Why Hershey’s Kisses Have Been Part of the Cultural Fabric of the Holidays Since 1907

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Twenty seven years ago, John Dunn, brand manager for Hershey's chocolate, was in San Francisco at Colossal Pictures to oversee some new TV spots. The shoot went faster than Dunn had expected, leaving him with some extra studio time. Dunn could have boarded a flight back to Pennsylvania, but instead he asked Ogilvy & Mather to use the bonus time to throw together a holiday spot. The result was a Christmas tree shaped from a formation of 11 Hershey's Kisses, which "rung" like bells to "We Wish You a Merry Christmas," courtesy of stop-motion photography.

Nick Ferrari

Today, that hasty, unauthorized shoot has become the longest-running commercial in Hershey's history.

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