Abstract
Americans have fond and nostalgic memories of the Automat. And yet these romanticized views of the Automat–with idealized notions of futurism, efficiency, egalitarianism, and convenience–ignore the problems the Automat often created for many of its workers during its height of popularity. Popular recollections often include individuals gazing with awe upon the ordered, uniform squares lining the walls, filled with pre-prepared meals. However, remembrances of the Automat’s anti-labor policies and racially restrictive practices have disappeared from our popular memory. This paper explores the Horn & Hardart Automat and its anti-union practices through the 1940s as a way to understand concepts that still plague our relationship with food and food service today, including the exploitation of food service workers, the invisibility of kitchen staff, and misperceptions of so-called unskilled labor.
Presenters
Adam ShprintzenAssociate Professor of History, Social Sciences, Marywood University, Pennsylvania, United States
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
KEYWORDS
Automat, Labor, Food Service, Strike, Workers
