‘Willy Wonka’ Child Stars Reveal That Famous Chocolate River Was Actually ‘Stinky’ and Full of Cigarette Butts

Lauren Novak September 17, 2025, 3:04 pm

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The chocolate room of candy-maker supreme, Willy Wonka, may go down in screen history as not only one of the most impressive studio sets ever constructed but perhaps the tastiest too. The immense candy room setting has been constructed on the largest sound stage at Bavaria Studios, Munich, where David L. Wolper's production of 'Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory' is now being filmed. Sailing in the boat are Denise Nickerson, Peter Ostrum, Julie Dawn Cole and Paris Themmen (this is not the boat used in the film). They are using giant lollipops as paddles. 8th October 1970. Colorized — Arthur Sidey/Mirrorpix/Getty Images

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When Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory debuted in 1971, the candy-filled set looked like every child’s dream — especially the chocolate river. But according to cast members Julie Dawn Cole (Veruca Salt) and Paris Themmen (Mike Teevee), who spoke on a a recent panel at the Hollywood Show, which took place in Burbank, California on September 5 and 6, 2025, the famous chocolate river was disgusting — and full of discarded cigarette butts and coffee cups.

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