1 . Why Do Movie Theaters Serve Popcorn?

The savory smell. The crunchy bite. The buttery finish. Americans will recognize the smell and flavor of their favorite movies snack anywhere. Why is it that we feast our taste buds on these crisp kernels (玉米) while our eyes focus on the big screen?

    1     The main reason is the snack’s price, convenience, and timing. Popcorn was cheap for sellers and for customers, and making it didn’t require special equipment.     2     . That is how popcorn got introduced to the silver screen.

Popcorn does not refer to the popped kernel alone.     3     It was originally grown in Central America and became popular in the U. S. in the mid-1800s. Compared with other snacks at the time, it was super easy to make, and it got easier in 1885 when the mobile steam-powered popcorn maker was invented. In the late 19th century, a large number of independent popcorn suppliers became widely available.     4    

Since popcorn was cheap to make, it was also cheap to buy, which increased the popularity of this treat during the Great Depression. The Depression increased consumer spending on cheaper luxury items such as popcorn and movies, and the two industries teamed up.     5     By the mid-1940s, however, movie theaters began to have their own concession stands (小卖部) in the lobby. The introduction of the popcorn-driven concession stand to movie theaters kept the movie theater industry running smoothly, and popcorn has been a basic movie-watching food ever since.