The History of Corn Dogs

The origins of the corn dog are surprisingly murky, but can be traced to the 1940s. There are three main claims: Pronto Pup Co., a Portland, Oregon-based concession supplier, claims to have made the first corn dogs when founders George and Vera Boyington battered, skewered, and deep-fried hot dogs after their buns were ruined by the rain at a 1939 Labor Day event. Then in 1941, they began selling what they called Pronto Pups at their fountain shop. Neil and Carl Fletcher of Fletcher's Original Corny Dogs also claim to have invented the first corn dog. They were inspired by a Texas local who baked cornmeal-covered hot dogs. Neil and Carl wanted to speed up the process, so they put the battered hot dogs on a stick and cooked them in the deep fryer. They first sold their Corny Dogs at the State Fair of Texas in 1942 and the company’s food trucks still serve corn dogs at similar events today. The Cozy Dog Drive-In on Route 66 in Springfield, Illinois also claims to have created the corn dog — or what they refer to as the "original hot dog on a stick.” Co-founder Ed Waldmire had reportedly tried a baked corn dog sandwich in Muskogee, Oklahoma and then told friend Don Strand about it in the fall of 1941. The two then decided to create a new food and Strand's father, who was a baker, helped to create a batter, but the men didn’t officially launch Cozy Dogs until 1946. In addition to these three claims, a much earlier patent was issued to Stanley S. Jenkins of Buffalo, New York for a method of deep-frying foods, including sausages, in 1929. While Jenkins is sometimes credited as the inventor of the corn dog, it is believed that he never actually got to the implementation phase. What we do know is that starting in the 1940s, corn dogs began to show up at festivals, fairs, and carnivals across America — and they’re still served at these events today. Other cultures also have their own versions of the corn dog and some may be even older than the American take on battered and fried meat. One popular example is the panchuker, which is a battered and fried sausage on a stick that’s popular in Argentina and other South American countries like Uruguay. Australia also has a version of a corn dog, which is known as a Dagwood Dog, Pluto Pup, or Dippy Dog. Corn dogs also became wildly popular in South Korea beginning in 1980s and the country is now known for its many creative versions of the snack food. And of course, American-style corn dogs are still a beloved offering at fairs and carnivals all over the United States today.