Cracker Jacks

[The Oracle]

I treated myself to a bag, yes bag, of Cracker Jacks today. I don't know why, I saw them and said I have not had any of those for a while. As you can see, I was taken aback a little. Are the boxes completely gone? Has anyone paid attention? Also, there is still a prize inside, but they suck. I remember some neat things, yes it was all cheap, but still something you wanted to dump the box out so you could get to it. There were like two peanuts in the bag, my favorite part. They were still good, but I just wanted to let you in on my disappointment.

[Doug Palumbo]

Today's Cracker Jacks do indeed suck. The "prize" is usually a temporary tattoo or some other folding paper piece of crap. The flavor seems to be the same but there are few peanuts (yes, the best part) and the over-all experience is a let down.

[n11pilot]

Around the first of this year I able to buy Cracker Jacks in the box but only in a pack of four. Out of the four boxes one was totally bereft of peanuts, and the other three had very little. The prizes seemed more like penalties.

Another of my childhood memories best left that way.

[Super Ordinary Guy]

About two or three years ago I did something I hadn't done in about 40 or so years....

I bought a package of Twinkies from a vending machine.....

I was passing the machine ( which I never purchase anything from) and saw the Twinkies looking out at me...

I remembered the fresh golden cake with the creamy tasty filling of yesterday and although I knew they weren't good for me, I decided to throw caution to the wind for just one more time...

I inserted the required money ( which was considerably more than the dime I remembered paying for them as a kid ) eagerly torn open the cellophane wrapper and took a bite, which I quickly spit out...

I literally tasted nothing but a chemical like taste reminding me of some smells that you get from some plastic toys .....

I agree with Pilot, some things are just best left to childhood memories......

[CharlieB]

Around the first of this year I able to buy Cracker Jacks in the box but only in a pack of four. Out of the four boxes one was totally bereft of peanuts, and the other three had very little. The prizes seemed more like penalties.

Another of my childhood memories best left that way.

I still see the boxes around too, inf fact my mother-in-law put some in the Christmas stockings this time (yes, she still does this). You are correct about the prized. They have gone from bad to worse, and somehow, they are always stale before you even open them.

[Doug Palumbo]

My de facto Step-Father used to give us Cracker Jacks that had nothing in the box except prizes...and the old school good prizes mind you! I was never quite sure how he did it but he must have collected the prizes then take a box, open it, empty the popcorn and peanuts then fill it with the prizes. It was re-sealed so perfectly, my sister and I could never tell if they were "real" Cracker Jacks or his special boxes.

[The Oracle]

My de facto Step-Father used to give us Cracker Jacks that had nothing in the box except prizes...and the old school good prizes mind you! I was never quite sure how he did it but he must have collected the prizes then take a box, open it, empty the popcorn and peanuts then fill it with the prizes. It was re-sealed so perfectly, my sister and I could never tell if they were "real" Cracker Jacks or his special boxes.

When I was a kid I would have loved that, I always tried to dig out the prize without emptying the box.

[DanielJones]

Used to love Cracker Jacks. I think the last time I bought a box was about 15 years ago and was less than pleased then. The prizes just are not the same. And you're right, slim on the peanut front.

Cheers!

Dan

[Eric Renderking Fisk]

Personally I wish they would get rid of the prizes all together since they are just so bad or next to non-existent.

[DanielJones]

I think the taste really changed over time as well. It isn't as pleasing. Personally I prefer the buttery flavor of Screaming Yellow Zonkers and even that's a stretch.

Cheers!

Dan