Cracker Jack Resources
Visit the Bookstore for Cracker Jack books and more!

Books:

Cracker Jack Collecting for Fun and Profit
        by James D. Russo

Privately published, 1976; 52 pages, black-and-white photos; out-of-print.

This, the seminal book on Cracker Jack collectibles, established Cracker Jack collecting as a legitimate and worthwhile endeavor.   After presenting the Cracker Jack story, black and white photos reveal a representative sampling of the variety of prizes and other related memorabilia to be found.  The estimated values of the items are interesting to compare with prices realized now, twenty-five years later.

Cracker Jack Prizes
        by Alex Jaramillo

New York: Abbeville Press, 1989; 96 pages, color photos; out-of-print.

The publication of this book had a major impact on the growth and widespread popularity of Cracker Jack collecting.  The book provides a historical overview of Cracker Jack and then presents prizes by decade, demonstrating how the prizes have reflected America's history.  And the box is itself a prize! The cover, inspired by a 1931 Cracker Jack prize, has a dial which turns to reveal an assortment of prizes.

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Cracker Jack Collectibles
        by Ravi Piña

Atglen, PA: Schiffer, 1995; 112 pages, color photos.

After a brief history of Cracker Jack including company file photos, the book features the Cracker Jack Exhibit at the Center of Science and Industry (COSI) in Columbus, Ohio.   Next follows a selection of prizes from Cracker Jack's archives not on display at the exhibit, arranged by prize composition (paper, plastic, etc.).   The book also includes some pictures of packaging, advertising, and promotional material.   A limited price guide is included.

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Cracker Jack Toys: The Complete, Unofficial Guide for Collectors
        by Larry White

Atglen, PA: Schiffer, 1997; 262 pages, color photos.

This is an amazingly comprehensive catalog of Cracker Jack prizes, with hundreds of detailed photos showing thousands of prizes.   The accompanying prize lists with descriptive and historical information are presented chronologically, with prizes grouped by series where applicable.  An elaborate identification system reflecting the prizes' date, composition, marking, type, size, color, and description is utilized, with estimated value for each prize given.

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Cracker Jack: The Unauthorized Guide to Advertising Collectibles
        by Larry White

Atglen, PA: Schiffer, 1998; 178 pages, color photos.

This book contains more than 1000 photos in fifteen chapters covering Cracker Jack packaging, advertising, point-of-sale items, premiums, stationery, clothing, prototypes, and more.  It includes information on major competitors, such as Shotwell's Checkers, as well as other Rueckheim/Reliable Confections/Cracker Jack products, such as Angelus and Campfire marshmallows.  A price guide is included.

 

Newsletter:

The Prize Insider
        edited by Roberta Bowen

Publication of the Cracker Jack Collectors Association.

The Cracker Jack Collectors Association newsletter is published 10 times a year, including 2 double issues, and is full of information about Cracker Jack collecting, prizes and promotions old and new, history, events - anything and everything about Cracker Jack, including classified ads. A subscription to The Prize Insider is one of the benefits included with CJCA membership. Subscriptions to the newsletter are not available to non-members.

 

Articles:

"Cracker Jack"
        by Donna C. Kaonis

Collectors' Showcase, Nov./Dec. 1982: 9-15.

"Cracker Jack: An Inside Look at America's Most Playful Snack"
        by Joe Schick

Games, Oct. 1982: 16-19.

"Cracker Jack--Full of Surprises"
        by Maynard Good Stoddard

The Saturday Evening Post, Mar. 1981: 82-83, 102.

"Cracker Jack Surprises--A Prize in Every Package"
        by Susan B. Howard

Spinning Wheel, Nov./Dec. 1980: 33-36.

"The History of Cracker Jack's Prize Tattoos:
     Popcorn, Peanuts, and Tattoos, Too"
        by Jim Davis

Tattoo Revue #105, Sept. 2002: 27-31.

"Icon: Cracker Jack Prizes"

Collectibles and Flea Market Finds, Spring 1999: 26.

"A Prize in Every Box"
        by Dan Carlinsky

Modern Maturity, Apr./May 1981: 34-35.

"The Prize Inside"
        by Harriet Joyce

Collector's Eye, Sept., 2000: 36-41.

"Toy Treasures"
        by Joanne L Hayes

Country Living, Apr., 1987: 164, 206.

"What's in the (Cracker Jack) Box"
        by Bernie Ward

Sky, Oct. 1987: 74-76, 78-82.

 

Books about Prize Designers:

Cloud Nine
        by C. Carey Cloud

Nashville, Indiana: Cloudcrest, 1983; 153 pages, black-and-white photos; out-of-print.

This is the autobiography of C. Carey Cloud, artist and toy designer, who through his Cloudcrest Studios (later Cloudcrest Creations) developed hundreds of Cracker Jack prizes from the late 30's through the 50's ( see the Clown Rocker, Paper Doll, Tin Litho Garage, Cowboy Puzzle, Dancing Doll, Parrot Puzzle, Embossed Paper Whistle, Humpty Dumpty Stand-Up, Drawing Lessons Folder, and Soco and Transatlantic Flight Games ). The book contains black-and-white photographs of many of the prizes from Cloud's personal collection, as well as several of his paintings and illustrations.

A Surprise Inside! The Work and Wizardry of John Walworth

Newark, DE: Univ. of Delaware, 1990; 36 pages, color photos.

This is the catalogue for the 1989 University of Delaware exhibit of works by John Charles ("Wally") Walworth, Jr., who designed cereal premiums and Cracker Jack prizes for the Sam Gold Manufacturing Corporation (later the Gold Premium Corporation) from the late 50's through the mid-70's ( see the Slotties, Pull Toy, and Drink Pal pages). He was also the major animator for the first Casper, the Friendly Ghost cartoon in 1944. The cover of the catalogue is a dial-a-device similar to those designed by Walworth as premiums; the dial turns to reveal significant events during his life and career.

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Topsys & Turvys
        by Peter Newell

Rutland, VT: Tuttle, 1993; Reprint from 1893.

While not actually about a prize designer, this wonderful book served as inspiration for John Craig's Cracker Jack's 2-Face Stickers . Like those prizes, this entire book, including the covers, can be viewed upside down.