Remembering

I decided to eat a few animal crackers as a bedtime snack and it reminded me of the small circus car-shaped box with a “shoestring” handle. The box was bright red with illustrations of circus animals filling the sides. At one time it had printed wheels that folded down from the bottom to give the illusion that it was a circus wagon. It was an inexpensive childhood treat that most grocery stores sold. It held s menagerie of cookie camels, hippopotami, elephants, bears, and seals inside the carton, but I’m sure that I’ve missed some of the animals. Now the animals have lessened and are sold in cellophane bags. Some things that have changed are they come in chocolate or the regular flavor. The newer versions have the choice of an iced topping as well as the flavor of the “crackers.” The iced ones have won me over. Although I rue the loss of the colorful circus car containers, I like the iced sweeter taste better than the plain originals.

Cracker Jacks was another treat that was very affordable and was easy to entice moms to buy it, even in hard times. The caramel coated popcorn and peanuts still make my mouth water in anticipation. Another item that attracted kids to want the treat was the mystery prize inside. A kid might find a plastic whistle, a plastic game with tiny steel balls, or a small plastic animal of plastic person. Now the prize is a paper with a joke or a “tattoo” on it.

Another fond memory was Duble Bubble. Two conjoined pieces of pink chewing gum wrapped in waxed paper waited as an inexpensive lure for kids. The gum was large enough to tear into two pieces to share or keep and chew both pieces allowing the kid to blow huge bubbles that would pop with a loud crack. Even more entertaining was the cartoon inside of Pud and his pals. Most times they weren’t that funny, but they were entertaining.

Probably because it was inexpensive, one of my favorite candy bars was called the “Lunch Bar.” It was a milk chocolate bar that sold for three cents. The peanut and chocolate bar was wrapped in a dark green wrapper listing its name and price in bold red and white lettering. It was about the same size and shape of today’s Hershey Bar with almonds, but was chock full of peanuts.

I can’t remember the types of penny candy that filled the glass display case waiting for a child to select, then be placed into small paper bags by the grocer. Mints, stick candy, licorice whips, and so many more. Anyone else need their appetite wakened?