The Automat

The Automat is a fond remembrance of a vanished era. This documentary tells the 100-year story of the iconic restaurant chain Horn & Hardart, where generations of Americans ate wholesome meals and drank coffee served from a vending machine in a communal-style eatery. Interviews with celebrity customers, company executives, and historians, intersect with historical photographs and rare archival footage. We watch a business climb from its 19th century roots, to its peak success and then grapple with fast food in a forever changed America. Featuring an original new song written and performed by Mel Brooks.