There’s something undeniably sweet and innocent about the idea of a 1950s diner. The doo-wop music streaming from the jukebox, the teenagers hanging around in poodle skirts and pompadours, sharing milkshakes with two straws and comparing classic cars that no one yet knew were classic… the aesthetic sentiment of that era isn’t often found in contemporary restaurants, but it’s easy to recreate at home.
Look closely enough and you’ll find that your local Target, Walmart or kitchen goods store has basic items reminiscent of the bobby sox decade’s diner staples, from pinwheel-style straw dispensers to simple ketchup and mustard bottles and napkin dispensers. Of course, options for finding them online are nearly limitless as well.
And if it’s true kitsch you’re after, this MP3-playing jukebox might not exactly be the real deal, but it and lots of its contemporaries can lend the look of the 50s (not to mention the tunes) without the actual financial and square footage investment required to install an actual working relic.
In the end, Peggy Sue may have gotten married and Sandy, Danny and The Fonz may be all grown up, but there’s no reason not to gather up your Pink Ladies and Thunderbirds for an occasional sock hop in the kitchen. Order’s up!
Photo credits: Lonely Planet, Pfaltzgraff, Hero’s Welcome, Turbosquid and Wotever UK
