Seeing Double: A Look Back at Wrigley’s Doublemint Twins

By | September 19, 2018

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Jean Sagal, Liz Sagal (Photo by The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images)

The Wrigley Company, a chewing gum manufacturer, introduced its “double strength” peppermint gum, with twice the flavor, in 1914. The advertising department quickly capitalized on the word “double” by including twins as their spokespeople. Beginning in 1939, Wrigley introduced their Doublemint twins, but they used drawings of twins to illustrate the concept of “double”. But starting in 1959, they hired twin models to appear in their print ads and commercials. Let’s take a look at some of the more memorable Doublemint Twins. 

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Prior to hiring real twins, Jayne and Joan Knoerzer, Wrigley used illustrations of twins.

Jayne and Joan Knoerzer, the First Set of Twins On Television

Wrigley employed the first set of twins to appear on television. Jayne and Joan Knoerzer, 21-year old twins from Hammond, Indiana, were the original Doublemint Twins. Professional singers, the twins had no plans to become actresses and models until they signed their contract with Philip K. Wrigley in 1959. Jayne and Joan showed fans how they could “double your pleasure, double your fun” by doing fun activities together, like playing tennis and riding bikes together.