Syracuse native behind new Willy Wonka-like golden ticket contest for a candy factory
https://www.syracuse.com/news/2020/09/syracuse-native-behind-new-willy-wonka-like-golden-ticket-contest-for-a-candy-factory.html
In this Oct. 12, 2011 photo, David Klein, a man who came up with the name Jelly Belly, poses for photos in Covina, Calif.AP Photo/Jae C. Hong
Updated Sep 10, 2020; Posted Sep 10, 2020
By Geoff Herbert | gherbert@syracuse.com
A Syracuse native is the dreamer of dreams behind a new Willy Wonka-like contest thats getting widespread attention.
David Klein, the original Mr. Jelly Belly who came up with the popular candys name, launched a competition in the U.S. called The Gold Ticket." Klein says hes hidden multiple golden tickets -- gold necklaces with a tag that includes a code to verify its authenticity -- worth $5,000 in every state.
Players will then be eligible for the ultimate prize, which is the key to a candy factory, says Klein, who refers to himself as The Candyman.
"Were looking for you, Charlie, out there, he said.
The contest is inspired by Roald Dahls famous book, Charlie and the Charlie Factory, which was adapted into a 1971 movie starring Gene Wilder as Willy Wonka and a 2005 remake starring Johnny Depp. The story centers on a poor boy named Charlie Bucket who finds a golden ticket in a chocolate bar and wins a trip to Wonkas factory, and eventually gets to own the factory himself.
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Fun fact:
Charlie, from the 1971 movie, is a veterinarian not far from Syracuse.