Childhood Favorite I've always been fond of Cracker Jack candy, so I had to buy a box when I found it. As a kid I loved the caramel corn and the sweet peanuts. But best of all I loved the prize. Trinkets From a very young age, I adored small things. I collected the prizes in Cracker Jack boxes and gum ball machines. I called them my trinkets. I crossed fingers and held my breath when I turned the knob or opened the paper prize holder. Oh how I hoped a special ring or a tiny toy would surprise me. Gum or Trinket? I used to study the prizes in the gum machine. I hated my bad luck when gum popped out, so I came up with a plan that would assure me a few real goodies. My plan was to take the dollar in my birthday card and exchange it for 100 pennies. I pictured myself hunkered down with a paper bag underneath the gum machine. (I now picture that 6-old-Beth, looking like an anxious player at a slot machine) I could just visualize myself, strutting out of the candy store with my heavy bag. I would give the gum to my friends and keep all the trinkets. Sadly, I never followed through with that clever plan. My Box Yesterday What a disappointment! The caramel corn didn't even cover the napkin. There were 2 peanuts. And it was pretty evident, there was no cute trinket hidden in that flat prize holder. Are You Kidding? I know the prizes have been lame for many years. But this tiny little "Go Ahead Throw The Curve" sticker was blurry and hideous! This is my first real dud 6-Year-Old-Celebration. I have 15 more to reach my goal before my birthday. I better start choosing my celebrations wisely!
4 Comments
8/27/2018 10:46:02 pm
I think Cracker Jack prizes can be retrieved now via a smartphone application. I don't know if it's a game of some sort online. I miss the old days where you can get a plastic decoder ring inside. Or a mini magnifying glass. My brother used that to burn holes in stuff. Now, you will see online that rare Cracker Jack prizes are being sold and collected. Well, I hope they bring back the fun prizes not just a free digital experience.
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Beth
8/28/2018 08:22:59 am
That seems totally crazy, doesn't it? You have to have a smartphone to get your Cracker Jack prize! Candy was much more fun back when... :D
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Michael T
3/24/2024 07:49:42 am
it is a sad state of affairs when the beloved Cracker Jack prizes of our youth have become nothing more than a piece of paper! This foolishness has been going on for quite some years now. It’s not just cracker jacks, cereals have also stopped giving prizes. I remember plastic rings, temporary, tattoos, actual prizes that were pretty cool as a kid. I will say in defense of the newer Cracker Jack boxes (which I have gone back to buying again lately) that I’ve actually found there to be a good amount of peanuts. Some boxes have actually had quite a few. I think as a kid that was always a thing that there were not a lot of peanuts in there, which were pretty much the best part!
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Beth
3/25/2024 08:02:08 am
Michael, thanks for the update! I'm glad to hear you've been getting more peanuts in your recent purchases! And I totally forgot about all the wonderful prizes in cereal boxes! The last cool prize I remember from a cereal (can't remember which) was a Smurf spoon! Heavy duty spoon that I still use for yogurt! And in the 1980's, I collected Cheerios boxtops for a long time and mailed them in to receive a special edition Monopoly game!
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