Pull up to the window, please, for a glimpse of an American icon: The drive-thru
WASHINGTON (AP) — Full disclosure: this should really be two tales. How better to pay tribute to the natural and perhaps inevitable combination of two distinctly American icons: fast food and cars? Those two massive sociological forces had already joined…
Two distinctly American icons, fast food and automobiles, have merged to create the drive-thru phenomenon. This fusion began early in the 20th century with the establishment of drive-in restaurants, a beloved sight depicted in the popular TV series "Happy Days." However, the true innovation emerged in the late 1940s, attributed to either In-N-Out Burger in California or Red's Giant Hamburg in Missouri. These establishments marked the birth of the drive-thru concept.
By the mid-1960s, the drive-thru had transformed into a booming American market. Companies like Jack in the Box revolutionized the concept by introducing standalone drive-thru restaurants without indoor seating or parking, aided by a talking mechanical clown to take orders. Meanwhile, Western states were home to chains like Wienerschnitzel, known for their unique A-frame structures featuring an entrance tunnel specifically designed for vehicles.
Written by urgent.news from Associated Press's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — it may contain errors, so check the original before relying on it.
