Halloween candy used to include treats that would confuse kids today. Some were chewy, some tasted like molasses, and one packed four different fillings into a single chocolate bar. Several nearly disappeared when their makers went bust.
Necco Wafers: The 1847 Survivor
These pastel-colored discs date to 1847 and became one of America’s oldest candy brands. Their chalky texture divided generations of candy lovers. When Necco went bankrupt in 2018, production stopped—but Spangler Candy revived the wafers in 2020. A candy older than the Civil War had survived another corporate collapse.
Mary Janes: Peanut Butter and Molasses
Introduced in 1914, Mary Janes combined peanut butter and molasses in a chewy candy wrapped in yellow paper. Necco acquired the brand in 1990, and its bankruptcy disrupted production. Texas-based Atkinson Candy later revived the classic. The recipe’s old-fashioned flavor remains a reminder of when molasses candies were common Halloween finds.
Sky Bar: Four Fillings, One Bar
Sky Bar debuted in 1938 with four chocolate-covered sections filled with caramel, vanilla, peanut and fudge. It was practically a candy sampler decades before that became fashionable. Necco’s collapse interrupted production, and the bar’s later revivals have been less consistent than those of its sister brands.
Candy Buttons: Sugar on Paper
These tiny dots of colored sugar stuck to narrow strips of paper were a familiar penny-candy treat. Eating them was half the fun—and half the frustration—as bits of paper sometimes came along for the ride. Candy Buttons survived, but they’re much less common in ordinary Halloween bags today.
Bit-O-Honey: The Chewy Survivor
First sold in 1924, Bit-O-Honey combines honey-flavored taffy with tiny almond pieces. Its famously long-lasting chew made it a distinctive treat compared with chocolate bars. It hasn’t disappeared, but it feels increasingly old-school beside modern candy innovations and oversized seasonal releases.
Peanut Butter Bars: The Homemade-Looking Classic
Often called peanut butter kisses or Mary Jane-style candies, these tan, peanut-butter-flavored chews were common in old-fashioned candy assortments. Their distinctive orange-and-black wrappers made them recognizable in some Halloween bags, though similar-looking candies aren’t always the same product.
Why These Candies Still Matter
Some disappeared through bankruptcy; others survived but lost their place in the mainstream candy aisle. That’s the surprising part: a childhood favorite doesn’t have to become unpopular to feel extinct. Sometimes, the world simply moves on—and finding one again becomes a tiny trip back in time.