Customer Reviews

The American Drive-In: History and Folklore of the Drive-in Restaurant in American Car Culture

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I have several of his diner and drive-in books. If you are a fan of diners, drive-in eateries and burgers and shakes; you will not be dissapointed. There are many, many beautiful color pictures.

Unlike many coffee table books on pop culture phenomena, The American Drive-in Restaurant supplements its generous use of photos with material from regional archives and 1950s restaurant trade industry journals, resulting in a pop history with a strong seasoning of well-researched facts. Interviews with former carhops also provide an interesting slice of life effect.

Witzel's copywriting background intrudes most in the brief portraits of major drive-in chains, which read like corporate marketing pieces. The serious researcher needs to handle this book with care: not only are there numerous typesetting errors (including mislabeled dates and places), but some corporate biography facts don't match those presented by the same corporations' official Web sites (though it wouldn't be surprising if the corporations were the ones who had it wrong).

All in all, a good read packed with interesting material.

Wonderful book, most of the places I used to go to are featured such as Simon's; what a shame they most were on corners that later became prime real estate and were torn down. The photos are top notch.

I own most of Mr. Witzel's books - they are all excellent - but this is definitely the best of them. No roadside library would be complete without this one....it brings back the 50's like few other books can!

LIKE ALL OF MR.WETZELS BOOKS THIS ONE IS A GREAT WAY TO RELIVE HAPPY TIMES OF YESTERDAY. GREAT PHOTOGRAPHY AND INTERESTING TEXT LEND THEMSELVES TO A VERY PLEASENT READ.HAVING BEEN A TEENAGER IN THE 1960S I ENJOYED THIS WALK DOWN MEMORY LANE.I WOULD HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK AS WELL AS ALL OF HIS OTHERS.