The American Diner (Motorbooks Classics) - Softcover

Michael Karl Witzel

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0760324344 ISBN 13: 9780760324349

Publisher: Motorbooks International, 2006

Synopsis

The rise of the American diner is the most savory of phenomenons, where classic architecture, a friendly face behind the counter, and some mean pie all combined to make these little roadside stops a treasured part of history. From the early days when Walter Scott brought his horse-drawn lunch wagons through the streets to the heyday of mass-produced chrome and neon diners in the 1950s, The American Diner offers a full blue-plate special of nostalgia for all those who loved the counter culture of these great eateries. More than 250 historical and bright colorful photographs help remind us of life before fast food, and generous helpings of classic advertisements, cool collectibles, and architectural highlights also highlight the era. Diners from coast to coast are featured, giving readers a trip to some of the best stainless-steel and neon diners that still dot the American roadways.

About this title

Review:

Now there are a number of nice diner books around, but one new one worth getting is American Diner. It's lavishly illustrated with black-and-white photos and lots of colour...Very readable text...Great Bibliograohy for the afficionado. --The News Tribune

Americans love to eat, and nothing could be finer than eating breakfast, lunch or dinner in an American Diner! here is the story of that tasty American original, form the early days of Walter Scott and the first horse-drawn lunch waggons throguh the birth of the pre-manufactured dining car industry, and the hayday of the diner construction during the 1950's. Fast food restaurants stand aside: The American Diner is a calrie-free, ble-plate special of nostalgia, heaped high with with a generous helping of of vintage photographs, classic ads, cool collectibles and amazing architecture. Road-culture historian Michael kart witzel searched coast to coast to assemble some 250 historical and contemporary images to accompany his tale of this American icon. Take a stool at the counter and place your roder for a gleaming microcosm of American culture where the coffee pot is never empty, bacon and eggs are served round the clock and a fesh slice of apple pie is always on hand. A really interesting look into that 'oh-so' American experience called the American Diner. --Pinstriping UK, March 2009

From the Author:

The American Diner serves up a tasty slice of Americana!
Are you hungry for an oversized slice of home-baked apple pie, a stacked sandwich of bacon-lettuce-and-tomato, and a cup of fresh-brewed coffee? Do you love the look of polished stainless steel, neon lights, and "boomerang" Formica? Well then, have a seat at the counter or your favorite booth--I think you will really like what you find when you sample the pages of my newest book, The American Diner! Just for you, I've traveled the highways and byways of the United States to put together this eye-popping book and have included full-color photographs taken by many of the nation's top diner photographers. Whether it's old, new, or halfway between the two, you will find your dream diner within these pages! The combination of unique images (many are full or double-page size) and a lively historical narrative will make dedicated diner aficionados (and future fans) forget that they ever heard of fast food restaurants. Please, partake of the nostalgia as much as you like and enjoy yourself. "Eat Heavy" without the guilt! This tasty trip along Roadside America is a calorie free homage to the diner, a genuine American original!

About this edition

• Publisher: Motorbooks International
• Publication date: 2006
• ISBN 10: 0760324344
• ISBN 13: 9780760324349
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 160