The Real Diner

The real Diner that Barry Levinson frequented in his youth was the Hilltop Diner on Reisterstown Road in Northwest Baltimore. The Hilltop Diner closed years ago and the name was changed to the Fells Point Diner for the film. (My parents also frequented the Hilltop Diner but in the early fifties). Barry's group of friends became well known in Baltimore after the film's release and included Boogie Weinglass (Boogie) who was one of the original owners of the Merry-Go-Round clothing chain and a local businessman. Diner guy Chip Silverman’s 1989 book entitled Diner Guys chronicled the real diner group, some of whom became characters in the film. Silverman just optioned his book Ten Bears to Warner. In it Silverman tells the true story of being a white lacrosse coach at primarily African-American Morgan State University in the 60’s and 70’s.