“There was nothing like the coffee at the Automat. Its aroma and its flavor were supreme. From a silver dolphin spout, the coffee came right out. Not to mention at the end a little spurt of cream. . . . You didn’t need a lot of money. You needed a lot of nickels”—Mel Brooks. By the mid twentieth century, Horn & Hardart Automats had restructured America’s dining habits, crafting a tempting fast food aura before anyone ever dreamed up the term. Single servings of freshly-made pies and staples like Salisbury steak, mashed potatoes, and creamed spinach wondrously appeared behind shiny chrome windows in an appealing lunchroom setting, and all you needed to do was drop coins into a slot. Using equipment imported from Berlin (where the concept began), the chain opened on Times Square in 1912 and later branched out with more locations in New York and Philadelphia (where the first Horn & Hardart appeared in 1902). Filmmaker Lisa Hurwitz recounts the history of this gastronomic sensation through footage, photos, memorabilia, and discussions with those who recall its wholesome food and democratic atmosphere including Ruth Bader Ginsberg, Colin Powell, Mel Brooks, and collector Steve Stollman who made it his mission to preserve some of the last remaining Automat vending machines. “A love letter to the New York City many of us still remember”—Film Forum. 

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