Carhop
Encyclopedia
A carhop is a waiter
or waitress who brings food
to people in their cars at drive-in
restaurant
s. Usually car hops work on foot but sometimes use rollerskates. The popularity of movies such as American Graffiti
and shows like Happy Days
created a misconception of carhops as exclusively roller skaters.
The first car hops appeared in 1921 when automobiles were beginning to be a common sight in Dallas, Texas. Two men, a businessman named J.G. Kirby and a physician with the name of R.W. Jackson decided to take advantage that many people owned cars and more were coming. They realized that many of the drivers were also lazy, too lazy in fact to get out of their cars to eat. They opened a restaurant called the Pig Stand which had male carhops from their inception.. The A&W corporate website actually claims to have opened the first carhop restaurant in 1923, just two years after The Pig Stand initiated car hops.
This car hopping showed that this particular car was that servers car, as tips were the main income of these waiters and waitresses. Women replaced male carhops, as during World War II
, when most men were in the war, restaurants discovered that a pretty face sold more food.
Now carhops are only featured at a few remaining original drive-in stands and nostalgic fast food
establishments. The few remaining drive-ins are mostly in small towns with local ownership. Sonic Drive In still uses carhops as servers to customers, with over 3,400 restaurants available. There has been a resurgence with some franchises cashing in on the nostalgic aspect and tapping into the memories of the baby boomers.
The uniforms of early carhops were important, as many drive-ins were competing and something eye-catching was seen as gamesmanship. There was often a military theme, airline theme, space age theme or cheerleader theme along with any other whim an owner thought would get customers.
A carhop was the most prominent image on the poster for the film American Graffiti
. They were also often seen in the first two seasons of Happy Days
.
Waiter
Waiting staff, wait staff, or waitstaff are those who work at a restaurant or a bar attending customers — supplying them with food and drink as requested. Traditionally, a male waiting tables is called a "waiter" and a female a "waitress" with the gender-neutral version being a "server"...
or waitress who brings food
Food
Food is any substance consumed to provide nutritional support for the body. It is usually of plant or animal origin, and contains essential nutrients, such as carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, or minerals...
to people in their cars at drive-in
Drive-in
A drive-in is a facility such as a bank, restaurant, or movie theater where one can literally drive in with an automobile for service. It is usually distinguished from a drive-through. At a drive-in restaurant, for example, customers park their vehicles and are usually served by staff who walk out...
restaurant
Restaurant
A restaurant is an establishment which prepares and serves food and drink to customers in return for money. Meals are generally served and eaten on premises, but many restaurants also offer take-out and food delivery services...
s. Usually car hops work on foot but sometimes use rollerskates. The popularity of movies such as American Graffiti
American Graffiti
American Graffiti is a 1973 coming of age film co-written/directed by George Lucas starring Richard Dreyfuss, Ron Howard, Paul Le Mat, Charles Martin Smith, Cindy Williams, Candy Clark, Mackenzie Phillips and Harrison Ford...
and shows like Happy Days
Happy Days
Happy Days is an American television sitcom that originally aired from January 15, 1974, to September 24, 1984, on ABC. Created by Garry Marshall, the series presents an idealized vision of life in mid-1950s to mid-1960s America....
created a misconception of carhops as exclusively roller skaters.
The first car hops appeared in 1921 when automobiles were beginning to be a common sight in Dallas, Texas. Two men, a businessman named J.G. Kirby and a physician with the name of R.W. Jackson decided to take advantage that many people owned cars and more were coming. They realized that many of the drivers were also lazy, too lazy in fact to get out of their cars to eat. They opened a restaurant called the Pig Stand which had male carhops from their inception.. The A&W corporate website actually claims to have opened the first carhop restaurant in 1923, just two years after The Pig Stand initiated car hops.
This car hopping showed that this particular car was that servers car, as tips were the main income of these waiters and waitresses. Women replaced male carhops, as during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, when most men were in the war, restaurants discovered that a pretty face sold more food.
Now carhops are only featured at a few remaining original drive-in stands and nostalgic fast food
Fast food
Fast food is the term given to food that can be prepared and served very quickly. While any meal with low preparation time can be considered to be fast food, typically the term refers to food sold in a restaurant or store with preheated or precooked ingredients, and served to the customer in a...
establishments. The few remaining drive-ins are mostly in small towns with local ownership. Sonic Drive In still uses carhops as servers to customers, with over 3,400 restaurants available. There has been a resurgence with some franchises cashing in on the nostalgic aspect and tapping into the memories of the baby boomers.
The uniforms of early carhops were important, as many drive-ins were competing and something eye-catching was seen as gamesmanship. There was often a military theme, airline theme, space age theme or cheerleader theme along with any other whim an owner thought would get customers.
A carhop was the most prominent image on the poster for the film American Graffiti
American Graffiti
American Graffiti is a 1973 coming of age film co-written/directed by George Lucas starring Richard Dreyfuss, Ron Howard, Paul Le Mat, Charles Martin Smith, Cindy Williams, Candy Clark, Mackenzie Phillips and Harrison Ford...
. They were also often seen in the first two seasons of Happy Days
Happy Days
Happy Days is an American television sitcom that originally aired from January 15, 1974, to September 24, 1984, on ABC. Created by Garry Marshall, the series presents an idealized vision of life in mid-1950s to mid-1960s America....
.
See also
- A&W RestaurantsA&W RestaurantsA&W Restaurants, Inc., is a chain of fast-food restaurants, distinguished by its draft root beer and root beer floats. A&W was arguably the first successful food franchise company, starting franchises in 1921 in California. Today it has franchise locations throughout the world, serving a typical...
- Dog n SudsDog n SudsDog n Suds is a midwestern United States chain of root beer and hot dog drive-in style eateries with the once popular and now rare form of in-car "carhop" delivery service. The chain was created in Champaign, Illinois, by school teachers James Griggs and Don Hamacher. Licensing rights are now...
- Sonic Drive-InSonic Drive-InSonic Drive-In is an American drive-in fast-food restaurant chain based in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, complete with carhops who sometimes wear rollerskates. As of August 31, 2010, there were 3,500 restaurants in 43 U.S. states. Sonic serves approximately 3 million customers daily.-1950s:Following...
- Stewart's Restaurants
- SwensonsSwensonsSwensons Drive-In is a regional fast food restaurant chain with locations throughout Greater Akron, with the first location opening in 1934, in Akron, Ohio. Wesley T. 'Pop' Swenson started selling his hamburgers in 1933, which he sold out of the back of his station wagon at the newly built Buchtel...
- Texas Pig Stands Drive-In