Snap, Crackle and Pop

Snap, Crackle and Pop! are the cartoon mascots of Kellogg's breakfast cereal Rice Krispies (Rice Bubbles in Australia).

History

The three gnome characters were originally designed by illustrator Vernon Grant and made their debut in 1933. The names of the gnomes are derived from a Rice Krispies radio ad. The ad said "Listen to the fairy song of health, the merry chorus sung by Kellogg's Rice Krispies as they merrily snap, crackle, and pop in a bowl of milk. If you've never heard food talking, now is your chance." Inspired by this ad, Grant drew three gnomes and named them Snap, Crackle, and Pop. He brought the characters to Kellogg's, who bought them on the spot. In the United States and Canada, opinion varies concerning Crackle's occupation, but Snap is always portrayed as a baker and Pop as a marching band leader.

Snap is the oldest and the leader of the group. He solves the problems his two brothers create and wears a baker’s hat.

Crackle is the good-hearted, fun middle child. He gets stuck keeping order between his brothers’ personalities and wears a red-and-white-striped stocking cap.

Pop is the mischievous, clumsy younger child. He plays jokes, doesn’t take things seriously and wears a band leader's hat.

There was a fourth gnome character who was named Pow who was supposed to represent the explosive nutritional value of Rice Krispies but who was later discontinued. [Mental Floss Magazine (2008) [http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/18246 "A Second Helping of Cereal Facts"] — Mental Floss]

The gnomes' large ears and noses have been reduced and softened over the years. With the introduction of television, the Snap! Crackle! Pop! campaign, with animated characters, initially targeted such children's shows as The Howdy Doody Show. The voices of the original gnomes were provided by the late Daws Butler, Paul Winchell, and Don Messick, and in more recent days by Chris Evans and Keith Chegwin, as well as Chad Doreck, Eddie Deezen and Thom Adcox-Hernandez.

=Other

In the United Kingdom, the mascots for Rice Krispies were portrayed as superheroes instead of gnomes. If this was done due to England's anti-irish association with Leprechauns is unknown (see Lucky Charms).

Other uses of the term

In kinematics, the term "snap" is sometimes used to refer to the fourth derivative of position relative to time; "crackle" and "pop" have - facetiously - been suggested as names for the fifth and sixth derivatives.

External links

* [http://www.kelloggs.com.au/DisplayPage.asp?PageID=277&brandid=26 A history of Snap, Crackle and Pop]
* [http://www.ricekrispies.com/The_Tale.aspx The Tale – Snap! Crackle! & Pop! story]
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/wishbook/1233808995 A 1933 Rice Krispies ad from Parents Magazine]