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- A&W Drive-In Highway Sign, circa 1955 - Roy W. Allen ran a small walk-up root beer stand in California, then partnered with his employee Frank Wright. Together, "A" and "W" opened three subsequent root beer stands, then began selling franchises. By the 1930s, A & W's had taken the form of drive-ins -- among the country's earliest restaurants of that type. This sign beckoned customers from the highway.

- circa 1955
- Collections - Artifact
A&W Drive-In Highway Sign, circa 1955
Roy W. Allen ran a small walk-up root beer stand in California, then partnered with his employee Frank Wright. Together, "A" and "W" opened three subsequent root beer stands, then began selling franchises. By the 1930s, A & W's had taken the form of drive-ins -- among the country's earliest restaurants of that type. This sign beckoned customers from the highway.
- A&W Highway Sign for Drive-In Restaurant, circa 1965 - This A&W root beer mug sign stood along the roadside in Litchfield, Minnesota, in the 1960s. Similar signs enticed motorists during the drive-in boom years after the Second World War.

- circa 1965
- Collections - Artifact
A&W Highway Sign for Drive-In Restaurant, circa 1965
This A&W root beer mug sign stood along the roadside in Litchfield, Minnesota, in the 1960s. Similar signs enticed motorists during the drive-in boom years after the Second World War.
- Cars Parked Outside A&W Root Beer Stand, circa 1950 - From one small walk-up root-beer stand in 1919, A&W grew to cater to the drive-in customer. This photograph from about 1950 shows four cars crowded around the restaurant. By this time, customers didn't need to walk up to the stand; "tray girls" and "tray boys" provided eat-in-your-car service.

- circa 1950
- Collections - Artifact
Cars Parked Outside A&W Root Beer Stand, circa 1950
From one small walk-up root-beer stand in 1919, A&W grew to cater to the drive-in customer. This photograph from about 1950 shows four cars crowded around the restaurant. By this time, customers didn't need to walk up to the stand; "tray girls" and "tray boys" provided eat-in-your-car service.
- A&W Drive-in Restaurant, circa 1950 - "Tray girls" wait outside this A&W drive-in ready to serve customers in their cars.

- circa 1950
- Collections - Artifact
A&W Drive-in Restaurant, circa 1950
"Tray girls" wait outside this A&W drive-in ready to serve customers in their cars.
- Barrel-Shaped A&W Root Beer Stand, circa 1952 - This photograph shows one of the early A&W stands shaped like a root-beer barrel. The novel architecture was a way to attract customers driving by.

- circa 1952
- Collections - Artifact
Barrel-Shaped A&W Root Beer Stand, circa 1952
This photograph shows one of the early A&W stands shaped like a root-beer barrel. The novel architecture was a way to attract customers driving by.