I don't believe that Blackjack gum was named after a game of chance (which we called '21'). I think it originated sometime around WWI and honored General John J. Pershing who was known as 'Blackjack', and the gum itself was black and licorice flavored.

My fond memory as a ten- or eleven-year-old in The Bronx (always capitalize the T in The!) was when the 'gang' could each save up a quarter each, and on a Saturday, we'd take the subway to Times Square to wander around. A nickel each way for the train, a dime for a hot dog (with a free root beer) and a nickel to spend 'foolishly'. A favorite pastime was to hang around the burlesque joints ogling the pictures of the strippers outside until the doorman/barker would rasp, "Hey, you kids, come back in ten years!"

I'll just hum 'The Bard of Armagh' and toddle off to bed.