This is a very interesting old picture from the late 1890's early 1900'S. my picture is a modern copy.
First, the child is posed on crates with the fantastic wooden Cracker Jack crate in the background. I just wonder what the theme is with the hatchet and other stuff in the picture with the child? What is the child holding?
Second, what items in the picture relate to today's Cracker Jack? Any thoughts, I will explain later if none of you comes up with the right theme.
CJAAAJ
Well, I've perused the photo a little bit Alex and will be interested to hear more! I can suggest a couple things! One is that Quaker Oats and Cracker Jack are currently owned by the same company. Cracker Jack was acquired by Frito-Lay in 1997 and Quaker Oats a few years after that. Secondly, some of the items in the picture are reminiscent of pot metal CJ prizes - the hatchet for example! Who else can add info?
CJAAAJ wrote:First, the child is posed on crates with the fantastic wooden Cracker Jack crate in the background. I just wonder what the theme is with the hatchet and other stuff in the picture with the child? What is the child holding?
The theme with the hatchet is, if you touch my Cracker Jack, you lose a hand!
Alex, I think you're mistaken about the hatchet theme. Everyone knows that any child would much prefer a nice bowl of hot oatmeal over a box of Cracker Jack. Therefore, , the theme has to be " You touch my Quaker Oats, you lose a hand!"
gsullivan wrote: "I can suggest a couple things! One is that Quaker Oats and Cracker Jack are currently owned by the same company. Cracker Jack was acquired by Frito-Lay in 1997 and Quaker Oats a few years after that."
gsullivan, You were the first to get the modern connection in this early photo. Of course at the time it was taken both companies were independent and thriving.
I guess the kid in the photo is a cowboy, robber or miner? There is a bag of money and a gun on the box. But what about that pesky hatchet?
Hey, the one-armed green kanga is my kanga and he would never "lurk" in anyone's box of Cracker Jack. Don't be talking bad about my green kanga. He's a good little roo. In fact, he is so good, Santa has promised him a brand new bionic arm complete with a steel boxing glove for Christmas. So quit picking on him, Luke. Or you'll get nothing but coal in your stocking, kid.
Well, now all of you have me looking at this picture under a magnifying glass. The boy's right hand and wrist look like they are heavily bandaged to me. Maybe he is also a victim of Halloween's evil butcher. Or is that just the way the light is hitting the boy? And as for what he is holding in his hand, could it be one of those old fashioned rock candies on a stick? That's my only guess. Also, there is a white, somewhat star shape, near his left shoulder. A sheriff's badge? If indeed, he is a sheriff, maybe the bag of money was confiscated from a robber. I don't think the boy is the robber. He isn't wearing a black hat. Didn't bad guys always wear black hats? And I'm sure that axe belongs to the evil butcher. After he injured the boy's right arm with it, he left it behind to warn us that he is back for the holidays. OK Alex, are any of my observations in the realm of truth?