Fossil evidence from Peru suggests that corn was popped as early as 4700 BC.
Originally from Mexico it spread to the New World and then to Europe.
I’ts accessibility increased rapidly because of Charles Cretors’ invention of the popcorn maker.
Popcorn was fairly inexpensive at 5–10 cents a bag and became popular. Thus, while other businesses failed, the popcorn business thrived and became a source of income for many struggling farmers.
The snack was popular at theaters, much to the initial displeasure of many of the theater owners, who
thought popcorn distracted from the films. Their minds eventually
changed, however, and in 1938 a Midwestern theater owner named Glen W.
Dickinson Sr. installed popcorn machines in the lobbies of his
Dickinson theaters.
Popcorn was making more profit than theater tickets, and at the suggestion of his production consultant, R. Ray
Aden, Dickinson purchased popcorn farms and was able to keep ticket
prices down.
General Mills received the first patent for a microwave popcorn bag; popcorn consumption saw a sharp increase, by tens of thousands of pounds, in the years following.
At least six localities (all in the Midwestern
States LOL)
claim to be the
”Popcorn Capital of the World”.
WWII
Sugar rations diminished candy production, and Americans compensated by eating three times as much popcorn as they had before.