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Proud Public Servant

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32. Slightly off-topic film recommendation: anybody ever seen the documentary "Family Business"?

Wed Dec 28, 2011, 04:38 PM

Dec 2011

It concerns a businessman struggling to keep his Shakey's Pizza franchise afloat, which is why this thread made me think of it (is Shakey's still around?). It's one of the best documentaries ever made; every progressive should see this film if s/he can (it originally aired on PBS in the 70s). Here's a synopsis:

***
A prototypical American entrepreneur struggles to make his pizza business go.

Howie Snyder is an archetype: a retired Marine colonel in his mid 40s, he is a prototypical American entrepreneur struggling to make his business go.

Howie's Shakey's Pizza franchise in Muncie, Indiana employs his whole family: wife, nine children, and Howie himself. He's the representative of the American Dream: the chance to invest long hours and hard work in exchange for financial security for oneself and family. To watch Howie Snyder as he dickers for better treatment by the Shakey's chain, as he seeks additional financing to stave off looming bankruptcy, and as he sits morosely counting an evening's disappointing receipts is to watch America at work. And to see Howie's family rally around him in the hour of his greatest need is a heartwarming experience.

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Zombie restaurants [View all] Sherman A1 Dec 2011 OP

I READ SUBJECT LINES ONLY. That said, Zombies need to eat too. Cooley Hurd Dec 2011 #1

I only eat at the ones zombies go to jberryhill Dec 2011 #2

Excuse me, Miss...could you bring us another serving of fresh Brains? BlueJazz Dec 2011 #3

"Eat? Youbetcha." - Zombie Liberation Front (ZLF) SpiralHawk Dec 2011 #9

To truly appreciate zombie restaurants one must go to the Persian Gulf Sen. Walter Sobchak Dec 2011 #4

I LOVED Showbiz Pizza as a kid. Fawke Em Dec 2011 #14

How about Shakey's?? blueamy66 Dec 2011 #44

For the love of God, won't someone think of the profits!? JHB Dec 2011 #5

Agreed Sherman A1 Dec 2011 #7

No argument JHB Dec 2011 #8

You are right, we should try and boycott these places Motown_Johnny Dec 2011 #13

Its because the workers didn't wear enough flair Ichingcarpenter Dec 2011 #6

:) fishwax Dec 2011 #36

Perkins??? Odin2005 Dec 2011 #10

It's a diner type restaurant Aerows Dec 2011 #16

Perkins is good for breakfast. Other meals, not so much. MineralMan Dec 2011 #17

I've never eaten anything but breakfast there Aerows Dec 2011 #19

Perkins is common in the South, I think. ParkieDem Dec 2011 #22

Not in the deep South. I live in North Georgia and have never heard of a Perkins restaurant. n't RebelOne Dec 2011 #42

I know that, I was suprised that it is in trouble. Odin2005 Dec 2011 #24

I love their breakfast Aerows Dec 2011 #40

Yup! Odin2005 Dec 2011 #41

Hell, that would be a hell of a chain concept - BRAINS! HopeHoops Dec 2011 #11

maybe, but... JHB Dec 2011 #12

I never thought of zombies as fashion conscious. HopeHoops Dec 2011 #21

I never thought of zombies as conscious at all! n/t oneshooter Dec 2011 #35

With the right marketing and the right buzz Retrograde Dec 2011 #30

People eat animal testicles too. Some things just wouldn't appeal to me even if I still... HopeHoops Dec 2011 #39

There's got to be a reality show in here somewhere ashling Dec 2011 #15

I loved Chevys proud2BlibKansan Dec 2011 #18

What was Chevy's? liberalhistorian Dec 2011 #20

pseudo mexican restaurant pretending to be the real thing. lunatica Dec 2011 #23

With great food proud2BlibKansan Dec 2011 #33

At best it's passable lunatica Dec 2011 #43

Not everyone wants the real thing proud2BlibKansan Dec 2011 #45

It's still only passable since I wasn't referring to spicy chile dishes lunatica Dec 2011 #46

They're still around. My family and I eat there every once in awhile. neverforget Dec 2011 #29

250 miles away from me. proud2BlibKansan Dec 2011 #34

Ours closed a few weeks ago as well fishwax Dec 2011 #37

I remember reading an article here on DU about some restaurants "re-calibrating" to .... Hassin Bin Sober Dec 2011 #25

Check out the ROC Diners' Guide just1voice Dec 2011 #26

It is a good source of information Sherman A1 Dec 2011 #28

interesting story. saving to read later Liberal_in_LA Dec 2011 #27

Not Friendlys! Retrograde Dec 2011 #31

Yes, Friendlys Sherman A1 Dec 2011 #38

Slightly off-topic film recommendation: anybody ever seen the documentary "Family Business"? Proud Public Servant Dec 2011 #32