Klarinet Archive - Posting 000364.txt from 2005/04

From: Jim and Joyce <Lande_family@-----.net>
Subj: [kl] White Castle -- was Dan in Kansas (or somewhere in the midwest)
Date: Fri, 22 Apr 2005 23:21:54 -0400

Dan Leeson wrote: I think America is losing its cultural
values by tearing down all the White
Castle places.

I think my dad once pointed out a White Castle but I don't recall ever being in one. I believe that they were the first chain restaurant. Until the mid 1980s, the Washington DC area had a chain called "Little Tavern". I have heard that they were the second hamburger chain. These were small places with white enameled steel on the walls -- inside & out -- and green enameled steel roofs. They sold tiny burgers with the slogan "Buy 'em by the bag" and they were referred to as "the club LT" or "the porceline palace". When I was in college, they and Dunkin Donuts were the only places that were open all night. I think the employees all looked like old winos. You didn't go there for small talk.

The chain was bought by an outfit that also owned some Fudruckers franchises. The first thing they did was ditch the name and turn stores into sandwich shops. It didn't work and I think the stores got sold off one by one. There are two buildings in Arlington that are still somewhat recognizable.

Of course, my children don't know about the White Castles or the Little Taverns. However, driving back and forth to college in Vermont, my son always wants to stop on the New Jersey Turnpike and patronize the Roy Rogers. There used to be some in the neighborhood, so it is a big nostalgia thing for him.

I'm trying to think of a clarinet tie-in. Since Dan started this, I was thinking maybe something about 'dark tone'. Sadly, the club L.T. burger was fameous for having gray hamburgers inside the buns.

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