Candy + Movie = Perfect Date

Is there a better combination than movies and theatre popcorn? Yes. Movies, theatre popcorn, AND candy!

Matt and I went to see The King's Speech last night (amazing movie, it deserved every Oscar it got!!) It had been awhile since either of us had gone to a movie, so we were both feeling a little like kids in a candy store. We skipped out on supper so we could shovel more popcorn and candy into our bellies than necessary and got there a good 20 minutes early, which anyone who has been to the Vermillion theatres on a Monday knows is also not necessary. We went with the large popcorn, lots-o-butter, and sour patch kids, oh and the seven miniature Hershey chocolate bars I smugged in my purse...come on, you know you've done it too!

The popcorn was nearly gone before the previews ended, and I had strategically opened the Sour Patch Kids before the movie started as to avoid those loud crinkling noises we all hate.

A little history lesson for you: Until the 1930s, candy and popcorn were actually frowned upon in theatres because they wanted to keep the theatre a classy, garbage free place. People would still buy candy, popcorn & nuts from vendors on the street and sneak it in though, much like I did! When the Great Depression hit, theater owners finally realized the potential profit from snack sales and movie theatre concession stands were created. During WWII however, candy sales at theaters suffered because sugar was rationed during the war. Popcorn sales kept the concession stands alive and when the war was over and sugar was flowing freely, theatre candy sales skyrocketed into what they have become today.

Vermillion's Varieties

The candies sold have evolved just as the sales have, as manufacturers created "bite sized" everything in "Theater Size Boxes" for movie go-ers convenience. Some of the most popular:

• Milk Duds
• Junior Mints
• Sour Patch Kids
• Raisinets
• Dots
• Red Vines
• Check out this site for a brief history on these candies: www.neatorama.com 

As I said, it was a thoroughly enjoyable experience, minus the part where I dropped the candy box on the floor and lost a few "kids" to the sticky, questionable floor (I thought about researching how gross movie theatre floors are, then decided I didn't want to know). When else can you skip supper only to stuff yourself with as much sweet, salty, sugary goodness as possible, all cozy in the dark with a great companion where no one gives a second thought to cavities & calories? Great date!

My fallen Sour Patch "soldiers" :(