Megan had grown tired of Don’s bossy nature and decides to draw the
line at…orange sherbet. Don’s frustration rises as their quarrel escalates, and
finally points out that if she didn’t like that flavor, there are plenty of
other options. Howard Johnson made sure of that.
Image credit:
http://www.nydailynews.com/polopoly_fs/1.1066177!/img/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_370/image.jpg
The
scene of the newlyweds fight is a Howard Johnson’s hotel, an extremely popular
chain in the 1960s and 70s. It is featured prominently throughout the episode,
and is used as a catalyst for the events that take place throughout the
episode. Howard Johnson’s was in fact, not originally a hotel. It instead goes
back to 1925, and an orange-roofer soda fountain and ice cream shop. It was
around this time that Mr. Johnson developed a secret formula for his ice cream,
off of which the success of the rest of the chain was built. Johnson began to
expand in the 1930s, beginning with a second store in Orleans, Massachusetts.
This was one of the first franchising agreements in American history. The restaurants became increasable
popular, and by 1954 there were over 400 Howard Johnson’s restaurants in 32
states. It wasn’t until 1959 that the company created the concept of Howard
Johnson Inns alongside highways, and they entered the hospitality business. This
is the primary reason for Don and Megan’s visit, as the company was looking for
a way to market their new hotels. The concept was successful throughout the next
couple of decades, up until Johnson sold the company to Imperial Group PLC for
over $630 million. The company is now part of Wyndham Worldwide, which still
operates many of the hotels. Only two of the original restaurants still remain,
one located in Lake Placid, New York and the other in Bangor, Maine.
Howard
Johnson’s was also known for its signature trademarks. Like Don pointed out to
Megan, there were 28 flavors of ice cream at every restaurant. Johnson as once quoted saying that the “28
became my trademark” at each of his venues. Each Howard Johnson’s also had a
district look. The roof and awning were typically a bright orange, as was most
of the furniture inside of the building. On top of each building was a
weathervane, which now can be bought for a few hundred dollars on eBay. The Howard Johnson logo was also found
on the weathervane. It featured an outline of Simple Simon and the Pieman,
sometimes lighting a light post.
These characteristics are featured prominently throughout the episode,
and played a role in Don’s meltdown throughout the night as he searched for
Megan. It’s too bad they ended up at a Howard Johnson’s, I doubt they could’ve
had the same fight at a Holiday Inn.
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