Long before Kalifornia was pushing a $15/hr minimum wage, I read about a hamburger machine that could produce 300 burgers an hour. This, combined with the order kiosk, eliminates humans. Kiosks never call in sick, or try to form a kiosk union.
Here is a cherished memory. Drive up A&W Fast Food, with the waitresses on roller skates. When we had enough money, dad would take mom and us seven kids to the A&W. With all the windows rolled down 3/4, the waitresses would hook the serving trays to the windows. I remember many, many Mama Burgers, Papa Burgers, and hundreds of delicious French fries, everywhere in the car.
I just checked A&W’s menu and to my surprise they still have Mama Burgers and Papa Burgers. I can’t believe a national brand would still use such traditional gender role affirming product names. I wonder when they phased out the roller skates?
We also have memories similar to that. Born and raised in San Francisco, the Mel's Drive-in restaurants had waitresses on roller skates. My girlfriend and I would enjoy sharing meals under $3 that were filling. One popular plate was the South-of-the-Border plate that had enchiladas rice and beans for $3. The main Mel's Drive-In restaurant we went to is featured in the movie "American Graffitti". Most were boarded up and torn down in the 1980's except for a couple sit-down locations.