Cracker Jacks

By Kathy Kovach

Mention Cracker Jack, and the iconic song “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” springs to mind with the lyric, “Buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jack”, along with the childhood thrill of finding a toy surprise. The final sensory emotion evoked is the taste of the molasses popcorn treat. Let’s face it, before taking a bite we dug our tiny fingers into the box, seeking the treasured toy inside like a pirate with a backhoe.

Who came up with this innovative treat? That’s up for debate. Two confectioners have claimed the title, C.F. Gunther and Frederick William Rueckheim in the late 19th Century. Whoever came up with it first, though, Rueckheim ran with it. The twenty-three-year-old German immigrant started his career by selling popcorn on the streets of Chicago. Soon, his brother Louis came to America to join him in his new venture. Together they founded the F.W. Rueckheim & Bro. Company.

In 1893, they added a molasses concoction and introduced the sweet and savory snack as "Candied Popcorn and Peanuts" at the World’s Columbian Exposition, a.k.a. the Chicago World’s Fair. It flopped because the recipe was too sticky. Eventually, with the addition of a little oil in the pot, that resembled a cement mixer, the problem was solved.

By 1896, the generic moniker was dropped, and the treat became Cracker Jack. The story of how this came about is shrouded in myth, but the most popular is of an employee/salesman/customer who sampled it for the first time and proclaimed, “That’s a crackerjack!” At the time, the term referred to anything spectacular. The slogan "The More You Eat, The More You Want" was registered along with the new name.

The snack, at this time, came in tins. In 1899, the company hired packaging expert Henry Eckstein who invented “triple-proof packaging,” incorporating the first moisture-proof, wax-sealed container. These lightweight boxes ensured prolonged freshness and were easy to pack, making wide distribution possible.

Cracker Jack has a connection to Teddy Roosevelt, in particular, his infamous hunting trip to Mississippi where he refused to shoot a defenseless bear. Hence the Teddy Bear craze was born, which took off in all forms of businesses, including the Cracker Jack decision in 1907 to hire artist B. E. Moreland to create cartoon bear mascots. The two bears graced postcards in a set of sixteen and could either be purchased for ten cents, or sent for with the inclusion of ten sides off of Cracker Jack boxes.

We're a great success upon the field
And with effect the bat can wield
But playing ball grows rather slack
When we can eat good "Cracker Jack"

Free advertising came about when, in 1908, 29-year-old vaudeville performer Jack Norworth happened to be riding the Ninth Avenue El train to midtown Manhattan. Never having been to a baseball game, he spotted an advertisement for the ball field where the New York Giants played. The lyrics to “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” was soon pitched, and its popularity became a homerun for the Cracker Jack company. The tune is traditionally sung by the crowd in the seventh inning stretch.

In 1910, the company’s marketing geniuses came up with placing coupons for prizes inside the boxes. These could be redeemed for all manner of things, including sewing machines, watches, silverware, etc. Two years later, they went a different direction and decided to appeal to children. Once they included a small prize in each box, sales soared. Never underestimate the buying power of a frazzled mom with an insistent youngster.

Baseball cards were added to the prizes in 1914 and again in 1915, capitalizing on the still popular song. In mint condition, these are worth thousands of dollars today.

Ty Cobb

Babe Ruth

By 1918, a new mascot was adopted, the boy Sailor Jack and his dog Bingo. As this was at the end of World War I, the popularity of all things military no doubt made the decision to go Navy. The artist rendering was based on Rueckheim’s grandson, who, sadly died of pneumonia at the age of eight, just a year after becoming the face of the company. His memory would live on for over a century as Cracker Jack still includes him on every package.

Four years later, the F.W. Rueckheim & Bro. Company became the Cracker Jack Company, which was eventually sold to Borden who then sold it to the current company Frito Lay. The prizes have morphed from bear postcards to coupons for goods, then toy prizes made from wood, tin, and later paper during wartime. Tiny porcelain dolls even made an appearance. Modern consumers found jokes, temporary tattoos, and most recently, QR codes for accessing games on an app. The peanut count has gone from approximately thirty down to a mere 5-ish. However, one thing has remained constant—the delicious caramel popcorn treat.

Titanic: Legacy of Betrayal

A TIME-SLIP NOVEL

A secret. A key. Much was buried on the Titanic, but now it's time for resurrection.

Follow two intertwining stories a century apart. 1912 - Matriarch Olive Stanford protects a secret after boarding the Titanic that must go to her grave. 2012 - Portland real estate agent Ember Keaton-Jones receives the key that will unlock the mystery of her past... and her distrusting heart.

To buy: Amazon

Kathleen E. Kovach is a Christian romance author published traditionally through Barbour Publishing, Inc. as well as indie. Kathleen and her husband, Jim, raised two sons while living the nomadic lifestyle for over twenty years in the Air Force. Now planted in northeast Colorado, she's a grandmother and a great-grandmother—though much too young for either. Kathleen has been a longstanding member of American Christian Fiction Writers. An award-winning author, she presents spiritual truths with a giggle, proving herself as one of God's peculiar people.

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Father's Day and a Giveaway

With Nancy J. Farrier

Father’s Day and Mother’s Day were first celebrated in the same decade—the first of the 1900’s. Mother’s Day became an official US holiday in 1914, but Father’s Day took much longer to become official.

There are many possibilities for how Father’s Day first began in the United States, but the most popular story surrounds Sonora Smart Dodd and the idea she conceived of honoring her father after listening to a Mother’s Day sermon. Sonora’s father, a Civil War veteran, earned her respect by the way he provided and cared for his children after his wife died giving birth to their sixth child.

Notman Photo Co.,
Boston, Mass

The first Father’s Day celebration took place June 19, 1910, the third Sunday in June. Sonora tried to have the holiday on June 5^th, but a delay put the celebration on the third Sunday instead. Several communities embraced the idea and the holiday began to spread across the country.

In 1916, President Woodrow Wilson approved the idea. President Calvin Coolidge pushed for Father’s Day to become a national holiday in 1924, but didn’t received approval. President Coolidge wanted to, “...establish more intimate relations between fathers and their children...” He also wanted to help father’s to understand the, “...full measure of their obligations...”

Arnold Newman (WHPO)

Four decades later, President Lyndon Johnson signed a proclamation that the third Sunday in June would be Father’s Day. In 1974, Sonora Dodd was honored at the World’s Fair in Spokane, Washington for her part in the instigation of the holiday. Ms. Dodd passed away in 1978.

Many countries around the world have followed suit and started their own celebration for Father’s Day. Over forty countries chose to use the 3^rd Sunday of June as their day of celebration too.

Photo by Internet Archive Book Images

Many notable people have given tribute to their father’s and believe their encouragement and instruction to be the reason they are who they are. President Theodore Roosevelt said this of his father, "He combined strength and courage with gentleness, tenderness and great unselfishness. He would not tolerate in us children selfishness or cruelty, idleness, cowardic, or untruthfulness. As we grew older he made us understand that the same standard of clean living was demanded for the boys as for the girls; that what was wrong in a woman could not be right in a man. With great love and patience, and the most understanding sympathy and consideration, he combined insistence on discipline …”

Anthony Berger, photographer

Another notable father is Abraham Lincoln. It is said he gave his children free reign in the White House and even allowed them to interrupt important meetings. The deaths of three of his children devastated him. He was reported to be “remarkably fond” of his children.

Photo by Howard Coster

A.A. Milne, author of the Winnie the Pooh books, loved his son, Christopher Robin so much that he wrote books with his son as the main character. He based many of the animals in the books on the stuffed animals Christopher Robin owned. Piglet, Eeyore, Kanga, Roo and Tigger were all taken from his son’s toys. Winnie the Pooh was based on his son’s bear, Edward, but renamed after a Canadian black bear, a mascot in WWI. Milne didn’t like that his Pooh books became so popular, but I picture his interacting with his son as he made up stories.

J.R.R. Tolkien was another author who wrote for his children. He had four children, three boys and a girl. Each year, Tolkien wrote illustrated letters to his

J.R.R. Tolkien 1916

children from Father Christmas. The stories grew with more characters added, and Father Christmas had to battle against goblins who rode on bats. He also wrote his famous book, The Hobbit, first as chapters to entertain his children.

There are many stories of fathers who do a remarkable job raising their children. I once met a man who mentioned raising eight children on his own. His wife died a week after the youngest was born. I stopped the conversation and made his repeat what he’d said and questioned him about how he managed. I also met some of his nearly grown children, who were wonderful young people. I think of him as a hero for doing such an amazing job as a father.

Do you have any stories of father’s who have done something amazing for their children? Maybe your own father has had a profound influence on who you are. Please share something on this blog to be entered to win a $10 Starbucks gift card for a special father you know. Be sure to leave your email address to be entered.

Nancy J Farrier is an award winning author who lives in Southern California in the Mojave Desert. She loves the Southwest with its interesting historical past. Nancy and her husband have five children and two grandsons. When Nancy isn’t writing, she loves to read, do needlecraft, play with her cats, and spend time with her family. Nancy is represented by Karen Ball of The Steve Laube Literary Agency. You can read more about Nancy and her books on her website: nancyjfarrier.com.