Photos used in collage from Getty Images.

I haven't bought a Twinkie or a Ding Dong in over a decade. But today I found myself at the grocery store, stocking up on those items and some powdered Donettes.

Why? Because Hostess is closing their doors--forever. Because I grew up with Twinkie the Kid and Fruit Pie the Magician on television. Because it's the end of an era, and I wanted an edible souvinir. One for the road, I guess.

Above: Twinkie the Kid meets his end in a parody from Cartoon Network's Robot Chicken show.

Remember these ads in the pages of comic books? The Penguin's plan has come to fruition: Gotham really is Twinkieless! And so is the rest of the world.

Click image for a larger version.

And here's Howdy Doody's pal Buffalo Bob teaching us how to make our own Twinkies! A skill that could come in handy now that Hostess won't be making them for us anymore.

So it's a time of nostalgia and sadness as we say goodbye to a brand that's always been there for us when we had a sweet-tooth. And our thoughts go out to the bakers, drivers, and other Hostess employees-and their families-who find themselves without work this holiday season.

To leave you on a lighter note, my friend (and former KJR DJ) Norm Gregory made a funny point on Twitter today: too bad Hostess couldn't "hang in there until pot was legal." He's right. Munchies are good for the snack business.