Neatorama presents a guest post from actor, comedian, and voiceover artist Eddie Deezen. Visit Eddie at his website.
"Snap", "Crackle," and "Pop" have been the world-famous symbols of Rice Krispies since 1933. Rice Krispies was first marketed by Kellogg's in 1927. As a breakfast cereal, it was first released to the public in 1928. "Snap", "Crackle," and "Pop" were originally created by illustrator Vernon Grant.
The characters came out of a radio ad for the cereal: "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 your cereal talking, now is your chance."
The three characters were elves and represented the sound the cereal makes when you pour milk on it. Why do Rice Krispies make their unique snap, crackle, pop sound? Rice Krispies are made of grains that are cooked, dried, and toasted. During the process, they expand to form thin, hollowed out walls that are crispy and crunchy. When the cereal is exposed to milk or juice, the walls tend to suddenly collapse, creating the famous Rice Krispies sound.
The characters of "Snap", "Crackle," and "Pop" each have their own distinct character. "Snap" is the oldest, wears a chef's hat, and is a baker. "Crackle" has no clear profession, wears a red and white stocking cap, and is the smartest of the three. "Pop" is the youngest, wears a band leader's hat, likes to play jokes, and is a soldier.
I did the voice of "Pop" for three or four years, I think. ImdB lists me as being "Pop" for one year -1997. This is totally incorrect. I am sure I did it for at least three, possibly four years. It was truly one of the happiest, easiest gigs I ever had. I worked with great, nice people. I got to meet the executives of Kellogg's and these guys were so friendly and nice. During my tenure as "Pop", the guy I recorded with, who played "Snap" was in Chicago and was patched in. "Crackle" and I would be in the studio together. I don't remember the name of the first "Crackle," but he was replaced by my friend Kevin during my run. Unfortunately, I eventually got fired, too. A girl replaced me as "Pop." "Snap" and "Crackle" were replaced by guys, but my replacement was a chick. I am not positive, I may be wrong, but she may have been the only female voice to ever do any of the three characters.
My mom used to eat Rice Krispies for breakfast all the time, but she stopped after they canned me. Did you know "Snap", "Crackle," and "Pop" originally had a fourth partner? Originally, a fourth character named "Pow" was featured along with "Snap", "Crackle," and "Pop." "Pow" was to represent the explosive nutritional value of Rice Krispies. "Pow" didn't really catch on and was soon discontinued as a character.
Rice Krispies Trivia In 1941, a Kellogg's employee named Mildred Day created a new recipes for a Camp Fire Girls bake sale. It consisted of Rice Krispies, melted marshmallows, and margarine. It was dubbed "Rice Krispies Treats," and the recipe and its variations remain hugely popular to this day.
Rice Krispies are known as "Rice Bubbles": in Australia and New Zealand.
The Rolling Stones recorded a short song for a Rice Krispies TV ad in 1963.
Although we are used to snap, crackle, and pop in English, the cereal's unique sounds are known by other names around the world: * English: Snap, crackle, pop. * Spanish: Pim, pum, pam. * French-Canadian: Cric, crac, croc. * Finnish: Riks, raks, poks. * Danish: Piff, paff, poff. * German: Krisper, knasper, knuster. * Afrikaans: Knap, knaetter, knak. * Dutch: Pif, paf, pof.
You know, I am not really sure why the Kellogg's people fired me, but it was a great gig. You get paid unbelievable money if you can get a national commercial. And everyone I worked with was great, I hated to lose that one.