The company assures that nearly all the major movie chains use it, furthermore claiming that more popcorn is popped with Flavacol than any other seasoning salt worldwide - that is, the entire known popcorn-popping universe. Heather Gims, senior communication specialist there, says Flavacol's been around since the 1960s (hence the packaging aesthetic). It comes in a charmingly vintage-design quart-sized milk carton (unless you want to order, say, a 45-pound pail) from Gold Medal Products Co., out of Cincinnati (slogan: 'Snacks, Smiles & Success!').

This violently orange powder - it is the exact color of Kraft Macaroni & Cheese dust - is made of salt, artificial flavor, two shades of FD&C Yellow and magic. Really, all credit here is due to the miracle of modern(ish) food science, specifically the proprietary process that brings us all Flavacol. Prior to the coronavirus pandemic, I went to the movies a lot, often alone, and I'd see pretty much anything, because the golden-salty greatness that is movie theater popcorn makes seeing almost anything worthwhile.

Movie theater butter