Save The Former 1938 NYC Automat From Demolition!!!
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Author:
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Send To:
Robert Tierney (Chair, NY Landmarks Preservation Commission) & Manhattan Councilmembers
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Sponsored By:
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More Info at:
The 1938 Art Moderne style AUTOMAT at 104 W 57th St & 6th Ave, currently home to Shelly's New York, is to be demolished spring 2006 for a new development. It is of utmost importance to save this architectural, historical, & cultural gem from the wrecking ball, & designate its exterior, an official LANDMARK!!!
When you think of NYC, one of the first few things that comes to mind is its artistic institutions, entertainment, and of course, great food! The "Horn & Hardart Automat" was once a prime facet of NYC life, which redefined dining, when first introduced in 1902. It was one of the earliest cafeteria-style, high-quality "fast food" chains. New York & Philadelphia once had 180 Automats, serving 800,000 customers daily. The last Automat in operation was on 42nd St, & it closed in 1991. Many people still have fond memories of a place where customers would insert a few coins in glass & chrome Art Deco vending machines for fresh, tasty food, in a spacious establishment without waiters & waitresses. For example, fresh drip-brewed coffee came out of a lion's or dolphin's mouth, & was boasted as "The best coffee in town." That certainly was a luxury! вTo have your own stack of nickels placed in your tiny hands; to be able to choose your own food, richly on display like museum pieces; to make quick and final decisions at the age of eight; this was a lesson in financial dealings that not even two years at the Wharton School could buy today.в - Neil Simon
A century since the opening of the Automat, New York ONLY has 2 former Automat structures; Broadway & 104th St, & 104 W 57th St (architecturally more important), and NONE are landmarked! How could the Landmarks Preservation Commission not grant the Automat a hearing? Without the Automat, New York would be missing a chapter in its history. Let's show the LPC who admires this notable building! On behalf of concerned citizens, historical societies, & preservation groups, I urge all NY residents and those worldwide, to sign a petition to PRESERVE & LANDMARK the 104 W 57th St Automat for future generations to cherish. Please forward this petition to several contacts.
EQUALLY AS IMPORTANT, please write letters &/or e-mails to the Landmarks Preservation Commission, urging landmark designation of the 57th St Automat. Please encourage other people to write letters as well. Reflect upon its significance, and personal insight (if possible):
Mr. Robert Tierney, Chairman
c/o NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission
1 Centre St, 9th Floor
New York, N.Y. 10007
rtierney@lpc.nyc.gov & CC MBetts@lpc.nyc.gov
Follow up with phone calls: (212) 669-7700 (Dial "1" & then dial "Tierney")
Carbon copy unlockthevault@hotmail.com since it would be helpful to our cause.
For more information on the Automat's history & photos, please follow:
www.theautomat.net/
www.theautomat.com/inside/history/history.html
www.smithsonianmag.si.edu/smithsonian/issues01/aug01/object_aug01.html
www.alteich.com/tidbits/t050103.htm
When you think of NYC, one of the first few things that comes to mind is its artistic institutions, entertainment, and of course, great food! The "Horn & Hardart Automat" was once a prime facet of NYC life, which redefined dining, when first introduced in 1902. It was one of the earliest cafeteria-style, high-quality "fast food" chains. New York & Philadelphia once had 180 Automats, serving 800,000 customers daily. The last Automat in operation was on 42nd St, & it closed in 1991. Many people still have fond memories of a place where customers would insert a few coins in glass & chrome Art Deco vending machines for fresh, tasty food, in a spacious establishment without waiters & waitresses. For example, fresh drip-brewed coffee came out of a lion's or dolphin's mouth, & was boasted as "The best coffee in town." That certainly was a luxury! вTo have your own stack of nickels placed in your tiny hands; to be able to choose your own food, richly on display like museum pieces; to make quick and final decisions at the age of eight; this was a lesson in financial dealings that not even two years at the Wharton School could buy today.в - Neil Simon
A century since the opening of the Automat, New York ONLY has 2 former Automat structures; Broadway & 104th St, & 104 W 57th St (architecturally more important), and NONE are landmarked! How could the Landmarks Preservation Commission not grant the Automat a hearing? Without the Automat, New York would be missing a chapter in its history. Let's show the LPC who admires this notable building! On behalf of concerned citizens, historical societies, & preservation groups, I urge all NY residents and those worldwide, to sign a petition to PRESERVE & LANDMARK the 104 W 57th St Automat for future generations to cherish. Please forward this petition to several contacts.
EQUALLY AS IMPORTANT, please write letters &/or e-mails to the Landmarks Preservation Commission, urging landmark designation of the 57th St Automat. Please encourage other people to write letters as well. Reflect upon its significance, and personal insight (if possible):
Mr. Robert Tierney, Chairman
c/o NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission
1 Centre St, 9th Floor
New York, N.Y. 10007
rtierney@lpc.nyc.gov & CC MBetts@lpc.nyc.gov
Follow up with phone calls: (212) 669-7700 (Dial "1" & then dial "Tierney")
Carbon copy unlockthevault@hotmail.com since it would be helpful to our cause.
For more information on the Automat's history & photos, please follow:
www.theautomat.net/
www.theautomat.com/inside/history/history.html
www.smithsonianmag.si.edu/smithsonian/issues01/aug01/object_aug01.html
www.alteich.com/tidbits/t050103.htm
551 Signatures
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Mildred Press
- Comments
- I have fond memories of the Automat. Please do not demolish this Art Moderne cultural icon, but rather landmark it, restore it, and if necessary, build above it. At least a new development will have a unique, attractive entranceway. Please listen. Thank you!
- Address/City/State
- Forest Hills, New York 11374
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Blake Bowen
- Comments
- В
- Address/City/State
- 602 Cabell Ave, Apt. 7 Charlottesville, VA, 22903
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Lorraine Diehl
- Comments
- Bit by bit, the vestiges of this city's architectural history are vanishing. As the author of "The Late Great Pennsylvania Station" I wonder if the Landmarks Preservation Commission, which came ab out because of that railroad's destruction, still has the will to preserve to secure our architectural past.
- Address/City/State
- В
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Peter Davies
- Comments
- This is a gem and should at the very least be given consideration for preservation by the LPC.
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Thomas Stathes
- Comments
- Save this beauty and all other historic buildings in NYC!
- Address/City/State
- Flushing, NY
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Richard Pelliccio
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Broderick Hehman
- Comments
- В
- Address/City/State
- New York, NY
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Linda Perlman
- Comments
- How could the Landmarks Preservation Commission not work to save New York's most visually pleasing, historical works? The Automat holds a place in my heart. Please designate it, Mr. Tierney!
- Address/City/State
- Forest Hills, NY
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S. W. Wilson
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Tony Andersson
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Lou Kessler
- Comments
- I am a Philly boy who remembers them well.
- Address/City/State
- Sarasota Florida
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Tamara Yollick
- Comments
- I'm 43 and I've never been to an automat. Even so, I feel a sort of nostalgia of the imagination toward them and wish I'd been around when they were at their height. A landmark like this should be treasured and I'm amazed that New Yorkers would even *consider* demolishing something so vividly characteristic of their town. Don't let an era pass away, leaving only memories and photographs behind. What a neat, clever, and romantic thing an automat was and is. So much personality and charm deserves to be preserved. What a nifty little tourist spot it could be, too. I'd visit it for sure, if I ever had the chance to visit NYC. I hope you will save it.
- Address/City/State
- The Woodlands, TX 77382
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David Lowenstein
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Bruce Petchesky
- Comments
- We need to save our historic structures
- Address/City/State
- New York, NY
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Jonas Wikstroem
- Address/City/State
- Stockholm/Sweden
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kyle Emmerson
- Comments
- this is one of the few gems left which are in desperate need of landmarking.
- Address/City/State
- England
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john jurayj
- Comments
- Historic Districts Council
- Address/City/State
- В
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Simeon Bankoff
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Carl Rutberg
- Comments
- В
- Address/City/State
- В
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Sophia L. Truslow
- Address/City/State
- 212 Pacific Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201
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Jeffrey A. Kroessler
- Comments
- В
- Address/City/State
- Sunnyside, NY
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Leo J. Blackman
- Comments
- I assumed it WAS a landmark!
- Address/City/State
- NYC
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Susan Tunick
- Comments
- this commercial architecture is a vital part of our past!
- Address/City/State
- 771 West End Ave. 10E, NY 10025
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Christopher W. London
- Comments
- В
- Address/City/State
- В
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Michael Perlman
- Comments
- The Automat, once a prime facet of NYC culture, is a chapter that needs to be acknowledged through preservation. Once the Automat is landmarked, it can continue to be a worthwhile educational resource, and a 57th St Art Moderne charmer that would be "here to stay!" We are the public, & we understand our communities best. Please listen to us, Mr. Tierney. Thanking you in advance!
- Address/City/State
- Forest Hills, N.Y.
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Marianne Hardart
- Comments
- Don't let this historic building be torn down! It's not just part of this city's history- the Automat was a national treasure at it's peak.
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David Goldfarb
- Comments
- В
- Address/City/State
- Staten Island, NY
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Alice Rich
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Sybil Young
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John Shreve Arbuckle
- Address/City/State
- 308 West 109th Street, New York, NY 10025
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Linda Jones
- Comments
- В
- Address/City/State
- New York, NY 10002
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Michael Lawing
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Teri Slater
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Ann Walker Gaffney
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Severiano Martinez
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Nathan Matthews
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Sander van Werkhoven
- Comments
- В
- Address/City/State
- Oss, the Netherlands
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Mitchell Grubler
- Address/City/State
- 143-35 37th Avenue, Flushing, NY 11354
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Cynthia Martin
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Frankie J. Campione
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michele de milly
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Nicholas Poshkus
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Charles Lockwood
- Comments
- Not a Brownstone, but a Real Landmark
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Linda Lewis
- Comments
- В
- Address/City/State
- В
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John Hagan
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Robert Swartz
- Address/City/State
- Brooklyn, NY
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Dennis Paget
- Comments
- Aong with the modern buildings that are constatnly being constructed, let's not erase all of New York's wonderful and unique history and traditioins.
- Address/City/State
- 225 EAst 57 Street, New York, NY 10022
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Kyle Johnson
- Address/City/State
- New York, NY
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Mark J. Weinbaum
- Address/City/State
- 2211 Broadway New York City NY 10024
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Hunter Armstrong
- Address/City/State
- Brooklyn, NY 11211
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551
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