Is the popcorn machine the most important invention to date? Well, consider this statistic: Americans are said to consume more than 17 billion quarts of popcorn each year, that’s more than 50 quarts per person, and that’s enough popcorn to fill the Empire. State Building 18 times.
And where is a large percentage of this popcorn eaten? Okay, watching a movie. In fact, many of the theaters make more money selling you popcorn than they do selling you a ticket, especially after they put enough salt in it for you to buy a soda to drink too. So there is a case for the movie industry to think this is the most important invention.
Then there is Nebraska. This state produces about a quarter of the annual popcorn production in the US, which is close to 250 million pounds. Surely you know the tremendous importance of this invention.
Or what about the manufacturers of microwave ovens? There is a joke that popcorn invented the microwave. This makes sense considering popcorn is actually one of the main reasons a microwave is used. I guess that turns a microwave oven into a popcorn machine.
Ok, you could say this isn’t as big a deal as Facebook or the iPhone, but it does produce and eat a staggering amount of popcorn. And probably a lot while updating your status or texting, so what’s really more important? π
Invention and development of popcorn machines
Charles Cretors is credited with inventing the popcorn machine in 1885. His original machine was an addition to a peanut roaster that he redesigned to use a small steam engine. By 1893, and at the Columbian Exposition in Chicago, Creators had created a steam-powered unit that worked as an automated process and included a popcorn cart that displayed the popcorn. The most significant thing about his latest design was that the popcorn can pops in its own seasonings and oil with even and consistent results.
Cretors continued to develop his invention with the first horse-drawn popcorn wagon and the first electric-powered popcorn machine. These became very popular as theater attendance increased in the 1920s, and popcorn even grew in popularity during the depression as a result of its low cost.
Development was put on hold during World War II as manufacturing efforts were devoted to things related to the war. After the war ended, and to continually respond to theater and concession stand owners, new popcorn machines took advantage of technological advances and made it possible to make even more consistent popcorn, faster and in larger quantities. C. Cretors & Company is still in business today and remains one of the leaders in the modern concession industry.
So how important is this invention? In 1988, the US Postal Service issued a new series of stamps commemorating transportation. And as part of this series there was a 16.7-cent postage stamp illustrated with Cretor’s 1902 model. This was done as a tribute to what has become one of the most consumed and popular snacks in history, all as a result of the invention and development of the popcorn machine.