The legendary life and entrepreneurial vision of Fred Harvey helped shape American culture and history for three generations—from the 1880s all the way through World War II—and still influence our lives today in surprising and fascinating ways. Now award-winning journalist Stephen Fried re-creates the life of this unlikely American hero, the founding father of the nation’s service industry, whose remarkable family business civilized the West and introduced America to Americans.
PROLOGUE: WHO THE HELL IS FRED HARVEY?
Chapter 2: THE LAST TRAIN STOP IN AMERICA
Chapter 3: A GENTLEMAN AMONG THE BLEEDING KANSANS
Chapter 5: OPPORTUNISTIC SPONGE
Chapter 6: SAVAGE AND UNNATURAL FEEDING
Chapter 7: THEY’LL TRY ANYTHING
Chapter 8: SUITED TO THE MOST EXIGENT OR EPICUREAN TASTE
Chapter 11: WE ARE IN THE WILDS, WE ARE NOT OF THEM
Chapter 13: LIKE A HOUSE AFIRE
Chapter 14: ACUTE AMERICANITIS
Chapter 15: TRANSCONTINENTAL FRED
Chapter 17: THE BIGGEST CATERED LUNCH IN AMERICAN HISTORY
Chapter 18: LET THE BOYS DO IT
Chapter 20: THE CLUTCHES OF THE GRIM MONSTER
Chapter 21: A LITTLE JOURNEY IN THE WILDERNESS
Chapter 22: THE FRED HARVEY INDIAN DEPARTMENT
Chapter 24: ON THE VERY BRINK OF THE DIZZY GULF
Chapter 28: DARING YOUNG FREDDY & HIS FLYING MACHINES
Chapter 30: THE ROAR OF THE TWENTIES
Chapter 32: A WONDERFUL LIVE TOY TO PLAY WITH
Chapter 33: POISED FOR TAKEOFF
Chapter 34: FORD HARVEY HAS A COLD
Chapter 35: FREDDY SPREADS HIS WINGS
Chapter 36: PAY NO ATTENTION TO THAT CRASHING SOUND
Chapter 39: GREAT EXPECTATIONS
Chapter 42: PRIVATE PRINGLE TO THE RESCUE
Chapter 43: THE SPIES AT LA FONDA
Chapter 44: BIG HOLLYWOOD ENDING
Appendix I: THE GRAND TOUR OF FRED HARVEY’S AMERICA
Appendix II: MEALS BY FRED HARVEY
Appendix III: FRED WAS HERE: A MASTER LIST OF FRED HARVEY LOCATIONS