Long before hungry Americans ponied up $25 for a single burrito on Postmates, DoorDash or whatever delivery app claims to fairly compensate its workers, there was another way to get a meal on wheels — heading down to your local drive-in to get a hamburger served to you by a skate-clad waitress.
From a New York City waitress taking a (probably) much-needed smoke break to the Kennedy family enjoying a cheap breakfast, here are 21 photos from the '50s, '60s, and '70s that belong on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.
1
Carhop/Waitress Delivering Drinks at Drive-In on Roller-Skates 1950s
2
“Drive-in restaurant featuring piped-in AC, 1957.”
3
“The classic lunch counter... 1960s.”
4
“Great Uncle Jack & Great Aunt Georgiana @ Their Dalhart, Texas Diner 1949 - My uncle at the counter.”
5
“Teenagers hanging out at the local drive-in diner on a Friday night [1950s].”
6
“Greasers meeting at Scrivner's Drive-in, Los Angeles, California. (1950).”
7
“Busy night at Colonel Jim’s Tasty Thrill Drive-In Restaurant, Miami Beach, FL, 1952.”
8
“A date at the diner 1950’s.”
9
“Maila Nurmi as Vampira (her famous TV character horror movie host) at Carpenter’s Drive-In Restaurant, Hollywood, CA, 1954.”
10
“Bobby Kennedy at a drive-in diner, 1960.”
11
“My uncles Angelo (left) and Joey (right) sitting at their cafe with their mother. (1950s).”
12
“Lou Reed in a diner, late 60s.”
13
“Drive-In Waitress (Car Hop) on Roller Skates, Johnie’s Broiler Coffee Shop, Downey, California, 1968.”
14
“Carpenter's Drive-In, Sunset Blvd. - 1930s.”
15
“Muhammad Ali with young fan in a diner, 1970.”
16
“My uncle (middle) with some friends in a cafe in Greece 1970s.”
17
“A & W waitress on wheels - 1950’s.”
18
“Diner waitress, New York City, 1955.”
19
“Vince Lombardi Eating at a Lunch Counter - 1960s - Green Bay, WI.”
20
“My grandmother working at a diner in 1946. A photographer from a magazine took her photo in front of this counter and she said she was put on the cover of said magazine. We can’t find it anywhere.”
21
“Jacqueline and John F Kennedy have breakfast at an Oregon diner, 1959.”
