steve-rogers-new-york:Automats: Social Significance The reason automats have lived on so well in col

steve-rogers-new-york:Automats: Social Significance The reason automats have lived on so well in collective memory is that is was a place of social significance within the landscape of 1920-1950s (and later) New York City. What it provided to New Yorkers, especially during the Great Depression went beyond just the food itself.Low-CostThe initial draw of the automat from the 1920s, and especially into the 1930s, was flexibility of choice and the low cost option. With the introduction of Prohibition in the 1920s, the saloons that provided free lunches to customers were wiped out, and the working-class were forced to find new cost-effective places to eat — which they found in the automat. In the 1930s money became tight for many people of varying social positions, and the automat became even more relevant. Up until the 1950s almost all the food options cost only a nickel or a dime, and more expensive items could be purchased for up to 75c using tokens. Furthermore, as there was not waitstaff, there was not additional cost from tipping. The presentation of the food meant that customers could see through the glass-fronts of the compartments to what they were buying before they committed. This could be particularly useful when dining with children, who could choose a meal themselves of foods they liked — also the mechanics of the coin-operated doors were often a huge hit.Coffee was one of the largest staples of automat dining. The coffee was freshly brewed every 20 minutes and by far a superior brew to other types of American coffee offered at the time. Most importantly, between 1912-1950 it cost only a nickel a cup. Composer Irving Berlin famously wrote the song “Let’s Have Another Cup of Coffee” about the brew, which became the theme song for the H&H brand.For those at the lowest end of the financial scale, automats could provide creative free dining. Those with nothing to spend of lunch would whip up a barebones “soup” of the free hot water, table ketchup and Worcestershire sauce; or a lemonade of sugar, lemon slices, and ice water. Others would also scavenge leftovers from other diners before the table could be cleared.Social RoleSocial integration was the second point of significance for the automat. As the Brownstoner put it, “It was most democratic, stock brokers could be sitting at a table next to stock boys, it was urban equality at its best.” The diners attracted all manner of clientele from across the social strata. Many people where having to watch their pennies during the Depression, so the prices found in automats suited many on a range of budgets. Customers could dine in elegance in the beautifully designed and decorated interiors, while spending only nickels. These was no designated seating, so the automat provided a great social equaliser within its doors — everyone one stood on a equal footing as a customer. Investment bankers and factory workers might find themselves at the same table, next to a pauper and a writer. Adding to this, as there was no cash register to publicly reveal the cost of a customer’s meal, the dining style offered thrifty diners with degree of desecration regarding their financial position. The H&H automats were highly lenient to those dining in their restaurants. Managers were extreme tolerant of society’s outliers, and would not drive-away those who loitered at tables, or folks who bought no food. From the early day of the franchise, automats became havens for those in the gay and lesbian communities, seen as a safe commercial location to gather, due to their openness. Likewise, Black citizens could dine, for the most part, without discrimination. Additionally, thanks to the limited person-to-person interactions, patrons did not need to be able to speak English, a boon for immigrants and overseas tourists. Some would argue that this criss-cross of society added to the experience, showing the “real” New York.For workers in New York, the speed of service found at automats was a godsend. Workers in the fast-paced city were given less and less time on their lunch breaks, meaning they could not go home for lunch. So having a reliable and often accessible (with more than 50 branches in the city) destination for these breaks made the automats highly popular.In Popular CultureLike many companies during this period, H&H automats sponsored a radio program on NBC Radio in New York during the 1940s and 1950s. The Horn and Hardart Children’s Hour was a variety show featuring a cast of children.Automats featured in the paintings of Edward Hopper, including one of his best know, Nighhawkes.There is a fantastic scene for the 1937s film ‘Easy Living’ that gives a great representation of not only the interior and workings of the automat, but also the customers and table-sharing. I highly recommend seeing it.The 1925 silent film ‘The Beautiful City’ also featured an automat.The restaurant L&L that features in the first season of Agent Carter is based off of the H&H automat chain. It is used numerous times as a key plot location within the season.Other Posts in this SetAutomats: History — Inspiration and Golden AgeAutomats: History — DeclineAutomats: FoodAutomats: New York PredecessorAutomats: Interior Design and FunctionalityAutomats: Interior [Images]Automats: Retail and “Day-Old” ShopsAutomats: Exterior [Images]Automats: Brooklyn BranchesAutomats: Urban LegendsAutomats: 1930s Staff StrikesRelated Posts: Ask: AutomatsImage Source: Horn & Hardart Retail Store, c.1958.References -- source link

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