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J. Blumenthal, 93, company treasurer

One day in 1900, Joseph Blumenthal's father was walking along the Delaware River, mulling over a decision by his brothers to "take a fling at movie production."

One day in 1900, Joseph Blumenthal's father was walking along the Delaware River, mulling over a decision by his brothers to "take a fling at movie production."

But, a 1950 article in Investor's Reader reported, "he passed the chocolate plant of Wilbur. He stopped short, fascinated by the sight and aroma of cocoa beans piled high in horse-drawn carts.

"The hustle in and around the plant assured him business was good."

And so was born Blumenthal Bros. Chocolate Co., which kept the family taste for films alive by manufacturing that movie house, now cineplex, staple - Raisinets.

On Monday, April 19, Mr. Blumenthal, 93, treasurer for his father's firm until it was sold in 1969, died of complications from Alzheimer's disease at Twining Manor, an assisted-living community in Holland, Bucks County.

The Investor's Reader article, quoted at length in a 1950 Inquirer story, reported that soon after the senior Joseph Blumenthal's riverfront walk, "the Blumenthals found themselves in the chocolate business."

"None of them had seen a cocoa bean before.

"But with youthful zest, they installed some second-hand roasters and chocolate mills in the basement of their home, advertised for a chocolate candy maker."

The 1950 story reported that 60 percent of the company's profit in the first nine months of that year "come from chocolate coatings, powders, and liquors.

"The other 40% is derived from 5 cent chocolate confections like Raisinets, Malties, Sno-Caps, and those chocolate-covered peanuts renowned as Goobers.

"Like most chocolate manufacturers who have nickel lines, Blumenthal Bros. keep it for consumer good-will but barely break even."

It's been well reported that, these days, movie house profits rely heavily on sales of sodas and candies.

Born in Philadelphia, Mr. Blumenthal - who dropped the Jr. from his name after his father died - graduated from Cheltenham High School in 1934 and earned a bachelor's degree in chemistry from Harvard University in 1938.

Drafted into the Army in 1942, Mr. Blumenthal was an officer in a chemical-warfare office outside London.

He became the national sales manager for packaged-candy products at Blumenthal when he returned to the States in 1945. News stories from the 1950s identified him as treasurer of the firm, at Margaret and James Streets in Frankford.

The firm was sold to Ward Food in 1969, and Mr. Blumenthal continued with Ward until retiring in 1981.

He was inducted into the Candy Hall of Fame in Hershey, Pa., in the mid-1990s, said a son, Joseph III.

In addition to his son, Mr. Blumenthal is survived by his wife of 65 years, Joan; another son, Jeffrey; and three grandchildren.

A daughter, Susan, died in 2002.