While doing the Robert W. Smyth obituary, see May 29, I got interested in finding out some more on this Big Inch give-away and found this info at www.yukoninfo/klondikebiginch.htm.
It got kids to say "Mommy, I want Quaker Puffed Rice." They were already saying the rice was shot from guns, but other cereals had talking tigers or gave things away.
Something was need by Quaker Oats to push their cereal. They needed something catchy and already sponsored a show "Sgt. Preston and His Trusty Dog King."
The idea of Smyth became one of the most successful sales promotions in North American history. The Quaker Oats cereal plant in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, could hardly keep up with the demand. Within weeks, every box with a deed had been sold. It would have been interesting to know how many boxes with the deed were made. I guess you mathematicians out there could figure out how many square inches there would be in 19.11 acres.
However, just because you got that one inch deed, you never really owned the land and the Canadian government repossessed the land in 1965 for non-payment of $37.20 in taxes. It was a 19.11 acre plot in the Yukon.
BRUCE BAKER
This account says that Bruce Baker was the one with the idea for it.
Scripophily.com is offering a deed for $29.95. E-Bay has one with starting bids at 99 cents and $2.95 shipping.
In 1947, the show was called "Challenge of the Yukon" and was aired on the radio.
In 1953, it was renamed "Sgt. Preston of the Yukon" to battle the increasing popularity of TV.
Sounds Like I Missed Out on This One. --Old Coot
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