I’ve mentioned before my love (or rather need) for watching travel documentaries. Well, I was perusing the ol’ library stacks a while looking for something about India, when I came across a travel documentary about Rhode Island. What better way to get to know your new home, than to watch a low-budget movie about it? I thought. So I got it, and watched it, and that has already come in handy because on Sunday I went and watched the ceremonial burning of the H.M.S. Gaspee (more on that later).
The DVD (yes, it was actually a DVD), also included a glimpse of The American Diner Museum in Lincoln, RI. Diners apparently started in Rhode Island: “It is generally agreed that the first diner was a horse-drawn wagon equipped to serve hot food to employees of the Providence Journal, in Providence, Rhode Island, in 1872. Walter Scott who ran the lunch wagon had previously supplemented his income by selling sandwiches and coffee to his fellow pressmen at the Journal from baskets he prepared at home. Commercial production of lunch wagons began in Worcester, Massachusetts, in 1887. The first manufactured lunch wagons with seating appeared throughout the Northeastern US in the late 19th century, serving busy downtown locations without the need to buy expensive real estate. It is generally accepted that the name “diner” as opposed to “lunch wagon” was not widely used before 1925.”– Wikipedia.
So they created a museum to honor this contribution to eating, and showcase the history of the loveable institution of “the diner.” Sounds great to me.
A while ago my Jewish Friend and I were driving home from a super-fun-adventure-Sunday hiking in Purgatory Chasm and then eating ice cream. It was early, and we still felt like more adventures could be had. So I pulled out Susan, the trusty GPS and asked her for a list of local attractions.
“Ohhhh, The American Diner Museum.” I said, “I just watched a travel documentary about that. Do you want to go there?”
“What is it?”
“It’s like a tribute to the American Diner.”
“Sounds good.”
Susan was not on her game that day and she made us drive in circles for quite a while leading Jewish Friend to yell out, “Why is she making us drive in circles? Doesn’t she know how expensive gas is?” Finally, we found the museum, and found it to be closed. There were no posted hours on the building, nor did the recording give me any when I called them. So we went home.
The following day, I found their website which promises: “Visitors to the Museum’s permanent home will be able learn the history of the diner through interactive video and exhibits commemorating the numerous diner manufacturers. The Museum’s reference library will provide access to manufacturers’ literature and records, a registry of diners and a collection of photographs and artifacts.” Except there are no posted hours on the website either. So I sent them a politely worded email. I thought maybe, it’s only open during the summer months, and we had visited too early.
The email bounced back– three times.
So I called them, and left a politely-worded voicemail explaining that I’m new to the area, saw the museum on a travel documentary, and would simply love to come visit if they would only tell me when I can actually get into the building. No response.
Now, I have to ask, what is the point of having a museum that no one can visit? Do I need to be a part of a documentary crew in order to get inside? Someone must be paying the phone bill, so why is he or she not checking messages?
I was fully prepared to visit this establishment, appreciate the contribution that my adopted home of Rhode Island made to food service, marvel at olde tymey cooking gadgets, and then leave satisfied and say nice things about it to other people– no more. I fully intend to scoff every time someone else brings it up and say something like “good luck getting in.”
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June 17, 2008 at 11:13 pm
nederlandsk
maybe they gave up after having an epiphany about how stupid their museum soudned
June 20, 2008 at 2:18 am
daniel Zilka
Dear ladyandria,
We are very sorry to hear of your disappointment in not being able to visit an exhibit at the American Diner Museum.
Please visit our website and do have a second read ….
The copy clearly states,
Although the museum does not have a permanent exhibit space yet, we consider every diner to be a living museum. Our goal is to create a permanent home for our collection along with a working vintage vintage diner.
Visitors to the Museum’s permanent home will be able learn the history of the diner through interactive video and exhibits commemorating the numerous diner manufacturers. The Museum’s reference library will provide access to manufacturers’ literature and records, a registry of diners and a collection of photographs and artifacts.
Although we do not have an exhibit space at this time, we are involved in many activities that help to preserve diner and diner culture. What is the sole point of merely visiting a historic diner under a bell jar if you cannot smell, taste and hear what an actual operating diner is all about.
If you are really serious about learning more about the American Diner Museum, please do send another email or leave a message and we’d love to chat with you about our mission.
info@americandinermuseum.org
May I also you suggest that you visit our blog to see some of our work to preserve diners and diner culture.
http://hickeysdinerrestoration.blogspot.com/
Have you ever had a visit to the Toaster Museum http://www.toaster.org/
June 20, 2008 at 12:25 pm
ladyandria
Other reasons The American Diner Museum and I are now enemies:
the website clearly states: “Although the museum does not have a permanent exhibit space yet, we consider every diner to be a living museum. Our goal is to create a permanent home for our collection along with a working vintage vintage diner.
Visitors to the Museum’s permanent home will be able learn the history of the diner through interactive video and exhibits commemorating the numerous diner manufacturers. The Museum’s reference library will provide access to manufacturers’ literature and records, a registry of diners and a collection of photographs and artifacts.
Although we do not have an exhibit space at this time, we are involved in many activities that help to preserve diner and diner culture. What is the sole point of merely visiting a historic diner under a bell jar if you cannot smell, taste and hear what an actual operating diner is all about.”
Basically, when you visit the permanent space, you will see cool things– except that it doesn’t exist. I think that copy could be written better. Also, what the hell was the museum that I saw of the DVD documentary?
Then:
“If you are really serious about learning more about the American Diner Museum, please do send another email or leave a message and we’d love to chat with you about our mission.”
I was really serious the first time I emailed and called, I’m done trying.
The email doesn’t work anyway.
Plus:
“Since 1996, the American Diner Museum has been focused on celebrating and preserving the cultural and historical significance of the American diner, a unique American institution. The museum also hopes to recognize and share the importance of diners nationally and internationally.”
So what in the world has this museum been doing for the last 12 years? What is a museum without exhibit space, a website that tries to sell me coffee, an email that doesn’t work, and a phone number where you can leave a message and no one gets back to you?
I’m baffled.
That toaster museum sounds like a winner though.
June 20, 2008 at 12:47 pm
nederlandsk
awful strong words for a diner museum curator
June 20, 2008 at 11:07 pm
ladyandria
Also, to be a complete asshole:
“Our goal is to create a permanent home for our collection along with a working vintage vintage diner.”
two vintages make it extra vintage?
Speaking of questions:
“What is the sole point of merely visiting a historic diner under a bell jar if you cannot smell, taste and hear what an actual operating diner is all about.”
A sentence that begins with ‘what’ typically ends with a question mark.
I’m not usually a copyediting Nazi, but when I’m chastised by someone because I was mislead by his poorly-written website, and implied promise of a response to my email and phone queries– I tend to seek out these small victories and exploit them.
June 21, 2008 at 10:08 pm
nederlandsk
what is the sole point of visiting a diner museum, is my fucking question
June 25, 2008 at 11:57 am
nederlandsk
no seriously mr zilka, what say you now?
July 14, 2008 at 12:18 pm
ladyandria
This just gets more and more interesting: http://www.dinermuseum.com/
July 22, 2008 at 2:01 pm
Keith Walker
Ladyandria, Sorry for your no go on the diner museum. I had a similar experience when I tried to visit. No matter, If you ever make it to Utah, you can tour the totally restored 1939 Road Island Diner. It has a great history and the website is http://www.roadislanddiner.com–Keith
August 11, 2008 at 12:07 am
Randy Garbin
Welcome to the club. The list of enemies of this sham museum is pretty long by now, so you’re in very good (and very disheartened) company.
August 11, 2008 at 1:55 am
Ron
I may regret jumping into this discussion, but here goes.
I recall when the Diner Museum was first proposed. As a huge fan of diners, I looked forward to it with great anticipation. It seemed like a wonderful idea, particularly at a time when diners were fading fast. It also sort of legitimized my weird (or so it seemed at that time) obsession with diners. But then things started to happen, or rather, as you have noticed, not happened.
Much has been written and rumored about this nascent “museum,” but your post gets right to the heart of it; a museum without a permanent exhibit space, particularly after all these years, is anything but a museum. Unlike Mr. Zilka, MOMA won’t ask you to visit the studios of various artists so that you can find yourself steeped in “artist culture.”
Unlike others, I have not investigated the actual charter of the Diner Museum to see how it was incorporated as a not-for-profit organization, however, it seems clear that a “museum,” by most people’s definition, is a place…not just a state of mind.
If Mr. Zilka and his Board of Directors have decided that the main function of the ADM is to salvage and sell diners, then I might suggest that they, at the very least, find a new name for their enterprise, so that others won’t suffer the same fate you did.
Ron
August 18, 2008 at 1:29 am
Gary
I just don’t understand what Mr. Zilka is going to do with such huge amounts of diner memorabilia,artifacts,etc. 12 yrs. of collecting is a long time! Why not donate it to the REAL Diner Museum at Johson & Wales? that way at least then everyone could see all the cool things he’s amassed and still come out smelling like a rose instead of a skunk!
August 21, 2008 at 1:40 pm
Thom Ring
Speaking of Johnson & Wales, you should check out its museum. Not only does it have an interesting exhibit of diner-related items as well as an under-refurbishment actual diner, there’s much in the way of vintage – not vintage vintage – kitchen and cooking equipment representing the evolution of cooking technology – not to mention one of the coolest bars I’ve seen.
My daughter and I recently dined at the Liberty Elm and then visited the diner. We got a taste (pardon the pun) of “what an actual operating diner is all about,” first at a great diner not that far away. The Seaplane also would provide such an experience of a slightly-later vintage.
I think of a museum as a place – not an excuse to take money and sound important. Perhaps if they were “really serious about the…American Diner Museum,” they would find a way to make their “manufacturers’ literature and records, a registry of diners and a collection of photographs and artifacts,” available to the public.
Oh well. Don’t be too hard on Rhode Island. You ain’t seen nuttin’ yet.
April 15, 2009 at 5:06 pm
John
Just the Web Site should be warning!
No info! No Photos, just coffee for sale.
May 21, 2009 at 4:26 pm
i smell a skunk and a cheat
The ADM is obviously a scam, and the person running the scam is obviously getting away with some sort of non-profit status and “private” collection of diner parts that were stolen from unsuspecting and/or down and out former diner owners. This ADM is just a front for an actual business where this guy plays the middle man. He make’s a living off of this yet pays no taxes under the guise on the non-existent, non profit entity he calls the American Diner Museum.
Take note…and go visit the Johnson & Wales diner exhibit under the curation of Richard Gutman – it’s really a treat.
July 19, 2009 at 5:41 pm
cbcodder
I also to my dismay had “business” with Dan Zilka, which cost me years
in time to restore my diner. My original diner had a fire which completely
destroyed it, Mr. Zilka convinced me to DONATE it to the American Diner
Museum, at no cost to me to have it moved, I have a letter to this on the
AMD stationary. Unfortunately, I had to have it moved at a cost to me of
$14,500 to travel less than 50 miles, to Westport, Mass where it now sits
and rots with no cover on it to protect. The owner of the property where
it sits, a former member of AMD board of directors, is being troubled to by
the town to move it. Mr. Zilka has taken many items supposedly for and in
the name of this nonfunctional museum. It amazes me that he still is
pulling off cons in the name of the AMD. This man has hurt alot of people
in the diner industry with his stealing of artifacts from under their noses. I
challenge him to list these donations make them known and available to
the public to see not keep them or sell them privately for his own self gain.
I believe he still has Vermont license plates on his vehicle claiming residence at his brother’s house and living for years in RI in his girlfriend’s
house which is supposed to be the museum!!