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Click an era in the timeline below to see what was happening in the world of Cheerwine at that time.
         
In 1953, Dwight Eisenhower came through Salisbury to celebrate the 200th Anniversary of Rowan County and became the first President
known to enjoy a Cheerwine. After one sip he was rumored to proclaim "Ike likes!"
Cliff Ritchie was born in 1954 and Mark Ritchie in 1957- making Cliff the older brother.
In 1952, Raymond Ritchie came to work for Cheerwine Bottling Co. before leaving in 1953 to join the Army. He returned in 1955 and
is the longest term, oldest current employee. That's 51 very sweet years!
The first Cheerwine vending machine was put on location. A bottle of Cheerwine was 5¢. The first person to kick this particular
machine when not getting his bottle after depositing a nickel is still unknown.
A 24-bottle case of Cheerwine sold for 80¢. That's a lot of flavor for under a buck!
Company chemist, John Lesslie, developed CBC's own wild cherry flavoring for CW as opposed to purchasing it from West Indies Flavoring Co.
out of St. Louis. Lesslie is known as Professor Cheerwine!
The "Basket Weave" returnable 8-oz. bottle design was introduced in 1957 as King Size and stayed thru the late 80s.
Cheerwine moved to its present location in July of 1967. One forklift was the only used equipment brought to the new facility. The first
production was on July 4th, 1967 in a 100% debt-free, state-of-the-art facility using Crown bottling equipment. Now that's a REAL "Independence Day!"
Cheerwine celebrates 50 years of success in 1967 with a super-groovy, Cheerwine-a-go-go party!
Diet Cheerwine is introduced. Sales at "Big Larry's Fat Man & Husky Boy Shop" in Salisbury, NC decline within weeks. Months later, due to his
own shrinking waistline, Big Larry himself changes his name back to Lawrence.
The first can of Cheerwine was produced. "Spin the can" soon replaces "spin the bottle" in many backyards throughout the Carolinas.
The first TV commercial was filmed in the Arthur Smith Studios. The Cheerwine "dancing can" is an immediate hit, prompting the
Cheerwine marketing department to consider a 6,500 ounce can.
CBC tried unsuccessfully to revive Mint Cola in 10-oz. returnable bottles.
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Celebrate
"90 Years of Cheer"
with Cheerwine!
Cheerwine celebrates 90 Years of being the "cherry different" soft drink by giving away 90 years worth of different prizes!
Win prizes from the year Cheerwine was born (1917) all the way up to today (2007)! Each winner will win a different prize
from a different year of Cheerwine's 90 Year history, and one lucky winner will drive off in a futuristic 2007 Cheerwine
"Xebra" electric car!
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