"Arlee Andre, creator of the original Duncan Hines cake mixes, died Monday. He was 89 years old...Mr. Andre was a cereal chemist testing flour for Nebraska Consolidated Mills in Omaha in 1952 when he decided to develop a cake mix with better flavor and uniformity than the two mixes then available. He researched the best ways to make yellow cake, white cake, chocolate cake and angel food cake. When the mixes were ready to be marketed, Nebraska Consolidated Mills paid Duncan Hines, the food and drink connoisseur, a penny a box to use his name. The mixes quickly became popular and were sold to the Proctor & Gamble Company in 1956. Mr. Andre also moved to Procter & Gamble and retired in the mid 1960s." ---"Arlee Andre, 89, Dies; Creator of Cake Mixes," New York Times, September 9, 1989 (p. 9) "A few weeks ago local newspapers carried full page color ads announcing that Duncan Hines cake-mixes were being introduced to the Chicago market. Simultaneously, on tables in restaurants throughout the city, there appeared small placards which read, "Welcome to Chicago, Mr. Hines." Dunring the week, the gentleman himself, known to American travelers as the author of "Adventures in Good Eating," appeared on 13 radio and TV broadcasts here, and one evening he entertained 400 retailers at supper in the plush Mayfair room of the Hotel Blackstone. Members of the flour-milling industry might well cock an eye at such ballyhoo and goings-on. Per capita flour consumption in the U.S. is 133 pounds, and has hovered at that low point for the past three eyars. In view of such statistics, many a miller would give his eye teeth to hit on a success formula like the one now setting sales records for Nebraska Consolidated Milling Co....Sixteen months ago, this Omaha milling company was just another of the many medium-sized companies in the industry, struggling to maintain sales. At the end of its fiscal year in June, 1951, the company had sales of $26 million. My the next fiscal-year-end, June 1952, it had chalked up sales of $20 million, of which over $3 million were in cake-mixes alone. Currently, it's selling about $9.5 million a har in cake-mixes. Furthermore, it's nipping at the heels of the "big three" in the cake mix field, Pillsbury, General Mills and General Foods, which combined do almost 90% of the business. Consolidated now ranks fourth, doing most of the remaining 10%, although it sells in only 30 states. J. Allan Mactier, Consolidated's 30-year-old vice-president...explains the management's success formula thus: 'Make sure you have a good product, pick a sure-fire brand name, and pour on the merchandising.' Consolidated chose the Duncan Hines label which is uses through a a franchise with Hines Park Foods, Inc. of Ithaca N.Y. because it felt it would be a sure-fire' seller. Mr. Hines himself makes his headquarters in Bowling Green, Ky. The company believed Mr. Hines' already established reputation as a connoisseur of good food would do the trick... What usually results is a flood of publicity which supplements the company's own concentrated advertising in the local market...Consolidated literally blitzes a town when it moves in. Color ads, so necesary in food promotion, are splashed on billboards and in local papers. Many radio and TV spots are used, as well as redemption coupons. Consolidated uses its quality claim as part of its selling technique. Unlike many cake mixes which contain powdered eggs in this mix, Duncan Hines mixes call for the additon of two fresh eggs. Mr. Hines insisted on this, stating it would make a better cake and would pay off in the long run. Duncan Hines brand mixes sell at competitive prices with other mixes, and the firm tries to turn the added expense of two fresh eggs to a selling advantage by telling the housewife 'this will make a better cake,' because Mr. Hines, the food authority, says so... The company is shooting for national distribution sometime next year." ---"Adventures in Good Selling--or Ballyhoo Blitz for a Cake-Mix," Felicia Anthenelli, Wall Street Journal, December 17, 1952 (p. 1) Who was Duncan Hines? Salesman, connosieur, entrepreneur, author, critic, philanthropist, culinary personna extroadinare! He did not, however, invent the cake mixes that bear his name. "Two or three times a week during the tourist season, travelers pull up in front of a neat, Colonial house on the edge of [Bowling Green, Kentucky] and inquire. 'How soon will dinner be ready?' They're attracted by a sign on the lawn: 'Home Office, Duncan Hines.' Mr. Hines who has built a nationwide reputation by telling people where to dine, doesn't serve any meals at his combination office and home here. But he concedes it is flattering that people think of him when they are hungry. 'Every day in this country, more than 70 million people eat out,' he explains. Helping them decide which restaurants to choose is the foundation for a prospering enterprise that first started in 1936. In that year, Mr. Hines compiled his first directory of recommended restaurants throughout the U.S., 'Adventures in Good Eating.' Since then the book has become a sort of Baedeker of American Cuisine. Through the years Mr. Hines has added three other guides--'Lodging for a Night," "Adventures in Good Cooking,' and 'Vacation Guide.'...Much of his time is spent in updating the guides to eliminate establishments that have fallen below his standards. He adds new discoveries when he runs across them. To help him keep track of the 2,500 eateries...on his recommended list, he enlists a corps of 600 friends scattered across the country. When a place changes hands, they report whether it still qualifies for a Hines approval. So far, Mr. Hines hasn't found any eating place in his native Bowling Green that he can recommend. He hasn't endeared himself to fellow Kentuckians by his comment that much of the locality is cursed with 'greese cooking.'...A public eating place, to get on the Hines list, must pass a rigorous inspection. He admires well-polished silver and white table cloths in the dining room. Often he insists on visitng the kitchen to inspect garbage disposal and dishwashing. Mr. Hines got to know the good and bad of roadside hashing when he was a salesman of printing and advertising for Rogers & Co., of Chicago. Friends began asking him for recommendations. Mr. Hines mailed out a printed list of his favorites as a gift before he realized the project might have commercial possibilties. Books are only a part of the present-day enterprise. Perhaps the biggest moneymaker is a line of 150 foods which bear his name. Hines-Park Food, Inc., of Ithaca, N.Y., packages the victuals. Mr. Hines receives a royalty on each package sold. He's looking for sales of around 24 million packages of Duncan Hines cake mix this year and will collect one-half cent royalty on each. Under a separate agreement, some 94 firms make Duncan Hines ice cream. Mr. Hines maintains a testing laboratory at Bowling Green to keep it up to specification...The money from all his books goes into the Duncan Hines Foundation which provides scholarships for seniors taking courses in restaurant and hotel management at Cornell University and Michigan State College. The National Sanitation Foundation also shares in book profits." ---"Duncan Hines' Love of Good Food Becomes Publishing, Cake Mix, Ice Cream Business," James Garst, Wall Street Journal, November 5, 1952

Mary Ruth, Well I don't know about particulars, I would not want it to be too involved for anyone that has limited resources, not to mention attendees LOL Plus, at these tea parties on the blogs, from what I can tell many are literally "virtual", meaning they just set up a pretty table. I think that tea for one, tea for two, tea for what ever amount that suits your situation, the idea would be just to do a pretty setting..involving tea and the little snackies that would go with it. Again, I have seen those set ups on blogs where there is NO food in sight...just the tablesetting with teapots, plates, dishes teacups, stacked plates, napkins, lace, etc that is part of the look. I do tea "affairs" for one all the time, lots of times it is just little ole me, but I still like the "art", and atmosphere of treating myself special every now and then. Sometimes the goodies are store bought, sometimes they are fresh made by me, I like having fruit with my snacks for something healthy too so I often make sure to include that too. I would think it can be simple to elaborate, use whatever you have or buy new, I would like to think most everyone has dishes of some sort, can "poof" some food if they want, napkins, paper or cloth, basically what ever is easy to them. Well, I think I will start a seperate thread on this since alot of people may not have read this thread and see if there is any interest.

After starting to watch The "Spew" a time or two I was convinced I was sitting next to the chicken coup! cluck, cluck, cluck BA-WACK! All these supposed "talk shows" are pretty much the same. A buddy of mine used to be such a fan of Morton Downey Jr. and we'd watch it at the lake but I kept turning it off. Every time someone said something he'd interrupt and I said that's it, off he goes. Caused more than one argument but I said bring your own TV and battery if you want to waste it on that garbage. (Oops, said the "g" word again! Oh well!) I too like Marilyn Milian on People's Court. Down to earth, professional and doesn't rely on the tired schtick that "Judy" does. Plus her cases aren't always cell phone bills and child support. Methinks she'd also kick Judy's butt in a court confrontation too. The other thing that I find almost amusing is how so many people think if they can't get their point across and convince/convert you, just talk louder! You *really* think that'll gain credibility? LOL

Hi Kids, Yes, tonight is RHNYC night. I have watched the Housewife showes since RHOC started several years ago. RHNYC are now my favs. I was so turned off by the OC women this past season that I am sure I will never watch them again. The Poor, embaressing behavior they displayed this season was enough for me. No kindness or class to be had in that group. For me, the NYC Women are much more real. As a group, they are more diverse and have a greater range of interests. Jill is over the top with her spending, the Countess is way over the top with her title and RAMONA...still a nut job, with her husband Mario, not far behind. Bethenny is ok but is so involved with what I will call her inner Bethenny, that she really does not have room for much else. I like and enjoy her wit but also find her to be a real piece of work. Kelly is smart, I guess she is beautiful, has money but at times she seems to miss the forrest for the trees. And what's up with her being late for EVERYTHING! She went to Columbia so she has game, but so often she can't find all the pieces to the puzzel. I am surprised as the rest of you to see that Alex & Simon are the normal ones. Who ever would have guessed? So yes, I will be watching tonight. It looks like we will see more of the Bethenny/Kelly issue. I thought their last confrontation made for some great Bravo T.V.. It seemed real and was interesting to watch. sooey