July 12, 2011
CarhopsBy Sablemable aka Jan
A big frosty mug of root beer, french fries hot out of the deep fryer and a gooey coney dog delivered to you on a shiny metal tray by a carhop while you sat in your car. Yum!
A&W ROOT BEER AD
(Photo courtesy of www.vintageadbrowser.com)
Sometimes the carhop would come to your car and take your order, or sometimes you could call in your order from the stall. A sweet voice would answer, saying, “May I take your order, please!”
MENU
(Photo courtesy of www.worthpoint.com)
A CARHOP AND CUSTOMER
(Photo courtesy of www.thedailygreen.com)
BOB’S DRIVE-IN AND CARHOPS
(Photo courtesy of www.bhsclass67.blogspot.com)
JIMMY’S DRIVE INN
(Photo courtesy of www.goretro.blogspot.com)
COCA-COLA TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THE DRIVE-IN RESTAURANT TO PROMOTE THEIR SOFT DRINK.
(Photos courtesy of www.vintageadbrowser.com)
THE MAJORETTE THEMED UNIFORMS WERE POPULAR ATTIRE FOR THE CARHOPS.
(Photo courtesy of www.joesherlock.com)
(Photo courtesy of www.princesmemories.com)
Here’s a twist to the carhop image; a young man, on roller skates, no less!
(Photo courtesy of www.goretro.blogspot.com)
Okay, ‘fess up. Who out there used to be a carhop? I’ll be the first!
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RetroRuth
July 12, 2011 at 11:11 am
Jan! You used to be a carhop?? How awesome!! I could never be one…I never got the hang of roller skates. I was always an embarrassment at Skate Capitol.
We have a new A&W by us that is a drive-in, and Tom and I love it!
Eartha Kitsch
July 12, 2011 at 11:34 am
The closest that I’ve ever come to a carhop is the girls at Sonic. And they don’t roller skate. Though one DOES call me “hon”.
Lorie B.
July 12, 2011 at 12:46 pm
Jan…where did you car hop at? I worked at Roxy’s for more years than I care to admit to, but they had stopped the car hops by then. Actually, I remember going there and getting food with a car hop.
They still car hop at Mikey’s in Bridgman. My folks like to go over and have a root beer and share an order of fries. I think it is their ‘date night’.
sablemable
July 12, 2011 at 4:06 pm
LOL, first off, yes I was a carhop, but not on roller skates!!!!!!!
Ruuuuuuuuuuuth! Love A&W! Wish they, or Dog ‘n Suds was still around over here.
Earthaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!! I heard that Sonic was going to put the carhops on “wheels.” That, would have ended my career!
Lorieeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!! Yep, I worked at Roxy’s Brown Lanturn, starting in 1970. I had just missed wearing the majorette boots (darn) and the corny hats. I worked there through high school, then became a waitress in a bar. Quite a step up, eh? LOL!
Jen
July 12, 2011 at 9:46 pm
What a fun post! I’ve never been a carhop—not so awesome on skates—but always loved going to drive-ins with carhops! Still do, in fact, there are plenty of them out there. There’s an A&W by my old apartment in Michigan that I liked stopping into for a root beer float after watching the classic cars cruise on Woodward. The Parkette in Kentucky has ‘hops, too.
Now I really, REALLY want a root beer float…
Andrea
July 13, 2011 at 1:38 am
Ahhh, I can remember going to A&W as a kid and the carhops bringing our food out and the trays that hung on your window! I was too young to have been a car hop, but that’s probably ok since I am terrible on roller skates, hah! Too bad all of the A&Ws here are drive through now.
Sara in AZ
July 13, 2011 at 1:44 am
Sable! We need to see a pic of you as a carhop ASAP!!!!!
sablemable
July 13, 2011 at 2:54 am
PS, Lorieeeeeeeeeeeeee!!! I forgot about Mikey’s!
Jeeeeeeeeeeeeen! I want a root beer AND a coney dog (or two) Woodward Avenue; you must have lived in Detroit, girl!
Andreaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!! LOL, our local A&W was located behind a liquor store. You could eat your dog and fries and watch the winos.
Saraaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!! You would have to ask for a photo, LOL! Unfortunately, I never had one snapped. But the uniforms changed when I began-no more boots! Waaah! Do they still make majorette boots?
Charlotte
August 8, 2011 at 7:21 pm
You can still be one! There’s a drive-in near my mom’s house in Ypsilanti, Michigan called the Chick-Inn. It’s been there since the ’50s and is still open, complete with neon chicken sign and carhops! No skates, though.