Marathon (chocolate bar)

This article is about the candy bar sold in the United States. For the unrelated peanut and caramel-based bar sold as "Marathon" in the UK and Ireland until 1990, see Snickers.

Marathon was a candy bar consisting of eight inches of braided chocolate and caramel. It was manufactured by Mars Inc and first sold in the United States in August 1973. The bright red packaging contained a ruler with inch markings on the reverse demonstrating that it was as long as it claimed. (The length was the result of its braided shape; it didn't weigh more than standard candy bars.) It was discontinued in October 1981. Note: There was also a 15" version of The Marathon Bar sold in Southern California at local 7/11 stores. These had the 15" ruler on the back of the red wrapper.

Television commercials of the era feature John Wayne's son Patrick as Marathon John who would regularly confront villain Quick Carl.

Another braided caramel and chocolate bar available from Cadbury is the Curly Wurly. While these are commonplace in their native UK (as well as Australia), aside from specialty import stores (and World Market) Curly Wurly bars are not widely available in the U.S.

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• 1973 Marathon Bar wrapper