Friday, February 19, 2016

Cracker Jack




February 19.  On this day in 1913, Cracker Jack put their very first prize in a box of the caramel corn treat.  Cracker Jack was actually “invented” in the U.S back in 1896 – but it wasn’t until 1913 that the famous toy prizes were added.  My human remembers the toy prizes when SHE was a kid- she said they were VERY cool.  Today she thinks they are pretty boring – a sticker or fake tattoo.  But I suppose - what kid wants a toy in a box of food, when they have an iPad to play with?



In 1916, the Cracker Jack packaging included the logo of a sailor, Jack and his dog, Bingo.  The sailor boy was modeled after the grandson of one of the inventors and Bingo was modeled after a dog who had been a stray – and who had been adopted by the man who created the unique wax packaging for the product.  Frankly, I think it was Bingo who sold people on the stuff.  I mean we dogs CAN sell anything.  The other day, I talked about the Superbowl commercials with dogs, and through the years, we canines have been in lots of different advertising.  Here are a few examples: 

·      The terrier, Nipper was a well-known figure in RCA Victor advertising. 

·      The symbol for Hush Puppy shoes was a basset hound.

·      Spuds Mackenzie, a bull terrier, was used in advertising Anheuser-Busch brewing for many years, until those Clydesdales took over. 

·      Since 1999, a bull terrier has been the mascot and symbol for Target stores. 

·      Gidget, the Chihuahua was famous in Taco Bell ads.



I’m sure there are others.  However,  I have searched for PONs in advertising and had very little luck.  The CLOSEST I could come was this commercial- but I don’t think it’s really a PON.  I actually resent that the CLOSEST thing to a PON is an advertisement for stinky dogs.  Mind you, the car IS kind of funny…




And speaking of PONs being ignored, what’s with this Westminster thing?  I mean has a PON EVER won?  I admit the German Shorthaired Pointer was cute – and there WERE some nice dogs in the grand finale at the end -but my money was on either the German Shepherd – since we herding breeds need to stick together – OR the Skye terrier – because if you saw one from FAR away – you could think it was a PON.  If he had longer legs, you changed his coat and his body shape.  OK. Maybe he doesn’t bear any resemblance to a PON, but since he came in Number 2 last year, I thought he deserved to win this year.  I mean WHO would go back to that thing twice?  Anyway, that’s over for THIS year.  Congrats to all the winners.  Which means congrats to EVERY single dog – since we are ALL winners in the hearts of our humans.  And if you REALLY want a prize, and you didn’t get one of those fancy ribbons, go and buy a box of Cracker Jack.  A prize is always GUARANTEED!



©  Linda Wozniak

No comments:

Post a Comment