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While I can't be certain if this material is free content, as The Wall Street Journal's site "knows" my computer, but this review of the Fred Harvey restaurant chain published Saturday may generate some interest in the book around here:
When Judy Garland played an onscreen Harvey Girl in 1946, the movie was a great success, and one of its songs, "On the Atchison, Topeka and the Santa Fe," became a No. 1 hit. There were hopes that the movie might somehow spark a revival in the Fred Harvey fortunes, but by then another hospitality genius was on the scene, and Howard Johnson had set up shop beside the nation's highways.
Stephen W Member # 6059
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Thanks - a nice article - I see the book sells over here from Amazon for £14.20 ($21.32) which looks very reasonable. Tale of another Brit who "done well".
Henry Kisor Member # 4776
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A first-class review, for which thanks to GBN for posting the URL.
Those with an interest in travel cuisine might like "Fast Food: Roadside Restaurants in the Automobile Age," by John A. Jakle and Keith A. Sculle (Johns Hopkins U Press, 2002). It has a great deal to say about the rise and decline of the Howard Johnson empire as well as the subsequent success of Mickey D's, Denny's and other artery-stopping high-fat, high-sugar emporiums.
Gilbert B Norman Member # 1541
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Way off topic I know, but lest we forget that the various toll highways all had at one time full service sit down restaurants (alcohol not served) at their service plazas. Howard Johnson held many of those franchises, but those on the Illinois Tollway system, where a service plaza is called an Oasis, were operated by Fred Harvey.
Today, as Mr Kisor immediately notes, the food service at any such plaza is simply an array of fast food outlets.
Finally the shocker; back in the days when Greyhound actually attempted to market to the middle class, their major stations all had a Post House at which cafeteria service was offered.
amtrak92 Member # 14343
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Great link
Henry Kisor Member # 4776
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This thread gives me a sad sense of nostalgia -- the kind of cuisine the old railroad dining cars (and Fred Harveys) served is long, long gone and will never return for the American traveler, despite all our keening, hoping and complaining. Now these restaurants are simply quick refueling stops on the way from Here to There.
Cruise-ship dining is still good, I have heard, but perhaps that is a main course of a different color. (This summer I will be researching the issue on a Holland America Alaskan cruise tour, hoping that the condiments bar doesn't also serve norovirus.)
Tanner929 Member # 3720
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_______________________________________________________________ "A newspaper in 1881 reported that when he fired the manager of a train-station restaurant in Deming, N.M., Harvey threw the man out the front door onto the train platform "and the dining room equipment followed after him in quick order." _______________________________________________________________
A very nice review. You know his business plan is time tested unfortunatly like many business one must always keep ahead of things. The review reminds me of the story in David Halberstams book the '50's describing the formation of Holiday Inn and McDonald's (McDonald's at one time was a treat for family's). At one time travel was part of the journey. Today even at airports food choices are either fast food or bar food.
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