Film Sponsors: Atlantic, Tomorrow’s Office; Marsha & Gary Forman

Americans once sipped coffee and ate pie around communal tables, sharing their struggles and dreams with strangers at Horn & Hardart’s iconic automat. Lifetimes ago, these working class palaces nourished a sense of unity that bridged the diversity of religion, class, language, gender, and race in the urban melting pots of the East Coast. Travel back in time to experience this unique piece of America's history, an exciting story and one that may seem strangely familiar. More than just entertainment, The Automat is a parable of how we once dined happily together before turning to the isolated and unhappy experience offered by fast food, a bad deal that no amount of advertising can disguise.

Featuring an original new song written and performed by Mel Brooks, The Automat tells the 100-year story of the iconic restaurant chain Horn & Hardart, the inspiration for Starbucks. Interviews include the perspective of former customers: Mel Brooks, Carl Reiner, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Colin Powell, Elliot Gould, and Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz. Each shares their memories of frequenting automats and their personal insights into the ways that these nearly forgotten establishments helped shape everyday American life. A leisurely stroll down Memory Lane for some; an entertaining lesson in American pop culture for others — hear how the business climbed to its peak success and then grappled with fast food competition in a forever changed America.