Today in 1986, a newspaper column helped to turn a local snack favorite in Chicago into a signature of the city.
This column was from Gene Siskel, a film critic for the Chicago Tribune who was the Siskel half of the famous film reviewing duo Siskel and Ebert.
As you might guess from someone who spent a lot of time in movie theaters, Siskel took his popcorn pretty seriously.
In fact, his column that day was a list of pro tips on how to have the best possible popcorn on hand when you head to the movies.
The discerning theater popcorn eater, he wrote, shouldn’t order any bag sitting out on the counter; Siskel said to get a fresh one.
And, he added, people should ask for butter in the middle of the bag, not just on top.
But Siskel’s number one tip was to not get the theater popcorn at all if you can avoid it.
Instead, he suggested bringing popcorn in from outside, smuggled if necessary.
Popcorn from home, he said, would be better than the stuff at the concession stand.
But there was another popcorn pick that was his absolute favorite.
“I recommend buying popcorn at one of the Garrett’s Popcorn Shops,” Siskel wrote. “Order a half-and-half mixture of caramel and cheese. You get a sweet-and-sour effect that’s fabulous. It’s not cheap, but the quality is very high.”
Garrett’s Popcorn had been a hit in Chicago for decades, but Siskel helped spread the word about their famous cheese and caramel mix.
So did other celebrities with Chicago connections, like Oprah Winfrey and Conan O’Brien; all of that attention helped the company expand beyond the Windy City.
It’s now known as an icon of Chicago food, a snack you don’t want to pass up… especially if you’re on your way in to see a movie.
If you like holiday displays, there’s a pretty unusual one in Hatfield, Pennsylvania.
The Farrell family made a plywood moose in the 2000s for their yard, and after they decorated it with Christmas lights it became a neighborhood sensation.
Now there’s a whole moose family in the yard – the original moose, named Nacho, as well as little ones Salsa and Churro.
Yes, sometimes in December they wear Santa hats.
Chicago’s love affair with popcorn goes back 150 years, from Cracker Jack to Garrett Mix (Chicago Tribune)
Hatfield Landmark ‘Nacho the Wooden Moose’ Welcomes New Calf ‘Salsa’ to East Orvilla Road Front Yard (NorthPennNow.com)