CHAPTER ONE: THE HISTORY OF MOLD-A-RAMA

Every machine operated by Mold-A-Rama Inc. is over 60 years old.

The machines were originally built back in the mid-20th century by one J. H. “Tike” Miller. Miller had originally simply wanted replacement plaster figures for a family nativity set. However, when he found no stores sold replacement parts he found an opportunity and started a business of making plaster nativity figures. Plaster was eventually replaced with wax-like plastic due to plastic being the cheaper option to produce, and the nativity figures were soon replaced with increasingly-creative objects like jungle animals and space aliens. Eventually, through much experimenting, Miller got the idea of a small, consumer-sized replica of the machines that could be installed at tourist attractions to make souvenirs, along the lines of penny-pressing machines. He sold the idea to Automatic Retailers of America (ARA) Inc. shortly after. (You may know ARA today as Aramark, the same company that produces Metea’s lunch menu.) ARA set up its subdivision titled Mold-A-Rama Inc. for the manufacturing and upkeep of the machines, but after successful stints at World’s Fairs throughout the 60s decided it would be in their best interest to sell all Mold-A-Rama machines. Eventually, two companies formed to upkeep the remaining machines: Mold-A-Matic, who operates machines towards the east of the US, and Mold-A-Rama, who operates machines towards the west. Mold-A-Rama is a company familiar to Chicago.

Many of the machines you see now were in their current positions even before ARA disestablished the original Mold-A-Rama Inc. The machines that produce blue dolphins and pink sea lions outside Brookfield Zoo’s Seven Seas Pavilion, for example, were there in 1966 when Seven Seas first opened. Thus, the culture around Mold-A-Rama Inc. has been one of tradition and a nostalgic comfort that is best described not in words but by the unique waxy smell the souvenirs possess.