Another EX Fotomat employee here! Worked there when I was in college. The yellow roofs were not attached to the blue base; the roof just sat atop. A lady in a camper pulled up to the store and ripped the entire roof off! Broke all the windows and I was covered in glass. She apologized for the mess and took off. Was robbed a couple of times also but most of my customers paid by check so not much cash. Your presentation was spot on and your facts are accurate. Thanks for the memories!
Such memories! Another Fotomate here. No accidents, but I did get a fair share of kids prank calling the Fotomats. I worked as a "floater" so I filled in different stores. I heard the same kids on those prank calls in every different store I worked in.
There was a fotomat nearby in town that my parents used all the time in the 80s. In the mid 90s it turned into a locksmith. In the early 2000's it became a coffee hut and then briefly sold shaved ice. Today it's a drive through gyro and chili dog hut. It's fascinating to see the transformation and I'm happy that it continues to live on
There was one in the community I grew up in in the Kmart parking lot. Sometime in the 80d it closed and the building dat vacant until the early 90s, I think, and was then torn down.
I vaguely remember a non Disney amusement park that tied its wandering photographers and ride camera into a “Faux Toe Mat “ kiosk that included a basic camera store , one hour photos, and shipped photos services for customers coming closer to closing time
I think we still have one up in the nebro area by me. Its like a lil tobacco shop LOL OF COURSE. They mainly sell blunts and cigs. never been there, just walked/drove past it a thousand times on my way to the city.
I've been following Mickey Views for a long time and just want to note how impressive Brayden's content has gotten. As a narrator his speech has become crystal clear and enticing, his visuals and transitions flow perfectly, and the entire direction and organization of ideas is presented well. Inspiring to see a kid (seemingly) teach himself all of these skills and produce such quality as an adult.
What a nice walk down memory lane for us older people. I remember the Fotomat stores and the "photo processing technology" evolution from 1 week to 1 day to 1 hour. I still know of several former Fotomat locations that are now, of all things, ATM kiosk locations in the middle of parking lots.
I never used the Fotomat kiosks, myself, but I remember them in the mid-1980's when I was a young adu.t. Mostly, this reminds me of how much picture-taking has evolved over my life time. I remember when instamatics first came out and the mini-cameras (what were they called?), which was my own first camera. I also remember flash-cubes (though I only had one, on that mini-camera) and just all the fuss of taking pictures. How you'd take a couple of shots because you never knew for sure which would come out. You couldn't check at the time, you know. It's really amazing how quickly it's evolved.
OMG....so many memories here! I worked at a shopping center with a Fotomat and had the employees use our restroom. In fact one of those employees became my best friend! She loved her job and was devastated when her location closed. Brayden.... another compelling video. Thanks.
I worked for Fotomat in 1982 till 1983. I remember at orientation they told us to go through ALL developed photos before customers picked them up to ensure quality. I saw tons of drunk, nude pics, but most were pretty boring. Sitting in those boxes in the middle of parking lots was tiresome. Great video. I had forgotten Fotomat.
I was a Fotomate in the mid-80's. When the first 1-hour Fox Photo opened a few blocks away, we all knew our days were numbered. As the business dwindled, I thought myself to juggle, sitting in the booth, every day.
@@fischergriess6321 LOL - Funny that you went there. I filled three empty film canisters with some pebbles and sand from a nearby planter. I will say, learning with those made the transition to balls and beanbags a piece of cake.
I am old enough to remember these, and when I was a kid I loved the days when my mom would take us on what she called “car errands,” because she never actually had to leave the car! We’d hit the Fotomat, go to the bank and use the super-cool pneumatic tube system, go through the car wash, and end with hitting the McDonald’s drive-thru to grab dinner. Thanks for the dose of nostalgia! Liked & subbed.
DAAAAAAAMMMMMMMNNNNNN... Do I feel REALLY OLD now, when he said "even though I wasn't ever personally alive to see a Photomat"! LOL!!!! I used to go to the one in Denton, ANNNNNDDDDD the FOX PHOTO (like the one in BTTF), with my Mom and Dad to get our photos developed. And YES, he hits the nail RIGHT ON THE HEAD, when he said it was an exciting thing to open up that photo envelop and take those newly developed photos out and see all of your COOL memories, RIGHT THERE!
I grew up with Fotomat. My grandfather turned one into his on locksmith shop at the local mall in Indiana. I never knew the history of Fotomat until tonight. Thank you for this great documentary! Well done! ❤️
3:22 - Love the Datsun Fairlady Roadster in that image!!! I hated riding in my older brother's 2000 as a pre-teen. Little did I know then how fun they were to drive and what a beautiful classic it would become!!!
Great show! I worked in a Fotomat back in 1985. Not the kiosk kind, but a small store, carved out of another store in Brooklyn, NY. We didn't even have our own bathroom. I had to lock the door and go through a back door that led into the host store to use a bathroom. Fun times! My wife (who was my girlfriend at the time) worked in the host store.
My very-first job as a teenager was working in a Fotomat over 40 years ago... I worked at 2 of them, one in Sunnyvale, which was closer, and one in Mt. View, which though farther, wasn't as busy & was therefore easier for me to cope with.
Man, the production value of everything Brayden touches is OUTSTANDING! I predict we will be seeing his research and production talents far beyond TH-cam in the future!!!
My dear Brayden, you have done it again...an excellent piece of documentary about the little Fotomats in the 60s to the 80s. I didn't know these existed and you really opened my eyes to them and how quickly they launched, became famous and then fell. I also love how you really did your research and showed us what these little huts looked like as well as the founder and his criminal background into what had happened. I am looking forward to your next one in the future Brayden as I love these informative documentaries that really opened my eyes. I actually learned about how the 1-hour photo labs were created and how they really expanded quickly. I also love how you talk slowly, clearly, and informative without sounding too complex as you talked to us in plain English as well as not straying off the path. Thank you again for a very interesting, informative Documentary and please Brayden, don't stop doing what you are doing!
Brayden has been proving himself to be an extreme talented communicator/searcher. Your work is amazing and I just want to congratulate you for the work. I could feel the amount of dedication. Editing and content is close to perfection.
Wonderful presentation! I grew up with the Fotomat kiosks all around the city. I had no idea of the true story of them all. I commend you on your investigation of the company and sordid conspirators involved. It just seemed like a cool place to develop film. You are really on the right track presenting us with stories of the backgrounds of things we just accepted and used without question. I can't wait to see what is next on this channel. You are amazing in getting to the root of stories and I wait with baited breath what lies ahead. Fotomat was such a mundane staple of mall society and here is the story full of intrigue and criminal intent. All I can say is Bravo!!!
This made a subject I never would have cared about seem interesting. Beyond entertainment, the content was so clearly structured and perfectly paced that I could parrot the story to another. That is the mark of a leader owning his content. Bravo 👏🏼
I went to and used Fotomat all the time. I still have tons of pictures and negatives in the envelope package they came in. What an interesting episode you created. Well done! I’d love to be able to text message a bunch of pictures to Foromat and go pickup the pictures. I haven’t seen a printed, new picture of anything in years. I miss that a lot.
Wow i used to think you're just that kid who does some Disney stuff ....but i was wrong...you are a true professional who is a spectacular storyteller and filmmaker congratulations on this amazing series!
Whew! I hadn't thought of Fotomat in a loooong time. My sister worked in one for a few weeks back in the day. That footage of the stewardess lighting a man's cigarette! wow. I am old enough to remember when there were smoking sections in planes, on the city bus and at _hospitals_ ! This was really a trip down memory lane...and an interesting story, too.
You could smoke anywhere on a plane my father was a engineer with the old eastern airlines the planes air filters were changed daily he brought one home to show my sister that had recently started smoking she saw that sticky tarry mess and quit right away .
Awesome job, Brayden. As a teen in the '80's the golden roofs were fixtures of my Suburbia growing up. In fact, a few of my friends worked there. There were times a group of us would visit them while working as the early fall were slow times and they were bored with nothing to do. Spring and Summer were busy as people rushed to get their vacation/wedding photos processed. I never knew the background and how they became irrelevant. I thoroughly enjoyed this trip down memory lane. Well done.
wow! i have to say, this documentary, as well as your first one, is extraordinarily well done. the information is well thought out, researched, and presented. it’s interesting and engaging, taking a seemingly mundane topic and digging deep into the true story. i am impressed and hope to see much more from this channel. congrats, brayden!
I'm only 2 minutes in and this documentary is already blowing me away. Amazing content man! I shoot on film too, Kodak Portra mostly and anything weird that I can pick up cheap on eBay :)
I see a bright future for you, Brayden. This was excellent as usual. Your content is engaging and informative without being overwhelming or high-strung. Bravo!
As a person who was alive during those times (born in 74) you did an amazing job in capturing that era. Excellent job. Looking forward to future videos.
Thank you for the truly amazing video, you are so talented and well spoken. Our family was frequent visitors to the Fotomat drive-thrus, great memories. 😀
I remember and used to use these little stands! Loved them - even though our pictures were always crazy funny! It was kinda fun not knowing and being surprised when you got them back
Fantastic Production! Never knew all this history about Photomart . Much research went into this project as I didn't know any of this . We always see things come and go as we get older . It's nice that you taken the time to go back into time and give us all the inside scoop as to how these entities shaped our timelines. Thank you Brayden ! Excellent Work!
Oh thank you Brayden for bringing back some great memories from the past. I remember those photo booths from my childhood and I’d be neglectful if I didn’t say that being that job could be boring one way to pass the time was looking at pictures.
I love this piece. Stirs memories for a kid who grew up in the 70s. I’m really happy to see this non Disney content on Address Unknown. The production is great and I look forward to other content
My 1st family memories of Disneyland were undoubtedly processed through a Fotomat kiosk. I remember those in So Cal in the 70's and 80's. I even frequented one converted to a locksmith.
I remember this growing up so familiar good times seeing the photo shop and dropping the film off. Miss those hands on days with that finish photo smiles. Thanks for sharing.
This popped up randomly in recommended videos. I spent the first 3 minutes going crazy wondering why I knew the v/o person. But after that, this was a great video! First off, awesome topic choice! Great production style and thorough reaearch. Best of luck with this new channel!
Loved this doc! I remember seeing these little huts as a kid around San Diego growing up. I was only a kid so never drove myself but I remember pressing up against the back seat of our 1971 Plymouth Gran Fury Coupe. I loved going there and remember the excitement of driving to drop off and pick up our pictures! I also remember wondering where they went to go to the bathroom so thanks for covering that. It’s an incredible story and I’m sad they are gone and another similar business does not have the ability to use this same format to conduct its daily activities. Thank you so very much for this incredible trip down memory lane and for the research and insight into its history!
Excellent documentary Brayden. I patronized my local Fotomat weekly. Especially got hooked on the free film offer. Can’t wait to see what you’ve got next.
I worked for a movie company both in Distribution and Exhibition and Drive In have such history. Once I asked an owner if people come from a far. And he said he has a family that travel 2 and a half hours every year just so their kids could experience it. Thats where I saw all my Disneys and the the Disaster movies like towering inferno, Earthquake, Airport Etc. There is so much history. In fact it all started when one man put a projector in a parking lot one night. I am up in the NE and well we have them in ME, NH, MA, CT, and RI. Have a great night, and if you are in FLA be safe for the storm!!
@@trainsignal123 that's great they are still there in your area. I'm a longtime FL resident and have been thru countless hurricanes/tropical storms. Most likely I will be sleeping thru it 🤣
Great work, Brayden.. As I was watching, I thought "I wish I had known about this projects. I would have sent Brayden photos I took of the abandoned Fotomat stores around me." Then, as if by magic, one of those specific abandoned kiosks popped up on screen! Wowzers! Also, I love the detailed 3D model of the booth! One of my friends worked at a Fotomat. Often I would hang around one of the windows and chat with them for a few hours. They rarely had customers on weekdays in the Summer.
Great job! I really have no reason to care about these old locations but your dedication to your craft is amazing. This turned out wonderfully and I just had to keep watching. I do remember these and I am sure I still have old prints in albums from them.
My first job was for Color Print out of Little Rock, AR. Developed film was delivered to Harrison, where I lived... then I drove a 150 mile route through northwest Arkansas every day, picking up rolls of film, and dropping off developed pictures. Another lady went from Harrison, all the way to Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri.... every day we did this, sun, rain, snow, ice, tornadoes ect. This was a fun way to remember that job!
Again and again you provide amazing and well researched content. I look forward to your videos and am so impressed each and every time. Brayden... Keep up the good work. You are heads and tails above...
Wow! Great video! I remember my local Fotomat 😢 You should do the Rise and Fall of Radio Shack. I remember they were the first store to track customers by phone number, and it always seemed so weird and intrusive when they INSISTED on having your phone number at checkout 😂😂
They would say: "Can I have your phone number please?" I would say: "No, I'm still using it." Radio Shack was a great store until the bean counters with their spreadsheets "optimized" inventory down to the point where they stopped carrying all of the things I used to go there for or on the rare occasion they did they only ever stocked two and I needed three. Lots of other stores eventually did the same thing. That's why I just finally gave up on shopping locally. You win Jeff!
yep... still remembered there was a fotomats next to our school. great writing, by the way and amazing research. cant wait for your next video. thank you!
Awesome work here, dude! Loving your second channel. It took me way too long to find it. Keep up the brilliant work, I really respect the time and work you put into your craft.
Dude, another banger. This is officially now the channel I didn't know I needed. (But please keep doing Mickey Views too, you're the only non-grouchy non-shill, and the only one who also appreciates and dives deep on both the business aspect and customer experience aspect.) You're the best!!
Great Job! I was entering high school when the first one I ever saw was built down the street! I remember the entire life span from birth to death. I frequented it, and even had a friend who worked there in the twilight years. Great job documenting the history and sad end!
Worked at these in West Texas and Southern Az in late 70s and early 80s. One person, did all the inventory and orders and bank deposits. I loved it. Just wish they'd been a tad bigger to have sink and toilet - it was a pain to close up (guess when folks might not be by) and walking to nearby business to use theirs. In Tx it was just a local place with booths all over town, in Az it was Fox Photo - but all same concept. This was quicker than local drug stores which still took 4-8 days for photos. PS - Seeing the yellow Pinto station wagon in one shot gave me memories of my orange one, which I drove when working in these.
I worked at Fotomat when I was going to college in California. I spent 10 years there. Probably the most enjoyable job I’ve ever had. I started in a kiosk and then quickly moved to route driver and then lead route driver. I did maintenance for a while and painted their drive-thrus. It was just such an enjoyable job and an excellent company to work for. Met a lot of great people there. Very pleasant memories.
Brayden, loving the new content. I grew up around the corner from A Kmart with a Fotomat in the parking lot. Mom never let us develop film there because of the cost. We went inside Kmart instead but it would sometimes take a week to get our photos back.
Loved this, Braden! As an amateur photographer that grew up in the 80’s I really appreciate this kind of subject. I took 4 years of photography in high school and even worked at a 1-hour photo finishing lab the year after I graduated.
In the late 70s and early 80s we'd use mailers to send our film for processing. We used Mystic Photos. It took a week or so, but you didn't have to leave the house.
I am in love with this concept and didn’t even know Fotomats existed until this video! Analog photography already feels so special and adventurous, it would be really fun to be able to extend that feel to the processing part of the images. Not having been alive in their prime, I would certainly pay extra and make a bit of a trip to be able to drop off my film for development at a “novelty” location nowadays.
Now I'm only 28 and wasn't around during the peak of Photomat. But I do remember in the late 90's/early 2000's photo development centers where so super common to the point where they where in Supermarkets, some certain grocery stores, some department stores like Sears, and drug stores. But at that time I remember them advertising that your photos will be ready within a few hours. But over the years as we shifted from the old analog film based cameras over to digital cameras. Many of these Brick & Mortar drop off development centers started to offer printing kiosks. Where you can get your digital photos professionally printed out in many different options.
Think of the long list of names on the CREDITS SCROLL if this were a show on say PBS…..and Brayden did it all himself! The research, the script/copywriting, the historical image collection, the cool graphs & data images the direction/story boarding and editing! So professional and thorough and entertaining! Bravo! 👏
Wow. We've come a long way! Now it's mostly about cell phone pics & videos and not really printing pics because we have Google photo (etc) & it's all digital. Also, I had no idea there was a video rental service before Netflix's mail days! 😅 Another great video, Brayden! Congratulations! 👏
You are two for two on amazing videos on this channel. So glad the algorithm sent me that Disney video so I could get in while the getting is good, this was something I never knew about and didn’t know I WANTED so badly to know about!
You've done a wonderful job with this story! Please keep up the awesome work! I've made sure you add your channel to my subscription list. Looking forward to your next video.
Another EX Fotomat employee here! Worked there when I was in college. The yellow roofs were not attached to the blue base; the roof just sat atop. A lady in a camper pulled up to the store and ripped the entire roof off! Broke all the windows and I was covered in glass. She apologized for the mess and took off. Was robbed a couple of times also but most of my customers paid by check so not much cash. Your presentation was spot on and your facts are accurate. Thanks for the memories!
Such memories! Another Fotomate here. No accidents, but I did get a fair share of kids prank calling the Fotomats. I worked as a "floater" so I filled in different stores. I heard the same kids on those prank calls in every different store I worked in.
I cannot imagine the things you two have seen!
How did you go to the potty?
Surprised that most people paid by check.
lol
There was a fotomat nearby in town that my parents used all the time in the 80s. In the mid 90s it turned into a locksmith. In the early 2000's it became a coffee hut and then briefly sold shaved ice. Today it's a drive through gyro and chili dog hut. It's fascinating to see the transformation and I'm happy that it continues to live on
There was one in the community I grew up in in the Kmart parking lot. Sometime in the 80d it closed and the building dat vacant until the early 90s, I think, and was then torn down.
@@willp.8120 yes, many at kmarts. There was an Arlans before Kmart, and a Spartan store before Arlans.
I vaguely remember a non Disney amusement park that tied its wandering photographers and ride camera into a “Faux Toe Mat “ kiosk that included a basic camera store , one hour photos, and shipped photos services for customers coming closer to closing time
Where is this? Because I’ve seen a nearly identical thing happen in Pasadena, California.
I think we still have one up in the nebro area by me. Its like a lil tobacco shop LOL OF COURSE. They mainly sell blunts and cigs. never been there, just walked/drove past it a thousand times on my way to the city.
I've been following Mickey Views for a long time and just want to note how impressive Brayden's content has gotten. As a narrator his speech has become crystal clear and enticing, his visuals and transitions flow perfectly, and the entire direction and organization of ideas is presented well. Inspiring to see a kid (seemingly) teach himself all of these skills and produce such quality as an adult.
Without question 🍝🍷🦅
He's truly grown into the consummate professional!
He can do a video on any subject and come across as a true professional. He knows any subject just as well as he knows disney!
i totally agree!
He's killing it.
What a nice walk down memory lane for us older people. I remember the Fotomat stores and the "photo processing technology" evolution from 1 week to 1 day to 1 hour. I still know of several former Fotomat locations that are now, of all things, ATM kiosk locations in the middle of parking lots.
I never used the Fotomat kiosks, myself, but I remember them in the mid-1980's when I was a young adu.t. Mostly, this reminds me of how much picture-taking has evolved over my life time. I remember when instamatics first came out and the mini-cameras (what were they called?), which was my own first camera. I also remember flash-cubes (though I only had one, on that mini-camera) and just all the fuss of taking pictures. How you'd take a couple of shots because you never knew for sure which would come out. You couldn't check at the time, you know. It's really amazing how quickly it's evolved.
Here in Los Angeles most of the surviving buildings are used to sell tobacco or coffee. There's quite a few of them in the San Fernando Valley.
OMG....so many memories here! I worked at a shopping center with a Fotomat and had the employees use our restroom. In fact one of those employees became my best friend! She loved her job and was devastated when her location closed. Brayden.... another compelling video. Thanks.
There's another comment here describing the same thing from the other perspective, maybe it's someone you used to know!
Takes me back to simpler & happier times in life. Fantastic documentary! Well done Brayden!!
I worked for Fotomat in 1982 till 1983. I remember at orientation they told us to go through ALL developed photos before customers picked them up to ensure quality. I saw tons of drunk, nude pics, but most were pretty boring. Sitting in those boxes in the middle of parking lots was tiresome. Great video. I had forgotten Fotomat.
I was a Fotomate in the mid-80's. When the first 1-hour Fox Photo opened a few blocks away, we all knew our days were numbered. As the business dwindled, I thought myself to juggle, sitting in the booth, every day.
Lol. With plastic balls or film rolls?
@@fischergriess6321 LOL - Funny that you went there. I filled three empty film canisters with some pebbles and sand from a nearby planter. I will say, learning with those made the transition to balls and beanbags a piece of cake.
I am old enough to remember these, and when I was a kid I loved the days when my mom would take us on what she called “car errands,” because she never actually had to leave the car! We’d hit the Fotomat, go to the bank and use the super-cool pneumatic tube system, go through the car wash, and end with hitting the McDonald’s drive-thru to grab dinner. Thanks for the dose of nostalgia! Liked & subbed.
DAAAAAAAMMMMMMMNNNNNN... Do I feel REALLY OLD now, when he said "even though I wasn't ever personally alive to see a Photomat"! LOL!!!! I used to go to the one in Denton, ANNNNNDDDDD the FOX PHOTO (like the one in BTTF), with my Mom and Dad to get our photos developed. And YES, he hits the nail RIGHT ON THE HEAD, when he said it was an exciting thing to open up that photo envelop and take those newly developed photos out and see all of your COOL memories, RIGHT THERE!
I grew up with Fotomat. My grandfather turned one into his on locksmith shop at the local mall in Indiana. I never knew the history of Fotomat until tonight. Thank you for this great documentary! Well done! ❤️
there was locksmith shop at ft wayne mall in front of sears in the late 90's.
3:22 - Love the Datsun Fairlady Roadster in that image!!! I hated riding in my older brother's 2000 as a pre-teen. Little did I know then how fun they were to drive and what a beautiful classic it would become!!!
Great show! I worked in a Fotomat back in 1985. Not the kiosk kind, but a small store, carved out of another store in Brooklyn, NY. We didn't even have our own bathroom. I had to lock the door and go through a back door that led into the host store to use a bathroom. Fun times! My wife (who was my girlfriend at the time) worked in the host store.
My very-first job as a teenager was working in a Fotomat over 40 years ago... I worked at 2 of them, one in Sunnyvale, which was closer, and one in Mt. View, which though farther, wasn't as busy & was therefore easier for me to cope with.
The 3D animated opening is SO COOL 👏🏻
Man, the production value of everything Brayden touches is OUTSTANDING! I predict we will be seeing his research and production talents far beyond TH-cam in the future!!!
My dear Brayden, you have done it again...an excellent piece of documentary about the little Fotomats in the 60s to the 80s. I didn't know these existed and you really opened my eyes to them and how quickly they launched, became famous and then fell. I also love how you really did your research and showed us what these little huts looked like as well as the founder and his criminal background into what had happened.
I am looking forward to your next one in the future Brayden as I love these informative documentaries that really opened my eyes. I actually learned about how the 1-hour photo labs were created and how they really expanded quickly. I also love how you talk slowly, clearly, and informative without sounding too complex as you talked to us in plain English as well as not straying off the path. Thank you again for a very interesting, informative Documentary and please Brayden, don't stop doing what you are doing!
Brayden has been proving himself to be an extreme talented communicator/searcher. Your work is amazing and I just want to congratulate you for the work. I could feel the amount of dedication. Editing and content is close to perfection.
Wonderful presentation! I grew up with the Fotomat kiosks all around the city. I had no idea of the true story of them all. I commend you on your investigation of the company and sordid conspirators involved. It just seemed like a cool place to develop film. You are really on the right track presenting us with stories of the backgrounds of things we just accepted and used without question. I can't wait to see what is next on this channel. You are amazing in getting to the root of stories and I wait with baited breath what lies ahead. Fotomat was such a mundane staple of mall society and here is the story full of intrigue and criminal intent. All I can say is Bravo!!!
This made a subject I never would have cared about seem interesting. Beyond entertainment, the content was so clearly structured and perfectly paced that I could parrot the story to another. That is the mark of a leader owning his content. Bravo 👏🏼
I went to and used Fotomat all the time. I still have tons of pictures and negatives in the envelope package they came in. What an interesting episode you created. Well done! I’d love to be able to text message a bunch of pictures to Foromat and go pickup the pictures. I haven’t seen a printed, new picture of anything in years. I miss that a lot.
Wow i used to think you're just that kid who does some Disney stuff ....but i was wrong...you are a true professional who is a spectacular storyteller and filmmaker congratulations on this amazing series!
Whew! I hadn't thought of Fotomat in a loooong time. My sister worked in one for a few weeks back in the day. That footage of the stewardess lighting a man's cigarette! wow. I am old enough to remember when there were smoking sections in planes, on the city bus and at _hospitals_ ! This was really a trip down memory lane...and an interesting story, too.
You could smoke anywhere on a plane my father was a engineer with the old eastern airlines the planes air filters were changed daily he brought one home to show my sister that had recently started smoking she saw that sticky tarry mess and quit right away .
@@jhonsiders6077 Your dad was smart.
Awesome job, Brayden. As a teen in the '80's the golden roofs were fixtures of my Suburbia growing up. In fact, a few of my friends worked there. There were times a group of us would visit them while working as the early fall were slow times and they were bored with nothing to do. Spring and Summer were busy as people rushed to get their vacation/wedding photos processed. I never knew the background and how they became irrelevant. I thoroughly enjoyed this trip down memory lane. Well done.
wow! i have to say, this documentary, as well as your first one, is extraordinarily well done. the information is well thought out, researched, and presented. it’s interesting and engaging, taking a seemingly mundane topic and digging deep into the true story. i am impressed and hope to see much more from this channel. congrats, brayden!
These were such a staple of my youth.
I'm only 2 minutes in and this documentary is already blowing me away. Amazing content man! I shoot on film too, Kodak Portra mostly and anything weird that I can pick up cheap on eBay :)
B&W Ilford Kentmere 400 ASA : )
Impressive amount of time and footage went into this documentary. Please be proud of all you have done.
I see a bright future for you, Brayden. This was excellent as usual. Your content is engaging and informative without being overwhelming or high-strung. Bravo!
This video gives me hope for the YT platform. I liked all the 3d animations you made and enjoyed your narration a lot. What a cool story.
As a person who was alive during those times (born in 74) you did an amazing job in capturing that era. Excellent job. Looking forward to future videos.
Thank you for the truly amazing video, you are so talented and well spoken. Our family was frequent visitors to the Fotomat drive-thrus, great memories. 😀
I remember and used to use these little stands! Loved them - even though our pictures were always crazy funny! It was kinda fun not knowing and being surprised when you got them back
Fantastic Production! Never knew all this history about Photomart . Much research went into this project as I didn't know any of this . We always see things come and go as we get older . It's nice that you taken the time to go back into time and give us all the inside scoop as to how these entities shaped our timelines.
Thank you Brayden ! Excellent Work!
Oh thank you Brayden for bringing back some great memories from the past. I remember those photo booths from my childhood and I’d be neglectful if I didn’t say that being that job could be boring one way to pass the time was looking at pictures.
I love this piece. Stirs memories for a kid who grew up in the 70s. I’m really happy to see this non Disney content on Address Unknown. The production is great and I look forward to other content
My 1st family memories of Disneyland were undoubtedly processed through a Fotomat kiosk. I remember those in So Cal in the 70's and 80's. I even frequented one converted to a locksmith.
I remember this growing up so familiar good times seeing the photo shop and dropping the film off. Miss those hands on days with that finish photo smiles. Thanks for sharing.
This popped up randomly in recommended videos. I spent the first 3 minutes going crazy wondering why I knew the v/o person. But after that, this was a great video! First off, awesome topic choice! Great production style and thorough reaearch. Best of luck with this new channel!
Great story! I used to love seeing them outside our local malls Sears entrance. Fond memories of picking up photos from our Disney trips as a kid!
Loved this doc! I remember seeing these little huts as a kid around San Diego growing up. I was only a kid so never drove myself but I remember pressing up against the back seat of our 1971 Plymouth Gran Fury Coupe. I loved going there and remember the excitement of driving to drop off and pick up our pictures! I also remember wondering where they went to go to the bathroom so thanks for covering that. It’s an incredible story and I’m sad they are gone and another similar business does not have the ability to use this same format to conduct its daily activities.
Thank you so very much for this incredible trip down memory lane and for the research and insight into its history!
Excellent documentary Brayden. I patronized my local Fotomat weekly. Especially got hooked on the free film offer. Can’t wait to see what you’ve got next.
your new channel is awesome. LOVE the mapping graphics. really helps to understand how they blanketed the market
You should do a docu on drive-in movie theaters. Only one I know of in central Florida is the Silver Moon in Lakeland
I worked for a movie company both in Distribution and Exhibition and Drive In have such history. Once I asked an owner if people come from a far. And he said he has a family that travel 2 and a half hours every year just so their kids could experience it. Thats where I saw all my Disneys and the the Disaster movies like towering inferno, Earthquake, Airport Etc. There is so much history. In fact it all started when one man put a projector in a parking lot one night. I am up in the NE and well we have them in ME, NH, MA, CT, and RI. Have a great night, and if you are in FLA be safe for the storm!!
If you do a drive in video. You can film my abandoned drive in. Located in live oak florida. About 2 hours from Orlando
@@trainsignal123 that's great they are still there in your area. I'm a longtime FL resident and have been thru countless hurricanes/tropical storms. Most likely I will be sleeping thru it 🤣
Another excellent Address Unknown video!!👍🏻 It’s obvious how much time, effort and work you put into your new channel!!
Great work, Brayden.. As I was watching, I thought "I wish I had known about this projects. I would have sent Brayden photos I took of the abandoned Fotomat stores around me." Then, as if by magic, one of those specific abandoned kiosks popped up on screen! Wowzers! Also, I love the detailed 3D model of the booth! One of my friends worked at a Fotomat. Often I would hang around one of the windows and chat with them for a few hours. They rarely had customers on weekdays in the Summer.
Great job! I really have no reason to care about these old locations but your dedication to your craft is amazing. This turned out wonderfully and I just had to keep watching. I do remember these and I am sure I still have old prints in albums from them.
Bravo Brayden! Excellent reporting!! This brought back a lot of memories….thank you!
Would love to see more videos from this channel. Exceptional work.
This was an amazing video! Your new channel is fast becoming my favorite on TH-cam. Keep ‘em coming!
My first job was for Color Print out of Little Rock, AR. Developed film was delivered to Harrison, where I lived... then I drove a 150 mile route through northwest Arkansas every day, picking up rolls of film, and dropping off developed pictures. Another lady went from Harrison, all the way to Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri.... every day we did this, sun, rain, snow, ice, tornadoes ect. This was a fun way to remember that job!
Love this! I had no idea of the history of this chain. Thanks! Great documentary! Excellent quality!
Again and again you provide amazing and well researched content. I look forward to your videos and am so impressed each and every time.
Brayden... Keep up the good work. You are heads and tails above...
Wow! Great video! I remember my local Fotomat 😢
You should do the Rise and Fall of Radio Shack. I remember they were the first store to track customers by phone number, and it always seemed so weird and intrusive when they INSISTED on having your phone number at checkout 😂😂
I knowww I hated being asked that
They would say: "Can I have your phone number please?" I would say: "No, I'm still using it." Radio Shack was a great store until the bean counters with their spreadsheets "optimized" inventory down to the point where they stopped carrying all of the things I used to go there for or on the rare occasion they did they only ever stocked two and I needed three. Lots of other stores eventually did the same thing. That's why I just finally gave up on shopping locally. You win Jeff!
yep... still remembered there was a fotomats next to our school. great writing, by the way and amazing research. cant wait for your next video. thank you!
This was really interesting and the way you have presented it is another level. You are very talented and I’m looking forward to seeing future videos.
Great video, as always. I am always so impressed with the production value of all your videos, Brayden 👏👏👏
My favorite TH-cam content creator strikes again 🙂
Awesome work here, dude! Loving your second channel. It took me way too long to find it. Keep up the brilliant work, I really respect the time and work you put into your craft.
Well done Brayden. You're becoming a very talented documentary producer. I'm loving these topics. Keep up the great work 👍
Fantastic job! High quality content. Perfect topic given your love of the old school film camera.
Dude, another banger. This is officially now the channel I didn't know I needed. (But please keep doing Mickey Views too, you're the only non-grouchy non-shill, and the only one who also appreciates and dives deep on both the business aspect and customer experience aspect.) You're the best!!
Great Job! I was entering high school when the first one I ever saw was built down the street! I remember the entire life span from birth to death. I frequented it, and even had a friend who worked there in the twilight years. Great job documenting the history and sad end!
Worked at these in West Texas and Southern Az in late 70s and early 80s. One person, did all the inventory and orders and bank deposits. I loved it. Just wish they'd been a tad bigger to have sink and toilet - it was a pain to close up (guess when folks might not be by) and walking to nearby business to use theirs. In Tx it was just a local place with booths all over town, in Az it was Fox Photo - but all same concept. This was quicker than local drug stores which still took 4-8 days for photos. PS - Seeing the yellow Pinto station wagon in one shot gave me memories of my orange one, which I drove when working in these.
I worked at Fotomat when I was going to college in California. I spent 10 years there. Probably the most enjoyable job I’ve ever had.
I started in a kiosk and then quickly moved to route driver and then lead route driver. I did maintenance for a while and painted their drive-thrus.
It was just such an enjoyable job and an excellent company to work for. Met a lot of great people there. Very pleasant memories.
Great work my friend! This was EXCELLENT! Definitely look forward to new “episodes”!
Brayden, loving the new content. I grew up around the corner from A Kmart with a Fotomat in the parking lot. Mom never let us develop film there because of the cost. We went inside Kmart instead but it would sometimes take a week to get our photos back.
Loved this, Braden! As an amateur photographer that grew up in the 80’s I really appreciate this kind of subject. I took 4 years of photography in high school and even worked at a 1-hour photo finishing lab the year after I graduated.
You took photos of armatures? That's one specialized field of photography!
In the late 70s and early 80s we'd use mailers to send our film for processing. We used Mystic Photos. It took a week or so, but you didn't have to leave the house.
I am in love with this concept and didn’t even know Fotomats existed until this video!
Analog photography already feels so special and adventurous, it would be really fun to be able to extend that feel to the processing part of the images. Not having been alive in their prime, I would certainly pay extra and make a bit of a trip to be able to drop off my film for development at a “novelty” location nowadays.
These videos are incredible. Can't wait to watch the future of this channel unfold!
Love what you're doing on this channel Brayden! Can't Waite to see what you dish up next 😀 👏
Please keep up the fantastic work. Looking forward to more!
Now I'm only 28 and wasn't around during the peak of Photomat. But I do remember in the late 90's/early 2000's photo development centers where so super common to the point where they where in Supermarkets, some certain grocery stores, some department stores like Sears, and drug stores. But at that time I remember them advertising that your photos will be ready within a few hours. But over the years as we shifted from the old analog film based cameras over to digital cameras. Many of these Brick & Mortar drop off development centers started to offer printing kiosks. Where you can get your digital photos professionally printed out in many different options.
Outstanding! Thank you for telling such an interesting story so well.
Think of the long list of names on the CREDITS SCROLL if this were a show on say PBS…..and Brayden did it all himself! The research, the script/copywriting, the historical image collection, the cool graphs & data images the direction/story boarding and editing! So professional and thorough and entertaining! Bravo! 👏
My brother worked at a Fotomat! Wasn't that long ago that we all used film to take pictures. Great video. Thank you.
Excellent Brayden, what beautiful little booths those Fotomats were ❤
Brayden, you are a star. Such a professional production! I too was wondering about the toilet situation 🤣
Another well put together video from Braden 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 Thanks for the stroll down memory lane!
Another great video and I especially enjoyed seeing the old cars.
This video was awesome! Great production and quality research. I hope that you keep these up. Thumbs up and subscribed.
A real entertaining ride and learning about something I'd never heard of! Bravo.
I have to thank fotomat, I worked there part-time during my college years. And yes I enjoyed working there.
We had one in the late 70's and early 80's in the town next door. I still loved how the pictures had the dates printed on the back
The quality of these videos are great! I’m here for it!
This is one of the best things I've seen on TH-cam. I feel like I've seen an abandoned Fotomat somewhere, but I don't know where.
Fascinating story!! We are a big fan of your Mickey Views channel- we enjoy these detailed stories.
Brayden, excellent job. I'm looking forward to future content.
Love the model work! Great doc from beginning to end. I'm really enjoying the new channel. Thanks Brayden!
What a great story. Amazing story telling
Fascinating Brayden, great you're expanding your subject matter. 👍
Wow. We've come a long way! Now it's mostly about cell phone pics & videos and not really printing pics because we have Google photo (etc) & it's all digital. Also, I had no idea there was a video rental service before Netflix's mail days! 😅
Another great video, Brayden! Congratulations! 👏
Your dumba$s zoomer self has never heard of Blockbuster??? O_o
I remember Photomat kiosks. There was one in each of a couple K-Mart parking lots. My family and I never used them. A friend of mine worked in one.
Wow! That was really informative and educational. Lots of great nostalgia. Thank you! 👊👍
There was a Fotomat nearby I used all the time. Fantastic documentary! Well done!!😀👌
You are two for two on amazing videos on this channel. So glad the algorithm sent me that Disney video so I could get in while the getting is good, this was something I never knew about and didn’t know I WANTED so badly to know about!
Thanks for answering the restroom question! I'd always wondered about that ever since I was a kid.
You've done a wonderful job with this story! Please keep up the awesome work! I've made sure you add your channel to my subscription list. Looking forward to your next video.
This was great! I remember Photomat well, been to those booths many time. Congratulations, Brayden. This was really well done.