Jell-O Museum's focus is history, not Cosby

Bill Cosby was the public face of Jell-O for many years.

And while his ties to Le Roy’s Jell-O Museum were never strong, they're almost nonexistent now.

Cosby visited the museum for about an hour in 2004, to help open an exhibit commemorating his 30 years as Jell-O’s spokesman. To mark the occasion, a pair of commemorative bricks were added to the “Jell-O Brick Road” that leads pedestrians from Main Street to the museum.

Last year, when sexual-assault allegations against the comedian were brought to wide public attention, the bricks were discreetly removed and placed in storage.

“We just thought it was inappropriate (to keep them there),” said Lynne Belluscio, the museum director. “We also worried a little about vandalism.”

At the time, Belluscio also worried the museum would get some unwelcome media attention.

That never happened.

And it didn’t happen on Wednesday, when a felony charge was filed against Cosby in Pennsylvania.

“We kind of braced ourselves, and we got nothing,” Belluscio said Thursday. 

“I was expecting a lot more,” she added. “In fact, I came in this morning to see if there was anything in the e-mail — and we got nothing.”

A collection of Jell-O TV commercials featuring Cosby used to be part of the museum exhibit, but isn’t anymore. Cosby’s photograph is included with advertising displays — along with other famous Jell-O spokesmen, including Jack Benny.

So when Belluscio is asked about Cosby, she points out that he’s not the reason for the museum.

“Our kind of pat answer is, we don’t have an affiliation with the Jell-O company and that we really focus on the history of Jell-O in Le Roy,” Belluscio said. 

That history begins in 1897— when Pearle Wait invented the gelatin dessert  — and ends with General Foods’ 1964 decision to close its Le Roy factory and move Jell-O production to Delaware.

The Jell-O Museum draws more than 10,000 visitors a year. That number reflects the enduring popularity of the dessert — not Cosby.

Even in 2004, Belluscio said, his role as pitchman was already “old hat.”

“Which to me, is indicative that the brand has moved beyond him — and had, for a long time,” she said. “In today’s advertising market, that’s the way it is.”