Author: Nicolai Grossman

THE DINER SHOW @ kmoca ON SATURDAY

this saturday
august 5th, 5-7pm

kmoca is pleased to present

THE DINER SHOW
images of the diner in art

this is kmoca’s first group show, but first…

A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE AMERICAN DINER

Amidst the hustle and bustle of 19th century American urban life, the diner was born.

What started as a basket with sandwiches and coffee became a lunch wagon that could remain open late into the night when proper restaurants were closed. As the popularity of such wagons grew, several companies began improving upon their design so as to allow customers to come in out of the elements.

As local governments began passing ordinances governing the operation of these wagons on city streets, some vendors began setting up in semi-permanent locations. It became common to do business out of old trolleys or dining cars taken from railway trains. The word "diner" itself is an abbreviation of "dining car."

The classic streamlined design was something that began to appear in the 1930s as diners tried to improve their image. Diners were something that were often able to stay in business during the Depression because they were an affordable place to eat.

The boom times after World War II created an even greater demand for diners, and new man-made materials that had been developed during the war (Formica etc.) went into commercial production and were quickly utilized in diners throughout the country.

As America entered the Space Age in the 1950s, styles changed with the times. Diners which had started out as railway cars not long before were displaying details that would look more at home on a rocket ship.

This same time period saw a vast increase in chain restaurants. Diners would have a tough time competing with franchised fast food places, so by the 1970s many diners were shifting gears once again and trying to appear more like restaurants in order to stay in business.

In recent years, nostalgia has prompted many diners to return to earlier designs. Chain restaurants have also gotten into the act and many are designed to be reminiscent of the classic American diner.

One thing that hasn’t changed since the invention of the diner is the most obvious: people gotta eat. Whether it’s midday or midnight, there are thankfully still plenty of independently owned diners right here in our area, dishing out that comfort food that helps keep us feeling at home in our hometowns.

KINGSTON IS A DINER TOWN

We’ve lost some over the years. A family favorite on Academy Green is now a dialysis clinic. The Elm Diner on Greenkill was carted away years ago. The Royal went eastward to Springfield, Vermont a couple of years ago—we ate there recently, it’s doing fine.

We still have a wonderful variety to choose from. Dietz is a perennial favorite. Broadway Lights did the retro thing and came out on top. Check out the Trolley Diner on East Chester if you want to get a real glimpse into diner history.

There are many nearby diners that are well worth checking out, most notably The Red Hook Diner.

Lunch counters may be slightly different creatures, but favorites like Dallas Hot Weiners certainly have the same spirit and are worth including.

WHAT DOES THIS ALL HAVE TO DO WITH KMOCA?

This is KMOCA’s first group show. We wanted it to be inclusive, which is one reason we picked diners as a theme:

Diners are for everyone, and so is this show. The show features the work of about a dozen artists. photographs, paintings, sandblasted images, sculpture and more… please join us for the opening reception this Saturday, the show runs until August 26.

People who might want to be involved in future group shows at KMOCA are invited to come to this first group show to introduce themselves. And all diner fans are especially welcome.

kingston museum of contemporary arts
105 Abeel Street, Kingston
regular hours Saturdays 12 – 4pm

www.kmoca.org

for more info about diners, there are many websites to choose from.
www.dinermuseum.org for example is where much of the preceding
information was gleaned.

**************************************************
SAVE THE DATE:
Monday night, August 14th
kmoca presents a live performance by Austin-based PETER & THE WOLF a band which is saving fuel costs by touring by sailboat, no kidding.

Via gardengal