My mother worked at the automat, that’s where my Dad met my Mom. They fell in love in the Automat. The summer of 59.

I cried remembering going to the Automat with Mom, Dad, my brother and grandmother. It was an adventure for a little kid.

I just saw this on HBOMAX. This documentary was outstanding. As a New Yorker growing up during the 80's, I always loved going to the old style diners, for they represent true American history. We need something like this now.

Even though as a German born in 1989 I have no direct connection to Horn & Hardart, it was not only interesting to see the concept had been originally imported actually from Germany - from an era which here ofc is long gone too - but the sheer fact the movie managed to get Carl Reiner, Mel Brooks and Elliott Gould in front of the camera to share their perspectives and memories to me is just an epic move. Carl Reiner & Mel Brooks as a congenius duo in the 50s and 60s and then again Carl Reiner & Elliott Gould co-starring in the not-less-genius "Ocean's" franchise *chef's kiss* . And to know that RBG and Mr. Powell (as ambiguous as I feel about him) passed away within close timely range of the movie is a bit tear jerking.

"Hide the silverware, the actors are coming"! LOVE IT!!!

@thefurbeastunderyourbed5012

9 ай бұрын

"Throw in 20 Nickels, I'm giving a banquet!"😅

This was the last movie I watched alone with my father who grew up in Brooklyn during the golden 50's before he passed away last fall. During the credits, he was tearing up remembering his meals at his local Automat.

Just finished this documentary and really loved it. My dad was a small kid in the 1950s in Philadelphia, and whenever we would go out to eat, he would always compare whatever restaurant we were at to the experience of eating at Horn and Hardart. When I was 9 or 10 we started going to Golden Corral, and for him it was the only thing that ever measured up to the automat, both in terms of the quality of the food and in terms of just how democratic H&H was. All kinds of people from all different backgrounds and walks of life.

I cried a little at the end. By the time my parents took us there as kids from Long Island, it was the mid-60’s and H&H near Radio City Music Hall had already started its decline. But it was still magical to my five year-old self.

I just saw this on Turner Classic Movies. At first I wasn't going to watch it. Since I have never been to New York or Philadelphia and it was a bit before my time, I was sure I would find nothing that was relevant to me. I was so wrong. It was wonderful to watch. I only wish more restaurants and businesses could have learned from them and used their model of business by opening their doors to everyone. This was a true pleasure to watch and a wonderful part of our TRUE American history.

Proud to be in this Documentary and love Lisa Hurwitz for putting this Gem of a Documentary together … we need more Nostalgia in our World …my first Job when i got my working papers in the 60’s as a bus boy at Horn and Hardart and my Grandmother got me the job because she was a “ Nickel Thrower “ and Magically would give you 20 nickels for your Dollar behind a beautiful Art Deco cage …

@ryanellis4474

2 жыл бұрын

God Bless you for keeping the memory alive. The biggest question this documentary offers us all: when is someone going to bring back the automat? Since you like nostalgia, watch my documentary about the first black record store owner in Michigan: Legendary Lee Canady

@Bibbs65

2 жыл бұрын

Cool. .this me Arnold Ray Bibbs

@ryanellis4474

2 жыл бұрын

​@@Bibbs65 Huh? Once more in English, please.

@square-on-wheels

2 жыл бұрын

Just saw the movie and loved it a lot. Enjoyed your interview and seeing your 'fro! 😀

@michaelschneider1913

2 жыл бұрын

A nickel for a shtikel of pickle

just ❤ the documentary

I grew up in the Bronx and I remember going there as a kid. When I went to summer camp the bus picked us up around the corner so we always went for breakfast. Also went whenever we went into the city to go to Macy’s. It was more then just a restaurant. It was an entire experience. Nothing like it around today.

My Dad, who lived in NYC in the '30s and '40s, told me that the 'Nickel Thrower' could quickly grab, often without looking, exactly 20 nickels from a tray of coins - in typically efficient New York style! In the early '60s, I was fortunate to dine at one of the remaining Horn & Hardart's Automats, and am still wishing they'd return. Thanks, L.H., for so brilliantly documenting this coconut custard slice of Americana!

@melodyelson3202

7 ай бұрын

Thank you for sharing such details! my mom dad our grandparents & us the kids love to go and din Bravo love your idea . . let's share this with friends and family ❤

Lisa, I saw this documentary a few weeks ago and I can't tell you how much it touched me. I loved that you had original music too. Hope to see you make more films soon.

We would come to Manhattan from the Bronx and visit here often. It was a treat to use nickels and dimes at my stage to get this magical doors to open. ❤

The universe will not let me see this film - no matter how hard I try to catch a showing or how much I would love to bring the automat back - I am foiled every time so far - even with advance planning - I can’t wait until it’s my time to catch the whole thing - and I hope everyone gets to see it someday as well!!!

@theautomatthemovie

Жыл бұрын

China, the film is now online all over the US and Canada 😉 If your public library has a Kanopy subscription you can watch it using that or you can rent it from Amazon or Apple!

@ChinaFaithStar

Жыл бұрын

Hurray for Libraries and movie rentals !!!!

@wingedlyon

10 ай бұрын

That sucks! ☹️ I hope you will get to see it someday. It's cool! I recorded it on TCM. Good luck! PS we owe a lot to the Germans they don't get the credit they deserve

I really want to see this. I’ve been asking much older friends about automats as they didn’t exist when I was young but I’ve seen them in old movies, etc.

I'd never heard of the Automat until just a very few years ago. The thought of it was really interesting, so I looked it up on KZread and watched several videos about it. I would absolutely love to see this!

Born in ‘94 but this would definitely be somewhere my granny and I would frequent if it were around…of course that 5 cent cup of coffee would probably be $10 in 2022…We could have another Automat but then I forget that this type of politeness & pleasantry doesn’t exist anymore…

Used to go to Horn and Hardart's Automats in Manhattan. It was a bit of adventure looking for the best choice. Years later, when I lived upstate, I dated a woman whose grandfather was an executive for Horn and Hardart. Had some nice talks about the business.

A very nice piece of Americana, this documentary is, with a beautiful sense of time and place. Reminded me of a mini Ken Burns documentary. You understand a little bit more about history after having watched it, and it makes you regret not having been around to see an Automat, if you never saw one.

Back in the 60's my grandmother, who lived in Brooklyn, took me to a Horn & Hardart and I fell in love with it. I absolutely loved the Art Deco surroundings. I lived out on Long Island, so I was not around these growing up. I know I missed out! I think I was only at one one other time. I lived out of state so no chance to. = (

@kbunky69

2 жыл бұрын

Go Long Island and Brooklyn .. I have found memories of the Automat as a child and see the movie back on long island tomorrow

My aunt took my as a little girl to the Automat on 42 street. What a glamorous restaurant I thought. As a kid from Brooklyn living with my aunt, two cousins, mom, dad and sis, not to mention grandpa in the basement, boy was this a mecca of organization...hence my love of order. The perfect framing of an apple pie or lemon meringue, quite a storyboard. Thank you, Im running to see this.

I just saw this film and fully enjoyed it but if I had seen this trailer first I never would have watched it. Don't let this scare you off, it's an entertaining, enjoyable, and informative movie.

I saw this a couple of months ago,fine film.

I remember THE Automat from that movie 🎥 That Touch of Mink Gig Young gets slapped when he opened that door 😊 & food thrown his face 🥶

Sadly, there were no Automats when I was growing up in Chicago, but I'd really would have liked to experience one. In the documentary, they mentioned that they kept costs low by not having wait staff who you'd have to pay and tip. Since restaurants are having such a hard time hiring, maybe it's time to revive the Automat. It would make sense with inflation the way it is and as hard as it is to keep staff. Sadly, the only memory I can compare to the Automat is the lunch counter that just about every drugstore had. You could sit at the counter perched on a bar stool or grab a booth. The food was good, reasonably priced and the staff was always pleasant. It broke my heart when they took the last luncheonette out of the Walgreens (which is now an Italian restaurant) on Main Street in Downers Grove, IL. I can see why so many people miss the Automat. I love that Mel Brooks appeared in this nostalgic film.

@sandrashapiro4396

Жыл бұрын

My dad , who worked in a factory in the garment center, used to take me to a nearby H and H for lunch. . Invariably, I would think and think but then select an egg salad sandwich and a dish of vanilla ice cream (with real pieces of vanilla) that was served cone-shaped. I loved retrieving my dishes from the little windows. It felt like the right thing in a child’s world. Sandy, NYC

@mycolortv1

Жыл бұрын

lol...thats because Chicago can never be NY...the Greatest City in the World

What a joy! The Automat. My sister and I would wait up for our Dad to bring home their Beef Pot Pie when her came home from after working in Manhattan

The docu is so much better than the trailer.

@mitchellbaxter6314

4 ай бұрын

I think the trailer is wonderful.

Horn and Hardarts.....awesome story

I wonder if this would work today. Some creep would probably stand behind you and hold you up, stealing your hot open faced turkey sandwich and savory mashed potatoes and gravy.

The lady (Jewish princess) who made this film is a charmer. I hope she finds more affectionate targets to make a film around. What a joy it was watching this film, and listening to her soft feminine voice interact with Mel.. A treasure of a film that's worthy for the Smithsonian annals.

It’s interesting, how many parallels early businesses have with each other. They always seem to have this idea that you provide some thing that appears to be well beyond the cost of the actual price tag, and people will then create a loyalty to it, and not destroy it. Where is this mindset in businesses today? It seems as though they are more focused on creating products and locations, that genuinely appear to be just as cheap as the merchandise or food.

If they had The Automat today, teenagers would vandalize it or find ways to pry open the windows

@Cosmicblast77

Жыл бұрын

It's so sad to see how society has degenerated. 😪

@SnoopEastwood

Жыл бұрын

Thank liberals for that! They don't enforce the law so criminals are emboldened to commit crimes in cities like nyc

@gspendlove

Жыл бұрын

Only if there were no security guards. Easy fix.

@marcustulliuscicero2676

Жыл бұрын

@@gspendlove In NYC security guards would not catch the perps anyways because it's raciss and dangerous and stuff. Have you seen videos of security in SF and NYC just watching thieves rolling out of stores with huge sacks and carts full of openly stolen stuff? Just this year thieves walked into Lululemon in NYC, grabbed $30K worth of designer clothing and walked out, with security standing at the ready by the door and not blinking an eye. "Progressive" utopia.

@gspendlove

Жыл бұрын

@@marcustulliuscicero2676 Did those thieves have weapons of any kind? Be honest, now.

I just watch this documentary, and I have to say: if you haven’t already seen it, watch it! From a historical observation viewpoint, it’s interesting, how similar so many of these early formed corporations are to each other. I saw many parallels that reminded me of the Walt Disney company. Even down to his basic guest principles. And like Henry Ford, the assembly line, cafeteria helped it to expand. And then there was the strike… Unlike Disney, though it had a different outcome.

My Mother raved over the PHILADELPHIA Automat.

I've been following the progress of this documentary and I really hope I get to see this. But I'm in the Midwest so I'm a bit concerned it won't come here. :,(

@theautomatthemovie

2 жыл бұрын

We have several screenings in the pipeline in the Midwest! Please email info@automatmovie.com and we’ll gladly assist you.

@zeusapollo8688

2 жыл бұрын

Same

@scienz

2 жыл бұрын

I just saw it in Miami. It was great.

@theautomatthemovie

Жыл бұрын

We play the Toledo Jewish Film Festival on July 11 and in Indianapolis on July 22 at the Kan-Kan

So So So So Precious! Now to the real question: when are any of you peeps going to bring the automat back‽

Would love to see some additional showings in Chicago. The in-person event in a northern suburb has sold out.

@theautomatthemovie

2 жыл бұрын

The Automat opened on April 1 at three theaters across the Chicago area, AMC River East, Renaissance Highland Park, and AMC Schaumburg. Please check it out!

@square-on-wheels

2 жыл бұрын

@@theautomatthemovie Will do!

@square-on-wheels

2 жыл бұрын

@@theautomatthemovie Just saw it, and enjoyed it very much. Highly recommend!!

these still exist in europe. i went to one in amsterdam

@mitchellbaxter6314

4 ай бұрын

Which Euro coins do they accept, and how much does food cost?

Wish I could watch this in Australia!

@theautomatthemovie

Жыл бұрын

The Automat can be watched around the world for a few days from Dec.1-4, 2022 through the Vail Film Festival in Colorado. Buy a ticket for the film on their website :) vailfilmfestival.org Hopefully though we will be able to find international distribution in the future.

@nikkilove6213

Жыл бұрын

Camilla, you can watch on Amazon prime

"... and saying to Jerusalem (New): 'You shall be rebuilt.'"

Not available in the UK 😕

Shouldn't have added any evil politicians to the documentary but other than that it was enjoyable.

I have a few postcards.

Has a Durante feel. Lemme know the dvd...

@theautomatthemovie

Жыл бұрын

The DVD is now available on Amazon!

Where can I watch it?

@theautomatthemovie

Жыл бұрын

It’s available to rent or purchase from Amazon and Apple. It’s also on TV Pay Per View channels! 🤗

@Dej12328

2 ай бұрын

Check if your local public library system has it on their free streaming service (like Kanopy or Hoopla.)

I love exploring what can best be described as nostalgia. Where a worry emerges is of how much of an effect automation has had and continues to have on the livelihoods of those who are working and on the livelihoods of those who are willing to work. Progress, within my little thoughts, is not progress if the benefits of automation as well as the benefits of many tech-based ventures/discoveries/revolutions are not experienced by all groups of people. As we are now, there are a dishearteningly small handful of people who are swimming in excessive wealth. A wealth that ought to be shared with every family, guardian, and individual who has little to no access to the very basics of life. It ain't progress if there is suffering. It ain't riches if a child somewhere on this pale blue dot dies for lack of food and/or medicine. 😢

@rah62

Жыл бұрын

Oh lord. Punish those who've done well, and no one will ever do well again.

Saw this yesterday and I want to figure out a way to send Mel a coconut custard pie...and maybe some coffee with chicory.

The inclusion of the dude from Starsucks nauseated me. I read his book and his inspiration did not come from automat restaurants, but from the coffee houses in Italy. I don't go to Starsucks because of his idealogy; there is nothing in a Starsucks that is remotely reminiscent of Horn & Hardart. Read his book. But don't buy it, borrow it from the library.

In Post-Covid times, this is really not making a comeback. Also, in these TikTok times, some pranksters are going to do nasty things to the food to ruin it all.

@mitchellbaxter6314

4 ай бұрын

Do you think they'll spend money to open the cases and tamper with the food? They can already tamper with food in grocery stores and at buffets (without having to spend money to access the items), but the arrest and prosecutions of pranksters seems to have deterred them.

Stimulating for the first 2 minutes and a sleeping pill afterwards.

@Dej12328

2 ай бұрын

Hope people are not put off by this assessment; it is equally absorbing throughout. It is funny, heartwarming, entertaining, and educational about urban history and the changes in the American workforce over the decades.

Wow this is lame

Been there quite a few times back in the 60's, so I don't have to watch a cheesy movie.

Remove the awful song and you'd have something.

@Dej12328

2 ай бұрын

I thought the song was WONDERFUL! Sweet, charming, evocative, funny, nice melody, witty rhymes, and performed with great enthusiasm. So his voice is not Sinatra or Pavarotti- it was meant as sheer entertainment and to fit the tone of the film and blend with the old-time themes of The Automat.

I’ll probably go see this despite the inclusion of Ruth bader Ginsburg and the RINO Colin Powell. Filmmakers need to get out of their leftist bubbles. You don’t need such “celebrities” to make a compelling documentary. I’d rather see ordinary New Yorkers whose politics are unknown to me reminiscing about the automat. I’d love to see 75 year old bridge and tunnel types who were thrilled to be in NYC and at the automat as a child When I see RBG’s face, my first thought is “that monster thought it was ok to abort a healthy baby at 40 weeks.” Don’t leftists understand how hateable half the country finds your icons? The tri state area is crawling with 80 year old Jewish grandmothers who could’ve provided the vivid memories central to documentaries of this sort. Why include RBG? She supported late ter abortion, which is murder, no matter how loudly leftists shout that it isn’t? Why do leftists insist on poisoning their films with strident, vile people like RBG?

@jlsimpson5527

2 жыл бұрын

Named yourself well.

@melissam.6652

2 жыл бұрын

Jeez, so triggered 🥴

@willard2729

2 жыл бұрын

@@melissam.6652 🤡🤡🤡😂😂😂😂 “Triggered” !!!!!! You have no response so you default to terse ridicule and insults The tide is turning. The country is projectile vomiting you

@MeMeDaVinci

2 жыл бұрын

Get off your pedestal and make the movie you want to see. Stop criticizing others for something they did and obviously can't do yourself. Typical. Btw, the people interviewed were asked about their childhood experiences, not about their politics.

@willard2729

2 жыл бұрын

@@MeMeDaVinci silly response

Mel Brooks is an American Icon