Going, Going, Gone......Again......Another Repeat ??????

After yesterdays blog about Jahn's, I began to get a little teary eyed about my youth, and most of the things I enjoyed that are now gone.  Gone forever and never to be duplicated, or able to show or really explain to our kids and future generations.  Sure, we can show pictures, tell a story, and even write a little about things like Jahn's or Horn & Hardart, but it's not the same.  They will never be able to appreciate first hand what we experienced.
     I guess I was very lucky.  Being born and raised  in New York, I was able to experience things that are unimaginable.  I am not saying there are other places one can grow up and do everything, but there is no other place like NYC where you can grow up and do everything.  (Those of you not from NY, calm down and give me a break).  I am going to ramble a little tonight and not be Cynical, Ridiculous, and/or Pathetic in my subject.  Automat's and Cafeteria's were a way of life in NY back in the day.  Horn & Hardart was the leader and the video tells a pretty accurate story about it.  I will never forget my parents taking my brother and me there and just having a blast.  We were really young and just being able to go to the slots and put in the nickels, dimes, and quarters to get your food was a big thing for a kid.  I remember the pies the best. I would walk up and down trying to decide which kind to get.  I think it was 10 cents back then, but I am not sure.

   The entire process of eating in the automat was a real treat for every kid.  People were dressed in shirts and ties, dresses, and it was like the elite going out for lunch or dinner. My brother loved it because he always had a vegetable plate.  I never understood how any kid would want to eat healthy like that ?  I bet some of you can even remember what you liked and how you even enjoyed putting the coins in the slots.

For those of you that have no idea what I am talking about , look at the picture and imagine putting coins in the slot next to what you wanted, turning the knob, opening the glass door, and taking out what you paid for.  Naturally the kitchen and everything was done behind this, and everything was spotless..... I guess that is not like the sanitary conditions of restaurants today.  These were pretty, glitzy places and there were lots of them.  Of course as I got older, H & H began closing a store at a time, and began having some retail take out places, as well as some items in super markets. But , like everything else, the real estate became too expensive and the demand decreased due to fast foods and who knows what else.
      There were other cafeterias in NY during this period.  Several in the garment center including Dubrows, and perhaps the most famous one being the Bellmore Cafeteria on Park Ave So.  That was the number one hangout for cab drivers when on break. ( again, this was when there were white, Jewish, taxi drivers who spoke English ).  In fact, the great movie Taxi Driver was filmed in part there.  That was New York in the 70's, overrun by crime, drugs, filth, and fun.

    









Hope you enjoyed this little trip down NY memory lane.  I know that I did.

PS:   Hope your not too hungry now ??????