17 Comments

Such a lovely story. I especially enjoyed this since I finally broke down and purchased the Whirly Popper in stainless steel. A Rolls Royce when it comes to popping but worth every cent. Thank you for a pleasant read!

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Hi Julia - I'll investigate as to whether we can get royalties for promoting this popper lol!

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I loved your article. I always learn something from history buzz. However, I think that one of the crank poppers is actually a bread machine.

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Hi Paula,

Do you think it is the one on the left? It was identified online as a popcorn popper but now that you mention it, it doesn't have vent holes, or doesn't appear to.

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Fun to read, Martha, and so nice to see that you are still making use of your museum studies experience! PS -- thanks to you, I had popcorn last night :)

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Hi Cynthia! I always loved that Whirley Pop Popcorn Popper project. For the presentation I brought in popcorn and played circus music lol. Popcorn is the best warm and fuzzy on a cold winter night (or a rainy summer ish night). Hope all is well with you...

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There's more to come! It's a three-part series. Stay tuned!

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Great story Martha! We had Popcorn every Sunday night. Dinner was always after church so for Supper we had sandwiches and a bowl of popcorn while watching Disney and Bonanza. Mum used vegetable oil, covered with kernels in a covered pot on the stove, shaking it gently when it began to pop. Salt was the only garnish.

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Love that tradition! My best friend's father used to make the best popcorn with the same technique as your Mom. I use olive oil in my Whirley Pop.

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Always popcorn on Saturday night watching My Three Sons, while our hair was set in pin curls for church on Sunday morning. We cooked the popcorn the same way, but woe to the person who let the kernels burn. The burnt bits at the bottom of the pot were so hard to scrape off!

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Three girls watching My Three Sons - gotta love that. Is there a photo in the archive?

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Ha! I'd have to dig through the family archives to find that one!

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As a lifelong popcorn addict, I was absolutely fascinated! Who knew?!?

Superb post, Martha!!!

Tom

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Popcorn lovers unite!

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Amazing history of everyday popcorn. But chocolate? Well, maybe...

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No chocolate on my popcorn - olive oil and salt. But an occasional Moose Crunch is good too.

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Could be a good topic for future posts, Roland. It's a complicated history.

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