American Experience · SEASON 16
Tupperware!
Episode 6 · 2004-02-09

- Documentary
Episode overview
"Modern dishes for modern living" (and they "burped," no less), sold by women at "home parties." This slice of 1950s Americana is recalled in "Tupperware!" "The era and the product were made for each other," says one of the Tupperware "ladies" who are interviewed throughout the hour. Husbands are interviewed too because Tupperware was oftentimes a family affair, with the men working behind the scenes. The man in charge: Earl Tupper, who invented the sealable plastic containers. But a woman, Brownie Wise, developed Tupperware's phenomenally successful marketing plan. What gives "Tupperware!" its bite is the fact that Tupper and Wise didn't get along.
55 minutes
Season 16 episodes
1. New York (8): The Center of the World2003-09-08
2. Reconstruction: The Second Civil War (1): Revolution2004-01-12
3. Reconstruction: The Second Civil War (2): Retreat2004-01-13
4. Citizen King2004-01-19
5. Remember the Alamo2004-02-02
6. Tupperware!2004-02-09
7. Emma Goldman2004-04-12
8. Patriots Day2004-04-19
9. Golden Gate Bridge2004-05-03