But movie theaters that had started serving snacks seemed to persevere. The Great Depression saw fewer and fewer people with disposable income for entertainment, and many theaters went under in the 1930s. Best of all, the popcorn’s delicious aroma permeated movie theater lobbies-making for the perfect sales tool. Theater owners also allowed candy vendors to install machines in their lobbies.Įventually, managers got wiser and purchased popcorn machines of their own. The theater took a daily fee, and popcorn vendors were free to sell to ticket holders as well as passersby. It was easier for owners to make arrangements with popcorn street vendors, who were typically lingering outside and handing off bags of fresh popcorn to incoming attendees. While talkies may have relaxed attitudes about theater food, cinemas still weren’t equipped to dish out a variety of snacks. Movie theaters used to have vending machines for snacks.

Movie theater snacks were originally peddled by vendors. But when silent films gave way to “talkies” and a steady sound could help muffle chewing, many theaters began to ease restrictions. Worse, popcorn and other snacks would inevitably spill and ruin their ornate carpeted floors. Smacking and slurping was considered distasteful. Movie theater managers saw their operation much like live theater, with a slightly reverential atmosphere. The first movie theaters banned snacks.Īs some of the earliest films began to unspool across screens in the 1920s, cinema houses had a widespread policy: No food was allowed. (Ticket prices are shared with film studios.) Whether you’re among those anxious to return to the theater or choose to opt out for a bit longer, take a look at some interesting facts behind the concession business. Pricey movie theater concessions, after all, are responsible for roughly 40 percent of a cinema's profits. Box office numbers are growing, and it may not be long before attendees are enjoying summer blockbusters with a lap full of food. Due to pandemic prohibitions and the public's general hesitations about taking part in large indoor gatherings, multiplexes are no longer the entertainment hub they once were.īut as vaccination rates increase, so does optimism. Movie theaters have had a rough 12 months.

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