Hormel Girls

After World War II, when most U.S. businesses emphasized hiring male war veterans, Hormel Foods 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, 30 E. Tenth St., St. Paul; 651-292-4323.