Famous Amos Cookies are known all over the world. However, many don’t know the Famous Amos founder was Wally Amos–a charismatic pitchman and media darling who established himself as one of America’s first ‘food personalities’. The first-ever African-American William Morris agent, Wally would bake cookies for clients as gifts. The cookies became so popular, he was eventually bankrolled by a list of notable celebrities to launch Famous Amos Cookies.
The product and the man gained a level of celebrity on par with Orville Redenbacher & Colonel Sanders–launching the first brick-and-mortar retail store dedicated to cookies in 1975. Located in Los Angeles, the stores were a popular Hollywood hot spot. Wally quickly became an international household name and pop culture phenomenon. Then he abruptly vanished from the public eye.
The disappearance was the result of classic misfortune. Due to a string of admittedly ill-advised business moves, he eventually lost all stake in the still popular cookie brand. Today, he relies on social security and the kindness of friends.
Our documentary, The Great Cookie Comeback: Re-baking Wally Amos chronicles these events in colorful detail and offers a window into the current life of the 83 year-old Wally Amos. From his home base in Waikiki, our cameras roll on the eternal entrepreneur as he struggles to launch his ‘final attempt’ for sweet success…while confronting homelessness and a recent fifth divorce.
Over the last 20 years, he’s started too many cookie companies to count. However, it’s not easy starting over–especially considering all the hurdles. The most daunting is Wally’s inability (per his signed agreement with the current owners of the Famous Amos brand) to use his own legal name and likeness to promote competing baked goods. But this time, he believes he’s finally figured it out and is betting it all on an appearance on ‘Shark Tank’ to pitch his new cookie company, ‘The Cookie Kahuna’.
This feature-length documentary spotlights the second-coming of Wally Amos–the founder of Famous Amos Cookies–one of the most popular brands in modern history. At 83, facing huge challenges, can he make his new cookie as famous as his first?
Famous Amos Cookies are known all over the world. However, many don’t know the company was founded in 1975 by Famous Wally Amos–a charismatic pitchman and media darling who established himself as one of America’s first ‘food personalities’. The first-ever African-American William Morris agent, Wally would bake cookies for clients as gifts. The cookies became so popular, he was eventually bankrolled by a list of notable celebrities to launch Famous Amos Cookies.
The product and the man gained a level of celebrity on par with Orville Redenbacher & Colonel Sanders–launching the first brick-and-mortar retail store dedicated to cookies. Located in Los Angeles, the stores were a popular Hollywood hot spot. Wally quickly became an international household name and pop culture phenomenon. Then he abruptly vanished from the public eye.
The disappearance was the result of classic misfortune. Due to a string of admittedly ill-advised business moves, he eventually lost all stake in the still popular cookie brand. Today, he relies on social security and the kindness of friends.
Our documentary, The Great Cookie Comeback: Re-baking Wally Amos chronicles his life in colorful detail. From his home base in Waikiki, our cameras roll on the eternal entrepreneur as he struggles with his ‘final attempt’ for sweet success…while confronting homelessness and a recent fifth divorce. He’s betting it all on an appearance on ‘Shark Tank’ to launch his new cookie company.
This feature-length documentary spotlights the second-coming of Wally Amos–the ‘Amos’ behind Famous Amos Cookies–one of the most popular brands in modern history. At 83, facing huge challenges, can he make his new cookie as famous as his first?
