Vintage Fotomat: See the old drive-up photo stores of the 1970s & 1980s

We develop film at Fotomat. And we develop fast. In fact, with most types of film, you can pick up your pictures the next day.

We also sell Kodak and Polaroid film. GE Flashcubes. Eveready batteries. Even some Instamatic camera models.

FOTOMATES: She’s your Fotomate. She knows quite a bit about film and developing, so you’ll find her very helpful. (And a lot prettier than the corner druggist or the guy at the camera store.)

Vintage Fotomat booth: Film – Developing

VIDEO: Vintage Fotomat TV commercial (1977)

This retro television commercial starred Pam Dawber, who would go on to star in Mork & Mindy (and she’d later marry Mark Harmon, too)!

Shoot the works – Fotomat one-day photo service (1970s)

(Fireworks for Independence Day/Fourth of July)

Get your summer’s worth (1972)

Fotomat 126-12 color print film (fits all instant loading cameras) – 3 rolls – $1.99 – We develop friends overnight

Double Feature at the drive-in

Buy 2 of anything before Easter, and we’ll knock off 10% – Fotomat film and flash sale

Everything you need for taking good pictures (1977)

Ten years ago, it would have been the corner store. Now you have nearly 3000 ways to get good pictures easier. They’re called Fotomat Stores.

We put them in shopping center parking lots. You don’t go into a Fotomat Store. You stop by it. And you don’t stand in line, because you don’t get out of your car.

You do get a person behind a smile who helps you with your picture problems.

The corner store is for toothpaste and funny books. The Fotomat Store is for film and developing.

You err. Fotomat redeems. (1977)

Uh-oh. In the excitement of getting the kids to pose just right, you take a picture that looks like this.

Want to keep it? Fotomat gives you a choice. Keep it if you want, bring it back if you don’t. We’ll develop every printable picture on your roll of film. Then you decide.

If you’re not tickled with any print, come in to the Fotomat Store and we’ll buy it back. In cash. Take up to a month to mull it over and don’t forget your receipt… What you take is what you get. But what you keep is up to you. The Fotomat No Fault Foto Guarantee.

ALSO SEE: These 48 vintage indoor malls were so dazzling, you’ll want to hop in a time machine and shop ’til you drop

Film today – prints tomorrow: We develop friends overnight (1972)

At the Fotomat Store: There’s no such thing as a snapshot (1979)

The word “snapshot” seems to convey the image of a quick, easy-to-shoot picture that’s relatively unimportant in the photographic scheme of things.

Quick and easy. Certainly. Unimportant? Certainly not.

If anything, snapshots are the most important pictures of all. Without fuss or fanfare, they capture the once-in-a-lifetime events and the unexpected, unrehearsed moments that become your most cherished memories. And that’s exactly how Fotomat treats them.

From the time you leave your film at the Fotomat Store till the time you pick up your prints, we handle your snapshots with all the care and concern they deserve.

Fotomat Store: Photo pickup promise (June 1977)

CHANCES ARE YOU WON’T GET THIS FREE ROLL OF FILM.

Fotomat will now tell you exactly how fast your pictures will be developed and ready. We’ll put the day and the time right on your receipt. Like this. If your pictures aren’t ready, we’ll give you a roll of good, fresh Fotomat film. Free.

This offer is good for all Fotomat and Kodak film. United States participating stores only. We might miss. But don’t count on it. Just count on good pictures from Fotomat. Ready when promised.

INTRODUCING THE FOTOMAT PICTURE PICKUP PROMISE.

Fotomat ad (September 1977)

Fotomat guarantees when they’ll come in, and how they’ll come out

Vintage Fotomat flyer

Fresh film is available in most popular sizes… print, slide and movie

Fotomat introduces Drive-Thru-Movies (videotape rentals from 1979)

Or, to put it another way, Fotomat introduces the most exciting and entertaining use yet for your home videocassette player.

Movies for rent. From $7.95. Fotomat Drive-Thru Movies are full-length feature films on videocassettes that you rent, pick up at your convenient Fotomat Drive-Thru Store and enjoy at home on your own video cassette player.

They’re available for both VHS and Beta machines (except Beta players with one-hour only capability), And they are, in the best Fotomat tradition, very affordable. Just $7.95 to $13.95 for five days. Or you can purchase a film for as little as $39.95.

The latest. And the greatest. What you get for these prices is just what you’d expect from Fotomat. Quality.

You can choose from recent releases like Saturday Night Fever or classics like Shane or family fare like Race For Your Life, Charlie Brown. Plus a variety of plays, concerts, sports and instructional cassettes. Over 130 titles in all.

On top of all that, you can order with just one phone call. You can pay with Visa, Master Charge. or, if you prefer, cash. And you can usually pick up your order the very next day at your Fotomat Store.

There’s more.

If you’d like to know more, stop by your nearest participating Fotomat Store. Ask for our free Drive-Thru Movie Guide. It has more detailed information, a complete list of tides and instructions for ordering.

Once you’ve seen what we’ve got to offer, you’ll be glad you were the first on your block to buy a videocassette machine.

Introducing the Big Shots

Vintage Fotomat site in 1984