Willa Paskin

The national scaling of these home parties changed everything for Tupperware. This is Tupperware. It became an it product, a modern marvel that was the must-have item of the day. Something I initially, anyway, found a little hard to understand. It's kind of hard for me to wrap my head around the status symbolness of Tupperware because it's pedestrian and plastic and stores food.

Like it is just this plastic container, you know, like what made it so revered.

Like it is just this plastic container, you know, like what made it so revered.

Like it is just this plastic container, you know, like what made it so revered.

Tupperware had the release model cachet of a streetwear brand and the trendiness of, yes, a Stanley Cup, all while making wives and mothers feel good about how they were being wives and mothers. And so it became a behemoth.

Tupperware had the release model cachet of a streetwear brand and the trendiness of, yes, a Stanley Cup, all while making wives and mothers feel good about how they were being wives and mothers. And so it became a behemoth.

Tupperware had the release model cachet of a streetwear brand and the trendiness of, yes, a Stanley Cup, all while making wives and mothers feel good about how they were being wives and mothers. And so it became a behemoth.

Tupperware amassed 20,000 dealers across the country, women who worship Brownie as a sales god, an aspirational lifestyle guru, and who flogged enough Tupperware that the company soon reached $25 million in retail sales, almost $300 million in today's money.

Tupperware amassed 20,000 dealers across the country, women who worship Brownie as a sales god, an aspirational lifestyle guru, and who flogged enough Tupperware that the company soon reached $25 million in retail sales, almost $300 million in today's money.

Tupperware amassed 20,000 dealers across the country, women who worship Brownie as a sales god, an aspirational lifestyle guru, and who flogged enough Tupperware that the company soon reached $25 million in retail sales, almost $300 million in today's money.

Soon, Brownie, with her incredible story, became the face of the brand, heralded as a single mom revealed to be a sales genius, now leading an army of saleswomen.

Soon, Brownie, with her incredible story, became the face of the brand, heralded as a single mom revealed to be a sales genius, now leading an army of saleswomen.

Soon, Brownie, with her incredible story, became the face of the brand, heralded as a single mom revealed to be a sales genius, now leading an army of saleswomen.

Brownie went on talk shows and did interviews for countless magazines. She became the very first woman to appear on the cover of Businessweek. She wrote an entire memoir slash business manual. And the press often credited her with the success of Tupperware.

Brownie went on talk shows and did interviews for countless magazines. She became the very first woman to appear on the cover of Businessweek. She wrote an entire memoir slash business manual. And the press often credited her with the success of Tupperware.

Brownie went on talk shows and did interviews for countless magazines. She became the very first woman to appear on the cover of Businessweek. She wrote an entire memoir slash business manual. And the press often credited her with the success of Tupperware.

As the 50s wore on, Earl became increasingly aggravated by Brownie's popularity. Brownie became increasingly aggravated by Earl's micromanaging. They were both trying to grow the company, but they were often at odds, a situation that became prickly and tense over time.

As the 50s wore on, Earl became increasingly aggravated by Brownie's popularity. Brownie became increasingly aggravated by Earl's micromanaging. They were both trying to grow the company, but they were often at odds, a situation that became prickly and tense over time.

As the 50s wore on, Earl became increasingly aggravated by Brownie's popularity. Brownie became increasingly aggravated by Earl's micromanaging. They were both trying to grow the company, but they were often at odds, a situation that became prickly and tense over time.

The Tupperware Jubilee was an annual over-the-top themed celebration and team-building exercise Brownie had started in the early 1950s. Tupperware dealers and managers would come to Tupperware headquarters on their own dime for an elaborate four-day show of appreciation and indoctrination.