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
