Back in the early 1900s, movie theaters banned the very same snack that would later define the cinema experience. This is the story of why popcorn was banned from the movies.
Popcorn has a lengthy history, with records showing it has been eaten for over 8,000 years, but it really took off in the 19th century. Few foods, if any, were better suited to modern, mass-consumption. Not only could vast quantities be made at once, but it was cheap, it was easy to serve, it smelled good and people could have it in different flavors, children an adults alike.
These reasons also made it the go-to snack at big events, with popcorn being bagged and sold at circuses and sports venues. Yet it is now most intertwined with the movies, where popcorn is part of the classic cinema experience. Once upon a time, however, it was banned from movie theaters.
It was the early 20th century and movie theaters were still very much a privilege afforded to the wealthy. Tickets were expensive, but movies also didn’t have any sound, meaning you had to be able to read to go and watch them. This limited the number of people who could attend, and the event was an upper-class affair, cultivated to create an atmosphere akin to opera, ballet, or live theater. Movie theaters, therefore, did not want the cheap, easy, loud popcorn sold by concession stands outside to be brought in, and actually implemented a rule where you could check your popcorn at the coat stand.
Read More: How Jacksonville’s Norman Studios pioneered African-American representation on screen
The tide began to turn in 1927, when sound was introduced to movies. Then came the Great Depression, and movie theaters became cheaper, accessible ways for people to pass the time, and during these years the industry boomed. Popcorn was at the heart of this, with theaters themselves now selling it and getting in on the act.
By 1945, half of all the popcorn consumed in the United States was eaten in movie theaters. Nearly 80 years on, the love affair between popcorn and the movies is as strong as ever. More recently, movie theaters make as much as 85% of their profit from concession stands.
If you enjoyed this Great Big Story, we think you might like the video below.
