|
This topic comprises 2 pages: 1 2
|
Author
|
Topic: Where to get bulk pre-popped popcorn
|
|
|
|
Richard C. Wolfe
Master Film Handler
![](/ubbmembers/431c.jpg)
Posts: 250
From: Northampton, PA, USA
Registered: Apr 2000
|
posted 11-15-2003 05:00 PM
Frank,
You can get prepop popcorn from GOLDEN SNAX POPCORN through either of the following. D & R Concession at 103 Godwin Avenue Midland Park, NJ Phone number 1 800 603-0380 and ask for Don, or at Continental Concession Supplies, Inc. 202 Atlantic Avenue, New Hyde Park, NY phone number 516 739-8777. I think that it is excellent popcorn.
When I had my twin theatre in the mall we popped our corn there fresh every show, while my downtown single screen used prepop.My patrons for the most part went to both theatres, and I could never understand why I was often told that the popcorn was better at the downtown location. We did not prepop for the downtown theatre at the mall. We purchased prepop from a supplier. We purchased the raw corn for the mall theatre from the same supplier. Sometimes when the downtown house was extremely busy and corn was running short we would have the mall theatre pop some for us and deliver it to us within the hour. It was never the same, the prepop was always preferred by my customers, even though they didn't know that it was prepop.
I think the problem with a lot of theatres that use prepop is that they leave the corn in the warmer overnight and it gets stale. We always start with fresh unopened bags, and it is fine.
I have since closed the mall location, but have kept the downtown single. The area could only support one or the other, and the old downtown house is much nicer then the mall house was. It is certainly unusual in this day and age to make the dicision in that direction, but my patrons much prefer it that way as well.
| IP: Logged
|
|
|
|
Frank Angel
Film God
![](http://www.film-tech.com/ubbmembers/248b.jpg)
Posts: 5305
From: Brooklyn NY USA
Registered: Dec 1999
|
posted 11-17-2003 06:30 AM
No doubt the smell's the thing. In a theatre that I worked in Brian-College Station, TX when I was Josh Jone's age, the owner was always showing me his "tricks of the trade," and once he showed me a spray can of what he called money magic. The manufacture called it Pop-A-roma, but I think Mr. Schulman's name was more accurate. One day he demonstrated how it worked to me. He went to the back of the theatre and sprayed the can in the air for only a few seconds, waving his arm around just like you do air freshener; within 10 minutes, no matter if it was in the middle of the movie, patrons would come pouring out looking to buy popcorn. I was quite impressed.
In another theatre, the manager placed a fan on one side of the popper so that it would blow the scent of the popping corn out into the lobby. That was pretty effective also.
I've been looking for Pop-A-roma for years, but can't find it anywhere. I suppose if it is no longer manufactured, someone with a little capital could make quite a killing with a product like that.
| IP: Logged
|
|
|
Jack Ondracek
Film God
![](http://www.film-tech.com/ubbmembers/1466.jpg)
Posts: 2348
From: Port Orchard, WA, USA
Registered: Oct 2002
|
posted 11-17-2003 11:35 PM
Years ago, we had a major concession supplier (Harlan Fairbanks Co.), which was located near the railroad tracks between Seattle and Ballard (North Seattle). I must have been around 11 or 12 when I first saw the place... and that was back when dirt wasn't old.
Harlan Fairbanks produced bulk pre-pop in 4 or 5 pound bags... several of them packed in large cardboard boxes. One of the theatres I grew up with used it (and still does). Some drive-ins in the Seattle area also did. They also produced specialty products... caramel and various other flavored corn, packaged in single-serve bags.
The popper they used was a huge gas-fired air popper that was housed in its own section of the warehouse. The output of this thing ran through a rotating cylinder of close-meshed wire, to filter out the small stuff. Then, the corn was sprayed with coconut oil, which was shipped on rail tankers & kept in heated underground tanks there (they also packed & sold the 40 pound "Vo-Pop" tins for the rest of us). Some seasoning was also included. Finally, the finished corn was conveyored into a big elevated container with a chute at the bottom. A worker would put the top of an empty popcorn bag under the chute & press a foot pedal.... which would drop a measured amount of popcorn into the bag. A twist-tie finished the process & the bag was packed into a cardboard box for shipping.
The company was moved, then sold, then picked apart by a company that was more interested in selling hot dogs to the King Dome than concessions to theatres. They sold their pre-pop through Costco for awhile, but I think that ended some years ago, when the company folded into their parent, PAC Concessions, which also eventually hit the skids up here. Harlan Fairbanks is back, but a shell of what it once was. The massive popper is no longer part of the company, either, though someone in the local area is still producing pre-pop for those who still need it.
| IP: Logged
|
|
Glenda Cockrum
Film Handler
![](http://www.film-tech.com/ubbmembers/542.jpg)
Posts: 58
From: Monaca, PA, USA
Registered: Jul 2000
|
posted 12-03-2003 12:59 PM
If you are still trying to convince him to pop in house, remark on how much space pre pop takes! That's a lot of cubic feet of popcorn! You also need a secure, clean, and humidity wise stable area to store pre pop. And how often can you get deliveries, every day, once a week, on demand? How quickly can they get product to you on short notice?
Suppliers, try your local ballpark/ stadium food suppliers. Here in Pittsburgh TriState Snack Foods is my raw corn supplier and they also bulk pop for all the local sports venues, excellent product, great people. And if he still insists on pre pop, don't get rid of the kettles, try popping 1-2 batches once you have loaded in the pre pop, and mix it in. This helps heat the pre pop up and spreads that wonderful aroma around. I pop at least one batch just before opening the doors each show, just watch the sales go up!
Good luck!
| IP: Logged
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
All times are Central (GMT -6:00)
|
This topic comprises 2 pages: 1 2
|
Powered by Infopop Corporation
UBB.classicTM
6.3.1.2
The Film-Tech Forums are designed for various members related to the cinema industry to express their opinions, viewpoints and testimonials on various products, services and events based upon speculation, personal knowledge and factual information through use, therefore all views represented here allow no liability upon the publishers of this web site and the owners of said views assume no liability for any ill will resulting from these postings. The posts made here are for educational as well as entertainment purposes and as such anyone viewing this portion of the website must accept these views as statements of the author of that opinion
and agrees to release the authors from any and all liability.
|