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...
