The joy of having a blog is I get to write about whatever I want. In addition, I've never limited myself in topic to the law or even California, so I really have free range, perhaps to the consternation of my readers. Today, you lucky readers, you get the Automat.
My children were born the same year the last Horn & Hardart Automat closed so they have no experience with an Automat. However, I was surprised that the Calblog husband had only a vague idea of what an Automat is. I wonder if soemone who is turning 36 today would know what it was.
First, the links. The Smithsonian magazine has an ode to the Automat. Early pictures of the founders and the restaurant here. An advertisement for the Automat is here. Finally, the picture of the Automat which matches the visual image in my is mind is here.
The Automat was fast food before we had McDonalds. The big Automat in New York City was near Radio City Music Hall and it only added to the excitement of a trip to Radio City to stop at the Automat for lunch. All the food in the Autmat was divided into single serving portions in the largest vending machine there was. An entire wall was divided into square shelves behind individual clear doors with knobs and a coin slot that took nickels. Some foods cost one nickel and, in those high priced sixties, some foods cost several nickels.
The Smithsonian article said that hot food was served from a buffet. My memory, though, is of the dessert section with cheesecake being dispensed out of the world's bigest candy machine. It was a kid's dream during an era when Sammy Davis sang Candyman and we dreamed of a place where you "can even eat the dishes."
I miss the Automat.
Posted by Justene Adamec at June 29, 2003 10:28 AM | TrackBackCan't say that I can remember the Automat; I can barely remember the eight track!
;-)
Posted by: Molly at June 29, 2003 10:01 PM (Permalink)I think I might have eaten at one of those places in Prague back in the late 1980s. It never occurred to me that any of them had existed here in my lifetime.
Posted by: Xrlq at June 30, 2003 04:26 PM (Permalink)These great pictures really bring back memories. As a small boy in the early 40's, my folks used to take me to the Automat in NY fairly often. I remember the amazement of getting food out of those little windows. My favorite was the Beef Pot Pie although my Mother always said there wasn't much in them. I remember getting the coffee out of the ornate spouts.
Good job.