The Automat (2021) Starring Mel Brooks, Ruth Bader
Ginsburg, Elliott Gould, Colin Powell, Carl Reiner, Howard Schultz. Directed by
Lisa Hurwitz. Written by Michael Levine.
Produced by Lisa Hurwitz. USA Run Time:
79 minutes. Color. Documentary.
In 1902, Joseph Horn and Frank Hardart founded the first
automat in the United States in Philadelphia. An automat, for those who might
not know, are fast food restaurants wherein food and drink were served via
vending machines. Inspired by Max Sielaff's AUTOMAT Restaurants in Berlin, Horn
and Hardart would open their first in Philadelphia before opening one in New
York City in 1912. At their height there would be in excess of 100 restaurants,
as well as a popular chain of retail outlets.
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| Footage, not from the film, showing life at the Automat. |
