❇️ This month in history ➡️ Cracker Jacks Invented ~ Baseball Organist Makes History ~ Canadian Loonie
❇️JUNE Mini Bites of History ❇️
INVENTIONS 👩🍳
JUNE 16, 1893– “Cracker Jack” popcorn is invented.
“The more you eat, the more you want.”
Cracker Jack Slogan
This molasses-flavoured, caramel-coated popcorn with peanuts, the first “junk food” was registered in 1896. But, it was noted in newspapers to be sold as far back as 1857.
Besides being a very popular treat, the popcorn was made a must-have for kids when the mystery novelty prizes were introduced 1912! There were a variation of prizes over the years; rings, plastic figurines, stickers, and even temporary tattoos. One of the most sot after prizes were the baseball cards featuring players of the time.
As of 2013, some prizes began to be “nostalgic” games on the Cracker Jack app (found on Apple and Android devices). In 2016, all the game plays replaced tangible prizes.
Another big connection with Cracker Jacks and baseball, besides the baseball card prizes, was the sale of the popcorn at ball games. In 1993, the 100th anniversary of Cracker Jack was celebrated at Wrigley Field.
Have you had Cracker Jack lately? Yes, still going strong after 127 years!
SPORTS ⚾️
JUNE 26, 1985 – Organist thrown out of the ball game?
Stadium organists were first used in the United States in the Chicago Stadium which opened in 1929. Before this, in the earlier part of the 20th century, organs were often found in movie theatres and sopping malls. Before this, they were only usually found in churches.
The organist would perform the National Anthem, walk-on music, charges (short musical pieces to highlight game activities) and clappers (to get the crowd going).
Stadium organs were used in hockey games mainly till the company Hammond, created their first fully electric organ that could be connected to the public address system in 1934. And in 1941, the electric organ debuted at a baseball game in Wrigley Field.
At the ball game, the organist would also do the 7th inning stretch (music played between the halves of the seventh inning like “Take me out to the ball game”) and musical puns.
With the musical puns, music where the lyrics of a song would be added to commentary on the action of a person or player on the field. This is where June 25, 1985 becomes a date to be noted in history.
Organist Wilbur Snap was the first organist to be thrown out of a ball game. When his musical pun “Three Blind Mice”, played to highlight the call made by the umpire, was considered not funny and he was tossed! This also happened again to organist Derek Dye in 2012.
INVENTIONS 💲
JUNE 30, 1987 – The loonie one dollar coin is introduced as Canadian currency.
Yes, it is probably the silliest word for currency, but it makes total sense. The bird that appears on the coin is a loon…so the nickname “loonie” was pretty quick to follow its release. It did take almost 20 years for the name to be trademarked by the Royal Canadian Mint.
Here are a few interesting facts about our unique coin:
- It was introduced as a cost saving measure to replace the old dollar bills.
- The loonie one dollar coin was not a first for Canada, we have had a one dollar coin since 1935. It was introduced to commemorate in the 25th anniversary reign of King George V; large and heavy due to the silver content.
- The loonie has 11 sides.
- There is a giant loonie in Echo Bay, Ontario. This is in the home town of Roberta Carmichael; the artist responsible for the Loon Dollar design.
Hat’s off to Robert Carmichael…you created a unique and most memorable design.
Thanks for reading, the bites of May history.
History is very interesting; tells us where we have been, how the world was and often what mistakes have been made. Memory Monday is based on fun and fascinating bits of history that may not be the big events, but helped shape or bring us to where we are today. If you are interested in this type of history and writing short articles like I've been doing, please contact me at stacey@yourlocalbuzz.ca
