7. Marathon Bar
In the candy aisle of the 1970s, size mattered. And for a glorious eight years, the Marathon Bar was king. Introduced by Mars, Inc. in 1973, this candy bar was a formidable eight inches long. It consisted of a thick braid of caramel covered in milk chocolate. It was chewy, it was messy, and it felt like you were getting your money’s worth.
The packaging was as distinctive as the bar itself. The bright red wrapper featured the name “Marathon” in a bold, western-style font and, most importantly, had a ruler printed on the inside. This wasn’t just a candy bar; it was an event. Kids could measure their snack before devouring it. The marketing leaned into this concept, with commercials featuring the “Marathon John” character, a lanky cowboy who emphasized the bar’s long-lasting chewiness.
Despite its popularity, Mars discontinued the Marathon Bar in 1981. The official reason has never been entirely clear, though it’s often attributed to the relatively high cost and complexity of producing the braided shape. The public outcry was immediate and has never really died down. Petitions and online groups have been calling for its return for decades. Its legend is a powerful reminder that sometimes the most memorable part of a snack is its unique form and the ritual of eating it.
