- One of the ancient ways to pop corn was to heat sand in a fire and stir kernels
of popcorn in when the sand was fully heated.
- Exploring Paraguay during the 18th century, Felix de Azara told of a kind
of popcorn with kernels on the tassel which, when "it is boiled in fat
or oil, the grains burst without becoming detached, and there results a superb
bouquet fit to adorn a lady's hair at night without anyone knowing what it
was. I have often eaten these burst grains and found them very good."
- Charles Cretors, founder of C. Cretors and Company in Chicago, introduced the world's first mobile popcorn machine at the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago in 1893. Scientific American reported: "This machine...was designed with the idea of moving it about to any location where the operator would be likely to do a good businesss. The apparatus, which is light and strong, and weighing but 400 or 500 pounds, can be drawn readily by a boy or by a small pony to any picnic ground, fair, political rally, etc. and to many other places where a good business could be done for a day or two."
- Percy Spencer, Raytheon Manufacturing Corporation, figured out how to mass produce magnetrons which were being used to generate microwaves for use in World War II. Looking for post-war applications of Raytheon technology, Spencer spurred the development of the microwave oven. Popcorn was key to many of Spencer's experiments.
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