An Altoona icon found its way into a supporting cast role in a new streaming TV show over the weekend.

Prime Video’s “Reacher” was released Friday, and the Boyer Candy Company’s Clark Bar was featured heavily throughout the first season’s eight episodes.

The show is based on the “Jack Reacher” book series by Lee Child, and follows the story of the former U.S. Army major of the same name. According to IMDB, “Jack Reacher was arrested for murder and now the police need his help” in the latest adaptation.

According to Boyer president and owner, Anthony Forgione II, the show producers wanted to include a product that would make the series feel more authentic and relatable to its viewers. Due to the military background of its main character, the producers also looked for something that had historical ties to the military, and the Clark Bar came up as a possible product placement.

The Clark Bar was created in 1917, and was very popular during and after both World Wars. They were widely available on military bases, not only in the U.S., but across the world, Forgione said.

The Clark Bar was originally produced by a family owned business based in Pittsburgh before changing hands in the 1990s. The second production company went bankrupt in 2018, and Boyer bought the rights to the bar.

When the series producers contacted him, Forgione said he was initially hesitant, but eventually decided to “give them the rights to use the bar.”

The producers were eager to accurately and positively represent the bar and its cultural and historical significance, according to Forgione.

Reacher — played by actor Alan Ritchson — can be seen nostalgically munching on a Clark Bar in the second episode, “First Dance,” and explains his fondness for the bar due to its availability on each military base he grew up on. The bar also makes an appearance in the final episode of the season.

Blair County Chamber of Commerce President Joe Hurd said that anything that drives positive attention to a local product is good publicity for the region.

“It’s a motivator for other local businesses, especially newer businesses,” he said.

The fact that a Blair County business can make it on screen in a national TV show proves that the world isn’t as big as it seems, Hurd said.

Product placement helps draw people to the local business, he said, which can sometimes lead to possible tourism and interest in the surrounding area.

ExploreAltoona director Mark Ickes agreed, saying any research on the Clark Bar would include Altoona, potentially leading to more information on the region and other local businesses.

Boyer, along with companies like DelGrosso’s, Benzel’s Pretzels, Gardners Candies and Ritchey’s Dairy, show Blair County’s culinary reach, Ickes said. He said the Clark Bar is “among the numerous signature snacks” that help make the region a destination for visitors.

After seeing the end result, Forgione said it was the right decision to entrust the production team with the rights to the bar.

“I think they did a wonderful job with it and represented Jack Reacher accurately, as well as the history of the Clark Bar,” Forgione said.

The first season of “Reacher” is now streaming on Prime Video and is rated TV-MA.

Mirror Staff Writer Nate Powles is at 814-946-7466.