Snap, Crackle & Pop - Three cute little elves who scamper about the kitchen promoting Rice Krispies, Frosted Rice and Cocoa Krispies for the Kellogg's cereal company located at One Kellogg Square in Battle Creek Michigan. Originally designed by children's illustrator W. T. Grant, the three elves made their debut in 1928. Both Snap (the leader and first elf to be introduced), and Pop (the clumsy comic) wear tall baker's hats; while Crackle (the know-it-all middle one) wears a red-striped stocking cap. The elves derived their name from the Snap! Crackle! Pop! sounds emitted from the cereal when milk is poured onto it.

Over the years, the elves' large ears and noses have been softened and downsized. With the introduction of television, the Snap! Crackle! Pop! campaign initially targeted such children's shows as THE HOWDY DOODY SHOW and later advertised on CBS's SCHOOLBREAK SPECIALS and ABC's AFTERSCHOOL SPECIALS.

Voice-over actor Len Dresslar (famous for his Jolly Green Giant rendition of "Ho! Ho! Ho!") provided the first voice to thje Snap character. Others providing the voices to the early elves were Daws Butler, Paul Winchell & Don Messick - and as of late Chris Evans and Keith Chegwin. The lyrics to the Snap! Crackle! pop! song follows:  

Snap:	"Snap, what a happy sound/ Snap is the happiest sound I found/ You may clap, rap, tap, slap, but Snap makes the world go round/ Snap, crackle, pop – Rice Krispies!"
Crackle:	"I say it's Crackle, the crispy sound/ You gotta have Crackle or the clock's not wound/ Geese cackle, feathers tickle, belts buckle, beets pickle, but Crackle makes the world go round/ Snap, crackle, pop – Rice Krispies!"
Pop:	"I insist that Pop's the sound/ The best is missed unless Pop's around/ You can't stop hoppin' when the cereal's poppin'/ Pop makes the world go round/ Snap, crackle, pop – Rice Krispies!"

TRIVIA NOTE: In 1939, Snap Crackle and Pop starred in a short Cartoon Films Ltd. feature called "Breakfast Pals." The cartoon opens as two boys are eating breakfast cereal. One of the boys is staying over night at the other boys house and he complains that his cereal is soggy, not like the cereal he gets at home. With a whistle he summons Snap Crackle and Pop who climb in through the kitchen window. Just as Snap, Crackle and Pop are about to offer their crispy cereal, three anti-cereal heroes called Soggy, Mushy and Toughy climb out of a generic cereal box and challenge Snap, Crackle and Pop to a fight. After a bit of rumbling, Snap Crackle and Pop win the battle by rolling the bad guys up inside syrupy pancakes. Victorious, Snap Crackle and Pop pour their cereal in a bowl for the boys to enjoy. You will note that Snap, Crackle and Pop are all wearing baker's hats.

Stills from "Breakfast Pals" starring Snap, Crackle and Pop

(See also - "The Keebler Elves")
 

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