When was cheddar cheese popcorn invented?

Cheddar cheese popcorn was popularized in the 1970s, particularly with the rise of gourmet popcorn brands. However, popcorn coated with cheese flavors has been enjoyed in various forms for much longer, with cheese-flavored snacks dating back to the early 20th century. The specific invention of cheddar cheese popcorn as we know it today isn't pinpointed to a single date or creator but evolved over time as popcorn and cheese flavors became more widely embraced.