View allAll Photos Tagged Googie
3011 South Harlem Ave
Route 42A, 1 mile North of Route 66
Joseph Wilkos, Your Host
"Thou Shalt Not Go Hungry"
Best Shot of Week 10: March 6 - March 12, 2011
UPDATE: This sign has been restored and moved. Its location is close to where it once was, and should be lit up.
Exactly one week ago, I found myself at this oral surgeon's office after having face-planted the night before with a toothbrush in my mouth after slipping on the bathroom floor, and severely injuring the upper soft palate in my mouth.
At the time, it was painful not only to eat or drink, but to do basic bodily things like swallow.
A week ago, I was too in-pain to revel in the Googie architectural greatness which was the office itself.
Today, for my final checkup one week later, I was better able to appreciate the mid-century wonder of this building.
Chicago, Illinois.
Monday, January 12, 2015.
Neon signs, an old bicycle and a McDonaldâs sign featuring Speedee, the burger chainâs original mascot, are on display at the Valley Relics Museum at the Van Nuys Airport in Van Nuys, California, on Jan. 25, 2020. The museum houses a collection of San Fernando Valley artifacts, including neon signs from the Googie era of Southern California architecture and movie props from the early days of Hollywood.
Bob's Big Boy Grand Opening
Oct. 19, 2009
Downey, California
This building is a great example of the âGoogie styleâ coffee shops and drive-in restaurants that once dotted the southern California landscape. Googie Architecture called for buildings to read as signs to attract customers. Built in 1958 by owner Harvey Ortner, âHarveyâs Broilerâ exhbtited many of the design features of Googie Architecture, including exaggerated roofs, dazzling signs, bright lighting, and glass walls. In 1966 Christos Smyrniotis, a former cook at the restaurant, purchased the restaurant and operated it under the name âJohnieâs Broilerâ until it closed in February 2002.
The building was operated as a used car dealership from 2002 until 2007 when it suffered extensive damage when the tenant illegally demolished a large portion of the building. However, the City of Downey and Bobâs Big Boy, with support from concerned citizens and the Los Angeles Conservancy, devised a plan to conserve and rebuild Johnieâs Broiler. On August 12, 2008, the Downey City Council voted to provide financial assistance to resurrect this historical landmark under the name Bobâs Big Boy, another Southern California icon.
Bobâs Big Boy will continue the legacy of this great American coffee shop and drive-in restaurant for all to enjoy.
Owner: Jim Louder, Bobâs Big Boy
Architect: Paul B. Clayton
Reconstruction architect: Archeion
City of Downey
DN. Mario A. Guerra, Mayor
Anne M. Bayer, Mayor Pro Tem
David R. Gafin, Councilmember
Gerald M. Caton, City Manager
Filbert A. Livas, Deputy City Manager
Roger C. Brossmer, Councilmeber
Luis H. Marquez, Councilmember
More 1960's-era, "Googie" architecture, waiting to be repurposed. Hopefully, anyway.
Fort Myers, Florida.
Monday, December 24, 2012.
Christmas Eve Day.
via Toronto Professional Directory ift.tt/1QaMDaY
The life and death of Googie architecture in Toronto
Norm's Restaurant, 1957
470 N La Cienega Blvd
Armet and Davis
__________
An icon in Los Angeles, Norm's has been serving up delicious, cheep meals for a half century. But that's not the only reason for making the pilgrimage -- the fabulous architecture is the other. The geometric shapes and colors of the building make it an eye catcher. Even on a dreary day, the building just makes breakfast more fun.
This is Googie Architecture at it's finest. Designed by the architecture team of Armet and Davis, the low broad eves and peaked glass windows contrast with the towering neon sign for a space-age masterpiece that Goerge Jettson would have been proud to eat at. Unfortunately, the inside has suffered the effects of time and remodling. The original stainless steel clock still hides behind the cashier, but light fixtures, booths, and chairs have been ungraciously updated, probably in the 1970's. An old 1970's era wood sign still points to way to the non-smoking section, although smoking in California restaruants has been outlawed for close to 20 years.
Why this building isn't designated a local historic landmark by the City of West Hollywood, or placed on the National Register of Historic Places, I can't imagine. It's well deserving of such status. It would be a shame to loose it.
Wikipedia (Norms Restaurants) - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norms_Restaurants
Wikipedia (Armet and Davis) - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armet_&_Davis
Wikipedia (Googie Architecture) - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Googie_architecture
House of Donuts in Lakewood, Washington
Print version: society6.com/VoronaPhotography/Googie-donuts-shop_Print
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Scenes from the Westlake District of Daly City, California. One of America's first master-planned postwar suburbs, Westlake was the "inspiration" for Malvina Reynolds' song "Little Boxes," which became a hit for folkie Pete Seeger in 1964.
Read more about Westlake at the blog: "America's Most Perfect Ticky-Tacky Suburb."
Oh, this building took my breath away -- it's so Googie fantastic! Unfortunately, my camera died on me as I was shooting this building, so I don't has as many photos of it as I would like.
Here are some links about the Rose Bowl:
on the west coast, they are NOT disco fries, they are just gravy fries, and they hurt. But anyway, best pastrami EVER (that's right, NYC, plus it costs $5)
While the East Bay part of Hillsborough has no shortage of dumpy shopping centers, this is the only one that's interesting. It likely dates from when the area was being developed in the mid-60s. The owner offered to sell it to me.
By night: www.flickr.com/photos/ferret111/3744607629/
Tamiami Trail, Apollo Beach.
Cruise night at Johnie's (now Big Boy) Broiler, a Googie coffee shop and drive-in restaurant in Downey. Built in 1958, demolished 2007, rebuilt 2009. 7447 Firestone Boulevard, Downey California.
From BobsBigBoyBroiler.com:
Downey's former Harvey's/Johnie's Broiler has made a major comeback from an utterly illegal Sunday afternoon demolition in 2007. Now a Bob's Big Boy, the restaurant has won the LA Conservancy's President's Award for preservation.
Porst Compact Reflex SP (Cosina CSM) on Kentmere 100 35mm film.
The former Trucker's Village was a Derby gas station and restaurant housed in two buildings along I-35 just south of Frontier City amusement park in OKC. When it opened in January 1963, it was touted as the largest truck stop in the world and provided truckers with "showers, recreation, bunks, indoor wash and lube service, and all brands of oil," according to my 1964 phone directory.
Both buildings have these fantastic rooflines with triangular overhangs jutting out on four sides, giving them a great Googie, space age look.
However, as you can see in this photo (on left), some dummy put up covered gas station areas sometime later (probably in the 90's) and cut off the front part of the roof of the gas station so that it would fit. (Sigh)
This building housed the gas station, and the identical building next to it (actually behind it in this photo) was home to the Golden Lion restaurant for many years. The Golden Lion was originally located near the State Capitol building but closed in 1961 to make way for a new government building. It reopened here a few years later. I'm not sure how long the restaurant lasted (I didn't find any references for it after the late 60's), but I know that many restaurants have been in this space over the years.
It looks like the gas station was in operation until fairly recently -- from the signage, I believe that it was last a Conoco.
UPDATE 8/2010: These two buildings have been "modernized" and now house a rock and granite company. I'll stop and take some photos of the atrocious remodel soon.
The Aztec opened in 1933.
National Park Service page:
www.nps.gov/nr/travel/route66/aztec_auto_court_albuquerqu...
Note: The motel closed in 2011. And a quick search tells me that later in March 2015 the sign was taken down. Status: Unknown.
www.route66news.com/2015/03/28/albuquerques-aztec-motel-s...
Two-part blog post on the end of the Aztec:
cityofdust.blogspot.com/2011/10/end-of-aztec-motel-part-i...
cityofdust.blogspot.com/2011/10/end-of-aztec-motel-part-2...
If George Jetson needed his space vehicle cleaned in Santa Clara, thereâs little doubt that heâd go to Tanâs Touchless Car Wash at 3455 El Camino Real. Tanâs is somewhat famous with Googie afficionados as the car wash is pictured in Alan Hessâ âGoogie Reduxâ book (2004). Note that the structureâs roof is both bisected and supported by a succession of large steel boomerangs. The steel supports have been lightened through the use of circular cutouts. These Swiss cheese-like holes serve both a functional as well as ornamental purpose â think 1950s rocket ships.
Taken while heading north on near I-95. I specifically requested that we stay on the back roads so we could drive past South Of The Border so I could get photos of the crazy signage. What a strange anachronistic landscape!
This whole roadside attraction is styled in mid-century modern architecture, specifically Googie Architecture, which is still seen today in businesses that have been around since the 40s/50s/60s (think signage from Denny's, Vegas, old diners, and the Jetsons TV show or elements such as curved lines, asymmetrical stars, UFOs, parabolas, and bright colors -- like what people in the 1950s thought the "future" would look like). I'm a little obsessive about historical American architecture from the 20th century, so I always have my eye out for it -- much to my better half's annoyance because he could truly care less. It tells you about history, man! This stuff is particularly campy, but I love it.
(9/8/2013)
This Googie-style car wash had been abandoned and empty when my family arrived in Fort Myers twenty years ago.
I was very happy to see it renovated and back in business as a car wash maybe ten years ago.
And now it has reverted.
Fort Myers has many architectural gems which look like they were originally built during the 1960's.
Fort Myers, Florida.
Monday, December 24, 2012.
Christmas Eve Day.
Pann's is a great googie style restaurant/coffee shop that is still pretty much like it was when it opened up in 1958, Pannâs has also received The Los Angeles Conservancyâs Award for best example of âClassic 50âs Coffee Shopâ and another cool side note to this place is that the restaurant has been the film location for movies such as Pulp Fiction, Bewitched, XXX & Next
Lee-High Inn, formerly the Anchorage Motel. "The Anchorage Motel is one of the best examples of roadside motels in the City of Fairfax. Constructed circa 1955... The motelâs form reflects its name: the main building is in the shape of the hull of a boat. Other nautical influences include lighthouse-shaped towers and porthole windows. The Anchorage Motel represents a shift in motel design in the 1950s when motels began to provide a greater number of rooms and offer more amenities". Office and reception in the form of a ship. 9865 Fairfax Blvd.
Lee Highway motels - US Highway 50.
Virginia DHR 151-5226
Originally, the dining area at a motel, the Water Tree Inn. Now, a Japanese and Korean restaurant called Kaya, next to the Best Value Inn on N. Blackstone Avenue, the old Highway 41.
(If you don't know what googie is, you'll have to google googie!)
Scenes from the Westlake District of Daly City, California. One of America's first master-planned postwar suburbs, Westlake was the "inspiration" for Malvina Reynolds' song "Little Boxes," which became a hit for folkie Pete Seeger in 1964.
Read more about Westlake at the blog: "America's Most Perfect Ticky-Tacky Suburb."
No neon here but defiantely Googie style. I think that there was once s star burst of some sort on top of the two verticle pipes abouve the Hilltop box.
Built between 1959 and 1962, this Modern Futurist and Googie building was designed by Eero Saarinen and Associates for Trans World Airlines to serve as a Flight Center, or Terminal headhouse, for their passenger services at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City. The building is an example of thin shell construction, with a parabolic and curved sculptural concrete roof and concrete columns, with many surfaces of the building's structure and exterior being tapered or curved. The building also appears to take inspiration from natural forms, with the roofs appearing like the wings of a bird or bat taking flight. The building served as a passenger terminal from 1962 until 2001, when it was closed.
The building's exterior is dominated by a thin shell concrete roof with parabolic curves, which is divided by ribs into four segments, with the larger, symmetrical north and south segments tapering towards the tallest points of the exterior walls, and soar over angled glass curtain walls underneath. At the ends of the four ribs are Y-shaped concrete columns that curve outwards towards the top and bottom, distributing the weight of the roof structure directly to the foundation. The east and west segments of the roof are smaller, with the west roof angling downwards and forming a canopy over the front entrance with a funnel-shaped sculptural concrete scupper that empties rainwater into a low grate over a drain on the west side of the driveway in front of the building, and the east roof angling slightly upwards, originally providing sweeping views of the tarmac and airfield beyond. The exterior walls of the building beneath the sculptural roof consist of glass curtain walls, with the western exterior wall sitting to the east of the columns and the eastern exterior wall being partially comprised of the eastern columns, with the curtain wall located in the openings between the columns. To the east and west of the taller central section are two half crescent-shaped wings with low-slope roofs, with a curved wall, integrated concrete canopy, tall walls at the ends, and regularly-spaced door openings. To the rear, two concrete tubes with elliptical profiles formerly linked the headhouse to the original concourses, and today link the historic building to the new Terminal 5 and Hotel Towers.
Inside, the building features a great hall with a central mezzanine, and features curved concrete walls and columns, complex staircases, aluminum railings, ticket counters in the two halls to either side of the front entrance, a clock at the center of the ceiling, and skylights below the ribs of the roof. The space features penny tile floors, concrete walls and built-in furniture, red carpeting, and opalescent glass signage. On the west side of the great hall, near the entrance, is a curved concrete counter in front of a large signboard housed in a sculptural concrete and metal shell that once displayed departing and arriving flights. On the north and south sides of this space are former ticket counters and baggage drops, which sit below a vaulted ceiling, with linear light fixtures suspended between curved sculptural concrete piers that terminate some ways below the ceiling. To the east of the entrance is a staircase with minimalist aluminum railings, beyond which is a cantilevered concrete bridge, with balconies and spaces with low ceilings to either side, off which are several shops, restrooms, and telephone booths. On the east side of the bridge is a large sunken lounge with red carpet and concrete benches with red upholstered cushions, surrounded by low concrete walls that feature red-cushioned benches on either side, sitting below a metal analog signboard mounted to the inside of the curtain wall. To the north and south of the lounge are the entrances to the concrete tubes that once provided access to the concourses, which are elliptical in shape, with red carpeted floors and white walls and a white ceiling. On the mezzanine are several former lounges and a restaurant, which feature historic mid-20th Century finishes and fixtures.
The complex includes two contemporary hotel towers, the Saarinen and Hughes wings, which were designed carefully to harmonize with the original building and match its character. The two wings feature concrete end walls, curved Miesian glass curtain walls, and interiors with red carpeting, wooden paneling, brass fittings and fixtures, and white walls and ceilings. The only substantial modification to the structure's significant interior spaces was the puncturing of the two concrete tubes to provide access to these towers. The former terminal also features several service areas that were not previously open to visitors, which today house a massive fitness center, a cavernous underground conference center, and various meeting rooms and ballrooms, with all of these spaces, except the fitness center, being redesigned to match the mid-20th Century modern aesthetics of the rest of the building, with new fixtures, furnishings, and finishes that are inspired directly by the time period in which the building was built, and are nearly seamless in appearance with the rest of the building.
The fantastic building was designated a New York City Landmark in 1994, and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2005. Between 2005 and 2008, the new Terminal 5, occupied by JetBlue, was built, which wraps the structure to the east, and was designed by Gensler, and was carefully placed so as to avoid altering or damaging the character-defining features of the historic terminal. Between 2016 and 2019, the building was rehabilitated in an adaptive reuse project that converted it into the TWA Hotel, which was carried out under the direction of Beyer Blinder Belle, Lubrano Ciavarra Architects, Stonehill Taylor, INC Architecture and Design, as well as the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and MCR/Morse Development. The hotel features 512 guest rooms, large event spaces, a rooftop pool at the top of the Hughes Wing, a large basement fitness center, and a Lockheed Constellation L-1649A "Connie" on a paved courtyard to the east of the building, which houses a cocktail lounge. The hotel is heavily themed around the 1960s, and was very carefully designed to preserve the character of this iconic landmark.
Built between 1959 and 1962, this Modern Futurist and Googie building was designed by Eero Saarinen and Associates for Trans World Airlines to serve as a Flight Center, or Terminal headhouse, for their passenger services at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City. The building is an example of thin shell construction, with a parabolic and curved sculptural concrete roof and concrete columns, with many surfaces of the building's structure and exterior being tapered or curved. The building also appears to take inspiration from natural forms, with the roofs appearing like the wings of a bird or bat taking flight. The building served as a passenger terminal from 1962 until 2001, when it was closed.
The building's exterior is dominated by a thin shell concrete roof with parabolic curves, which is divided by ribs into four segments, with the larger, symmetrical north and south segments tapering towards the tallest points of the exterior walls, and soar over angled glass curtain walls underneath. At the ends of the four ribs are Y-shaped concrete columns that curve outwards towards the top and bottom, distributing the weight of the roof structure directly to the foundation. The east and west segments of the roof are smaller, with the west roof angling downwards and forming a canopy over the front entrance with a funnel-shaped sculptural concrete scupper that empties rainwater into a low grate over a drain on the west side of the driveway in front of the building, and the east roof angling slightly upwards, originally providing sweeping views of the tarmac and airfield beyond. The exterior walls of the building beneath the sculptural roof consist of glass curtain walls, with the western exterior wall sitting to the east of the columns and the eastern exterior wall being partially comprised of the eastern columns, with the curtain wall located in the openings between the columns. To the east and west of the taller central section are two half crescent-shaped wings with low-slope roofs, with a curved wall, integrated concrete canopy, tall walls at the ends, and regularly-spaced door openings. To the rear, two concrete tubes with elliptical profiles formerly linked the headhouse to the original concourses, and today link the historic building to the new Terminal 5 and Hotel Towers.
Inside, the building features a great hall with a central mezzanine, and features curved concrete walls and columns, complex staircases, aluminum railings, ticket counters in the two halls to either side of the front entrance, a clock at the center of the ceiling, and skylights below the ribs of the roof. The space features penny tile floors, concrete walls and built-in furniture, red carpeting, and opalescent glass signage. On the west side of the great hall, near the entrance, is a curved concrete counter in front of a large signboard housed in a sculptural concrete and metal shell that once displayed departing and arriving flights. On the north and south sides of this space are former ticket counters and baggage drops, which sit below a vaulted ceiling, with linear light fixtures suspended between curved sculptural concrete piers that terminate some ways below the ceiling. To the east of the entrance is a staircase with minimalist aluminum railings, beyond which is a cantilevered concrete bridge, with balconies and spaces with low ceilings to either side, off which are several shops, restrooms, and telephone booths. On the east side of the bridge is a large sunken lounge with red carpet and concrete benches with red upholstered cushions, surrounded by low concrete walls that feature red-cushioned benches on either side, sitting below a metal analog signboard mounted to the inside of the curtain wall. To the north and south of the lounge are the entrances to the concrete tubes that once provided access to the concourses, which are elliptical in shape, with red carpeted floors and white walls and a white ceiling. On the mezzanine are several former lounges and a restaurant, which feature historic mid-20th Century finishes and fixtures.
The complex includes two contemporary hotel towers, the Saarinen and Hughes wings, which were designed carefully to harmonize with the original building and match its character. The two wings feature concrete end walls, curved Miesian glass curtain walls, and interiors with red carpeting, wooden paneling, brass fittings and fixtures, and white walls and ceilings. The only substantial modification to the structure's significant interior spaces was the puncturing of the two concrete tubes to provide access to these towers. The former terminal also features several service areas that were not previously open to visitors, which today house a massive fitness center, a cavernous underground conference center, and various meeting rooms and ballrooms, with all of these spaces, except the fitness center, being redesigned to match the mid-20th Century modern aesthetics of the rest of the building, with new fixtures, furnishings, and finishes that are inspired directly by the time period in which the building was built, and are nearly seamless in appearance with the rest of the building.
The fantastic building was designated a New York City Landmark in 1994, and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2005. Between 2005 and 2008, the new Terminal 5, occupied by JetBlue, was built, which wraps the structure to the east, and was designed by Gensler, and was carefully placed so as to avoid altering or damaging the character-defining features of the historic terminal. Between 2016 and 2019, the building was rehabilitated in an adaptive reuse project that converted it into the TWA Hotel, which was carried out under the direction of Beyer Blinder Belle, Lubrano Ciavarra Architects, Stonehill Taylor, INC Architecture and Design, as well as the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and MCR/Morse Development. The hotel features 512 guest rooms, large event spaces, a rooftop pool at the top of the Hughes Wing, a large basement fitness center, and a Lockheed Constellation L-1649A "Connie" on a paved courtyard to the east of the building, which houses a cocktail lounge. The hotel is heavily themed around the 1960s, and was very carefully designed to preserve the character of this iconic landmark.
This very cool googie bowling alley was built in 1957, still in operation it's a mid-century architectural design started in Southern California that you rarely see that much of anymore
Update 06/2015: the bowling alley is closed and the lanes taken out and sold, the building has been landmarked and might be saved