A Tribute to Discontinued Cereals
OJ’s (1980s)
The O.J. stood for orange juice, not Orenthal James. Though O.J. would have likely killed it had it not already died. It was a cereal with the “wholesome goodness of real orange juice,” containing 10% real juice. Marketed as a mildly healthy cereal in that it was basically orange juice in cereal form and orange juice is at least conceivably healthy being derived from a fruit. Chocked full of Vitamin C, the little orange and yellow balls and rings were fronted by O.J. Joe, a cattleman. He would ride and corrall wild oranges in an effort to rustle up all that sweet juice needed for OJ cereal. The really daring kid would substitute actual OJ for milk when eating this. Here’s an old ad for this short-lived phenomenon:
Gremlins Cereal (1984-?)
One final movie tie-in, and yet another Ralston cereal made as a Cap’n Crunch knock-off. You can add milk, but never water to the breakfast treats. The cereal was fairly nondescript, but it had a great theme song, “Gremlins, Gremlins, bite after bite. What a tasty way to satisfy your Gremlin appetite!” The best I could find was the partial commercial below that someone taped over. Note, we don’t know what happens if you eat this cereal after midnight.
Body Buddies (1980s)
During Body Buddies’ short time on earth it was marketed as a good-for-you breakfast treat. It looked like Kix and came in two varieties, a Natural Fruit Flavor in a green box and a Brown Sugar & Honey flavor in a golden box. Pimped as having sixteen (count ‘em) vitamins and minerals, the box featured four kids doing exercises. Fans of Hannibal Lecter might remember this cereal also appeared in the original Thomas Harris movie adaptation, Manhunter.
Triple Snack (1961-1965)
It’s a cereal. It’s a snack. Triple Snack was a combination of roasted peanuts, sugar puffed corn, and sugar puffed wheat. You decide if peanuts can be in a cereal, or if that transforms it into something else like trail mix. Boo Boo of Yogi Bear/Hanna-Barbera fame was the original cartoon character hawking this stuff, but he got replace by the blue Triple Snack Giraffe. Tough break Boo Boo.
Jets (late 1950s to early 1970s)
Who didn’t sign up to sell this sugar coated oat and wheat cereal? You had Rocky and Bullwinkle, you had the Sugar Jet Kids flying around in their glucose induced high, you had Major Jet the Space Pilot exploring the universe, you had Mr. Moonbird, Johnny Jet, and Goggol the Alien teaming up to pitch it you, and as shown above you had the Go-Cart Kids with their dog. And that list doesn’t include the football players they eventually slapped on the box. The cereal was similar in shape to old school Trix or Kix, but loaded with sugar. Later on, they changed the cereal shapes to resemble planes, rockets, and planets. “It’s the cereal the will give you Jet energy,” was the tagline. Which I guess means you’re eating the equivalent of jet fuel, or dare I say rocket fuel? It’s awesome to market your cereal as a euphemism for a variety of stimulant drugs.
Rainbow Brite Cereal (1985-?)
I know this website slants more towards male readers, and I wonder if any of them would admit to eating Rainbow Brite cereal? Another Cap’n Crunch-like cereal except with bright colored rainbow pieces flavered like fruit, Rainbow Brite sold out to the man to make a quick buck. Eating this was a basically eating candy, and for most males came the stigma that claimed the cereal turns you gay. On a lighter note, at least all the ads ended in happiness and fruity goodness for all. The fruit flavor in every colorful bite is now extinct, and will probably never return.
Powdered Donutz (1980s)
Tasted like powdered doughnuts. Looked like bloated powdered Cheerios. Donutz actually came in two varieties, powdered and chocolate, but the former is what people really liked. Described as a crispy, sweetened, three grain cereal that was meant to taste like powdered D-D-D-Donuts and was dough-licious. I guess you can consider this an earlier forefather of Frosted Cheerios. You might also rememeber this ad:
Klondike Pete’s Crunchy Nuggets (1972-1975)
This one came in both a wheat and rice variety, and were actually just renamed versions of Rice Honeys and Wheat Honeys (which also went by the name Winnie the Pooh Great Honey Crunchers). The cereal was pawned off on kids by Klondike Pete, a bearded prospector who searched for gold with his mule Thorndike. In 1975, Klondike Pete’s Crunchy Nuggets were discontinued and the cereal that had existed under various names was finally gone. But Pete wasn’t gone. Apparently on a 25-year nugget hunt, Pete returned in 1999 for Golden Nuggets cereal after striking the motherlode in a new secret mine. Sadly, Thorndike had been replaced by a new mule sidekick, Pardner.
Tony’s Cinnamon Krunchers (2003-2005)
Maybe the success of Cinnamon Toast Crunch awoke a sleeping tiger, as earlier this decade Tony the Tiger began stalking cinnamon lovers with Tony’s Cinnamon Krunchers. And Tony would seem to be the right cat for the job, given his experience with sugary flakes. Except this task when beyond even Tony’s immense powers. Many consider the cereal and improved version of Cinnamon Toast Crunch, but alas it was not to be.
Corn Crackos (1967-1968)
Seemed like a good idea in the 1960s I suppose. Cracko, the orange waker-upper bird, peddled this suspiciously named cereal on kids in the late 1960s. Actually check that, according to Cracko, “the whole family will go for these sweet twists of golden corn cereal.” Allegedly these where sprinkled with cinnamon, but I have trouble trusting that bird. And I know the 60s were a bit adventerous and all, but really? At least you get an offer for a Mr. Potato Head on the box. I’ll let Cracko take us out with his tagline, “It’s crackles when you crunch.”
Choco Crack
Now this is more to the point! Two great tastes that just fit perfectly together! Just ask the two characters on the box, they seem positively thrilled about the flavor. Actually this one isn’t a discontinued cereal (that I’m aware of), I just figured it would be a humorous way to end this post. For those wanting to know, this is real box, but it’s one of those lost in translation foreign varieties. Probably was aiming for something like Chocolate Crunch.
If you enjoyed this article, you would probably also like our Tribute to Fallen Sodas.
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Quisp and Quake cereals. Mid to late sixties. They were advertised like mad on Saturday morning cartoon programs.
:-)
You’ll find Quake near the bottom of page 2 of this very article
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I was hoping to see Halfsies (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halfsies) on this list. It was the first cereal sweetened with Nutrasweet. Me and a buddy of mine were obsessed with it, I’m surprised we didn’t single-handedly keep it in business.
You forgot Triples cereal.
When a single Sprinkle Spangle became lodged in my throat, I almost choked to death as an eight year old. I’d never been so afraid in my life.
The experience was enough to keep me from adding a box to the cart on subsequent grocery trips.
Wow, epic dude. Totally cool man!
WHERE ARE S’MORES??
BEST….CEREAL…..EVER!!
What about Nintendo cereal?
What about Kroonchy Starz? A glaring omission!
I was hoping to see Clackers (http://www.theimaginaryworld.com/greasy23.jpg) listed, just to remind myself that I did, indeed, eat a bajillion boxes of those things. My dad worked at the General Mill packing plant in West Chicago, Illinois and was able to buy cereal in bulk with a ridiculous employee discount (something like a dollar a case). As I recall, Clackers were originally test-marketed under the name “Graham Rosettes.” Early on each box had a little plastic noisemaker inside, called a “Clacker Quacker.” Truly an annoying device, it drove my parents insane. Which made it the perfect toy for a 14-year-old.
What? No Post Oat Flakes — probably the best tasting cereal there was!
Yet another site rips off an X-Entertainment article.
You also forgot Kellogg’s Graham Crack-O’s brought to you by George the Milkman… 1978 or so… The New Godzilla cartoon on NBC was on…
Great article! I wonder why Oreo took down there cereal, I’m sure it lasted more then ten years in the market because it was selling well, so something strange there for sure.
What about the Nintendo and Batman Cereals?
Where’s “Kaboom”? and wasn’t there a “Pee Wee Herman” cerial, and the puffed rice in the duck shaped container, and “Quangaroos”( something along with “Quake”?
Then there was the 1980’s “Count Chocula” with the “too close for comfort” Nazi themed medal around it’s neck…
I also remember some bizarre geometric/mathematical symbol shaped frosted oats that gave away little grey nuclear aircraft carriers that “flung” even littler A4 jets – 1969 or so – maybe something like “Orbits” or something?
And of course “Sugar Smacks!” Nothing like some glucose with your heroin in the morning, eh?
And yes, I had both a “Quake” miners hat (with real light) AND a “Quisp” pink propeller beanie (uses 2 AA batteries not included!)…
[...] by Jason Wu on March 5, 2009 http://www.gunaxin.com/a-tribute-to-discontinued-cereals/11570/3 I really loved eating this [...]
HELLO MY NAME IS CRISPY, HOW DO YA DO? CRISPY CRITTERS CEREAL’S ENTIRELY NEW!!!
Reading the article brought back so many memories… If I could pick a couple cereals back from the grave it would be Chocolate Cookie Crisp and Blueberry Waffelos, man those were good!
These are all NEW cereals! How about Kellog’s PEP? I imitate it now by crunching Wheaties up very fine!
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Ok, so the TMNT cereal is on here, but you failed to mention the short run of Pizza-flavored marshmallows? For shame.
It was disgusting, but it was interesting nonetheless.
Hidden Treasures (approx 1994-1995) was the best. I bought a box on eBay and hung it on my wall.
I miss Kenmai Rice Bran and Fruity Marshmallow Krispies to this day.
This list is not complete without Pacman Cereal: http://www.tomheroes.com/Video%20Games%20FS/video%20games/burbs/memorabilia/pacman_cereal_box.htm
It was my fav when I was younger.
Banana Frosted Flakes look just like Special K Blueberry (obviously with a different fruit).
My favorite had to be the Oreo O’s. God, those were delicious.
These are great, I remember some of these when I was a kid, brought back some great memories!
Hell LO? Croonchy Stars???
http://bit.ly/CLMRf
i call SHENANIGANS on the individual who discontinued the best cereal ever, RICE KRISPIE TREATS CEREAL. <3
I have talked to Cap’n Crunch in reference to the OOP’S all berries return and they said to expect a return in 201X read more to find out when at http://www.blakeleitch.com
:) Love this post…
You know what cereal I miss? Count Chocula..you can’t find that anywhere anymore. Those marshmallows and chocolaty goodness..where’d you go???
French Toast Crunch still exists.
At least in Canada.
I work for a packaging design that just refreshed the look.
The new blue boxes are on the shelves now.
what aout ARCHIES cereal. they looked like honeycombs and once came with a cutout record on the back that actually played. AWESOME
forgot “waffle crisp” …
Kudos and Dugg for OJ’s! I absolutely loved that cereal as a kid and could only get it when I visited my grandmother because my parents refused to buy it for me. Thanks Grandma!
Bigg Mixx 1990-1992 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bigg_Mixx
What freaked out parents about Smurf Berry Crunch was not that it turned poop weird colors (it didn’t), it was that it turned the milk and the inside of your mouth bright blue. It was so heavily saturated with dye that you got a buzz off the chemicals. (Which is why I bought it.) The stuff made Fruity Pebbles seem healthy. From what I remember it was a re-dyed version of Captain Crunch Crunchberry cereal.
FREAKIES!
What about Nesquik cereal that turned your milk into chocolate milk, that was bomb. Also the first iteration of French Toast Crunch was far better than the new version(gross).
Awwwww….. What tribute to discontinued cereals is complete without MOONSTONES! Moonstones & Freakies were required eating during Saturday Morning Cartoons!
Thanks for taking me back!
General Mills needs to bring back hidden treasure cereal…
[...] shared a link on the mighty Twitter of a tribute to cereals from the past – love [...]
How could anyone forget Nut ‘N Honey. Especially the commercials.
What about Double Dip Crunch???
How ’bout bringing some of these back??
Um, what about Kaboom? You know the one with the cartoon clown on the cover? How could it be overlooked? I wish that cereal was still around It was so damn great!
anyone remember pro stars?? mmmmmm
Great tribute!
You hit all of mine except for (as Brooke mentioned) Kellogg’s Rice Krispies Treats Cereal
Wasn’t there a “Where’s Waldo” Cereal too?
Does anyone remember rice crinkles?
For those complaining about the omission of Kaboom and Rice Krispy Treats cereal…I guess you like the pretty pictures, but you don’t read.
We pay tribute to these sweet breakfast addictions and their psychedelic ad campaigns. In my research I did find some good news, however. Fans of Kaboom!, King Vitaman, and Quisp will be happy to know these favorites still survive, and can easily be purchased online. Even a relatively new favorite like Rice Krispie Treats cereal is still around. But for every success, many failed to receive their stay of execution. And it’s for those we can only hope one day they are resurrected. Until then we only can hope, remember, and curse the cereal killers.
[...] A tribute to discontinued cereals. [...]
Actually most of the cereals people posted on in the comments are in the article. People either don’t read or don’t scroll through the pages.
I’m not going to blame people for not wanting to read all the pages. But don’t complain that Nintendo cereal, Batman cereal, Croonchy Stars, or Rick Krinkles aren’t in there. Because they are.
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Duuuuude, what a step back in time!!! I must admit I was pretty pumped to hear that Rice Krispy Treats Cereal is still available on the black market…lol
the grocery store i used to work at still sells kaboom! rice krispy treats cereal, and king vitamin. so if your in the north alabama area you can pick up some of those.
What about Rocky Road cereal, that was my favourite until it disappeared.
Wow. I had forgotten about some of those. I think I have eaten 90% of the cereals you mention. And I miss A LOT of them. :(
Love your post, it’s GRRRRRRRRRRRRREAT!
I have an idea why they misspelled waffle in the name:
Waffelo Bill is a play of words on Buffalo Bill. ~M
[...] in the cereal aisle to make room for the latest sugar-blasted flavor and snazzy box art. Click HERE for a tribute to the fallen warriors that made our Saturday mornings in front of the television a [...]
BOYCOTT KELLOGGS products.
After they fired Michael Phelps because there was a picture with him with a bong, they should be boycotted. Subway Sandwiches did not. Eat at the Subway burn your Kellogg’s products and don’t buy more.
I don’t know if its been discontinued, but I haven’t seen Rice Krispy Treats cereal in forever. That stuff was incredible.
Captain Crunch with chocolate milk can still be had! :O )
WHERE THE FUCK IS COUNT CHOCULA?!?!??!?!?!?
I remember BucWheats (I’m 41)! They were really good, with substantial flakes and less overt sweetness than the rest of these. They probably also had the most nutritional value of anything on this list, but I’m going to guess more sugar overall.
Clackers!!
Mmm I just had a bowl of Waffle Crisp but they’re not sold around here… I didn’t realized they discontinued them in certain locations, until I randomly had a craving of them. After walking down the cereal isle about 10 times I was sad to find they didn’t have any. Luckily you can import some from Amazon.com- but you have to buy them by the 5-box bulk.
I miss Berry Kix/Berry Captin Crunch/ & Boo Berry also..
cheers
I am remembering a cereal we used to get at the Grocery Outlet in CA (where discontinued products go to die) it was kinda like granola but chocolately. Damn I wish I could remember the name. For some reason something like Coco Moco is in my head although I know it wasn’t that.
what about alphabet cereal? or the rice krispy treats cereal?
Why are all you morons asking about Count Chocula? Do you never go grocery shopping? It’s been in every store I’ve ever been in.
These are awesome!
I really wish I could try some dunkin donuts cereal.
You forgot Rice Krispy Treats cereal!!!!!!
Why, oh for God’s sake WHY can’t you get Frankenberry/Booberry/Count Chocula unless it’s Halloween? And there was certainly no need to discontinue Fruit Brute!
[...] A tribute to discontinued cereals. [...]
you missed a very special one; muppet babies croonchy stars: http://www.muppetcentral.com/collectibles/muppetpics/food_stars.jpg
Nice list fellas! Where is the PAC-MAN cereal? It had pac-man marshmellows in it, as well as GIANT PAC-MAN marshmellows after he ate the power pellets!! LOL!
I miss one from the 60’s called ” Frosty O’s ” with a Dudley Do Right on the front.” Post Fortified Oat Flakes ” was another great.
[...] study this exhaustive tribute to discontinued cereals in order to solve (or add to) a bit of gender mystery about the King Vitaman in your life. Tags: [...]
big ups for this article. i am a huge 80s cereal head and i was big into ice cream cones. thats insane it was only around for a year, as it impacted me profoundly. i am gonna try to find that commercial and put it on youtube before i die. i can still remember the song so well “my names ice cream jones, with a cereal called ice cream cones” word up to 1987.
theres so many cereals i miss on here!
excellent work.
cheers
I love kenmai rice bran! it used to be my personal favorite. I would buy it all the time as a teenager. i like special K as a substitute, but not the same. :(
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i loved the french toast crunch in the red box….. it was probably discontinued because they changed the cereal so noone wanted to buy it.
no crispy critters?! for shame!
Team Cheerios, marketed for the Olympics in the late 90s/early 2000s, were the BEST freaking Cheerios there were. I wish they still made them. =(
i want pinkpnther flakes!!!!!
i really wish everyday that smores crunch would come back i love them
I miss the Pokemon cereal from the late 1990’s and early 2000’s. From what I remember, it was just like Lucky Charms, but with Pokemon-shaped marshmallows.
I wish the Sprinkle Spangles could come back
Anyone remember Fruit Island Cereal? I think it was out between 1986 and 1988…I can’t remember much except that it was a fruity flavor and it tasted much better than the fruit flavored cereals that were on the market at the time.
Though I’m a guy, I loved the rainbow brite cereal…it was almost intoxicating!
This really pisses me off.Iv searched everywhere online 2 try 2 find anything that mimics the flavor of Pacman or Smurfberry Crunch cereal.I will pay the highest amount 2 get consumers 2 get this cereal or a flavor like these back on the markets.
I want Sprinkle Spangles and Rice Crispy Treats Cereal Sooooooooooooooooooo bad!
Great Article! Reminds me of the good old days!
I miss Cinnamon Krunchers, it was 100x better than Cinnamon Toast Crunch was, hands down.
thats so stupid that they discontinued my fav ceril oreos
IT’S NOT A KIDS CEREAL – BUT WHAT ABOUT THOSE HUGE SHREDDED WHEATS…LIKE 6 LOGS/CAKES TO A BOX?
Kaboom! Poor man's Lucky Charms
there is a poll on facebook to bring back vanilla vrunch
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I LIVED off of the old French Toast Crunch. I’m surprised the amount my family ate alone didn’t keep it alive. The red box kind, not the atrocious newer kind and the Cinnamon Toast Crunch where the flavor is washed off as soon as the milk hits it. Oreo O’s were a sugar kick in the face but ridiculously good. We bought the cereal instead of the cookies themselves. Until they freaking stopped making it. Waffle Crisp. Oh, Waffle Crisp. You can get the Eggo Waffle Cereal, but it really just isn’t the same. *sigh*
The old stuff was childhood memories in a box and these mean old curmudgeons and cereal dictators keep wiping all the good cereals off the face of the earth.
Getting rid of cereals because of the response of parents who don’t want sugary cereal for their kids sucks. What about the old kids at heart? When I was a kid, we practically lived off of cereal (most of which were damn near made of pure sugar) and we turned out just fine. I know most cereals are probably discontinued because of minimal profit, but I am willing to bet many of these cereals got axed because they weren’t pulling in enough to rival Lucky Charms and Corn Flakes, not because they weren’t making them any money. Money was made, just not at the same level as the ridiculously popular ones.
Man. Sad. People should band together and create a new cereal company where they only make the old goodies. Yum.
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