Weird History Food serves up Hamburger Helper’s wacky past 

Tom Blank, the historian with a penchant for the peculiar, took us on a whimsical journey through the wacky annals of Hamburger Helper’s past. Picture this: Lefty, the suave ambassador sporting his fancy white gloves, gracing kitchens with his one-of-a-kind presence. Now, hold onto your aprons, because Blank spun a tale of culinary chaos – the original Hamburger Helper apparently required more dishes than a toddler’s tea party! But fear not, for in swoops the culinary superhero, Betty Crocker, armed with a genius plan: a single-skillet sensation (just toss in some meat magic) that could stretch a family’s budget tighter than a pair of skinny jeans after Thanksgiving dinner. And when Hamburger Helper’s popularity hiccupped, cue the grand entrance of Lefty, strutting onto the stage to save dinner time from becoming a historical footnote.

Weird History Food is serving you up some delicious nostalgia with the history of Hamburger Helper. If you remember this creepy little mascot finger-tipping across your TV set, you’ll remember Hamburger Helper was a way cash-strapped American families looked for ways to stretch their meals further than ever before. Let’s take a look back at this classic boxed food product.

Tom Blank was born in Buffalo, NY and has lived in several states including Illinois, Ohio, Wisconsin, Indiana, Washington, and North Dakota. Currently, he resides in Los Angeles. He is a senior instructor at Groundlings and has authored a book titled “The Principles of Comedy Improv: Truths, Tales, and How To Improvise,” which was published by the University of Iowa Press.