From Ice Cream to Cake Mix

Duncan Hines’ (pictured) occupation as a traveling salesman gave him the opportunity to try many of the nation’s restaurants. In 1936, he published a guide to the best of these establishments, calling it “Adventures in Good Eating.” A dozen years later, Hines gave permission for his name to be used on a line of packaged foods, which included many of the baked-goods mixes sold today in supermarkets across the country. The first product released with his name on the side, however, was Duncan Hines vanilla ice cream.