We went to California, we went to Canada, we went to Hawaii, shooting these commercials. Even though she lived six miles away from Lisa in Atlanta, they felt like millions of miles apart. Terrie and Jennie Frankel Took Their Twin Fame to Vietnam With the USO. Im an interior designer, and I also write, Linda said. Jayne and Joan Knoerzer, 21-year old twins from Hammond, Indiana, were the original Doublemint Twins. When Denise and Dian Gallup became the Doublemint Twins, they enjoyed the notoriety that came with being the iconic spokesmodels for the chewing gum company. She's the identical twin sister of Cyb Barnstable and the daughter of Dale and Wilma Barnstable. Surely enough, they werent the only ones who were experiencing these problems. In Spaceballs, there's a cameo by a pair of actual Doublemint Twins. Over ten years, they started in six commercials for the iconic gum. In 1987, Denise and Dian Gallup spoofed their roles as the Doublemint Twins in cameo roles in the Mel Brooks film, Spaceballs. mushroom today! Being a Doublemint twin became a prestigious step in any models career. According to NinjaJournalist, the Boyds' run as the Doublemint Twins ended because one of them became pregnant the other twin couldn't star in the commercials alone. Every twin in America wanted to be part of the Doublemint advertising, Paul said. The name Doublemint came from the double distillation process used in producing the mint flavor and spawned a popular advertising campaign around the Doublemint Twins in 1956. 2023 BuzzFeed, Inc. All rights reserved. It was really incredible to be able to take those trips, Lisa said. Big Red is a cinnamon flavored chewing gum introduced by the William Wrigley Jr. Company in 1975. However, the original president of the chewing gum company, Philip K. Wrigley, refused to take just any pair of twins for the job. There are enzymes, such as amylase, that can cause gum to break down. The Mackrell Twins had also worked as the Toni Twins from Toni Home Permanent. One specific thing that Linda learned was that perception can never be underestimated. The call from Wrigley's. Over the next few years, they performed for the troops in Vietnam, Hawaii, and various other locations. [5] When they were five, the family moved to Marietta, Georgia, and six years later they relocated to Chicago due to their father's job,[6] but they reside in Palatine. She revealed her struggles on an episode of Oprah: Where Are They Now? However, for reasons that remain unclear to this day, the Knoerzers were told they shouldnt chew gum in the adverts. It was so bad that Linda almost never wanted to see or speak to her sister Lisa again. Your email address will not be published. The gum was traditionally grey/beige in color, almost the same color as Juicy Fruit and Doublemint. Brittany co-starred with her twin sister in the popular American drama series "Sweet Valley High." Brittany played Jessica, the fashionable and extrovert sister, while Daniel played Elizabeth, the down-to-earth sister. Soon, Wrigley came along and poached them in the 1970s. What could be better than shooting commercials around the world with your best friend? The Yokubinas twins werent the first identical siblings to don the Doublemint colors. [2] The company, however, continued sporadically to promote the campaign, which included twins Jennie and Terrie Frankel in the late 1960s; later "Doublemint Twins" included June and Patricia Mackrell through the 1970s (who had also been the Toni Twins for Toni Home Permanent, which used the slogan "Which twin has the Toni? We would get bombarded with mail coming from twins all over the country, he said. That distinction goes to New York twins, Sharon Sansaverino and Sheryl Valenti, who lent their smiling faces to the Wrigley Company in the late 1980s. Eventually, the Doublemint craze would come back with a new incarnation. Nowadays, they are known as Linda Puffer and Lisa Cox, but back in the 80s, they were better known as the Doublemint Twins. But away from the camera, something darker was brewing. One of the biggest perks of their jobs was being able to travel around the country shooting their various ads. Both of these twins though are still active, with current writing or directing credits to their name. It would prove to be a stepping stone to greater things for many who took on the mantle after the Knoerzer twins. From Wikimedia Commons, the free media repository. [5], In 2004, the European Union Court of Justice ultimately denied Wrigley's request for trademark status on the name "Doublemint"; the Court found that the mark DOUBLEMINT was descriptive of the product and in violation of trademark law. File usage on Commons. Whatever, this cover remains the most popular in the swimsuit edition's history, according to SI. Research suggests that drinking a can of Coke, or another carbonated beverage, can help dislodge food stuck in the esophagus. Tina Moore was a character in the film Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter. Those iconic Doublemint gum commercials featured several different sets of twins over the years, but Linda Ryan Puffer and Lisa Winters Cox had the longest run of all. Although it is not a sugarless gum, in 2003 Wrigley's replaced some of the sugar with artificial sweeteners aspartame and acesulfame potassium. Tia and Tamera Mowry, who went on to star in their own hit television show, Sister, Sister, were Doublemint Twins in the 1990s. "Imagine trying to explain the Doublemint Twins to your children #Spaceballs" Like most of the Doublemint commercials, the ads simply showed the twins having fun and enjoying each others companya pretty cushy job for the identical twins. She came and sat on the couch with me, laid in the bed with me. Initially, they were drawings Wrigley included in magazine and newspaper advertisements. The move would prove to be particularly fruitful for the duo, as they became the longest serving twins in the companys history, starring in commercials for a full decade. NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - Wrigley will give consumers a double-dose blast from the past by bringing back its Doublemint Twins in a . But when they left the roles, things took a dark turn. In the United States, European settlers picked up the habit of chewing spruce from Native Americans as far back as the 1600s. This partnership was extremely beneficial for the two, as it ended up as a career for them. The ads featured the Barnstable twins, who posed in Playboy, a complete departure from their wholesome Wrigley image. They refused to be known as simply one of a double act. He demanded that whoever got the parts were the perfect fit for their brand. Later in life, they become New York Times best-selling authors. . Linda & Lisa were born to Joseph & Donna Yokubinas in Baltimore, Maryland. It all started in 1939 when Wrigley's Doublemint Gum decided the best way to promote the brand was to use twins. The 175,000 square foot factory was built in 1911 and remained in use until 2005. Their reign was shorter than their predecessors, as they landed a sweet job as the stars ofSweet Valley Higha year later. To say that they were successful Doublemint ambassadors is an absolute understatement. However, the twins have finally revealed the challenges that have threatened their relationship since their Doublemint days. [10][11], While their career was still in their infancy, Linda met fashion photographer David Puffer. 181 posts. [1] There were other famous twins in the advertising campaign such as Tia & Tamera Mowery and Jean & Liz Sagal,[1][2][3][4] but none more memorable than Linda & Lisa. She has also appeared on series like Blackish, Dawson's Creek and others. They're famous for their peppermint gum, advertised for its "double" flavor introduced in 1914. Cynthia began modeling alongside her twin sister, Brittany, when they were 11 years old. In the early 1990s, Brittany and Cynthia Daniel, who are technically fraternal twins, not identical twins, joined the Doublemint Twin family. Low 42F. You probably also recognize them singing the Double your pleasure, Double your fun jingle written by the Arthur Meyerhoff Ad company. When they were 12, they were the Doublemint Twins. Brittany and Cynthia Daniel have had fans seeing double for years now first as models for Doublemint gum ads, then as stars of Sweet Valley High. Lisa also knew that things had not been right for a while. Thankfully for them though, they were considered the best fit for the ad. Also, Linda couldnt understand why fans continued to credit her for her work with Wrigleys. 112 posts Their father was Dale Barnstable, an NBA famous for being banned for life in 1951 for point shaving. It was in 1985, when the girls got the call that changed their lives forever. No single gum double freshens your mouth quite like it. Theyre seen dressed in the more traditional Doublemint clothes similar to that of the original twins. Professional singers, the twins had no plans to become actresses and models until they signed their contract with Philip K. Wrigley in 1959. Twin work wasn't really popular in the 80s, but Wrigley gave sets of twins roles in their iconic Doublemint gum commercials.The longest-running Doublemint twins, Linda Puffer and Lisa Winter Cox, joined us to dish on the campaign, the specific way to open and chew gum and the success they're having now. The Frankel twins sang folk songs and played their accordions, clarinet and guitar. Chewing this classic, minty gum makes it easy to keep your cool, and when you share a stick, well that's the basis for a whole new friendship. It was launched in the United States in 1914,[1] and has had variable market share since then. Lisa also knew that things had not been right for a while. But who are the current twins representing Wrigleys? In the caption of this photo, Linda wrote: [She] calls me Yoma (A made-up grandma name that combines our nickname Yoko 1 and Yoko 2- derived from our maiden name Yokubinas with Grandma) shes only 17 months and gets confused now when she sees Lisa! Shes the youngest looking grandma weve ever seen! Linda and Lisa Yokubinas starred as the Doublemint Twins in 1985 and held the roles for 10 years, according to the Chicago Tribune. "), Patricia and Priscilla aka (Cybil or "Cyb") Barnstable, Denise and Dian Gallup,[3] Cynthia and Brittany Daniel (future co-stars as the Wakefield twins in the TV series based on the Sweet Valley High novels), Tia and Tamera Mowry in the early 90s (future co-star of The Game with both Tia Mowry and Brittany Daniel and future co-stars of Sister, Sister), Heidi and Alissa Kramer, figure skaters Pamela and Jeremy Green, and Jean (ne Barbara) and Elizabeth Sagal (daughters of TV director Boris Sagal and sisters of MarriedWith Children's Katey Sagal). However, producers didnt see it that way and as a result, Linda and Lisa were often typecast. The advert empowered twins all around the world. The advert that they will be best remembered for was the one where they are hanging out by a swimming pool and lose their hats. When you break it down, we were [just] walking and chewing gum at the same time, she said. Lisa meanwhile, knew something was wrong with Linda and couldn't bear to watch her be this low, even at her lowest. Chewing sugarless gum has been shown to increase the flow of saliva, thereby reducing plaque acid, strengthening the teeth and reducing tooth decay. The 1970s had the Mackrell twins, who were already the face of another brand. And the most amazing thing about it is that Linda is a grandmother! Lets take a look at some of the more memorable Doublemint Twins. Two Black Uniondale twins broke the color barrier when they became representatives for one of the largest chewing gum companies in the United States. They acted in small roles on shows like The A-Team, Hill Street Blues, and Whos The Boss. The twins share their experiences with fans and friends that find their way to the Gallups home. She's the identical twin sister of Cyb Barnstable and the daughter of Dale and Wilma Barnstable. As the Doublemint Twins, they wore similar clothes, flew to Hawaii and Canada to shoot their commercials, and were the picture of happy teenagers. Nevertheless, Linda and Lisa made the roles their own and will go down in the history as the most iconic versions of the characters. They spent every moment of their life, promoting the gum and made great money doing so. At one time in 1986, they were called upon by Mark Goodson Productions do to a pilot for a new CBS game show called On a Roll; a show that combined elements of Wheel of Fortune, the puzzle era of Password (in other words, Password Plus & Super Password) and High Rollers. Throughout the 1950s, gum became increasingly associated with American baseball. The move would prove to be particularly fruitful for the duo, as they became the longest serving twins in the companys history, starring in commercials for a full decade. I was ashamed that I was envious, I was ashamed that I needed that attention or affirmation.