Howard Johnson 28 Flavors

Westwood Historical Society
Presents “Howard Johnson 28 Flavors”

Tuesday, January 10^th at 7:30 PM by Anthony Sammarco

For most of the twentieth century, the orange roof of Howard Johnson's was a familiar sight along the great American roadside. When a motorist spotted a
Howard Johnson's, he knew exactly what to expect - with standardized menus and building designs, a Howard Johnson's miles away felt as familiar and comforting
as the one back home. Howard Johnson restaurants,
in attractive Colonial Revival buildings sporting orange roofs and sea blue shutters, began to be franchised throughout the New England area. By the late 1930’s, with the popularity of the automobile, these restaurants were
opened on major roads and interstate highways where the travelling public could be assured of consistently high quality foods that were the same served locally
whether  in Maine or Florida. These franchised restaurants sprang up throughout the eastern seaboard serving the
same delicious Ipswich clams, grilled frankfurters, chops and steaks and twenty eight flavors of his famous ice cream. The restaurants became known as the
“Landmark for Hungry Americans.” 

Anthony M. Sammarco has been called "Boston's premier
amateur historian" by the Boston Globe. He has lectured frequently on local Boston history, writes newspaper columns for numerous newspapers, and is
the author of more than forty books on the history of Boston and surrounding cities and towns. His efforts to make history more accessible to the general
public have led to many awards and honors. He teaches history at the Urban College of Boston.