BEFORE YOU EAT POP CORN AT THE CINEMA, READ THIS

It wasn't all popped corn and movies at the beginning of this theatre pop corn relationship

This popular popped corn that has become part of the theatre taste was once banned from the opulent theatre auditorium. This alluring mix of salt, corn and butter associated with present days theatre culture spawned out of survival desperation  and a marketing ploy.

During the severe worldwide economic downturn of the 1930s known as the Great Depression, Pop Corn saves the movie theatre industry from near collapse. Yes you heard me right. According to wikipedia, the Great depression “was the longest, deepest, and most widespread depression of the 20th century”. The tempting aroma and taste of pop corn at the right place saved the day (at least for movie theatre industry).

Pop corn to some dates back to 3600 BC. And could be term man’s oldest snack. But the first variation of maize cultivated in Central America, find it way to North America and later New England in the early 19th century. In 1885 the first steam power pop corn maker was invented by Charles Cretor. This mobile pop corn maker makes growth of this buttery puffy snack fast.

Regarded as a snack for the poor by theatre owners because it is inexpensive - just butter, corn and salt under conditioned heat. It was not admissible in theatres because the high-taste auditorium of the theatres is revered for the elite and polished who will not want the crunchy sound of popped corn distract the movies because then movie has no sound and people rely on inter-titles. When movie added sound in 1927 it opened the theatre to a brand new clientèle and literacy was no longer a need for the movies. It became a pleasure both the educated and illiterate can indulge. This resulted in mass patronage at the theatres. With the huge surge goes huge profits for Theatre owners and pop corn vendors. Not to renegade on its “standard” pop corn was not allowed in the theatre. A snack of choice at parks, circuses, bars and everywhere but not the theatre of movies (Yet).

During the Great depression, the Theatre industry plunged into recess while the pop corn vendors were smiling to the banks. Vendors positioned there stands close to the theatres selling their aromatic snacks to moviegoers before they entered the theatre. It is on record pop corn was smuggled undercoat into the theatre. Moviegoers were subjected to search for popped corn undercoat. As more and more people come to the theatre with pop corn bought across the street in hand, theatre owners couldn’t let this profit opportunity pass by no more. The financial appeal made theatre owners leased "lobby privileges" to vendors for a daily fee. They later cut the middlemen (vendors) by directly selling pop corn to save there crippling theatres.

When in the mid-1930s movie theatres starts sinking and gasping for survival, those selling pop corn stayed afloat. This made Movie theatre owners come to understand the financial power of concessions and its potency for profit. Concession stands were installed in the theatres and the magical marriage between the theatres and pop corn was cemented till present.

 Now you know why that cheap luxury in plastic buckets is allowed into the theatres.