How America Got Popcorn

Movie History:

How Popcorn 

Made it to the 

Movies

The second you walk into a movie theater you are hit with the irresistible smell of popcorn. You are hypnotically drawn to the snack counter to purchase a large popcorn and drink combo before you seek out your seat in the theater. But have you ever wondered how the marriage of popcorn and movies got its start? Popcorn became a favorite treat at fairs and other public gatherings when vendors began selling it from carts in the 1840s, but it wasn't until the depression era of the 1930s that popcorn made its way to theaters along with other snack foods including candy. The original movie theaters of the early 1900s did not make snacks available because owners wanted guests to refrain from littering the grand marble and antique laden buildings with crumbs and wrappers. Unfortunately, they could not control the snacks that patrons brought in themselves and so their futile attempts to keep theaters pristine failed. 

Eventually with the decline of the economy, theater owners were forced to lower their ticket prices but needed a way to make up for the lost revenue. Although they were averse to the mess created by snacks and the potential fire hazard of early popcorn machines, owners realized their only option was to open snack counters. Surprisingly, theater revenues increased much higher than before the ticket prices were cut. During World War II, sugar rations forced theaters to further reduce snack offerings by discontinuing candy sales making popcorn sales flourish even more. Today, almost half of theater earnings come from popcorn sales alone.