Are you tired of seeing so many online Advertisements... This site had set up an agreement with Google's adsense division to provide relevant content ads for viewers to click. You see, Google charges advertisers and then offers webmasters a small cut if they allow the advertisements to be displayed on their sites. The set up pretends to be a way for the little guy to make a few pennies in order to offset the costs associated with providing websites like this one. But the whole scheme is simply too good to be true, and after a couple of months Google abruptly canceled this site's account seizing the $38 which had accrued. Meanwhile Google reported excellent financials for the first quarter of 2008 with its stock price soaring on the news (BTW, Google's two founders celebrated a one hour increase in their wealth to the tune of $2.2 billion each as a result). Hmm. So Google gets little guys to display ads, cancels them, takes the money, and then posts a big profit. How long before somebody catches on--I wonder? Below is a copy of the short email Google sent:

You can Cancel Google... Well not really, but there are a couple of things that you can do. First change to another search engine like Yahoo! or MSN. Second and better, switch to Firefox and BLOCK Google's ads with AdBlock Plus or some other add-on that might be available. This site was NEVER any kind of risk or threat to Google or its advertisers and made every effort to follow Google's rules. Nonetheless, even without the small amount of revenue that was anticipated from Google to financially support this site, it will remain online in one form or another. Thanks for everyone's comments and encouragement! Rich

Firefox
AdBlock Plus

11/15/2008: Sadly, production of Howard Johnson's Toastees ceased some six months ago. No doubt the miniscule royalties realized by Mr. Kushner from his contract with the now defunct America's Kitchen were all that sustained his "LaMancha Group." Save for the now non-standard and virtually independent Lakes Placid and George, as well as the de-oranged Bangor restaurant little is left, for Toastees limited availability in Publix stores as well as in various supermarkets in the Northeast United States represented the last tangible evidence of the once largest and greatest hospitality chain on the planet.

Please note that this site and its affiliated sections will be mostly dormant until further notice. Due to personal circumstances your webmaster and Howard Johnson's enthusiast has moved half-way across the country and must focus on continued employment. There will regrettably be little or no free time in which to update this site. However it will remain online and available--and of course--free of charge:) Thank you for your continued support and interest! Richard Kummerlowe

At the onset of my endeavor/adventure to document Howard Johnson's in 1998, I never could have imagined that I was witness to the end of an era. It is difficult to believe that an institution so ingrained in our culture could vanish almost without a trace. For it would seem that with each passing day another HoJo's is closed and demolished. Not that long ago Howard Johnson's was the largest hospitality chain in the world. But now this once ubiquitous roadside landmark fades from America's rear-view mirror, and as we speed off into the uncharted future fewer and fewer orange roofed Restaurants and Motor Lodges remain to serve the hungry and sleepy motoring public.

This site commemorates the Roadside Empire created by Howard D. Johnson, and chronicles with photographs and commentary the story of a once vast organization and its legacy to the American roadscape, and to the hospitality industry. Please browse and enjoy the photographs, and I hope that they rekindle many memories.