When I was little, Cracker Jack came in cardboard boxes, and the prize inside was often pretty cool: a whistle or a ring, or some similar gadget. This was also in the days when Oscar Mayer gave away tiny hot-dog-shaped whistles as promotional items. In those days, whistles were pretty popular. Slide whistles were a very common favor at birthday parties. I remember an older cousin came back from the army once, and he had a really cool whistle that played several different notes. It had come out of a box of cracker jacks. My supplier in those days was...
packaged in airtight mylar are crunchy and airy -- the freshest Cracker Jack I"ve ever tasted. Those of us who were born in the Sixties, then, are a privileged generation. As an adult today, I care more about the freshness of the popcorn than I would about the quality of the surprise toy. Back when I was a kid, the toy was a pretty big deal, and I would not have noticed if the popcorn had a stale edge to it. We are among the fortunate to have lived long enough to witness this profound transformation in Cracker Jack.