Cracker Jack
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Cracker Jack is a brand of snack consisting of caramel-coated popcorn and peanuts.
Cracker Jack was first mass-produced and sold at the first Chicago World's Fair in 1893. The treat was a mixture of popcorn, molasses, and peanuts and the initial name was "Candied Popcorn and Peanuts". Cracker Jack became popular in baseball parks and stadiums.
By 1896, the company devised a way to keep the popcorn kernels separate; the mixture had been difficult to handle because it tended to stick together in chunks.
The name "Cracker Jack" is said to have originated when Frederick William and Louis Rueckheim showed it to a salesman and he said "cracker, Jack"; although at the same time "crackerjack" was an expression which at the time meant "awesome" or "it's a winner."
In 1912, prizes were included in Cracker Jack boxes for the first time; this has become a signature feature of the product.
It may be best known for being mentioned in the 1908 baseball song, Take Me Out to the Ball Game, with the lyric, "Buy me some peanuts and cracker jack, I don't care if I never get back." It has also been mentioned in the 1977 song, "Two Out of Three Ain't Bad," performed by rock singer Meat Loaf and in the 1997 song "Muhammed my friend" by Tori Amos. Cracker Jack also plays an important role in the 1924 Harold Lloyd movie Girl Shy. In the 1934 film Bright Eyes, Shirley Temple sings "The Good Ship Lollipop", the lyrics of which mention "Cracker Jack bands" -- while holding a gigantic Cracker Jack box.
Since 1918, its mascots have been cartoon characters Sailor Jack and his dog Bingo. They both appear on the packaging and marketing, and have appeared in the product's television commercials.
The Cracker Jack Company was purchased in 1964 by Borden. In 1997, Borden sold the product to Frito-Lay. July 5th is Cracker Jack Day.
Recently, a set of baseball cards given as prizes in 1914 sold for $800,000.
To say that something was "found in a box of Cracker Jack" is to insinuate that it is poorly made, like a cheap trinket. Poor automobile driving skills are also sometimes commented on thusly: "Where did you get your Driver's License? In a Cracker Jack Box?"
Complaints
Here is a small list of complaints from consumers when polled:
- Needs more peanuts.
- Needs fewer peanuts.
- Needs better prizes like they had when they started. (For example: Decoder Rings)
External links
- [CrackerJack.com]
- [Cracker Jack history]
- [Meat Loaf lyrics](may contain pop-ups)
- ["Cracker Jack" in Tori Amos'song lyrics]
- [Cracker Jack article]
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