact. All these years of not drinking Dr Pepper because I'd heard it either was or tasted like, carbonated prune juice and here it tastes like Cherry Coke. Huh...Who knew? Oh yeah, I forgot...I don't like Cherry Coke. Oh well, nothing lost then, eh?
Me, trying the beverage.
After finishing our bevvies we head out to the roaming ranch. The one with the snafued steps...still. (For those of you who haven't been following along, or if you've forgotten the tragety of the treads, see this.) I've actually gotten quite adept at getting through the door and I barely have to pull LeAnna up anymore. Amazing how a hand-up by the hair gives one motivation. Still, she is giving me subtle hints about getting the steps fixed...like "Hey when are we gonna get the steps fixed?" Yeah, I like a girl that's ethereal.
Next stop..."America's RV and Outdoor Store".
Be there or be...not there, I guess.
I bid you Adéu
Dr. Pepper, aka Dr. Charles Alderton, was a Waco native working in a corner drugstore. It seems that ol' Charlie was looking to pioneer a new type of laxative and decided to try carbonating prune juice. Well, that worked very well. So well in fact, that the whole business was stolen right out from under him by a Mr. Lazenby, who later had a career as James Bond, before moving into the more lucrative field of Prince Charles impersonators. Not to outdone by this "flash-in-the-pan" Bond, our own "Big Tam" decided to have a go of his own at the "wearing of the green".
OK, OK...I was just kidding. George Lazenby really never had a "career" as Bond. After all, he only did one movie. If you're interested in the real story of how Dr Pepper got its start, look here. So, we really did go to the museum and although I have never had a Dr Pepper in my life I thought it was pretty interesting. I figured if I was to have my first taste of this singular soda, what better place to have the experience than where it all started?
Admission to the museum is $6 for adults. It was a good thing I had this valuable coupon. It was a bad thing that I left it in the motorhome and ended up having to pay full price. I guess I won't be getting that new set of golf clubs this year. As we make our way into the museum, we pass a mockup of the outside of the old corner drugstore. Inside there is a replica of the soda fountain that Charlie used to work at. Also there is a room that houses the original bottle washing machine, cappers and the like. Original old bottles and signs are everywhere.
I think the second floor was my favorite. There was a 1924 pickup truck in a scene representing a 1930’s rural general store. There was also a whole area dedicated to Schweppes products. But the best thing about the second floor was a seating area in front of a TV playing DP commercials from the past. We watched the entire loop, which lasted a good ten minutes...and laughed...and reminiscenced. (Is that a real word?)
The third floor was dedicated to Dr Pepper's top salesman, W. W. "Foots" Clements. This guy ate, drank, and breathed Dr Pepper. Talk about an ambassador. Of course he really had little choice in the matter. Ya see, Foots wanted to be an actor, but lost his bid for stardom to this man. So, he threw himself whole-heartedly into touting Dr Pepper. The guy was so good at promoting the product that he started moving up in the company, ending up as an executive. They had a replica of his office there.
One whole wing of the building was dedicated to diet soft drinks. You name it, they had a can or bottle of it. Lots I had seen as a kid and some I'd never heard of.
After browsing the obligatory gift shop, it was finally the time we had both been waiting for. No, not that...it was time for...The Tasting! This was to be a treat in more ways than one. First, it would be my pioneering foray into the taste of Dr Pepper and second, they made it the old fashioned way. Yep, no twisting a lid or popping a tab for me! The girl behind the counter pumped some syrup into the glass and, holding the glass under the fountain, she first pulled the handle back, dispensing the water, then pushed it forward, for the carbonation part. I refrained from calling her a "real jerk" as she was young enough to probably not get the reference.
The moment of truth was at hand! As a true connoisseur and pop snob, I sniffed the glass to appreciate the nose and bouquet of the potation. (hmmm...smells like pop.) Oh well, down the hatch. Strangely enough, it tasted like pop...Cherry Coke, to be exact. All these years of not drinking Dr Pepper because I'd heard it either was or tasted like, carbonated prune juice and here it tastes like Cherry Coke. Huh...Who knew? Oh yeah, I forgot...I don't like Cherry Coke. Oh well, nothing lost then, eh?
Me, trying the beverage.
After finishing our bevvies we head out to the roaming ranch. The one with the snafued steps...still. (For those of you who haven't been following along, or if you've forgotten the tragety of the treads, see this.) I've actually gotten quite adept at getting through the door and I barely have to pull LeAnna up anymore. Amazing how a hand-up by the hair gives one motivation. Still, she is giving me subtle hints about getting the steps fixed...like "Hey when are we gonna get the steps fixed?" Yeah, I like a girl that's ethereal.
Next stop..."America's RV and Outdoor Store".
Be there or be...not there, I guess.
I bid you Adéu
