But there was a time when this was banned.

但有一段時間，電影院裡卻是不能吃爆米花的。

Popcorn has been around for over 8,000 years.

爆米花其實已經有八千多年的歷史。

But when it hit American streets in the mid-1800s, it took off.

但卻一直要到 19 世紀中期，爆米花成為美國街頭小吃後才迅速竄紅。

It was cheap and could be mass produced on the go, not to mention it smelled amazing.

它不但很便宜、又可以隨時大量生產，更別說它那迷人的香氣。

It was the go-to snack at circuses, sporting events and fairs.

它絕對是去看馬戲團表演、運動比賽或參觀市集必備的小點心。

In fact the only place you wouldn't find popcorn was at the movies.

其實在那個年代，唯一找不到爆米花的地方就是電影院裡頭了。

You see, going to the movies used to be a major event.

你可以想見，看電影對當時的人們來說可是一件大事。

The only people that went were fancy rich folks because you had to be educated enough to read.

只有富有、時髦的人才會去看電影，因為要有一定的教育程度才能夠識字。

Fancy, like there was even a coat check.

時髦到連電影院還有衣帽間供客人使用。

But there was definitely no concession stand.

當時的電影院還沒有小賣部。

There was, however, popcorn street vendors who set up shop outside theaters.

但會有許多爆米花攤販在電影院院外擺攤。

They made a killing selling to waiting theater goers.

販賣爆米花給等待看電影的人讓這些攤販大賺一筆。

Theater goers that started smuggling their popped treats inside.

而看戲的人們也開始將爆米花偷渡進去電影院。

Not cool.

不行哦！

Early movie theaters kindly asked patrons check their popcorn before entering.

早期的電影院在顧客進去之前，都會友善地詢問他們有沒有偷帶爆米花。

Then, in 1927, films started adding sound, meaning everyone went to the movies.

到了 1927 年，有聲電影問世，這也代表人人都可以去電影院享受電影。

The Great Depression followed making movies a cheap escape.

緊接著的經濟大蕭條更讓電影成為了相對便宜的避難所。

Huge crowds plus crunch muffling sound equaled another revenue opportunity for theater owners.

絡繹不絕的人潮配上蓋過咀嚼聲的電影配樂，使爆米花成為電影院老闆的另一項收益機會。

By 1945, over half the popcorn consumed in America was being eaten at the movies.

到了 1945 年，美國有一半的爆米花銷量都是拜電影院所賜。

A marriage that has continued ever since.

而爆米花跟電影的這場美妙婚姻將會繼續下去。

To get ourselves a treat!

好好享受一番吧！