Jane made a trip to her hometown of Thomasville in January. She and her brother went there to spend time with their sister. I was a tad envious when I learned they had a visit with Little Miss Sunbeam.    

In the 1950s I was quite smitten by the gorgeous little blonde featured on Sunbeam Bread wrappers. I wondered if she was real, and would have traded a Superman comic book for a game of Spin the Bottle. 

I only played Spin the Bottle once. We were at an old farmhouse on my Uncle Murray’s property that a group of ladies converted into the Community Clubhouse. They met there for fellowship and educational programs. Mrs. Carolyn Cromer, Dooly County’s Home Demonstration Agent, covered subjects such as sewing and canning. The ladies also shared clandestine tips, like how to add five dollars to the grocery check for a secret stash of cash.    

A kid’s party was held there one night. I don’t remember the occasion, but recall playing a couple of games. We began with Pin the Tail on the Donkey. After that we sat in a circle on the floor and took turns spinning a Coke bottle. When the bottle eventually pointed toward me I bolted toward the door, thrilled at getting to run around the house in the dark with a girl well above my cuteness scale. We were supposed to hold hands but she outran me. I realized too late my shoelace wasn’t really untied.    

Jane, Rick, and Ellen parked in front of their childhood home on Jefferson Street and headed toward the door. The current owners were in the midst of a major renovation of what will be a guest house. It’s a good thing I wasn’t there. My heart may have stopped when greeted by Little Miss Sunbeam. She and her husband gave them a guided tour.

There’s a lot of information about that iconic character. An artist sketch of an unidentified girl playing in a New York park is thought by some to be the origin. There are, however, other theories. One picture I found online shows a Mississippi lass whose family believes she inspired the artwork. There’s a definite resemblance and the timing seems right.  

Another aspect of the story includes Patty Michaels, a notable child model. She was hired by Sunbeam Bakeries in 1955 to bring Little Miss Sunbeam to life. At age five her photo reportedly appeared on breadwrappers in the New York area. Michaels, who went on to have a successful acting and singing career, died in 2010 at age 60. I don’t know the details.

Multiple young girls portrayed Little Miss Sunbeam for various events, some vying for the title in pageants. Countless others no doubt enjoyed playing pretend with friends or wistfully dreaming in front of their mirrors. I’m not sure who inspired that original depiction, but Flowers Baking Company in Thomasville had an official, real-life version. 

Peggy Flowers Rich is who my wife remembers as Little Miss Sunbeam. She was the smiling blonde with curly hair riding the floats in Thomasville’s annual Rose Parade. Based on the hospitality recently extended to Jane and her siblings, I’d say the sweetness she once personified stayed with her after the parades all ended.

Little Miss Sunbeam is all grown up now, and we’re both past the age of playing Spin the Bottle. If, however, that opportunity had come along during childhood, there’s one thing I’m sure of. Before we reached the door, the laces to my shoes would have been tied with double knots.