"Filet Mignon, French Fries....$1.50"
Hey, how about that menu for the Restaurant Felix???
So, is it 325 E. 46th St.? or 325 W. 46th St.?? (slight mistake on the prop menu - - should have said East or West 46th.)
I'm going to guess West, which would put the place between 8th and 9th Ave. 325 E 46th St. is over between 1st and 2nd avenues - - I don't know, too far from mid-town?
sounds tasty to me.
Season's Greetings!
That menu is one of my favorite details in this charming movie.
Hey, how about that menu for the Restaurant Felix???Good catch, jackboot. Strangely enough, both Broadway and Hollywood were good at keeping a sort of "code" alive when celebrating NYC. Apparently, when you lived in NYC (as opposed to just visiting NYC), you KNEW where things were by neighborhood or district. (I'm sure it's the same today). For instance --- "Miracle on 34th St." --- no mention of East or West --- but people living in NYC would automatically know that Macy's was located on W. 34th St. Same with "42nd St." --- NYC residents would know that those theaters were on W. 42nd St.
So, is it 325 E. 46th St.? or 325 W. 46th St.?? (slight mistake on the prop menu - - should have said East or West 46th.)
I'm going to guess West, which would put the place between 8th and 9th Ave. 325 E 46th St. is over between 1st and 2nd avenues - - I don't know, too far from mid-town?
It could have been based on Lüchow's, the famous German restaurant on East 14th Street which opened in 1882.
My father was Chef there in the late Fifties and early Sixties, and I am looking at a menu right now from May 1957, and there is:
Gypsy Goulash with Buttered Spätzle
My father was Chef there [Lüchow's] in the late Fifties and early Sixties, and I am looking at a menu right now from May 1957How cool is that, kelkyl ?
Hi viaggio,
As you mentioned people have regularly called it Loo - Chow's. Even Frank Sinatra, in “On The Town (1949)”, suggests to go to Loo - Chow's when he and Gene Kelly arrive in NYC.
But Lüchow's has an umlaut over the "u", so it is properly pronounced LeShow's.
My father, who was German-born, used to joke that people, unfamiliar with NYC's most famous German restaurant, would think he was chef at a Chinese restaurant!
My father, who was German-born, used to joke that people, unfamiliar with NYC's most famous German restaurant, would think he was chef at a Chinese restaurant!Hi kelkyl --- thanks for sharing your Dad's reminiscences of the era !
But Lüchow's has an umlaut over the "u", so it is properly pronounced LeShow's.OK, but how did your German-born Dad pronounce the name ?
Hi viaggio,
You have it correct: Loo-shose. That is the pronunciation that I heard, not only my father, but Mr. Jan Mitchell, the owner, use.
You can see pictures of my father as Chef at Lüchow's at:
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=Zahn&GSiman=1&GSst=11&GRid=126661047&;
He had a very interesting life, and with Christmas coming up I miss him that much more. He made a great Stollen, and around this time would make dozens at home to give as gifts for friends and family.
You can see pictures of my father as Chef at Lüchow's at:What a fascinating life your Dad led, kelkyl !
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=Zahn&GSiman=1&GSst=11&GRid=126661047&;
Just finished watching this fun romp of a movie again. Thanks for the link regarding your father's fascinating life. Luchow's could very well be the restaurant referred to in the film; thanks for sharing!
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The assumption is the west side. The address to Felix's restaurant would put it smack in the middle of Restaurant Row. While that moniker didn't become official until the early 70s, that particular block was known for it's restaurants long before even Christmas in Connecticut was made.
share$1.50 in 1945 equals $21.00 in 2018. Still, a pretty good deal for filet mignon and french fries.
shareConsidering a burger was 10 cents back then.
shareMy wife and I just (Dec. 2022) paid $27.50 for two burgers, fries, and one Pepsi, at a regular fast-food joint, not some fancy restaurant. I'm going to start brown-bagging.
shareTell me about it, considering only 15-20 years ago you could get two burgers with fries and drinks for $5. Not to mention the price of ice cream and donuts today. A few months ago, I paid $3 for a muffin and glass of milk at a pie place. Just to think fast food like pizza, hot dogs, ....was once considered" poor people's food". Boy are those days gone. At most places, a fountain drink is almost $2.
shareExactly. "Fast food" has always been known as cheap food. Now you've got to really think about if you want to spend that much. Forget about actual restaurants!
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