I’m often behind the curve on technology. I didn’t switch to a digital camera until ’04 (I think).  Prior to that time, you had to get a picture just right. There was no delete button or a bigger card to slide in. So whether it was on my Kodak 110 Instamatic, or my 35mm with many lenses and settings to mess with, I drive to the Alpine Village parking lot was in order after maxing out my picture count. I’d pull up to the yellow-roofed kiosk and a day later my imperfect memories were stuffed in an envelope.

 Fotomat was the realized dream of Preston “Sandy” Fleet.Americawas on the move when the first Fotomat booth opened inCaliforniain 1965. They were the original out lot buildings, usually placed in front of high-traffic suburban shopping centers. In the late ‘70s they were the first to rent movies on videotape. The cost for 5 days? $12. I wonder what the late fee was on that.

 Well, practically nobody gets their film developed anymore. The booths have either turned into something else or have disappeared. I believe that, in a pole-build somewhere in the continental US, someone is hoard dozens of the booths, waiting for the right reason to convert them. They’d be perfect to use for drive up lattes/smoothies and/or cell phones.