Paxton Tomlin

Fast Food Nation Chapter 1 Summary Chapter one presents a historical look back at post-World War II America and how the fast food phenomenon we know today all began. The main theme of this chapter deals with the booming economy of the time and how people made their dreams possible. The dreams in this chapter, of course, deal with people owning their own fast food restaurant, and how their hard work payed off. Schlosser explains how the automobile industry, specifically in Anaheim, caused a demand for quality food made fast. The booming economy also played a role in helping people who visioned of opening up their own fast food restaurant, a possibility. One man in particular, Carl Karcher, was a man who dreamed of owning a hot dog cart and transformed that cart into one of America's biggest fast food chains. Schlosser states, ““When Carl heard that a hot dog cart was for sale…… he decided to buy it”” (15). After borrowing $ 311 from the bank Carl opened his first hot dog stand selling ““hot dogs, chilli dogs, and tamales for a dime each”” (Schlosser 15). Carl had strong opposition from his wife Margaret, but he still insisted on buying the cart and even kept his job at a local bakery to keep money coming in. Already you see an example of a young man who has a dream and is working his way up to make it a reality. Carl's constant commitment to his hot dog cart business and determination would pay off because by 1944, ““Carl Karcher owned four hot dog carts in Los Angeles”” (Schlosser 18). Carl, the man who dropped out of school and moved to Anaheim, took out a loan for $311 dollars for one hot dog stand, and still worked a second job while raising his family now owned 4 hot dog stands. Carl who said he was ““in business for my self now”” and ““on my way”” (Schlosser 15) truly was on his way and made a small business as successful as anyone could wish, all do to his hard work, dedication, and the help of the automobile in American society. Now Carl was ready to take his hot dog cart business to the next level. ““When a restaurant across the street from the Heinz farm went on sale, Carl decided to buy it”” (Schlosser 18). Carl spent countless hours restoring and prepping his new barbeque drive-in to be as success. Carl would do the cooking during the day while his wife worked the cash register. Once again Carl's devotion towards going above and beyond is shown, when you find out that he would ““stay late into the night cleaning the bathrooms and mopping the floor”” (Schlosser 18). By telling us of how Carl always put forth his time into his business, such as making his own secret sauce and bottling them selfsame (Schlosser18), we see a progression of Carl's vision from one cart to one whole restaurant. Of course, what would business be without the customers? Again this idea Schlosser presents of how the American economy helped boost these restaurants is shown. Schlosser states, ““After World War II, business soared at Carl's Drive-In Barbeque along with the economy of southern California”” (18). Carl was a man who studied up on the new trends that America was getting into and used this to his advantage. Already we see how Carl has used his wits to be successful, but it isn't until he used the new car culture in America, that we see him become what he was destined to become from the start. ““Carl instinctively grasped the new car culture would forever change America. He saw what was coming and his timing was perfect”” (Schlosser 21). In 1956 Carl opened the first Carl's Jr. restaurant opened and with the help of the interstate systems, became such a success that Carl opened a whole chain of restaurants. ““Thirty-five years after buying his first hot dog cart, Carl Karcher now controlled one of the largest privately owned fast food chains in the United States. Schlosser's main point in this chapter was to give a little history on the birth of fast food in America. By doing so, he also shows how people had dreams and followed them to form them into a successful business. Although there were many people mentioned in the chapter, Schlosser's story of Carl was the prime example of a person who made their dream a reality. Through heard work, studying, and good planning Carl Karcher was able to make the fast food empire he envisioned become a reality.
Works Cited Page

Schlosser, Eric. Fast Food Nation: The Dark Side of the All-American Meal. New York: Houghton Mifflin, 2001. Print.