<P> During the Great Depression , popcorn was fairly inexpensive at 5 -- 10 cents a bag and became popular . Thus , while other businesses failed , the popcorn business thrived and became a source of income for many struggling farmers , including the Redenbacher family , namesake of the famous popcorn brand . During World War II , sugar rations diminished candy production , and Americans compensated by eating three times as much popcorn as they had before . The snack was popular at theaters , much to the initial displeasure of many of the theater owners , who thought it distracted from the films . Their minds eventually changed , however , and in 1938 a Midwestern theater owner named Glen W. Dickson installed popcorn machines in the lobbies of his theaters . The venture was a financial success , and the trend soon spread . </P>
who came up with popcorn at the movies
Glen W. Dickson