Member-only story
This Is SPAM
This Quirky, Historical Chunk of Canned Meat, Made in Minnesota, Originated in 1937 And Still Sells Amazingly Well
The rectangular protein pieces in this delicious-looking dish, as likely as not, are SPAM.
SPAM sells exceedingly well in the U.S. today, as well as in Hawaii, the Asia-Pacific region, and South Korea, where SPAM was introduced with the presence of American GIs stationed there during World War II and the Korean War.
According to the Hormel Foods Corporation website, there are 12.8 cans of SPAM products eaten every second, and SPAM products are sold in 48 different countries around the world.
In the UK, some dip SPAM in batter and deep-fry it for a dish akin to fish and chips, with a side of vinegar. And it is presented and eaten there, and in all its locations, in practically countless variations as well.
This is indellibly depicted in a famous (or infamous) sketch by the Monty Python British television comedy series…
The SPAM sketch premiered on 15 December 1970 as the final sketch of the 25th show of Monty Python’s Flying Circus, and the end credits for the episode were changed so every member of the crew has either Spam or some other food item from the menu added to their names. (Spam Terry Jones, Michael Spam Palin, John Spam John Spam John Spam Cleese, Graham Spam Spam Spam Chapman, Eric Spam Egg and Chips Idle, Terry Spam Sausage Spam Egg Spam Gilliam, etc.) The “Spam” sketch became immensely popular, and was ranked the fifth favourite Python sketch in a poll.[4] The word “Spam” is uttered at least 132 times. The Vikings’ Spam song is a parody of “The Viking Song” by Samuel Coleridge-Taylor. (From Wikipedia; see link below.)
Also, here’s an especially great SPAM-related bit of history…
Spam makers Hormel, while never happy with the use of the word spam for junk email (which also happens to be derived from the sketch), have been supportive of Monty Python and their sketch.
Hormel issued a special tin of Spam for the Broadway premiere of Eric Idle’s musical Spamalot based on Monty Python and the Holy Grail. The sketch is part of the company’s Spam Museum in Austin, Minnesota, United States, and also mentioned in Spam’s on-can advertisements for the product’s 70th anniversary in…
