Breakfast is Served, Chicago, Illinois, 1957
A strawberry, chocolate and vanilla color scheme gives this room a delicious Neapolitan ice cream flavor. A jet-black wall phone hangs above a chrome plated toaster oven covered in clear plastic printed with a rooster and chicken motif. The happy, friendly breakfast trio is well dressed in a cool boxy plaid, silk screened Notre Dame sweatshirt and perfect penguin and polar bear sweater. A pack of Marlboro’s, cups of coffee, bowls of mush, and a gingham checked carton of Hunding homogenized milk are like a tabletop solar system of breakfast offerings revolving around a plate of donuts beaming like the morning sun.
We didn’t invent donuts in the USA but, like oh-so many things, we certainly perfected the sweet treat sensations here. According to the legend, the hole-in-the-middle variety, have been around for about a hundred and fifty years. It’s hard to imagine stagecoach pulling up to a donut stand isn’t it?
What’s your favorite donut stand???
Here’s to all donuts and YOU!!!
DEAR CHARLES:
THIS SLIDE REALLY SHOWS HOW STYLE EVOLVES. I SEE CHOCOLATE BROWN WALLS AND BEAR SWEATERS IN ALL THE MAGAZINES. THANKS FOR ALL YOUR GREAT SLIDE VIEWING OVER THE LAST YEAR!
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
You are so right about donuts being quintessentially American:
http://macaronimaniac.blogspot.com/2008/01/donutcracy.html
I am just curious as to what went on the night before the breakast?
Mmmmm, donuts….
HOW did you know that was a toaster oven? It’s nearly the size of my grandmother’s old Radar Range!
Where is my favorite donut stand? Springfield, Illinois, home of Mel-O-Cream donuts (International). This is the strongest evidence that the Springfield of the Simpson’s show is truly the Illinois Springfield. As a schoolgirl I walked past the shop twice a day on North Grand Avenue. Heavenly smells!
I had no idea there were toaster ovens then! Gillian, I haven’t heard of a “Radar Range” in forty years. Wow. What memories. Somebody tell me how so many of that generation have lived into their eighties and nineties with food like that. My favorite donut shop? The one with the big donut on top of it in Los Angeles–remember it from 1950′s.
Love that red and white pack of Marlboro smokes, too. Could that “toaster oven” really be a stack of TV trays?
My fave donut stand is The Donut Hole of La Puente – an interactive enjoyment!
The Donut Hole was built in 1968, the two hollow ends fashioned from fiberglass and spanning 26 feet. One of a chain of five doughnut shops, this is the one that has survived. Plunked down in a typical store-jammed suburbia, the Hole’s digestive system is taxed as a stop-and-go stream of cars are gulped down and unceremoniously pooted out. The fresh-baked choices are arrayed within, trayed along interior windows. I recommend buying an assortment bag of orange topped, plain and glazed.
Yummy –
yes!!-those were the days -you could smoke, eat donuts ,no cell or cordless phones-eat what ever you wanted without feeling guilty-no food anxiety-just live life and whatever the results of your lifestyle-and if something negative came to pass,it was just the way is was—thomas gathman
favorite dounut stand -was at grand and harlem on the elmwood park side of harlem-next to goldblatts–dont know the name but it had dounuts floating in a lake and a guy in a boat picking them up and putting them in the boat–
My favorite donut stand is ABC Donuts in Downey. They rock!!
Oh yes this what we enjoyed every Saturday morning back in Buffalo NY 1952-1964! Bonnie and I ( twin ) walked down to the polich bakery where the donuts were absolutely huge, four times normal size filled with the must lushish custard you ever ate yur like. Yes we drank coffee right along with the adults, never an issue!Charles you were so good Xmas, just loved all the suites and everything else.
Lynn. Ps have you stole my heart but Doug says it is in a good way!
I don’t know why this picture makes me so happy. Perhaps because the trio look so happy. There’s nothing like good smokes, good coffee, good mush, good donuts, and good friends.
I wish milk cartons were still that colorful!
The Donut Hole in La Puente is one of my favorites. How fun is it to DRIVE through the center of a donut?? But my absolute favorite donut shop is the Donut Man on Route 66 in Glendora. Growing up, my family stopped by regularly. The fresh strawberry and fresh peach filled donuts are delicious (and SO unhealthy!).
I would love to subscribe to this site as I welcome anything that brings a warmth to my spirit, and this is right on target.
Charles, some of your pictures make me cry, but happy cry. They remind me so much of times with my dear ordinary comfortable family. Especially the dinnerware, table items, little details in the picture. Thanks for the little nudge to reminisce and thank the Big One in the sky (insert diety of choice) for all the donuts, coffee, cigarrettes and family times.
good morning! found you googling Streamland Park. Local pico guy from the 50′s… now in san diego, love to see more of it! thanks again. Rodney
Hi Charles: I enjoyed seeing this happy trio — I don’t know anyone who is remotely this joyful in the morning! My fave donut stand is “The Donut Man” located on historic Route 66 in the village of Glendora. The tiger tails are simply divine! Loved your Christmas show! — It’s our new family tradition! — L
I think that’s ‘son’ on the right. He’s home, on college break, for Christmas. He got ‘sis’ the sweatshirt she’s wearing as a present, and he’s wearing his gift from mom. Dad, on the left, is so happy and proud to have his kids with him at this time.
~ Cheers :~)
In the late 40′s to the 50′s we spent lots of time at STREAMLAND PARK with the music of Mexico in our ears as we played in the stream. if anyone wants to say hi and such I am found at Mac4TBH@yahoo.com and the family name is also flores from the old days.