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From Performers to Spokespeople Following Jean’s death in 1944 at the age of
Council Bluffs candy maker John G. Woodward 75, Inez continued to live in the tiny house,
& Co. was known far and wide for its “pure sugar sometimes renting it out during her winter
stick candy and real butterscotch,” and famed for its sojourns in Florida. In 1950, one renter learned
“Butter Brickle Bar.” Occupying a full city block, that living in a tiny house can have unexpected
the Woodward factory was, next to the railroad, the consequences: soaking in the Bregant-sized tub
largest employer in Council Bluffs. At its busiest, (36" long by 19" wide by 19" deep), she got stuck
circa 1920, Woodward employed nearly 1,000 and wasn't rescued until 60 hours later. “She
workers and sold 2 million pounds of candy annually. had plenty to drink,” noted one wag, “just nothing
One fateful day, the Bregants stopped by the to eat.”
Woodward factory to replenish their store’s candy Inez Bregant was 81 at the time of her passing
supplies and encountered Mr. Woodward himself. in 1969. Her will left $42,000 to the City of
Impressed by their charming personalities (as well as Council Bluffs, which was used to purchase a
their show business background), Woodward offered 183-bell carillon. The carillon was placed at the
the Bregants yet another new career – as promoters Bregants’ favorite destination: Lookout Point.
and demonstrators for Woodward Candy. (“Actually,” noted a friend, “I think Inez would
Billed as “the smallest salespeople in the world,” have preferred it if they’d installed some chairs.
the Bregants traveled a 20-state region, pleasing She said there was never any place to sit up there.”)
crowds with excerpts from their vaudeville act, and, In their heyday, the Bregants were described as
of course, selling plenty of candy. The advance ads “cheerful and full of life.” Jean Bregant agreed:
proclaimed, “You’ll be pleased to meet this captivating “it’s to your advantage to be friendly and wear a
little couple. They’re not only the smallest salespeople smile. A person can find a happier road if he’s
in the world, but the most clever. And, with each willing to adapt.”
10-cent Woodward package purchased, they present The Bregants adapted. And the rest of the
their souvenir picture.” The varied souvenir card world adapted right along with them.
selection featured visuals of the twosome in various It takes a lot of folks to make and sell
poses and settings, including scenes of them at home all that candy. Among 1,000 dedicated Following Inez Bregant’s passing, oversight of
in their made-to-scale abode. Photo captions focused Woodward workers: “The Candy Kids,” the Bregant house eventually passed to Preserve
Inez and Jean Bregant.
on the couple’s down-to-earth offstage personalities Council Bluffs (www.preservecouncilbluffs.org),
(“A Quiet Evening At Home,” “Mrs. Bregant In Her Model Kitchen”). which continues work
As the “Candy Kids,” Inez and Jean enjoyed great popularity and on the building’s restoration. The Bregant
achieved financial security. Jean, who had, as a young man, worried home is listed on the National Register of
that his size would limit his options in life, was overjoyed. “In the Historic Places and is also designated as a
United States,” he said, “it is possible for anyone to get the opportunity Council Bluffs Local Landmark.
to succeed. It is this fact that makes me think so well of this country.”
Photo Restoration by Hank Kuhlmann.
Home Again, Home Again Original archival photos courtesy of Preserve
Council Bluffs.
After retirement, the Bregants settled comfortably into their just- Donald-Brian Johnson is the co-author of
right home, tooling around Council Bluffs in a size-adapted 1928 numerous Schiffer books on design and
Buick Victoria. A favorite jaunt included a stop at a local drive-in for collectibles, including “Postwar Pop,” a
ice cream, then traveling on to “Lookout Point” located in the city’s collection of his columns. Please address Inez and Jean Bregant
Fairmount Park. There, the couple would enjoy their cones, and take inquiries to: donaldbrian@msn.com after retirement,
in the magnificent view, 1,250 feet up. early 1940s.

End of A Dream moments, Hellgate was in darkness. The tub of
hot tar was accidentally knocked over and Hellgate
was aflame. Soon, the wooden and papier-mache
nez and Jean Bregant realized their dreams, with buildings that made up the rest of Dreamland
a fulfilling career as the “candy kids,” and a would become part of the conflagration.
Ihappy retirement at their made-to-order home Local firefighters put up their best efforts.
in Council Bluffs, Iowa. Joining them were departments from stations
“Dreamland,” the Coney Island amusement throughout the city—and one fire department
Mecca where they met and fell in love, wasn’t so never before called on to fight an actual fire: the
lucky. On May 26, 1911, finishing touches were one staffed by the little people of Midget City.
being completed at the park so it would be ready for Their small steam engines sprang into action,
its season-opening that Memorial Day weekend. hoping to divert the flames from their
Under the direction of Samuel Gumpertz, former mini-Nuremberg, but the battle was a futile one.
manager of the park’s “Midget City,” all of Like the rest of Dreamland, Midget City was a
Dreamland had been refurbished. Since betting on total loss.
horse racing had recently been outlawed, new Firefighters on land and from water boats
incentives were needed to lure in the crowds who fought the flames, as bystanders gathered and
used to head for Dreamland after a trip to the gawked from the best vantage points they could
nearby tracks. find. In addition to the rides and attractions, many
In the early morning hours of May 26th, one of of Dreamland’s beloved animals perished in the
the attractions getting last-minute attention was fire. Near dawn, the lofty Dreamland Tower
“Hellgate,” a watery boat ride through dusky Artist’s depiction of the Dreamland fire toppled to the ground in a final blaze of glory.
interior caverns. Hot tar was being used to repair called “Fighting the Flames, Coney Island, Yes, the Bregants happily found their dreams.
leaks in the facility, and the intense heat from the N.Y.” on a souvenir postcard. But Dreamland, where those dreams began, was
tar caused overhead bulbs to explode. Within no more.

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