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Washington circa 1920. "Peyse & Patzy[?]. Childs Restaurant." Acres of white tile for that hygienic, sanitary look. National Photo glass negative. View full size.
Looks more like a couple of minutes after 4 to me.
This place looks more like an autopsy room. It's kinda gross. I couldn't eat there. Way too cold, sterile, and ugly.
In keeping with the all-washable decor, the "Notice to Patrons" appears to be a classic reverse-painted glass sign. Fancy examples featured burnished gilding, "glue-chipped" and mirrored backgrounds, and lettering inlaid with mother-of-pearl. Surviving examples are expensive collectibles today.
Nice place, but where's the spittoons?
Restaurant walls covered in glazed tiles never went out of style in Southeast Asia. Two eateries that I frequent here in Bangkok look just like this.
Of course once you start to get cracks in all those pretty white tiles and the grout starts to mildew, the vibe goes from operating room to bus station bathroom, or worse. A la the dental office in "Brazil."
William and Samuel Childs began the Childs chain of restaurants in the late 19th century in New York City. Their restaurants were always white-tiled -- floors, ceilings, walls -- to give patrons an impression of sanitation and order. Some even put their cooks on display, preparing food in the front window both to entice hungry passers-by and to reassure them that their food was prepared in a sanitary manner.
After 1898 most Childs restaurants were self-service cafeterias, since this both cut operating costs and allowed customers to inspect the food before buying. (At the time it was believed that disease could be spread only by food that was obviously spoiled or dirty.) Those that weren't self-serve featured waitresses in crisp white uniforms.
Hat rack - coat hooks
Cut glass sugar bowls
Sign looks set into the wall or replacing a small window?
Table legs appear to be on blocks.
I'll bet there was an awful echo in the dining room, especially when someone broke a plate of oyster shells or rib-bones.
I think it's absolutely gorgeous. The acoustics are probably unbearable, though.
Cross White Castle with a New York City subway station, and their offspring might have looked like this.
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