"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," the Popcorn.org says.

"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 business. 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."

"Charles Cretors was a candy-store owner born in Ohio in 1852. Unknowingly, he would take a great step in defining American culture when he bought a peanut roaster, hoping to offer freshly roasted nuts at his shop. Funnily enough, it all began when he became aggravated at the machine's performance. Deeming it inadequate, the frustrated Cretors began to tinker with the peanut roster, creating a new machine that would combine simplicity, utility, durability, and elegance. Within a few years, from that single peanut roaster, Cretors had designed an entirely new contraption—one that popped kernels and roasted peanuts as well." the Cretors.com says.

"This new machine was powered by a small steam engine and distributed heat evenly so that a maximum amount of popcorn would be produced. Additionally, it was the first device that could pop popcorn uniformly in its own seasoning, making the delicious product the same each time and perfect for mass distribution.

"The machines were quickly designed with the idea of moving it about to any location where people could do the most business, which was a great advantage over all other machines. In 1893, Cretors brought the machine to Chicago's Columbian Exposition. After giving away the tasty snack for free, people realized how delicious it was. It was an instant success, with people waiting in long, winding lines in order to purchase a bag. The popcorn craze had officially begun. Chicago would soon become the home of Cretors' popcorn-selling endeavor."

"Popcorn machines have been around for more than 4 000 years and have evolved considerably since. These machines now use electricity to heat oil or air to heat large batches of corn kernels at a time. You can even make popcorn in the microwave or over an open fire in convenient packages. The earliest machines, however, look nothing like they do now," the Street Directory says.

"When an ancient culture in New Mexico discovered that a certain type of corn would 'pop' when it was heated, they immediate designed the world's earliest version of the popcorn machine. They would heat fine sand in the fire and add the kernels into the sand to make them pop. Other cultures of the time made a game of popping popcorn. They would heat stones on the fire as hot as they could and pour the seeds onto it. The people of the village would then gather around the stones and catch the grains as they popped and flew into the air.

"Eventually, primitive popcorn poppers became more popular and the snack quickly became an important part of several cultures. Many 4th century Mexican cultures would include popcorn kernels inside their funeral urns as an offering to the spirits in order to secure a safe passage to the next life. Native American tribes that appeared years later believed that spirits lived inside the kernels. The natives thought that the kernels popped when the extreme heat would anger the spirits."

"In 1885, Charles Cretors designed and created the first of a long line of popcorn machines in Chicago, Illinois. Mr. Cretors owned a sweet shop and had purchase a peanut roasting machine that didn't work as well as it should have. He soon altered the machine and began selling his products in and around the area via traveling salesmen as well as through his store. Eight years later, he attended the Chicago Columbian Exposition with his new machine and history was born," the Street Directory says.

"Popcorn machines experienced widespread growth during the 1900s. Following his success at the Exposition in 1893, Charles Cretors mounted his corn popper onto a carriage creating the world's first mobile popcorn cart and made the world's first electric version a short time later. When it came to the actual selling of the machines, Fred Hoke and James Holcomb of Holcomb & Hoke Co beat Mr. Cretors to the punch in 1914. With prices ranging between $400 and $1300, these machines sold like hotcakes until the Great Depression caused the company to cease operations in 1934."

"Charles Cretors  traveled the Midwest, settling in Fort Scott, Kansas, and then Decatur, Illinois. He worked in the painting and contracting business and later opened a bakery and eventually a confectionery shop. To broaden his offerings in the confectionery store, he bought a peanut roaster, which he redesigned to improve its operation. Driven by a small steam engine, it was the first automated peanut roaster. In 1885, he moved his family to Chicago to focus on selling his machine.

"To test his peanut roaster and earn money, Cretors purchased a vendor's license and placed the machine on the sidewalk in front of his shop. The date on the license, December 2, 1885, marks the inception of C. Cretors & Company. A traveling salesman, J.M. Savage, offered to sell the machine in his territory, and became Cretors' first salesman. Cretors' machines, being automated, made operation more predictable; in addition, the novelty of the steam engine and the Tosty Rosty Man, a small mechanical clown that acted as a merchandiser, made the machines themselves attractive.

"By 1893, Cretors had created a steam-powered machine that could roast 12 pounds of peanuts and 20 pounds of coffee, pop corn, and bake chestnuts. Since popcorn was becoming a popular choice for snack food, Cretors redesigned his machine to roast peanuts and pop popcorn at the same time. It was the first automated machine that could pop popcorn uniformly in its own seasonings, guaranteeing a predictable product. Cretors applied for a patent on his automated peanut roaster and popcorn popper machine on August 10, 1891, and U.S. Patent 506,207 was granted on October 10, 1893.

"Cretors took his new popcorn wagon and peanut roaster to the midway of Chicago's Columbian Exposition in 1893 and introduced the new corn product to the public in a newly designed machine that included a popcorn wagon."  (Wikipedia)

"Charles Cretors invented the first commercial popcorn machine in 1885. Charles Cretors redesigned a peanut roaster machine after he purchased it for his confectionery shop in Decatur, Illinois but was deeply unsatisfied with how it functioned. After redesigning the peanut roaster machine for better function, he realized he was able to use it to pop popcorn. His invention marks the very first popcorn machine could pop popcorn uniformly in seasoning. Cretors moved to Chicago to sell popcorn and show off his new popcorn machine invention. When he purchased his first vendors' license to legally sell the popcorn outside of his shop on December 2nd, 1885, his company, C. Cretors & Company was born and the world of popcorn was forever changed.

"His popcorn machine was run by a little steam engine, which promoted the popcorn popping process, and by 1893, he had created a popcorn machine could pop popcorn in oil. His invention was patented same year. Cretors took his popcorn machine to Chicago’s Columbian Exposition, which is now known as the World’s Fair: Columbian Exposition and introduced it to the public. He offered free samples of his hot buttered popcorn and by the time he left, people were lining up to purchase his popcorn. A traveling salesman named J. M. Savage tried Cretors product and offered to sell the steam-powered popcorn machine in his territory. Thrilled by this deal, Cretors agreed and Cretors hired his first salesman," the America's Favorite Popcorn says.

"By 1900, Cretors invented the Special, a popcorn machine wagon drawn by horses and it became a huge success. From the success of the Special, several different versions of it were created, including one wrapped in walnut wood. As electricity was becoming more available, Cretors was the creator of the very first popcorn machine with an electrical motor. Electrical popcorn machines became more popular than their steam-powered parent and as movie attendance in the 1920s grew, so did the demand for Cretors popcorn machine. In 1988, the United States Postal Service issued a postage stamp featuring a picture of Cretors’ 1902 version of the first popcorn machine wagon as a tribute to America's first snack.

"Today, the inventor of the popcorn machine’s delicious legacy lives on and his company, C. Cretors & Company in Wood Dale Illinois is still owned by the Cretors family. C. Cretors & Company still holds the oldest active Underwriters Laboratories number for operating electrical machinery and the company has been featured on the popular show “Made in America”. They also hold a place in the Guinness World Records for the largest popcorn machine ever made. The inventor of the popcorn machine, Charles Cretors created the machine that makes it possible for us to all enjoy our favorite American snack."

"While in Decatur, IL, Charles Cretors purchases a peanut roaster made in Oskaloosa, IA. Dissatisfied with his peanut roaster, he sells everything and moves to Chicago to build a better machine which includes a steam engine to drive it. He draws attention to both the roaster and product with a small mechanical clown figurine, Tosty Rosty, that turns a tumbler filled with peanuts," the  Cretors.com says.

"Charles purchases a peddler’s license on December 2, 1885 and C. Cretors and Company is born. Charles brings his new invention to the Columbian Exposition and introduces popcorn to the world. Up until now, corn is dry popped in a basket over a fire. Butter is poured over the popcorn to season it, but it is not distributed evenly. Charles' invention is the process of popping the corn in the "seasoning" which seasons and coats every kernel alike. The steam engine provides power to run the agitator blades in the bottom of the popping kettle to stir the popcorn while it cooks.

"A Cretors Model #1 wagon is sold to Netherland Gist and Spiritus Fabriek for $400 and becomes the first Cretors wagon to be exported to Delft, Holland. It is still owned and on display at the sucessor company, Unilever."

"The word “popcorn” first appeared in Bartlett’s Dictionary of Americanisms in 1838. The invention of the wire corn popper helped bring popcorn to households because it was the most convenient popper to date," the Grand Rapids Popcorn says. 



"Popcorn was first produced commercially across the United States in the 1840’s. Cracker Jack, made with peanuts, popcorn, and molasses, was invented by two German immigrants in the 1870’s. The first reference to popcorn in seed trade catalogs and farm papers was around 1880. 

"Charles Cretors, a candy store owner, invented the first mobile popcorn machine powered by steam, which he showed off in 1893 at the World’s Exposition. Poets begin to write poems about popcorn. Scientists began to study popcorn and question why it pops. At the end of the century, popcorn was slowly becoming ingrained in our culture."

World's Largest Popcorn Ball: world record in Sac City, Iowa

World's Largest Gourmet Popcorn Store: world record in Gary, Indiana

World's Largest Rotating Ear Of Corn: world record in Coon Rapids, Iowa

World's Largest Corn Stalk Sculpture: world record in Shelby, Iowa

World’s Largest Free Span Grain Bin: world record in Mason City, Iowa

World's Largest Field Of Corn Cobs Sculptures: world record in Dublin, Ohio