After World War II, when most U.S. businesses emphasized hiring male war veterans, Hormel Foods [3] hatched an unusual plan to employ women. Of course, these women tended to be less needy than attractive—not to mention talented. In fact, from 1947–53, a troupe of sixty female employees from the Austin-based company, known simply as the “Hormel Girls,” served both as door-to-door sales force and drum-and-bugle corps. The Girls are credited with doubling sales of their employer’s packaged foods, especially Spam, with such tactics as traveling stage shows, parades, and a weekly CBS Radio show in which product names were liberally dropped. The “Hormel Girls” make for fascinating history; but they’re likely to make even better musical theater.
History Theatre [4], 30 E. Tenth St., St. Paul; 651-292-4323.
