Chronology of
A & W Root Beer (USA)

Copyright © 1996-2024 Ken Polsson
internet e-mail: ken@kpolsson.com
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URL: http://kpolsson.com/awhistus/

This document is an attempt to bring various published sources together to present a timeline about A & W Root Beer (USA). It includes events pertaining to both the beverage and restaurant aspects of the various companies, worldwide.

Note: A&W ® is a registered trademark of A&W Restaurants, Inc. Other company and product names are the property of their respective owners. Such names are used for identification purposes only. This site is solely the work of Ken Polsson, and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any of the companies listed herein.

References are numbered in [brackets], which are listed here. A number after the dot gives the page in the source.

Last updated: 2012 May 8.


1918

  • In Flagstaff, Arizona, Roy Allen meets a travelling chemist who talks of a special formula for draft root beer. After trying it, Allen signs an agreement to produce and market the root beer concentrate. [42.31] [110.5] (1919 [37])

1919

June 20
  • Roy W. Allen opens his first root beer stand, at 13 West Pine Street in Lodi, California. Allen gives away his root beer during a celebration of returning soldiers from the world war. [2.10] [10] [11] [42.31] [79.623] [110.5]
June 21
  • Roy Allen opens his root beer stand in Lodi, California, for business, selling 10-ounce glasses of root beer for 5 cents. [110.8]
(month unknown)
  • Roy Allen begins using stock 10 ounce Indiana Glass Company mugs of the St. Louis type. [29]

1920

  • Roy Allen opens a second root beer stand, in Stockton, California. [42.31] (Sacramento [11] [37])
  • Frank Wright joins Roy Allen's root beer business, at the Lodi location. [42.31]
  • Allen and Wright lease out their root beer stands in Lodi and Stockton to other operators. [42.32]

1921

  • The J. Hungerford Smith Company begins manufacturing Roy Allen's root beer concentrate. [10] [110.62]

1922

  • Frank Wright, an employee of Allen's root beer stand in Lodi, joins with Roy Allen in a partnership. [10] [11] [37]
  • Roy Allen and Frank Wright formally name their beverage A & W Root Beer. [10] [11] [37] [42.32]
  • The Indiana Glass Company begins producing 3.5- and 10-ounce glass mugs with the "A & W Root Beer" embossed in raised letters. [29] [42.172]
  • The name "A & W Root Beer" is first used as a trade mark. [79.623]
  • Three new A & W outlets are established in Houston, Texas. [11]

1923

  • Two more A & W outlets are started in Sacramento, California. Roy Allen buys a broken-down carnival wagon, and sets it up in Sacramento as a drive-up root beer stand. The first "car hop" restaurant service in the United States is started. [11] [37] [79.623] [110.16]

1924

  • Roy Allen buys Frank Wright's share of the business. [10] [11] [37] [42.30] [110.20]
  • Roy Allen registers the name "A & W Root Beer", and the A & W logo with the U.S. Patent and Trademark office. [10] [11] [37] [110.20]

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1925

  • Roy Allen begins selling franchises, making A & W one of the first franchise restaurant chains in the United States. [11] [37] [110.22]
  • Roy Allen sells all of his California stores, and exclusive rights to build franchises in Oregon, Washington, Nevada, and Arizona to H.C. Wells and Lewis Reed. [110.23]
  • Hazel Atlas Glass Company begins supplying A & W with root beer mugs. [29]

1926

April
  • Roy Allen begins using an image of a bull's eye circle, arrow through the middle, A & W on top inside, ROOT BEER below. This is the style used on mugs in the 1960s in orange, brown, and white. [44]

1927

  • J. Willard Marriott buys the rights to sell A & W Root Beer in the Washington, D.C. area. [42.30]

1929

September 5
  • Roy Allen applies for a trade-mark on an image of a bull's eye circle, arrow through the middle, A & W on top inside, ROOT BEER below. [44]

1930

February 11
  • Roy Allen's image of a bull's eye circle, arrow through the middle, A & W on top inside, ROOT BEER below, is registered as a trade-mark. [44]

1933

  • Number of A & W Root Beer stands in the US: 171. [79.623] [42.31]

1940

  • U.S. Glass Company begins supplying A & W with root beer mugs. [29]

1941

Year
  • Number of A & W units operating in the USA: 260. [110.32]

1946

  • U.S. Glass Company stops supplying A & W with root beer mugs. [29]

1948

  • A new 10 ounce root beer mug from the Indiana Glass Company (#1518) is introduced to A & W restaurants. It has a half-heart shaped handle, and features a red/black/white bull's-eye logo. [29]

1949

  • The first A & W franchisee convention is held, in La Crosse, Wisconsin, for Wisconsin operators only. [110.34]

1950

  • Roy Allen sells the A & W Root Beer business to Gene Hurtz of Nebraska. [10] [11] [37] [110.32]
  • Roy Allen retires from running the A & W business. [10] [11] (1948 [37])
  • Gene Hurtz forms the A & W Root Beer Company. [10] (Roy Allen established company in 1920s [37])
Year
  • Number of 450 A & W Root Beer drive-in restaurants in the United States: over 450. [79.623] [110.32]

1951

  • A 16-ounce root beer mug from the Indiana Glass Company (#1506) is introduced to A & W restaurants, allowing sales of 10-cent root beer drinks, in addition to 5-cent drinks. It is known as the "Jumbo" mug. Logo used is the red/black bull's-eye design. [29] [110.73]

1953

  • A & W Root Beer Company sells franchising rights to entire state of Louisiana to Martin Schempf. [110.44]

1954

Year
  • Number of A & W units in the USA: 800. [110.79]

1956

  • The first A & W drive-in restaurant outside of the U.S. opens, operated by Dick Bolle and Orval Helwege on Portage Avenue in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. [4.50] [10] [84] [94.28] [104.32]
  • A light weight 8 ounce root beer mug from the Indiana Glass Company (#1504) is introduced to A & W restaurants. The logo is a red/black bull's-eye design. [29]
October 29
  • The A & W Root Beer Company begins using an image of a large glass mug with "A & W" and "ROOT BEER", a curved handle, and foam on top of the mug as a trade-mark. [44]
November
  • F.R. "Fran" Loetterle becomes president of A & W Root Beer Company. [110.44]

1957

  • A heavy duty 8 ounce root beer mug from the Indiana Glass Company (#1512 - 3/4) is introduced to A & W restaurants. The logo is the red/black bull's-eye design. [29]
  • Number of A & W Root Beer franchises worldwide: about 1400 in 44 of the 48 US states, two in Alaska, six in Canada. [42.152] [79.623]

1958

  • A 12 ounce root beer mug from the Indiana Glass Company (#1518) with a half-heart handle is introduced to A & W restaurants. The handle is a half-heart shape. The logo is the red/black bull's-eye design. [29]
  • Sargent Refrigeration, of La Crosse, Wisconsin, begins warehousing A & W root beer mugs from the Indiana Glass company for A & W operators. [29]

1959

  • A & W Santa Monica begins warehousing A & W root beer mugs from the Indiana Glass company for A & W operators. [29]
  • A & W Root Beer Company creates the A& W News Dispenser company newsletter. [110.46]
Year
  • Number of A & W restaurants in the USA and Canada: 1775. [110.44]

1960

  • The 11th A & W franchisee convention is held in Detroit, Michigan. [110.57]
February 1
  • The A & W Root Beer Company applies for a service mark on an image of a large glass mug with "A & W" and "ROOT BEER", a curved handle, and foam on top of the mug. [44]
(month unknown)
  • The logo on the 3 1/2 ounce root beer mug from the Indiana Glass Company is changed to a red silk-screen design. [29]
  • US Food and Drug Administration bans safrole, used in most root beer, as it is believed to be a potential carcinogen. A process is developed to create safrole-free sassafras. [110.70]
  • Hazel Atlas Glass Company stops supplying A & W (in the US) with root beer mugs. [29]
Year
  • Number of A & W drive-ins on the Burger Family Program: 40. [110.58]

1961

  • The A & W franchisee convention is held in New Orleans, Louisiana. [110.54]
  • The logo on the 3 1/2 ounce root beer mug from the Indiana Glass Company is changed to an orange silk-screen design. [29]
  • A & W Root Beer Company begins selling gallon jugs of draft root beer. [110.95]
  • The light weight 8 ounce root beer mug from the Indiana Glass Company (#1504) is discontinued from use as an A & W mug. [29]
  • The logo on the 8 ounce, 10 ounce, 12 ounce, and 16 ounce root beer mugs from the Indiana Glass Company is changed to an orange/brown/white bull's-eye design. [29]
October 31
  • The A & W Root Beer Company's image of a large glass mug with "A & W" and "ROOT BEER", a curved handle, and foam on top of the mug is registered as a service mark. [44]

1962

  • A thin wall 8 ounce mug from the Indiana Glass Company (#B-36) is introduced to A & W restaurants. [29]
  • A light weight 10 ounce mug from the Indiana Glass Company (#B-37) is introduced to A & W restaurants. The handle is standard rectangular shaped. [29]
  • A new light weight 12 ounce root beer mug from the Indiana Glass Company (#B-38) is introduced to A & W restaurants. [29]
  • The heavy 16 ounce root beer mug from the Indiana Glass Company (#1506) is discontinued from use as an A & W mug. [29]
  • A new light weight 16 ounce root beer mug from the Indiana Glass Company (#B-39) is introduced to A & W restaurants. [29]
  • The first A & W restaurant outside of North America opens, in Guam, operated by Wilbur and Violet Miller. [11] [110.57] (1963 [10])
  • (mid-year) The 10 ounce mug is modified to give it more of a lip bulge and flared base. [29]
  • Richard E. Carlson replaces Fran Loetterle as president of A & W Root Beer Company. [110.57]
  • The first A & W restaurant in Europe opens, in Mannheim, Germany. [110.57]

1963

  • The J. Hungerford Smith Company buys the A & W Root Beer Company. [10] [11] [110.63]
  • The Burger Family Program adds the Teen Burger to the line-up of burgers, as America's first bacon cheeseburger. [101] [110.58]
  • The 8 ounce mug introduced in 1962 is modified to give it more of a lip bulge and flared base (#B-81). [29]
  • The first A & W restaurant in Malaysia opens, in Jalan Tuanku Abdul Raham on Batu Road. This is the first American fast-food outlet in Malaysia. [110.60]
  • The first A & W restaurant in Japan opens, in Yagibaru, Okinawa. [110.140]
  • Singer Vic Damone is named "Mr. A&W" as part of a promotion campaign. [110.65]
  • The first A & W restuarant in Mexico opens. [110.62]
  • A heavier 10 ounce root beer mug from the Indiana Glass Company (#0292/B-82) is introduced to A & W restaurants. [29]
  • A new taller 12 ounce root beer mug from the Indiana Glass Company (#0293/B-82) is introduced to A & W restaurants. It is thin walled, and has a lip bulge and flared base. [29]
  • The 16 ounce mug introduced in 1962 is modified to give it more of a lip bulge and flared base (#0294). [29]
  • The heavy 16 ounce root beer mug from the Indiana Glass Company (#1506) is reintroduced for use as an A & W mug. [29]

1964

  • The 3 1/2 ounce root beer mug from the Indiana Glass Company is changed from having 8 short "flutes" on the lower part of the mug, to having 16 long flutes. [29]
  • The 8 ounce root beer mug from the Indiana Glass Company is changed from having 8 short "flutes" on the lower part of the mug, to having 16 long flutes, and straight sides (#1698). [29]
  • The 10 ounce root beer mug from the Indiana Glass Company is changed from having 8 short "flutes" on the lower part of the mug, to having 16 long flutes, and straight sides with heavy walls (#1699). [29]
  • The 12 ounce root beer mug from the Indiana Glass Company is changed from having 8 short "flutes" on the lower part of the mug, to having 16 long flutes, and straight sides with heavy walls (#1700). [29]
  • The 16 ounce root beer mug from the Indiana Glass Company is changed from having 8 short "flutes" on the lower part of the mug, to having 16 long flutes, and straight sides with heavy walls (#1701). [29]

1965

February 16
  • The A & W Root Beer Company is granted a registered trademark of a bull's-eye image with letters "A & W" at top for restaurant services. [44]
May
  • A & W applies for a trade-mark on the bull's-eye logo. [29]
December
  • United Fruit Company announces plans to acquire the J. Hungerford Smith Company (and A & W Root Beer). [110.77]

1966

  • (spring) The 16-ounce root beer mug from the Indiana Glass Company (#1506) is discontinued. [29]
  • The logo on the 3 1/2 ounce root beer mug from the Indiana Glass Company is changed to a orange/brown/white bull's-eye design. [29]
  • United Fruit Company buys the J. Hungerford Smith Company, including the A & W Root Beer Company. [10] [28.78] [110.77] (1967 [27.229])

1967

  • (fall) The 16 ounce root beer mug from the Indiana Glass Company (#1701) is discontinued. [29]
  • A & W phases out the 10-ounce and 12-ounce mugs. [29]
Year
  • Number of A & W units in the USA: 2400. [110.79]

1968

January
  • A & W International first uses an image of an oval double-boomerang with letters "A & W" as a trademark logo. [44]
(month unknown)
  • A heavy 14 ounce root beer mug from the Indiana Glass Company (#1702) is introduced. It has the brown/orange/white bull's-eye logo. 6000 cases are produced before A & W changes its logo. [29]
March 26
  • Roy Allen, A & W company founder, dies. [11] [37] [110.32]
  • A & W adopts a new logo in the US. It is changed to an orange/brown/white oval design. "A" and "W" are in brown and the "&" is in orange, on a white field. Outside of the white is a half orange, half brown oval ring. [29]
June
  • A heavy 14 ounce root beer mug from the Indiana Glass Company (#1614) is introduced. It has the new brown/orange/white oval logo. [29]
(month unknown)
  • The logo on the 3 1/2 ounce and 8 ounce root beer mugs from the Indiana Glass Company is changed to the new orange/brown/white oval design. [29]
  • (late) The Indiana Glass Company begins shipping A & W mugs with the new logo to distributors. [29]
  • The name of the A & W Root Beer Company is changed to A & W International. [10] [11] [110.82]

1969

May
  • Fran Loetterle resigns as President of A & W International, replaced by Edwin S. Weber Junior. [110.87]
June 16
  • A & W launches its first national television commercials, during Monday Night at the Movies, to promote take-home gallons of root beer. [110.85]
(month unknown)
  • A & W releases a gold-on-white souvenir mug to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the company. [110.84]
  • A & W opens first Crandall House restaurant in Santa Monica, California, as a test of a new full-service coffee shop. [110.81]
  • (mid-year) Logo decal used on root beer mugs from the Indiana Glass Company is modified to remove most of white color from behind the orange/brown colors, allowing them to bond to the glass, giving the product a longer life. [29]

End of 1918-1969. Next: 1970.

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1918-1969 1970-1989 1990-end


A list of references to all source material is available.


Last updated: 2012 May 8.
Copyright © 1996-2024 Ken Polsson (email: ken@kpolsson.com).
URL: http://kpolsson.com/awhistus/
Link to Ken P's home page.

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