A Man and His Popcorn
Nothing screams Americana quite like the 7th inning stretch and a box of Cracker Jacks. But would you believe this time-tested snack was created by a German immigrant and debuted not at the ballpark, but at the World’s Fair? The story of this American candy classic is an interesting one, indeed.
Frederick William Rueckheim had been selling popcorn on the streets of Chicago for years, when, in 1893, he came up with a new popcorn creation for the Chicago World’s Fair. When his brother Louis arrived from Germany, they established the F.W. Rueckheim & Bro. company to sell their popcorn together.
What is a Cracker Jack?
In 1896 the name Cracker Jack was officially registered (before then the snack had been called candied popcorn and peanuts) and the familiarly sticky and sweet candy we know today was born.
Back in the day, the term “cracker jack” could refer to anything of high quality, so it’s no wonder the name stuck! The coining of the name, however, was just the first of many big steps for this candy favorite.
Out of Left Field
Henry Gottlieb Eckstein’s invention of the “Eckstein Triple Proof Bag” in 1899 made him the perfect business partner for the Rueckheim brothers. And, in 1902, the company became Rueckheim Bros & Eckstein.
But it would take six more years before Cracker Jacks came into their own. In 1908, Jack Norworth penned the infamous lines of “Take Me Out To The Ballgame” that shot Cracker Jacks into the limelight. Since then, no baseball game has been complete without at least one box of the crunchy, sweet treat.
Changes came to the company, fast and furious, as Cracker Jacks grew in popularity. In 1912 Rueckheim Bros & Eckstein began adding tiny prizes to each box of Cracker Jacks. Candy and toys? These guys really knew what would sell. The face of Cracker Jacks got another boost in 1918, when Sailor Jack and his dog Bingo were added to the packaging.
The endearing duo was apparently based on Rueckheim’s grandson and dog. But, I’d say it’s probably not a coincidence that they appeared at the end of the 1st World War. A patriotic move, if I do say so myself.
A Home Run
Four years later, the company underwent another name change, this time becoming The Cracker Jack Company. This name lasted through much of the 20th century, until Borden bought it in 1964.
Today, Cracker Jacks are made by Frito-Lay. They’re still a fan favorite at baseball games, enchanting the young and the young-at-heart as they have for decades. So while the prizes may have changed over the years, you can be sure that the candy inside hasn’t changed a bit.
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Sources:
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cracker_Jack
- http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/blcrackerjacks.htm
- http://www.delish.com/food-fun/cracker-jack-history-snack-foods#slide-2
Times are moving away from electroincs.. I’m 71 and eating Cracker Jack all the time.. Cheap Fruito-Lay should bring back a real toy… The paper thing is simply tossed away by most… Amazing what corporate USA will do to make a buck on the backs of Jacks…
Singular or plural, Cracker Jack doesn’t have an “s”. Similar to deer…you don’t say deers when it is plural.
Ok just thought you might want to know that I have been craving Cracker jacks and I can rarely find a bag. It seems the delivery trucks never leave much around this area. Every time I go to my Dollar store
Or our Grocery or the wallmart, I look for them yet not there. Just thought you might solve this problem.
Thanks alice
Lol
I think this changing the name of brand’s cuz it’s offensive is B.S. I have never heard anyone complaining cuz it offended them ever. A lot and I mean a lot of these brands have been around for over 100 years plus. So I think people need to grow up if your offended cuz of a name of a product shame on your parents for the way the raised you. Because I was raised to love each other no mater what color they were. It’s not the color of skin that maters it should be what’s in in their heart and soul that you should be worring about.