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Ancient nibble -

In 2012, archaeologists in Peru unearthed ancient corncobs, husks, tassels, and stalks from tombs that suggested people were preparing corn-based snacks as far back as 6,700 years ago. The amazing find took place at the Paredones and Huaca Prieta archaeological sites on the country's northern coast.

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Early treat -

The first mention of popcorn as we know it was recorded in the mid-19th century. Popping the kernels of corn was achieved by hand on stove tops to create a crunchy snack for Thanksgiving in the United States. Pictured is a popcorn vendor at the Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia in 1876, the first official World's Fair to be held in the US.

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Sidewalk snack -

In 1890, a Chicago entrepreneur named Charles Cretors invented the first popcorn-popping machine. Soon afterwards, popcorn was being sold on sidewalks across America. Pictured is a vendor in Alton, Illinois in 1912 with his cart, which enclosed a steam-powered machine for both nut roasting and popcorn popping.

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Out and about -

Early on, hand-drawn carts were used by vendors. Horses were later employed to pull popcorn wagons. Eventually, vehicles like the one pictured, equipped with candy kiss and popcorn-making machinery, were familiar sights on city streets.

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Cracker Jack -

Cracker Jack is a well-known American brand of popcorn and peanut snack food that first appeared on candy store shelves in 1896. The brand is famously associated with baseball, as this 1914 flyer illustrates, announcing the inclusion of free cards of famous baseball players in each package.

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Prize packet -

For many years, Cracker Jack popcorn was known for including a token prize in the packaging. Today, however, and in keeping with its connection to baseball lore, customers can scan a QR code that can be used to download a baseball-themed game.

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Orville Redenbacher (1907–1995) -

Another major name in the history of popcorn is Orville Redenbacher, who began his career selling popcorn from the back of a car. Redenbacher rose to fame after co-founding his own hugely successful popcorn brand with business partner Charlie Bowman.

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The "perfect kerenel" -

Redenbacher spent nearly 40 years crossbreeding 30,000 popcorn hybrids to develop what became known as "the perfect kernel." He is often described as the man who single-handedly revolutionized the American popcorn industry.

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The 1930s -

By the late 1920s and early 1930s, popcorn had become a favorite fireside snack. Its popularity surged during the Great Depression, when popcorn production was one of the few businesses to thrive during the economic downturn. This was due in part to the snack's ongoing nationwide appeal. But it was also because a new demand was being met, that of the hungry moviegoer.

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Popcorn and the movies -

Popcorn and cinema, the ying and yang of the movie business, became popular in the 1930s. A bag of popcorn cost a few cents and was easily affordable, even during the lean Depression-era years. Moviegoers defied an early ban on popcorn by theater owners (they thought the snack would distract audiences from the films) and consumed packets of the stuff. Recognizing a commercial opportunity, picture show proprietors began installing popcorn vending machines in cinemas—and the movie theater's most popular concession was born!

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Packaged popcorn -

E-Z Pop was an early example of popcorn packaged and sold in a disposable aluminium foil pan. It appeared in the 1950s as an easy way of making popcorn. Half a century later, Jiffy Pop is one of the few popcorn brands that continues to market and sell popcorn in this fashion.

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Salt or butter? -

The default snack of post-war baby boomers, popcorn was by the 1960s enjoying worldwide popularity. Flavored with either butter or salt, the snack proved an appetizing picnic ingredient, and also found favor as a bar snack (the salted variety helping to induce thirst, thus increasing beer sales).

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Microwave popcorn -

The microwave cooking oven had been patented as early as 1945, invented by Percy Spencer. Two years later, Spencer filed a patent to detail the use of microwaves to pop popcorn. In 1949, the patent was granted. Making popcorn had suddenly become a whole lot easier, even more so when the first microwave popcorn bag design was patented by US food company General Mills in 1981.

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Popcorn maker -

Today, popcorn is a cinch to make at home using a popcorn maker. Air poppers like the one illustrated can make up to 10 cups of the fluffiest and largest popcorn in under three minutes.

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Eye-popping sales -

The oldest snack in the world is also among the biggest selling. According to Statista, 232.51 million Americans consumed popcorn products in 2023. This figure is projected to increase to 238.4 million in 2024.

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Favorite flavors -

Data released in 2019 by National Today and published by Bakery and Crumbs  revealed that popcorn's number one flavor is butter, followed by white cheese, and then caramel corn. The top 10 list produced a few surprises, with garlic placed in sixth place, and a flavor called red velvet—popcorn covered in white 10th place.

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Raw ingredient -

Did you know that some corn is specifically grown for use as popcorn? Nebraska and Indiana are the principal "popcorn" states, with Texas a close third. Furthermore, popcorn is the official snack food of the state of Illinois.

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Popcorn and celebrity culture -

Popcorn's place in cinema culture has already been discussed. But what about its role in film and the wider entertainment industry?

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'Jailhouse Rock' (1957) -

Popcorn has been written into numerous movie plot lines. Here, Elvis Presley's character offers his none-too-pleased date some popcorn in a scene from the film 'Jailhouse Rock.'

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The Beatles -

The Fab Four share a bag of popcorn during a 1964 photo call before going on stage at Lewisham Theatre in London. Now known as the Broadway Theatre, the venue coincidentally staged a production called 'Popcorn' in 2001, written by British playwright and author Ben Elton of 'Blackadder' and 'We Will Rock You' fame.

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'Anywhere But Here' (1999) -

Susan Sarandon and her screen daughter Natalie Portman share a bowl of popcorn in a scene from the coming-of-age comedy-drama 'Anywhere But Here.'

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'Sonny' (2002) -

Nicolas Cage serves popcorn to fans on the opening night of his directorial debut 'Sonny' in Hollywood, California. Cage makes a cameo appearance in the crime drama, released in 2002.

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'The Simpsons Movie' (2007) -

America's most dysfunctional family share popcorn while squeezed together on a sofa in front of the TV in a scene from 'The Simpsons Movie.' 

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'Pixar Popcorn' (2021) -

The animated Disney-Pixar production 'Pixar Popcorn' is a collection of mini shorts starring favorite Pixar characters presented in all-new, bite-sized stories.

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Prince Harry -

In a widely reproduced set of images, Prince Harry shares his box of popcorn with Emily Henson, the daughter of his wounded serviceman friend Dave Henson, as they watch the sitting volleyball competition on day five of the Invictus Games in Toronto, Canada, in September 2017.

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Katy Perry -

Singer Katy Perry pays tribute to popcorn's place in cinematic history by appearing on stage dressed in a popcorn-themed outfit during a special 2012 performance at Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood.

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'The Masked Singer' -

"Popcorn" (singer Taylor Dayne) helped promote season four of the American television series 'The Masked Performer' in 2020.

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Calvin Klein -

Popcorn gets fashionable, served up in this special Calvin Klein bag for a 1996 clothing promotion.

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The future of popcorn? -

If you're not the kitchen type, hire some home help in the shape of a robot, seen here pouring popcorn from a cooking pot into a bowl during a demonstration at the Institute for Artificial Intelligence of the University of Bremen, in northwestern Germany. 

Sources: (National Geographic) (Pop Icon) (Smithsonian Magazine) (Popcorn Boss) (Statista) (Bakery and Snacks) 

See also: Chocolate chronicles: A history of the cacao bean

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