THE AUTOMAT

April 15, 17, 21, 28, and May 5, 2022
THE AUTOMAT
$11 General Admission & $8 OFS members
Directed by former Olympia Film Society board member Lisa Hurwitz and featuring an original new song written and performed by Mel Brooks, THE AUTOMAT tells the 100-year story of the iconic restaurant chain Horn & Hardart, the inspiration for Starbucks, where generations of Americans ate and drank coffee together at communal tables. From the perspective of former customers entertainer Mel Brooks, Starbucks founder Howard Schultz, Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Secretary of State Colin Powell, the Horns, the Hardarts, and key employees – we watch a business climb to its peak success and then grapple with fast food in a forever changed America.
Dir: Lisa Hurwitz / 2021 / US / 79 min

“The delight of The Automat… is its blend of social and intellectual history with its anecdotal history—its evocation of the links between intention, practice, and experience; its depiction of a largely lost aesthetic of daily life.” – Richard Brody, New Yorker

“Even if you’ve never had the pleasure of eating in an Automat, Hurwitz brings the experience to life.” – Stephanie Zacharek, TIME Magazine

“This enjoyable movie gets to the core of the Automat’s significance, cutting to the core of its social impact on New York and the changing world we live in.” – Rex Reed, Observer

SCREENING: FRI 4/15 4PM; SUN 4/17 7PM; THU 4/21 4PM; THU 4/28 7PM; THU 5/5 4PM

CURRENT COVID PROTOCOLS 

Upon entry, all patrons must be 5+ and show proof of full vaccination (card or photo/screenshot of card) with matching ID before entry. Fully vaccinated means 14 days or more after your second dose. No exceptions.

OFS covid protocols remain unchanged for indoor masking and proof of full vaccination for all guests, volunteers, and staff for all events in the Capitol Theater. Protocols will stay in place at least through April 30, 2022. The theater is currently selling at 100% capacity, 762 seats.

Due to the continuing COVID-19 threat, it is critical to continue protecting and supporting those individuals who are immunocompromised or medically vulnerable, or who remain concerned for their own health or the health of their family or community. OFS encourages people to be kind and compassionate to individuals, students and businesses that choose to continue wearing face masks.

For more information, please see our operations announcement.