Have you tried looking at Route 66 museums?  A major portion of Route 66
nostalgia and memorabilia is devoted to diners along the old route.  Each
state (Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Arizona,
California) should have a Route 66 historical society.  Definitely
Missouri and Oklahoma.  In particular, the brand new Route 66 musuem in
Clinton, Oklahoma should be of some help.  Unfortunately I do not have
specific names and numbers for your, but there is a plethora of Route 66
web pages out there.  As a die-hard Route 66 fan, I have traveld much of
the old road and eaten in many of the existing  diners.   I recall seeing
old menus used a decor in many of these places.  Good luck!

Cinnamon Catlin
Graduate Assistant
University of Arkansas Museum Collections
Vol Walker 33
Fayetteville, AR  72701
(501)  575-3456
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On Mon, 24 Mar 1997, Christine Mouw wrote:

> I'm really hoping that someone on the list can give me some help.
>
> I am looking for restaurant prices from the 1950s.  I've been asked to
> recreate a diner menu for our upcoming 1950s exhibit, and I'd rather not
> guess on pricing.
>
> One would think that a 1950s menu wouldn't be so hard so find, but I've
> tried the University of Iowa Library's Special Collections, the State
> Historical Society, the county historical society, and local restaurants that
> were open in the 1950s.  No luck on having any menus for diners or
> "family" restaurants.  The closest I came were railroad dining car menus
> from the 1950s, which didn't even serve burgers or sandwiches, and
> menus from the 1920s and 1930s.
>
> Is there a museum out there that has a spectacular menu collection who
> might be willing to help me out?  Please reply off list since I'm sure I'm the
> only one on the list interested in 1950s diner menu prices.
>
> Thanks so much in advance.
>
> Christine Mouw
> Assistant Curator
> Herbert Hoover Presidential Library-Museum
> West Branch, Iowa  52358
> [log in to unmask]
>