Carhops serve fast food to people in their cars at drive-in restaurants. Generally, carhops work on foot, but they may also use roller skates, as seen in movies such as American Graffiti and on television shows such as Happy Days. They are often associated with hot rods.
The first carhops appeared in Dallas, Texas, in 1921, when automobiles began to increase. A businessman named J.G. Kirby and a physician named R.W. Jackson decided to take advantage of the fact that many people owned cars and more were on their way. They realized that many drivers preferred not to get out of their cars to eat. They opened a restaurant called the Pig Stand, which had male carhops from its inception. The term itself, a play on ‘bellhop,’ was first used in print in 1937. Early carhop uniforms were necessary, as many drive-ins were competing, and something eye-catching was considered gamesmanship. An owner often chose a theme, such as a military or an airline theme, a space-age theme, or a cheerleader theme.
During World War II, women soon replaced male carhops because men left their jobs to join the military, and restaurants found that carhop girl sold more food than boys. When men returned to the civilian workforce in the late 1940s and 1950s, pretty girls were viewed as attracting loiterers. With the advent of drive-through service in the mid-1960s, the number of carhops dramatically declined. Some original drive-in stands and nostalgic fast-food establishments still employ carhops, mostly in smaller and rural towns. Sonic Drive-In still employs carhops at most of its over 3,600 restaurants. There has been a resurgence of carhop franchises in recent years, with some cashing in on nostalgia and memories of baby boomers. Today, aluminum window trays are still manufactured for carhops.
