Customer Reviews

Popped Culture: A Social History of Popcorn in America

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"Popcorn is America's gift to the world, and what a wonderful, fun-filled bequest it is."

Such is the very last line in the narrative section of POPPED CULTURE: A SOCIAL HISTORY OF POPCORN IN AMERICA. This very informative volume by Andrew Smith describes every aspect of this snack food, from its evolution on the cob in pre-historical Central and South America to 20th century "gourmet popcorn" in microwave bags.

While the book's title states this is a "social history", it seemed to me more a chronicle of the popcorn industry, especially in the United States, where popcorn was "invented", i.e. reached the citizenry's mass consciousness, in the first half of the 19th century. Smith has extensively researched every element of the saga: growers, processors, vendors, entrepreneurs, popping devices, packaging, flavoring, advertising, and target markets (both children and adults, at home and at the "movies").

Because so much of this book is a detailed narrative of the biz, it's not particularly fun, but rather like popcorn without butter and salt. There are too many passages like the following:

"... Wyandot (Popcorn Company) was sold to Vogel Popcorn, a division of Golden Valley. Golden Valley is now owned by ConAgra. ConAgra had previously purchased Orville Redenbacher's Gourmet Popping Corn during the mid 1970s. Jiffy Pop was sold in 1962 to American Home Products. In 1996 American Home Products was acquired by Hick, Muse, Tate and Furst, an investment firm, and it food industry management affiliate, C. Dean Metropoulos. Today Jiffy Pop and Franklin Crunch `N' Munch are part of International Home Foods, Inc., of Parsippany , New Jersey."

Why would any but the most obsessive of popcorn lovers, or business students, care?

POPPED CULTURE includes a small section of illustrations, and extensive sections dedicated to Notes and Bibliography/Resources. It also incorporates a 48-page chapter on historical recipes. Anyone for macaroni and popcorn, prune and popcorn pudding, popcorn omelet, popcorn macaroons, popcorn stuffed dates, popcorn soup, popcorn scrapple, popcorn and parsnips, popcorn and bacon, popcorn hash, popcorn with ice cream, or popcorn trifle? Uh, no. I think I'll just have the large tub ... with extra butter.

This book is an entertaining addition to culinary history, debunking myths about popcorn and contributing much to the reader's knowledge with meticulously documented research. (Was popcorn served at the first Thanksgiving, or is that just popcorn lore?) It is interesting to follow the rise in the popularity of popcorn in the larger context of American social history to become a movie staple, TV companion, and microwave gourmet food. Though not intended as a cookbook, a particularly interesting section contains over 160 popcorn recipes published before 1924, including some for biscuits, bricks, stuffing, sandwiches, and more than 25 for popcorn balls alone. Anyone for a bowl of popcorn soup? Other popcorn related products are included in the history, including a significant amount of Cracker Jack coverage. It seems that Mr. Smith has left no kernel of popcorn information unpopped. Warning: It would be difficult to read this book cover to cover without stopping more than a few times to pop up a batch of popcorn; but salt and butter are optional, so enjoy devouring it in good health.

This is one "cracker jack" book that I found as enjoyable and fun a read as munching a bowl of NEWMAN'S OWN or ORVILLE REDENBACHER'S while watching my favorite home video.

Every kernel of information offers insight into the relationship of this culinary delight and our larger culture. It is a very interesting look at the development and growth of popcorn as an industry and the interesting people who made it happen.

Andrew Smith is a true scholar who lets us see the larger view of the little everyday pieces that make up the mosaic of our individual lives and national culture. My favorite of his fine culinary and cultural histories, it has a lively, comfortable style that is never dry and always making you eager to turn to read the next page for yet another taste.

Well worth the time of anyone who loves popcorn, American history and culture or just a very good book!

Expand your horizons and bring some excitement into your culinary life with popcorn recipes in salads, vegetables and omelets. Broaden your candy eating base with Smiths' "Popped Culture" suggestions. Andrew Smith writes well and illustrates how much popcorn is a part of our everday lives either watching movies in a theatre or at home on TV.Reading about the mania of TV popcorn in the 1950's or going back to its beginnings in the mid-19th Century is a study in American culture at its best.

As an avid popcorn fan, I must say this is an indispensable volume--the complete history of popcorn, with so many good recipes (some I've never even heard of!), etc. It takes some reading, but is highly enjoyable--the history told is similar to The Popcorn Book, with many, many details that are interesting to read.

Popcorn lovers--get this book!

If you think that popcorn has always been at the local multiplexes, think again. In Popped Culutre you will learn the history behind popcorn and its very history as that American of snack foods. When it arrived in the movie houses and how it all came to be. But not only do you get the complete history of popcorn, but you get some neat ways to make popcorn a fascinating snack.