The History of The Popcorn Stand

 A history of popcorn vending in Iowa Falls and the little  stand that became a community landmark.

For well over a century, popcorn has been part of life in Iowa Falls. Long before today's familiar Popcorn Stand became a landmark at Estes Park, popcorn vendors operated from street corners, storefronts, wagons and small stands throughout the community. The story of today's stand is intertwined with that larger history—and with generations of Iowa Falls families who have kept the tradition alive. 

 The late 1800s were an important time in the history of popcorn. Charles Cretors developed a steam-powered popcorn machine in the 1890s, helping transform popcorn into a food that could easily be prepared and sold by street vendors.

By the turn of the century, popcorn carts equipped with popping machines were becoming a familiar sight across America. Iowa Falls was part of this growing tradition. 

 February 25, 1892 One of the earliest known references to a popcorn stand in Iowa Falls appeared in 1892: A popcorn stand at the corner of Washington Avenue and Main Street passed into the hands of the Soper family. William H. Soper, associated with this early stand, later died in Eldora in 1947. 

 April 1927 — Ira Mackey In April 1927, Ira Mackey purchased equipment and opened the National Peerless Popcorn Bungalow next to the Ellsworth building on Washington Avenue. His was one of several popcorn businesses that would operate in Iowa Falls during this era. 

 Meanwhile, Ira Mackey continued operating his own popcorn business. In May 1931, newspapers reported that Mackey was having his popcorn stand repainted in preparation for the summer season at the corner of Oak Street and Washington Avenue. 

 April 1933- M. E. Whitcomb opened a popcorn stand on Stevens Street, just east of Aborn's Drug Store near the corner of Washington and Stevens.

October 1933- Ira Mackey's stand made the news for a much less pleasant reason. Two eight-year-old boys broke into his stand at Oak Street and Washington Avenue. They broke a rear window with a stone, reached inside and unlatched the door. The boys reportedly took 30 cents in pennies along with candy and chewing gum and destroyed popcorn. Total damages were estimated at $4.50. 

 The history of The Popcorn Stand in Iowa Falls would not be complete without telling the story of Louis S. “Louie” Knudson, whose name can also be found spelled Knutson in historical records.  Louie wasn't simply the owner of a popcorn stand. For decades, he was known throughout Iowa Falls as “The Popcorn Man.”

His popcorn wagons, his travels to celebrations across Iowa, his generosity during World War II, and eventually Louie’s Korn Krib helped create a tradition that has survived for generations. 

1919 — Louie Enters the Popcorn Business.  A newspaper profile of Louie tells us that his popcorn career actually began in 1919. He started with two popcorn wagons and sometimes left them in the care of reliable helpers while he traveled to celebrations throughout Iowa. During their busiest years, Louie and his wife, Ethel, attended dozens of celebrations around the state selling popcorn. This is an important part of the story because Louie's association with popcorn began long before the familiar metal stand appeared in 1948. 

1929 — Ethel Encourages Louie to Build a Popcorn Stand By 1929, Louie's popcorn business was entering another chapter. Historical information we previously uncovered tells us that Ethel Hopkins Knudson persuaded Louie to build a popcorn stand. 

The Metropolitan Theatre and a Popcorn Controversy -One of the most colorful pieces of Louie's history has been preserved through his family. According to Mike Cleavenger, grandson of Louie and Ethel Knudson, one of Louie's early popcorn locations was near the Metropolitan Theatre. Louie's popcorn apparently became a little too popular. Mike confirmed that the theater did not appreciate having Louie's popcorn business competing with its own concessions. The competition eventually resulted in Louie having to move his stand. It was not a decision that everyone quietly accepted. According to Mike, his grandmother Ethel was quite upset about the situation. While the details of the disagreement have been preserved through Knudson family history rather than a newspaper account we have located so far, the story offers a wonderful glimpse into just how established Louie's popcorn business had become in downtown Iowa Falls. 

The timing of Louie's new venture turned out to be significant. The Great Depression began in 1929. While many Americans had little money for luxuries, popcorn remained an inexpensive treat. A bag could be purchased for only a few cents. Across the country, popcorn businesses actually flourished during this difficult period because popcorn was affordable to produce and affordable to buy. The same inexpensive treat became part of summer evenings in Iowa Falls.  

 One of the wonderful stories connected to Louie's stand comes from Iowa Falls' own Bill Riley.   

That wonderful account helps show that the Popcorn Stand wasn't simply a place to purchase popcorn. It was already becoming part of the social life surrounding Estes Park. 

 1933 — Washington Avenue & Stevens Street By 1933, records place Louie's popcorn operation at another downtown location. That year, Louis Knudson sought permission to operate his popcorn stand at the southeast corner of Washington Avenue and Stevens Street. The stand remained associated with the Washington and Stevens location for years. 

Ethel Knudson died in 1941, the same year the United States entered World War II. Louie's Korn Krib continued operating and became particularly busy during the war years. Louie and Ethel's children, Joan and Jack, helped their father operate the family business. Popcorn itself became increasingly popular during World War II. Sugar rationing reduced the availability of candy, while popcorn required no rationed sugar in its basic form. Americans consequently turned to popcorn as an inexpensive snack.

Perhaps the most touching chapter in Louie's history isn't about a location at all. It's about what Louie did with his popcorn profits during World War II. This remarkable piece of family history was shared by Louie and Ethel's grandson, Mike Cleavenger. 

During the war, Louie used the profits from his popcorn business to send popcorn to American GIs serving overseas. The little popcorn business in Iowa Falls had become part of the war effort. But Louie did something else that would turn his generosity into a deeply personal connection with the servicemen receiving his popcorn. He included his name and Iowa Falls address with the popcorn he sent. 

And the GIs began writing back. Letters arrived from servicemen far away from Iowa Falls—young men serving their country who had received a little taste of home because of Louie. Those letters meant the world to him.

According to Mike, Louie kept the letters beside his chair in the living room. At night, he would sit in his chair and read them. He treasured those letters. It's difficult to imagine a more meaningful piece of The Popcorn Stand's history. Every bag represented more than popcorn. It was a reminder to a serviceman thousands of miles from home that someone back in Iowa was thinking about him. 

And for Louie, every letter that came back was something worth saving and reading again. 

The Popcorn Stand wasn't simply operating during World War II—it was participating in the war effort. 

 In May 1943, Louie's popcorn stand at Stevens and Washington caught fire. A clerk had briefly stepped away and accidentally left a switch on. The butter became too hot and burst into flames. People inside nearby Aborn's Drug Store spotted the fire and called the fire department. Water from a hand pump was used to extinguish the blaze. The interior and windows of the stand suffered damage, but the business survived. 

 1946 — 110,000 Bags of Popcorn 

After the war, Louie's popularity showed no signs of slowing down. A newspaper profile reported that in 1946 alone, Louie sold an astonishing 110,000 bags of popcorn. The same account described Louie as someone was loved by both young people and adults in Iowa Falls. By then, generations of people had grown accustomed to seeing Louie and buying his popcorn. He had become part of Iowa Falls. 

This is one of the most important dates in the history of today's Popcorn Stand. Louie's Korn Krib installed a brand-new, modern popcorn stand. The metal-clad stand had been manufactured by Manley, Inc. in Kansas City and made its way to Iowa Falls by train. 

It featured bright electric lighting and twin popping machines. This is the year that would forever connect Louie's name with the little metal popcorn stand people recognize today. The metal Korn Krib represented the next generation of a business that had evolved from popcorn wagons and earlier downtown stands. 

The Korn Krib wouldn't remain in the same place forever. On May 1, 1953, street widening required the popcorn stand to be relocated. The stand was moved to: 324 Main Street This location was just south of Estes Street and east of the post office. Once again, the little popcorn stand adapted and survived. 

 1957 — Louie Says Goodbye to the Business 

After decades as Iowa Falls' beloved Popcorn Man, Louie's time behind the business eventually came to an end. Louie may have stepped away from the business, but the tradition he and Ethel had helped build continued. 

Louie and Ethel couldn't have known that generations later, people would still be buying popcorn from the little business they helped create. They couldn't have known that the stand would survive moves, changing owners, changing  streetscapes and more than three-quarters of a century. But it did. And the story of Louie’s Korn Krib lives on.

Preserving the Knudson Family History. A very special thank-you belongs to Mike Cleavenger, grandson of Louie and Ethel Knutson, for sharing his family's memories and helping preserve pieces of this story that may never have been recorded in a newspaper. Mike's recollections preserve the story of the Metropolitan Theatre dispute, his grandmother Ethel's reaction to having to move the stand, Louie's extraordinary contribution to the World War II effort, the popcorn sent to American GIs, and the treasured letters Louie kept beside his chair and read at night. Also Michele Skanes, grandaughter of Louie and Ethel Knutson and Casey Cleavenger, son in law of the Knutson's. Their visits to the stand and memories shared are priceless.

These family memories add something dates and newspaper clippings alone cannot provide: They tell us who Louie was. And they help ensure that the story behind one of Iowa Falls' most beloved traditions will not be forgotten. 

 1957 — Louie Sells the Business

In April 1957, after operating the popcorn business with his wife and children for nearly three decades, Louie Knudson sold the business to Darwin Dougan. Louie's chapter as owner had ended, but the little stand continued.

Ethel Knutson passed in 1940 and Louie Knutson passed in 1959