The Automat is Back!

[Rosie]

sort of. Not the Automat we all love but, close: http://www.nysun.com/article/38005

http://www.ny1.com/ny1/content/index.jsp?&aid=62102&search_result=1&stid=8

 

[Senator Jack]

But it ain't gonna look like this:

I grew up at the end of old New York, and how I miss it. In the late 60s/early 70s we'd take the train to Radio City to see a movie (yeah, a movie) and then we'd go over to the automat. I think this is how my love affair with vintage really started. I can still remember the dolphin spigots on the coffee urns, and the banks of windows just like in the picture. It's a shame my fellow Loungers will never be able to see it.

Regards,

Senator Jack

 

[FedoraGent]

Man oh man, those were soooooooo coool. I wish someone would bring them out here to San Francisco...just the way they were...

Jon

 

[ClassicIsBetter]

Pardon my ignorance, but I didn't know what an automat was until that article. I was thinking "you mean, a laundromat?" Those types of places don't fare well at all where I live (Atlanta) (if you don't include Starbucks.) That sounds really cool. I need to move to New York!

 

[Dalexs]

Well, this is one lounger who has had the pleasure.
Like yourself, my folks used to take us into the city all the time
(yes, movies at Radio city!) And the Automat was a favorite stop.
Can you image, little kids running around, magically getting pie from a hole in the wall!

Thanks for the pic and the memories!

Dalexs

But it ain't gonna look like this:

I grew up at the end of old New York, and how I miss it. In the late 60s/early 70s we'd take the train to Radio City to see a movie (yeah, a movie) and then we'd go over to the automat. I think this is how my love affair with vintage really started. I can still remember the dolphin spigots on the coffee urns, and the banks of windows just like in the picture. It's a shame my fellow Loungers will never be able to see it.

Regards,

Senator Jack

 

[CherryRed]

My Mom always told me stories about going the automat when I was little. It was hard to imagine what it was like, it just sounded like the coolest thing.

 

[Mr. Lucky]

Back in the late 80's I worked in a building at 42nd and 3rd (I think...it was the 80's for pete's sake!) that held the last Horn and Hard Hat Automat(purposeful bastardization). By that time it had become mostly a cafeteria, but, man, it still had all the original decor and trappings of its incarnation of yesteryear. What a wonderful place.

 

[Matthew Dalton]

With vending machines advancing and seemingly everything else becoming more and more impersonal, the Automat to me looks more like something that belongs in the future than the past.

Just the novelty of the system today makes me think anyone who built new ones would make a bundle.

 

[Michaelson]

There was one in Columbus, Ohio in the late 50's/early 60's. When we'd go visit my Grandfather in those days, he'd take us over and buy us a piece of pie. I was always fascinated how those things seemed to refill themselves.....a never ending supply of pie!!!

My young mind had NO concept there was a crowd of workers reloading the unit from the back when an item was taken.[huh] lol

Regards! Michaelson

 

[Feraud]

Back in the late 80's I worked in a building at 42nd and 3rd (I think...it was the 80's for pete's sake!) that held the last Horn and Hard Hat Automat(purposeful bastardization). By that time it had become mostly a cafeteria, but, man, it still had all the original decor and trappings of its incarnation of yesteryear. What a wonderful place.

When I mentioned this thread to my wife she said the same thing!

I believe there is a Gap store there now.

 

[Mr. Lucky]

When I mentioned this thread to my wife she said the same thing!

I believe there is a Gap store there now.

Dude, EVERYTHING is a Gap store now...

 

[Miss Neecerie]

Dude, EVERYTHING is a Gap store now...

No....because everything else is a Starbucks....


Denise....who points out that all restaurants are Taco Bell.

 

[flat-top]

With vending machines advancing and seemingly everything else becoming more and more impersonal, the Automat to me looks more like something that belongs in the future than the past.

Just the novelty of the system today makes me think anyone who built new ones would make a bundle.

Definitely an concept that's so old that it's new!

 

[Mr. Lucky]

No....because everything else is a Starbucks....


Denise....who points out that all restaurants are Taco Bell.

Hell, they should ALL merge, then we'd have STARGAPBELLTACOBUCKS!

 

[Feraud]

Hell, they should ALL merge, then we'd have STARGAPBELLTACOBUCKS!

Throw in a multiplex and I am there.

 

[J. M. Stovall]

I grew up at the end of old New York, and how I miss it. In the late 60s/early 70s we'd take the train to Radio City to see a movie (yeah, a movie) and then we'd go over to the automat. I think this is how my love affair with vintage really started. I can still remember the dolphin spigots on the coffee urns, and the banks of windows just like in the picture. It's a shame my fellow Loungers will never be able to see it.

Regards,

Senator Jack

I lived upstate in the 70's and we went to NYC to see plays and shop all the time. I remember seeing "Robin and Marion" at Radio City and then eating at some automat. I also remember being pretty scared when we had to go through Times Square back then.