Why do we eat popcorn at the movies? - Andrew Smith
Trace the history of popcorn, from its origins in the Americas to its explosion of popularity in the 20th century.
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Soft percussion and a toasty scent mark the violent transformation of tough seeds into cloud-like puffs. This is the almost magical process of popcorn-making. Dozens of kinds of popcorn are now grown in the US, with different strains assuming distinctive shapes when their kernels explode. So, how did we actually end up with this whimsical food? Andrew Smith traces the history of popcorn.
Lesson by Andrew Smith, directed by Mitchelle Tamariz.
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My grandfather, who recently passed away, was a popcorn eccentric. He used to experiment with different flavors and toppings just for the thrill of it. One night, he decided to try making popcorn with coconut oil instead of the usual butter. To our family's surprise, it turned out to be the most delicious popcorn we ever had. Thanks for the video, it truly brings me back.
Thank you for sharing and thank your grandpa for the discovery. I'm definitelly trying it!
Have you guys tried turning that into a recipe and potentially selling it as a product?
🤮
@@ThZuao OH MAN PLS DONE READ MY OTHER COMMENTS BEFORE YOU DO.
@@batman_2004 you haven’t tried it.
My favorite thing in the world is the fact that "grabbing some popcorn" denotes that whatever happens to be going on in real life is extremely dramatic and entertaining.
Yeah i agree!
Or fuuny.
All thanks to the great depression 🥰
good point. actually very good point.
I've worked at a movie theater for 5 years now. When I saw the title of this video I immediately clicked on it! I love these kinds of videos!
the history of (something) videos are one of my favorites too
I’ve also worked at a movie theatre for almost 5 years!!!!!
Fun fact, cinemas love selling popcorn because it's a snack that dehydrates you quickly, which means you're more likely to keep refilling on drinks.
Meanwhile I'm there eating 5l of salted popcorn without any drink ever lol
@@crazydragy4233 Absolute unit. My mouth would be burning.
@@Atom224 Usually my lips are by the end but what can I say, I love me some popcorn lol Our cinemas also let you have a mix of half sweet and half salty for big buckets, that's super yummy bc the combo brings out each sides flavours and usually lets you avoid having your lips dry out that much
Wait, so you finish the popcorn and your drink and...you go out to fill your drinks?
There was this other video where they talked about "the withcraft" behind popcorn's smell and taste. Not from TED-E, though...
I worked at a movie theater last year. One time, I was cleaning the filters beneath the soda towers and I found a popcorn kernel sprouting. It had fallen down there at some point and had been saturated by the water and soda falling through the filter.
What did you do with it?
@@sorreldislikespotatoes9882 probably grew an ear of corn to increase profits
ive got a challenge who can make the popcorn kernal sprout if ya do it reply
You know, I'd give coke flavored popcorn a go.
🚮🚮
That moment when the movie finally starts but you realize the popcorn is empty.
I always end up eating half of my popcorn before the previews start 😅
Better like that. I dont want to eat it while the movie is running. It's too loud and distracting.
@@benhelius4204Maybe your movies are too quiet😅😅 You need a booming action flick!!!
only Ted Ed can clamp together two of the most iconic things in a single video 1. Rick Riordan 2. Popcorn puns
That's the best line in the series
frrr
Was just about to comment something about the quote too!
yes
I just noticed that quote. Bruh.
Fun fact- One American food scientist spent the better part of 40 years of his life growing and perfecting what he saw as the perfect corn for popcorn; he spent so long on this project that by the time he launched his popcorn brand to the public, he was in his early sixties. The food scientist in question? Orville Redenbacher
My people had been spending thousands of years growing and perfecting popcorn to what it was 😂. F Orville lmao
People need to play the race card over popcorn. Let them have it. Thanks for the popcorn cause your people learned how to plant some seeds and cook some food, so amazing and thanks. The rest of the world should be amazed by your wild unflavored thing your ancestors filled their belly with from a clay pot under a dry poop fire. Truly a magnificent achievement. What else you got though… so be proud.
@@edgykoala1732 it’s not a race thing the op is giving orville full credit when a whole other ethnic group already did it. it’s nothing serious. they’re not directly attacking you so why are you offended?
@@saysay443 I honestly don't understand why people need to reply to comments with things like that. I just wanted to share an interesting bit of historical trivia and they brought up something that wasn't even the slightest bit relevant. Sure, plenty of people and groups did work on popcorn before Redenbacher, but that's not the point of my post. All I said was one man dedicated his life to what he saw as the perfect popcorn, and it became a famous brand; that's it.
He has perfected the corn by the time he becomes a pops himself. True dedication right there
I love that they described popcorn making as a ✨magical process ✨
I love these brief history of food videos.
Same! I hope they keep making them!
Same! Especially the brief history of cannibalism!
@@SVASH-hz5ji Ayo hold up now 😐📸💀
@@KnightsofGaming2016brief history of human
@@SVASH-hz5jisame as americans before england kingdom bro
Popcorn is one of the healthiest snacks, as long as you don't add things like butter. I use an air popper, and eat it with nori seaweed, which is another snack that is one of the healthiest. Together, they are tastier than they are when eaten separately.
As a MASSIVE Rick Riordan fan thank you for quoting him!
I really like the history of Mexican foods (also working for 3 yrs in a Mexican restaurant)and also general history subjects. Great job like always from Ted Ed
“Let’s all go to the lobby, let’s all go to the lobby, let’s all go to the lobby, to get ourselves a treat” From an old movie theatre intermission bumper. These days movies don’t have intermissions, even if they’re like 3 hours long, but they used to and this bumper let everyone know when the intermission happened. Intermissions were good breaks not just for the audience, but also for the projectionist since it gave them time to load a new film reel into the projector that contained the rest of the movie but sometimes the projector needed some downtime before the projectionist could do that. Intermissions usually took about 15 minutes before the audience could re-enter the auditorium and finish the movie
As a human, who doesn’t like eating popcorn, I have to write that this video made me think about starting eating it🧐 I also appreciate the way, how you called the process «magical» and the feature "fantastic".
I had no idea popcorn had such an ancient history! And I actually remember thinking a while back about why it's used in movie theaters: it's quick and easy to make, it's very light but very filling, and it has a mild, inoffensive taste that can be enhanced with salt or butter if needed, making it perfect for the events and locations it's used for, like circuses and carnivals
I was watching a movie on T.V a few days ago and I felt the need of popcorns, but there wasn't any packet at home. Made me question why we associate popcorn with movies, and now I'm seeing this video. It's like KZhead has read my mind
I immediately clicked this video because I have a friend named Andrew Smith and he loves movies and popcorn and I was watching Ted Ed mythological animation and thinking about sharing it with him.... What a lot of coincidence 😆
"Popcorn popped off yet again" being said in the most calming, monotone voice ever is the funniest thing I've heard today
0:02 Ted ed referencing Percy Jackson ? They are now truly the most intellectually gifted and cultured KZhead channel in my opinion 🥹
“THAT POPCORN DID NOT LOOK FATAL!!!”
They do it in another video too. I think it was one of the riddle ones. The quote was "With great power comes great need to take a nap" Nico di Angelo
That makes them double cultured then 😄
@@gradypharr1300 nico and leo have the best quotes tbh
One of my fondest memories from childhood is enjoying popcorn at my grandparents' house. They would use kernels rather than the microwave bags.
Better for you too. No machine needed if you have a microwave oven and a small paper bag. KZhead has videos showing how easy that is. Air poppers are very cheap and even easier.
I like how TedEd finds topics I won't ordinarily think of, but can't get out of my head if I do. Good one.
Popcorn immediately makes me nostalgic! As a kid, no movie outing was complete without a bag of popcorn. My Mother loved going to the movies and getting popcorn...so those wonderful experiences are relived everytime I make popcorn which is sometimes everyday. It's tragic that buying at the theaters will set you back at least $6...a fact my Mom would find appalling.
My favourite snackfood. There's a local mall with a movie theatre attached, I have definitely finished shopping trips with a swing into the concession stand for some fresh popcorn to take home. By this point I'm sure I've spent enough to have been able to purchase my own popcorn machine lol
That sounds like a damn good way to end a day shopping!
My parents were both born in 1918, and said that eating popcorn at the movie theater was a common and expected thing during the silent movie era of the 1920s. I've seen another source that said popcorn wasn't sold in theaters until WW2 due to sugar rationing. Could be popcorn was more common here in the Midwest than say the east or west coast?
Makes sense, because most corn grown in the US is cultivated in the Midwest
When the movie theaters started they had no snacks. It was very soon after that the popcorn vendors and other snack vendors set up outside the theaters. It took a few years, but once the theater owners realized they were losing money by not selling snacks they changed their minds. And so the concession stand was born. All this happened in the early 1910's, and it was all across America.
yea I also doubt the claim that they weren't sold in cinemas, especially due to a "refined theatre experience" ye know where the trope of throwing fruit, eggs and vegetables at bad actors come from? Due to the fact that people actually brought these things with them doing Shakespeare time, and even the old Romans sold food in their arenas. It is just an inherently human thing to eat while sitting and watching stuff. Popcorn became so popular because it is cheap, but it fulfilled a pre existing need
"oh no! popcorn! our fatal weakness!" this is one my favorite riordanverse quotes
real tbh
if anything, this just makes me want popcorn for breakfast
I used to eat popcorn for breakfast a lot.
For best results try making an extra bag or two, leave overnight in the fridge & presto! Break-fast is served.😊 Just add milk,cheese, honey.👍 Caution: eating the bag may be dangerous to your health!😏
as a HUGE Percy Jackson fan, the first little line from Hazel was so cool for me :D me and my geeking out 🤣😅
SAMEEE LMAO
I am genuinely in love with the quote from uncle rick
Thank you for a yummy history lesson ❤
I love the choice of using the brilliant quote from Percy Jackson
"Low cost"...XD. Me laughing at movie theaters.
Not Rick Riordan's quote at the beginning 🤣🤣🤣percy Jackson is lit
Use yellow kernels, 3 tablespoons of coconut oil and 1/3 cup of kernels. Toss it in 1/2 teaspoon flavacol 😋 The best way to make popcorn at home! Also pop over medium heat!
Love all the popcorn puns
Another story I've heard is that movie theatres were common sites for drug deals in the 1900s, but when the authorities started to catch on, dealers would use popcorn to disguise their supply.
Now i know, why every food item is so expensive at movie theaters.
Human greed ?
@@lawinaabraham3073 no, movie collections aren't just the ticket prices... Without popcorns movie tickets would be much more expensive which is not good for the poor.
I love when I'm watching a very dramatic scene, in complete silence and suddenly there are people all around munching popcorn - just wait a bit until the scene passes for the love of god
Im always excited to see another Ted-Ed video, I never get sick of these!
How i never knew I was eating dried starch gels. That's so cool
I actually researched why popcorn was sold in movie theaters years ago. In addition to everything here, WWII caused the shipping of sugary British sweets to the US to come to a halt, escalating the demand of popcorn in US theaters. Also, theater designs & employee uniforms are modeled after opera theaters & that aesthetic continues to this day.
Welcome to the cinema ( the comment section) Popcorn🍿 Small......5.50 Medium....6.50 Large.......7.50 Add butter...0.75 Candy🍬 (Any size)...4.00 Snacks🥨 Nachos.......5.75 Hotdog........3.50 Hotdog nacho combo..8.00 Beverages🥤 Soft drink (small)..4.50 Soft drink (medium).5.00 Soft drink (large).......50 Bottled drink........4.00 Dasan................4.50 Combos🍔🍿🥤 1 large popcorn + 1 large drink + candy. 18.50 2 regular popcorn + 2 regular drinks + candy...25.50 1 large popcorn + 2 regular drinks + candy....20.50 1 regular popcorn + Dasani + candy... 18.50 1 regular popcorn + 1 regular drink + candy... 18.00 1 large drink + hotdog + nachos... 12.50 Kids combo🧒🏼 Small Popcorn + drink + candy....9.50 VIP menu⭐🍔🍺 Cocktails.................8.00 Martin...................... 10.00 Beer (glass)....................8.50 Beer (pitch)...............19.00 Beer (bottle)................6.50 Burger+main................14.00 Salad..................................15.00 Appetizers (poutine, crispy dills, jalapeño poppers)...........................8.00 1 like 👍= 1 VIP membership
I'll just sneak snacks in instead
Fun - "small scale explosion", interesting - 1000% mark-up. Great lesson.
Any Ted-Ed video is a treat to me!
Thanks for making this video! Popcorn's my favourite food in the whole world! :D
Wire over the fire baskets…. Supreme poppability…. I love those words
Thank you for this video.. and Thank you for laying out the economics of the theatre studio relationship. It would have been easy to just mention the markup, but you did a real service by saying that markup compensates for the studio deals.. Well Done.. Thanks again
If anyone wants more info on corn in general -- or, more correctly, maize -- the book Midwest Maize: How Corn Shaped the U.S. Heartland goes into more detail -- including when popcorn actually reached the U.S. (later than is sometimes thought -- because parched corn is not popcorn), why popcorn balls were once such a big deal, and why the Cretor's popcorn machine was such a hit at the 1893 World's Fair. But the book also covered all the other forms of maize, from corn meal to sweet corn. It's a big story.
Geometry : 105 degree: kzhead.infoO_T_ibzWk2o?feature=share 75 degree: kzhead.info0zkJ0E8XBKw?feature=share Equilateral triangle : kzhead.infohifKnwnv44A?feature=share 15 degree: kzhead.infoylEm2SjX_j8?feature=share 45 degree: kzhead.infozkPxDeQ00N0?feature=share 135 degree: kzhead.infomYoIUWa3-40?feature=share 150 degree: kzhead.infoGjU9tdyjBUY?feature=share 60 degree: kzhead.infomwMQALHELUA?feature=share 30 degree: kzhead.infoIYVfuNfqI5A?feature=share 120 degree: kzhead.infoiZjYZPp3Vt8?feature=share 90 degree : kzhead.infolT5PzdnDlHQ?feature=share
if only cinema owners didn't sold popcorn and other snacks at sky high prices. Nothing but daylight robbery.
Great video @TEDEd ! But I am a little surprised you didn't mentioned popped sorghum, and potentially other puffed grain and how it fit into the timeline of popped corn. In South Asia they pop sorghum grain, which has also been popped for centuries. I wonder what was popped first, corn or sorghum. In western countries it is added to many muesli and other breakfast cereals.
We also pop amaranth here too
I was hoping they’d mention the name of the inventor as Cretors, not only because he effectively created the concession industry, but also because he happens to be my great great great grandfather
Picture this: one fateful afternoon, somebody was just cooking corn seeds when out of no where the food just starts exploding. Then they picked up that little white ball and said, “I wonder if you can eat this.”
I think you mean "fateful afternoon." Regardless, it wouldn't be the strangest thing people wondered about. I still don't understand why people thought something as bitter and rotten-smelling as beer was worth sampling.
Popcorn being a popular snack from the start is amazing to think about
I want to eat popcorn now
Me too!!!!
so well done!!
Never asked this question but I needed to, great info!
Ted-Ed one of the few channels where I watch full ads
I used to think popcorns being popular in cinema is because they dont make so much noise in our ear compared to other crunchy snacks so we can still hear the movie
Answering never-asked questions,I love
AHOY COY!! The Lions of Nitschmann Middle School in Bethlehem, PA would love a shout out!
Love all the puns in the narration. 😊
This male narrator has the perfect voice for Ted vids... I thought he left ted as I couldn't hear in a while
I love popping popcorn whenever I have a chance. Whether I'm at a movie or not.
Thank you for quoting Percy Jackson. You're now in my top favorite channels now.
Rick Riordan made that quote? Awesome!
Can you please do the history of cotton candy.
The animation is terrific!
Man, i'm love these videos
I was thinking about corns, corn on the cob, cornflake cookies, corn fritters, and of course popcorn. What a nice coincidence :p
"Popcorn picked up steam and exploded..." I appreciate such corny lines. Yea... see what I did too Ted Ed?
I want popcorn now! Gimme!!
Thank you,Now I know the answer of a question I asked long time ago to myself.
Love the indigenous context! Thank you !
A bit of trivia you probably left out because it is so well known and low brow, but for the rare person who does not know; popcorn became the food of choice in movie theatres for practical and biological reasons. In the early days of cinema people were expected to sit for longer and longer periods of time as films grew from 20 minute shorts to 81-101 minute feature length movies into multi-hour epics. The projectionist couldn't interrupt the movie every time someone in the audience needed to relieve themselves, that would be impractical, and people who needed to use the restroom during the movie complained afterward that they missed parts of the movie they paid to see: which as you can imagine left them with a sour experience of cinema. As if by natural selection, popcorn with its slightly constipating properties became the cinema food of choice as it helped people sit for longer periods of time without need to excuse themselves to the restroom.
1000% increase in puns in this episode.
Honestly the popcorn at my local theatre is the best popcorn I’ve ever had. Supermarket popcorn doesn’t compare
Popcorn works well on movie theaters because it’s the only crunchy snack which do not annoy your eardrum while chewing. Chips sucks on movie theaters. You cannot enjoy movie without hearing the sound. 😅
The blood of Olympus quote at the beginning I'm dying
Once again, TED-Ed sprinkles its fairy dust (Brewer's Yeast? Better Cheddar?) and the mundane becomes fascinating. Loved the history, evolution and social forces at work: accounting for 40% of a cinema's profits with a 1000% mark-up... My mind is popped.
One other part of the story was the the shutdown of Movie Theaters during Covid created a huge surplus of popcorn. Some of this was compensated by a 50% increase in home popcorn sales and some inspired farmers to build more silos.
Popcorn : “low cost entertaining snack” Movie theatres : Noice
I told you in the Shorts that the upcoming video will be titled: ,,A brief history of popcorn "
I love popcorn! One of my favorites!❤
“Popcorn! Our fatal weakness!” Hazel Levesque
I wish I had prepared some popcorn for this video, going to have to watch it again, with some magical popcorn 🍿😂
I love popping corns
Wow. Truly a-maize-ing!
A little *corny* if you ask me!
Wow! Informative 🙌🏻🍿
Wow! Popcorn goes way back 🍿
That’s interesting and I didn’t know it contributed 40% to overall cinema profits! That’s crazy! Thanks for the information
I love how he said “popped off” 4:26
Fun Fact: You know you're in México 'cuz there are spice-sauce-dispensers for your "palomitas" (popcorn) at the cinemas
Mexico also invented sweet popcorn, they were sweeted with "piloncillo", its brown sugar
I love popcorn 🍿 It is one of my comfort foods and I have a pot just for popcorn.
Opens with a BOO quote? This is my fav video.
love the rick riordan quote!
Dude I needed this video
Well that's it we never asked for it but we never regret it tnx ted ed
Wow I literally made a video about a debate between whether pizza or popcorn is the best (sprinkled with logical fallacies 😂) and just NOW noticed you made a video about the history of popcorn, which I briefly brought up in the imaginary debate! Ted-ED I ❤ you!!!
what an a-maze-ing history.