In 1932 or 1933, a friend of my Dad gave a commercial popcorn stand to my older brothers Jim and Jack, with me included. It stood about 4 feet high, with a kerosene burner, a glass enclosure for the storage of popcorn, 2 bicycle wheels, and a large round bottom pot with a crank handle for agitation during the cooking procedure.

Before school was out, we made arrangements for the purchases of popcorn, cooking oil, kerosene, butter, salt, and paper sacks for the finished product. We also arranged with the owner of Reppert's Drug to place our portable stand on the sidewalk outside the store at 35th and Ingersoll. This was only 2 and 1/2 blocks from our house, so it was no problem wheeling the unit back and forth.

We prided ourselves on the quality of our product, and it wasn't long until the word spread; we had people coming from all over Des Moines to buy our popcorn. My brothers and I would run it alone during the less busy hours, and team up when business really percolated.

At peak, cars would line up for half a block waiting their turn to pull up to the curb for the purchase of this delicious popcorn, and small wonder. We would give them a large quart size bag of light, tender popcorn seasoned to their liking, with all the PURE butter they wanted -- get this -- for 5 cents.

Vinci Beauchamp was 9 or 10 years old then, and remembers her mother and stepfather driving to our corner off and on for our famous popcorn. Her stepfather had purchased his car from Dad, and learned about our little entrepreneurship. For my wife to remember such minor events after all those years makes me feel good about our business venture.

I was 10 or 11 years old that summer, and fondly remember making $10 each week after things got rolling for us. This was at the height of the depression, when perhaps some adults working full time weren't making that much. We ran the business for another summer or two, but for the life of me I can't remember why we quit or what happened to that money-making, portable cart. It's probably in an antique shop somewhere.