CRACKER JACKS

In 1871 F. W. Rueckheim opened a popcorn stand in the city of Chicago. The stand was a success and Rueckheim soon started making candy including taffy made from molasses. He also started selling caramels, marshmallows and peanuts. Peanuts became popular after the Civil War when Northern troops brought them back from Confederate territory.

In 1890, Rueckhem came up with a new candy recipe. He combined popcorn, molasses and peanuts to make Cracker Jack. It was basically a variation of a popular recipe for popcorn balls, with peanuts added. The product was sold in a small cardboard box.

Cracker was a popular slang term of the day, meaning excellent or great. Jack was also a popular term of the time, it meant buddy or pal. A friend of Rueckhelm, when he tried the new candy, exclaimed “Cracker Jack” and that became the name of the product.

Cracker Jack was a Chicago favorite, but the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair introduced the treat to a national audience. Cracker Jack was inexpensive and portable and became a fair favorite. In 1913 toys were added to the package with baseball cards starting soon after. These cards are extremely valuable today.

In 1916 Cracker Jack got their mascot, Jack the Sailor was modeled after Rueckhelm’s grandson who died very young. Jack soon got a sidekick, his dog, Bingo and the pair was on all of the packages and appeared in most advertisements. It was so popular that Rueckhelm had the pair engraved on his tombstone.