You probably know “Famous Amos” as the founder and face of
the brand of chocolate chip cookies. But there’s much more to his story.
Wallace “Wally” Amos was born in Tallahassee in 1936. His parents divorced when
he was twelve, and Wally went to live with his aunt in NYC. She taught him to bake
before he dropped out of school to join the Air Force. He served in Honolulu
and earned his G.E.D. before he was honorably discharged. Wally took a job in
the mailroom at the William Morris Talent Agency, where he worked his way up to
become their first African American agent. He attracted clients by sending them
chocolate chip cookies along with an invitation to visit him. Wally signed The
Temptations, Marvin Gaye, and Simon & Garfunkel. A friend told Wally he
should set up a store to sell his cookies. The first Famous Amos cookie store
opened in L.A. in March, 1975.
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