Flicks
Back, barely — made since 2004 on the original equipment, in small batches with pre-orders opening each September. The 1989 end year comes from candy collectors; Ghirardelli itself never dated the goodbye.
Last verified Nov 7, 2026
Ghirardelli's chocolate drops in a bright foil tube were a movie-theater fixture from 1904 — until the company decided the iconic packaging cost too much and walked away in the late 1980s.
Filed under: Candy & Gum · the ’70s & earlier
📅 Timeline
- 1904Sworn first use of the FLICKS mark, September 1, 1904, by D. Ghirardelli Co. of San Francisco.
- 1915FLICKS registered at the USPTO for chocolate candy.
- 1989Ghirardelli abandoned the brand in the late 1980s over packaging costs; candy collectors put the end at 1989.
- 1996Ghirardelli's FLICKS registration expired unrenewed in July.
- 2004Jim Tjerrild — the engineer who serviced Ghirardelli's equipment — bought the trademark and the original machine, moved it to Fowler, California, and restarted production.
- 2008Revival sales reached $300,000, up from $4,000 in the first year.
❓ People also ask
Are Flicks still made?
Yes — in small batches on the original machinery in Fowler, California, with pre-orders typically opening each September. Supply is limited and sells out.
Why did Ghirardelli stop making Flicks?
Per the revival's owner, the company walked away because the famous foil-tube packaging had become too expensive. He asked for two years to bring the candy back before buying the trademark himself.
Are today's Flicks the same as the originals?
Same machine, same foil tubes. The discs are chocolatey candy wafers in milk and dark varieties, sold largely through pre-orders and specialty candy shops.
🧾 Sources
- USPTO TSDR, FLICKS trademark record, D. Ghirardelli Co. (first use September 1, 1904) (1915)
- USPTO TSDR, FLICKS revival trademark record (first use May 2004; renewed 2026) (2026)
- Fox News, Retro candy on the comeback trail (2012)
- ABC7 (KGO), 'Flicks' Candy Comeback (2009)