The article explores the cultural significance and historical evolution of motels in America since their emergence in 1925. Highlighting unique features like the now-retro 'Magic Fingers' massage machines, it reflects on past trends and their iconic status in pop culture. Additionally, it emphasizes the significant role Asian Americans, particularly the Patel family, play in motel ownership across the U.S. This phenomenon illustrates broader immigrant aspirations and the fabric of American hospitality from the mid-20th century onwards.
From the late 1950s into the '80s, thousands of motels proudly advertised their Magic Fingers - a little collection of vibrating electric nodes under your mattress that would give you a 15-minute 'massage' for 25 cents, inspiring creators from Kurt Vonnegut to Frank Zappa. Alas, their moment passed.
A recent study by the Asian American Hotel Owners Assn. found that 60% of U.S. hotels - and 61% of those in California - are owned by Asian Americans.
Many motels and small hotels are longtime family operations. Sometimes it's the original owner's family, and quite often it's a family named Patel with roots in India's Gujarat state.
The beginnings of this trend aren't certain, but many believe that one of the first Indians to acquire a hotel in the U.S. was Kanjibhai Desai, buyer of the Goldfield Hotel in downtown San Francisco in the early 1940s.
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