It started out as a food service housed in a horse-driven wagon. And with that humble beginning in 1872, the diner had managed to become an enduring symbol of American popular culture.
Having a business model that served affordable food to the working class 24/7, the diner became more relevant at the height of The Great Depression of the 1930s.
Along with the hardships of the time, streamlining or simplifying started to be a common thread in many facets of everyday life. And when the steam-powered train morphed into the aerodynamic Pioneer Zephyr, the humble diner also began to model itself after it.
The diner continued to evolve, picking up elements from other styles as time went on up until the 1970s.
Some of its characteristics and elements include:
· travel-themed in its look and elements
· use of sleek metal in its exteriors and interiors
· booth seats
· use of juke box
· references to the Googie Architecture of the Atomic and Space Ages
· neon lights for signages
The aesthetic didn’t stay in commercial diners. Many homes’ dining area and kitchen also sported the style.
In the movies, we always see the diner as a place where people hang out. For a dose of nostalgia, here are the diners in Back to the Future and another in Riverdale.