Cracker Jack popping corn a dud, then and now
Q. The enclosed photo is of the package containing "Cracker Jack Hot Air Popping Corn" that was sold at grocery stores. The jars are still sealed. "Cracker Jack" was owned by Borden Foods at that time. Borden tried to use the "Cracker Jack" brand name awareness to help market the product. The popping corn was introduced about the time that hot air popcorn poppers became popular. I believe this was sometime in the 1980s. As you can see in the photo, there were two flavors, pre-salted and pre-salted butter flavor. Both jars contained 16 ounces. The corn was not successful and it was dropped from Borden's line of products.
I can find nothing about "Cracker Jack Hot Air Popping Corn" on the Internet. Can it possibly be considered a collectible or have any value?
A. "Cracker Jacks" is a popcorn snack that was first seen around 1876. It was a mixture of popcorn, molasses and peanuts. It became so popular that the people used "Cracker Jack" to define something of very good quality. It was included in the lyrics of the song "Take Me Out To The Ball Game." "Cracker Jack" was a division of the Borden Company and in 1985 they introduced "Cracker Jack Hot Air Popping Corn." It sold for $1.89 a jar. The product did not last long on the market.
I found no information of sales on the secondary market. Sometimes, it is amazing what people will collect. Given enough time, "Cracker Jack Hot Air Popping Corn" memorabilia will probably interest some collectors. Your jars with the original package might be worth $5 to $15.
Q. The enclosed photo is of John Lennon and Ringo Starr autographs. They are on the back of an Athens, Greece, postcard. In the early 1960s - I think it was in 1961 - my sister was visiting in Athens. She saw and heard an excited crowd down the street and went to see what was happening. The Beatles were in there and she was able to secure these two autographs.
Do you have any idea of what the value of them might be?
A. John Lennon and Ringo Starr autographs can be found selling on the Internet anywhere from $2,500 to over $8,000. The hard part is having your autographs authenticated and appraised. You could begin by searching the Internet for honest appraisers.
• Address your questions to Anne McCollam, P.O. Box 247, Notre Dame, IN 46556. Items of a general interest will be answered in this column. Due to the volume of inquiries, she cannot answer individual letters.
© 2015, Creators Syndicate