Uploaded May 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
(Gennett 3342) (Also on Buddy 8063)
Recorded Gennett Recording Studio, 11 E. 37th St., New York, NY, June 21, 1926.
Duke Ellington And His Washingtonians
Edward Kennedy Ellington (arranger, director and piano)
Charlie Johnson, James "Bubber" Miley (trumpets)
Otto Hardwick (alto and baritone saxes)
Prince Robinson (tenor sax and clarinet)
Henry Edwards (tuba)
Fred Guy (banjo)
Sonny Greer (drums)
With unknown trombone
"I'm Just Wild About Animal Crackers" is a 1926 novelty song by Fred Rich, Harry Link, and Sam Coslow. It was first recorded by Duke Ellington on June 21, 1926 and two days later by Irving Aaronson and his Commanders. Around the release of the song, A&P Stores and Henry Waterson Inc. arranged to sell a copy of the song and a box of animal crackers together for 25 cents.
An animal cracker is a particular type of cracker, baked in the shape of an animal, usually an animal either at a zoo or a circus, such as a lion, a tiger, a bear, or an elephant.
In the late 19th century, animal-shaped crackers called "Animals" were imported from England to the United States. The demand for these crackers grew to the point that bakers began to produce them domestically. Stauffer's Biscuit Company produced their first batch of animal crackers in York, Pennsylvania, in 1871. Other domestic bakeries, including the Dozier-Weyl Cracker Company of St. Louis, and the Holmes and Coutts Company of New York City, were the predecessors of the National Biscuit Company, today's "Nabisco Brands".
Animal biscuit crackers were made and distributed under the National Biscuit Company banner. In 1902, animal crackers officially became known as "Barnum's Animals" and evoked the familiar circus theme of the Barnum and Bailey Circus. Later in 1902, the now-familiar box was designed for the Christmas season with the innovative idea of attaching a string to hang from the Christmas tree. Until that time, crackers were generally sold only in bulk (the proverbial "cracker barrel") or in large tins. These small cartons, which retailed for 5 cents at the time of their release, were a big hit and are still sold today.
(Gennett 3342) (Also on Buddy 8063)
Recorded Gennett Recording Studio, 11 E. 37th St., New York, NY, June 21, 1926.
Duke Ellington And His Washingtonians
Edward Kennedy Ellington (arranger, director and piano)
Charlie Johnson, James "Bubber" Miley (trumpets)
Otto Hardwick (alto and baritone saxes)
Prince Robinson (tenor sax and clarinet)
Henry Edwards (tuba)
Fred Guy (banjo)
Sonny Greer (drums)
With unknown trombone
"I'm Just Wild About Animal Crackers" is a 1926 novelty song by Fred Rich, Harry Link, and Sam Coslow. It was first recorded by Duke Ellington on June 21, 1926 and two days later by Irving Aaronson and his Commanders. Around the release of the song, A&P Stores and Henry Waterson Inc. arranged to sell a copy of the song and a box of animal crackers together for 25 cents.
An animal cracker is a particular type of cracker, baked in the shape of an animal, usually an animal either at a zoo or a circus, such as a lion, a tiger, a bear, or an elephant.
In the late 19th century, animal-shaped crackers called "Animals" were imported from England to the United States. The demand for these crackers grew to the point that bakers began to produce them domestically. Stauffer's Biscuit Company produced their first batch of animal crackers in York, Pennsylvania, in 1871. Other domestic bakeries, including the Dozier-Weyl Cracker Company of St. Louis, and the Holmes and Coutts Company of New York City, were the predecessors of the National Biscuit Company, today's "Nabisco Brands".
Animal biscuit crackers were made and distributed under the National Biscuit Company banner. In 1902, animal crackers officially became known as "Barnum's Animals" and evoked the familiar circus theme of the Barnum and Bailey Circus. Later in 1902, the now-familiar box was designed for the Christmas season with the innovative idea of attaching a string to hang from the Christmas tree. Until that time, crackers were generally sold only in bulk (the proverbial "cracker barrel") or in large tins. These small cartons, which retailed for 5 cents at the time of their release, were a big hit and are still sold today.
