Famous Nathan

Over thirty years ago, Lloyd Handwerker began chronicling the personal and public history of Nathan’s Famous, the iconic Coney Island institution, synonymous with hot dogs, that was created by his grandfather, Nathan Handwerker, in 1916. Recounting the nostalgic days of “hustle and bustle, fast food cooked at nano-second speed,” the film is a vivid testament to a true American success story, as told by the Handwerker family, their tight-knit circle of friends and former Nathan’s employees. These first-hand accounts, secrets and even a few tall tales blend with home movies, animation, experimental cinema, family photos, and never-before-heard audio recordings to create a cinematic roller coaster ride, reminiscent of Coney Island itself.