The Mid Century Vault

Currently Playing: 022 Howard Johnson's

Welcome back to the Mid Century Vault! Pop culture historian Philip Mershon is here to take you on a journey through the fascinating history of Howard Johnson's. You'll learn all about how Howard Johnson's grew from a single soda fountain to a roadside empire with a thousand restaurants and five hundred motor lodges across the country. From their famous 28 flavors of ice cream and tasty fried clams to their iconic orange roofs and family-friendly atmosphere, this video explores what made HoJo's a beloved part of American road trip culture. We'll uncover the secrets behind their early success, the challenges they faced during WWII and the '70s oil crisis, and how a change in leadership and the rise of fast food led to their decline. Join us as we remember a true mid-century institution that's now just a memory. What are your favorite Howard Johnson's memories? Share them in the comments! Subscribe to the Mid Century Vault for more trips into pop culture history and cast your vote in the comments: chocolate or vanilla or any other flavor! If you'd like to further support my work, here's my buy me a coffee link: https://coff.ee/philipmershon For more Mid Century Vault adventures, just go here: https://www.youtube.com/user/philipmershon New episodes release every Friday and Sunday. If I could ask, please watch videos to the end, this really helps as much as liking and commenting, which, of course, helps like crazy. Thanks so much! #Howardjohnsons #HoJos #midcenturyvault #popculture #nostalgia