Posted on 01/19/2018 7:04:44 AM PST by EdnaMode
Today is National Popcorn Day. Why today? Some pundits declare that it is scheduled around “big game” time, which perhaps does make some sense. At any rate, we have a few “big games” coming up, so consider this inspiration for the next couple of weeks.
In the mid-1890s Charles Cretors, a candy store owner, developed a machine for popping corn with steam. As soon as the popped corn became easily available, people were clamoring for more. By 1900, Cretors had horse-drawn wagons selling it through the streets of Chicago.
Around the same time, Louis Rueckheim had the idea of adding peanuts and molasses to popped corn, which brought Cracker Jack into the world. In 1908, when “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” became the national anthem of baseball, Cracker Jack and baseball became one and the same.
Americans had one more so-called romance with popcorn that had a slower start, but eventually did take off. Who can imagine going to the movies and settling down without a bag of buttered popcorn?
The popcorn itself was an economical choice for a snack food—but the expense of purchasing, installing, and ventilating a machine didn’t seem worth it. Purchasing a bag of popcorn from a street vendor made more sense, but Glen Dickson decided to take a risk and put in the effort and expense of placing machines inside his theaters. Once he saw how quickly his costs were recouped, other owners followed suit, and popcorn and movies became as solid a marriage as Cracker Jack and baseball.
(Excerpt) Read more at capenews.net ...
That’s fantastic :D
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