‘Tis the Season For a Hot Dr Pepper
by Paula Bosse
“Serve piping hot…” (1963)
by Paula Bosse
I don’t think I’ve ever had hot Dr Pepper. I remember seeing commercials for it on television as a kid, but I don’t think I’ve ever been in a social setting where it was offered. It always sounded like an odd thing to do with a soft drink. Years ago I was on a tour of the bottling plant in Dublin (…need I say “Dublin, Texas“?), and the guide said that this winter drink (which is always served with a slice of lemon) isn’t the same these days unless you drink Dr Pepper sweetened with real sugar — heated-up corn syrup apparently ruins the flavor.
Here are a few nostalgic advertisements to prove to the whippersnappers that this used to be a thing. The first two ads I could find mentioning this seasonal delicacy (the brainchild of a marketing wiz who might well have worked here in Dallas, home of DP’s HQ) are these two, from January and February, 1959 (click to see larger images):
Jan. 30, 1959
Feb. 6, 1959
The “new idea” was definitely being marketed nationally by at least 1963. I don’t know how popular it was, but they even manufactured special cups to drink it from. And, “for those who want something special, try the Boomer” — hot Dr Pepper with a dash of rum.
1964
1965
1966
1967
1968
There are a few vintage commercial online. Here is one starring Dick Clark, featuring the snowman above.
(Am I the only one disturbed by seeing a pot of boiling Dr Pepper?)
There are a couple of others, in lesser image quality: watch them on YouTube here and here.
There you have it. Consider leaving a Boomer out for Santa. It’s chilly out there. Cheers!
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Sources & Notes
Top ad (1963) is from Flickr, here.
The rest are from various places, but many were found here.
More Flashback Dallas Christmas posts can be found here.
More Dr Pepper-related posts can be found here.
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Copyright © 2020 Paula Bosse. All Rights Reserved.
Flashback : Dallas 
I remember drinking hot Dr. Pepper at some high school Christmas parties. Heating it makes the Dr. Pepper go flat but brings out the fruity flavor. The lemon helps to cut the sweetness. It made a nice change from hot chocolate but not something I’m eager to drink again.
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SMU Student Foundation served hot Dr Pepper at the Celebration of Lights each December. I always thought it was because it was donated or something.
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Christmas in the Park, held every early December at Westlake Park in Mesquite (except this year) always had a tent with several large stockpots over Sternos containing hot Dr Pepper and lemon slices. Santa’s helpers would ladle out a styrofoam cupful and hand it to a freezing mom or dad. This was the free beverage for the adults; kids got hot chocolate. We attended every year my kids were small and when it was cold, I was ready for that cup of hot Dr Pepper. I thought it tasted a little “peppery” but with a fruity aftertaste!
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Hot Dr. Pepper… YUCK!!!!!
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Hot Dr Pepper was really popular for a year or two but then it disappeared. The only person still around who might still remember the promotion is David Dunnigan who worked for Dr Pepper at one point.
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I remember when I was a Cub Scout in Oak Cliff that we went on a tour of the Beautiful building of the headquarters of Dr. Pepper on Mockingbird by Greenville. I saw those huge bins of sugar heading down to the mix and then the bottling. Wow. Years passed. In the 60’s and later in the 70’s, I worked for Ron Chapman as a lackie and so called producer and later the helicopter traffic reporter after we had a crash on Colgate in Highland Park. Ron helped pick the cheerleaders which at that time was a really “mystical” experience. Nearly every one of them that came to the morning show indicated, without any coercing, that they drank Dr. Pepper because it kept their system regular! Later in the 80’s, Ron asked me to produce a live broadcast from the pyramids in Egypt where 2 teams of couples would race each other on camels around the pyramids… and Dr. Pepper sponsored it. I went over there by myself with 20 large cases of equipment which I had to put together against all odds and do a live broadcast for nearly 2 hours during Ron’s simulcast with Ch. 39 and besides being the guy that put all the gear together and arranged the microwave and 3 different satellites, I also hosted it. I also managed to get an enormous Dr. Pepper banner hung between the paws of the Spinx. If there is an Egyptian hell, I’ll probably go to it. Soon, I’m going to upload that show and I’ll post it, but in the meantime, here’s an ad for the post game show I did with Ron after the event: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ir4FY8u1WCo Also, the VP for marketing at Dr. Pepper joined me and tried to clear thousands of cases of Dr. Pepper they sent for promotion at the event. Egyptian Customs would not allow it because Dr. Pepper would not release what the ingredients were!
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Ha! That’s great!
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I can vividly remember having hot Dr. Pepper at many a 1960’s Cowboys game … in the Cotton Bowl, of course.
The Dr Pepper vendor had, what looked like, an upside-down fire extinguisher on his back, and he would fill your cup using the (extinguisher) hose … or he could squirt down your shirt if you happened to catch fire after screaming and yelling so much at those “cheaters” from Cleveland or Washington ….
I had a vivid imagination as a kiddo fan of Don Meredith and his teammates (as most kids did back then – pre-instant gratification days) … so my recollections might be slightly enhanced by what I saw on that week’s “Batman” episode.
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Ha! I love this! Thanks, Ed.
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Ms. Paula, I really enjoy all these “flashback” post of nostalgic Old Dallas …!
(which can be as recent as anytime pre-1990 .. speaking now from the 3rd decade of the 21st century)
These days .. it can be quite difficult to find anyone that actually grew up in the Dallas area .. where an enjoyable discussion could be had regarding where “Kip’s Big Boy” was located .. or debating how tall the Kodiak Bear was in the foyer of (the) “Safari Restaurant”.
Counterfeit Texans abound everywhere now .. which are so easily discerned (generally) .. once they speak .. broadcasting that they originate from somewhere north of the 36th Parallel 🙂
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