The Automat

This documentary centers on an artifact that seems culled from the futuristic universe of The Jetsons: The Automat, brainchild of entrepreneurs Joseph Horn and Frank Hardart. A vending machine offering fresh cooked meals for a nickel in a commissary-style eatery, the Automat became a staple of New York and Philadelphia city life from 1902 to 1991. Included is a Mel Brooks' song, specially composed for the film.