View allAll Photos Tagged Googie
Sure Fit auto upholstery store on South Tacoma Way (Highway 99) in Tacoma, Washington
3712 South Tacoma Way
Tacoma, WA 98409-3135
(253) 474-0575
For those interested, this photograph is available as a print here: society6.com/VoronaPhotography/Tacoma-Googie_Print
I don't think that I have ever seen a googie movie theater marquee before.
In the Fremont Historic Commercial District, National Register #95000091.
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."
I met the owner of the restaurant while I stopped in for picture taking and she was an absolute delight to talk to. She was very proud the restaurant has stayed true to its initial artistic conception while so many of Googie based buildings have been demolished or converted into something that no longer fits with original design ethos. It's a real shame I never knew much about this restaurant when I lived in LA because I would have eaten here at every opportunity I could.
Wich Stand was a 1950s style coffee shop with a tilting blue roof and a 35-foot spire. It housed a cocktail lounge and featured carhop service. It was declared a landmark by Los Angeles County in 1989. The restaurant opened in 1957, fell upon hard times in the mid-1980s and declined and was vandalised, including a gutting of the floors and ceilings, after the restaurant closed in 1988. The Beach Boys lived in the area and wrote an unreleased song called "Wich Stand".
A surviving example of Googie architecture, a critic said its "plunging dart of a sign keeps it from spinning off into space."
It was refurbished and reopened as the Simply Wholesome Restaurant and health food store.
-Wikipedia
Porst Compact Reflex SP with the Vivitar 20mm f/3.8 wide-angle lens and graduated ND filter on cross-processed Kodak Elite Chrome slide film.
Jet-Age Theme Building at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).
The Theme Building is a landmark structure at the Los Angeles International Airport within the Westchester neighborhood of the city of Los Angeles. It opened in 1961, and is an example of the Mid-Century modern influenced design school known as "Googie" or "Populuxe."
The distinctive white building resembles a flying saucer that has landed on its four legs.[1] It was designed by a team of architects and engineers headed by William Pereira and Charles Luckman, that also included Paul Williams and Welton Becket. The initial design of the building was created by James Langenheim, of the Pereira-Luckman firm.
www.idahostatesman.com/newsupdates/story/489718.html
"The Tepanyaki Steak House at the corner of Garden and Main - originally a Sambo's Restaurant built in 1966 - could be a crusty diamond in need of polish.
Or maybe it is a carbuncle on the landscape that wouldn't be missed.
Either way, it is historic.
Googie Style (and that's no typo) with undulating roofs, boomerang sides and eye-grabbing signs, was popular for roadside eateries in the '50s and '60s.
"I don't know if it's a treasure, and it isn't my place to say," says Dan Everhart, an architectural historian with the Idaho Transportation Department who is organizing a three-day symposium on mid-century design in Boise next week.
"My job is to tell people this is called the Googie Style of architecture, and this is the only one in Boise," he said. "If we tear it down, we demolish 100 percent of the Googie architecture in the Valley. Maybe we tear it down anyway, at least we do it with our eyes open."
Other Boise sites from the post-war era have been altered or demolished - like the Moxie Java flying-saucer building at Vista and Kootenai and South Junior High - and Everhart says little study of architecture from the booming post-war period has been published.
But public agencies like ITD are required to consider the historic significance of all sites when approving a construction project, and they are struggling to understand the styles, materials and trends that defined the mid-century era, from the late 1940s to the early 1970s.
"Important buildings have already been lost or compromised, and as growth continues, others will be lost before we have the chance to evaluate them if we don't start soon," Everhart said.
The predominant style of the era is marked by a lack of embellishment, and the use of strong vertical and horizontal lines. (Some may call it boxy.)
"Mid-century architecture takes a less dramatic presence from the street and is designed with strict functionality in mind," said Everhart.
He points out the ITD building, designed by Boise architect Charles Hummel in 1966. Using new materials and techniques, Hummel created one of the area's first curtain walls, which suspends glass and steel panels on a concrete and steel skeleton.
To remedy the lack of information, the ITD and Preservation Idaho are hosting Modernism in the Northwest. The event will include lectures on identifying mid-century styles and interior design of the era. Everhart will lead a three-hour bus tour of mid-century architecture in Boise, and a cocktail party at a classic modern home in the Foothills will benefit Preservation Idaho.
"Our goal is to provide enough information for people to identify these styles in Boise or Winnemucca or anywhere else they occur, so communities and policy makers can make informed decisions," he said.
Similar mistakes were made in the 1960s, he says. Strip malls were going up on every corner.
"There were so many Queen Anne Victorian buildings and they were so passe that they couldn't knock them down fast enough," Everhart said.
Fifty years later, the idea of demolishing a Victorian home is shocking, but the idea of knocking down a strip mall is less so.
"As more and more mid-century architecture is lost, people will realize its value - hopefully, before the wholesale demolition. But there is always some blood-letting," Everhart said. "I suspect in the next 20 years, a third or more of these buildings will be drastically altered or destroyed.""
LDS (Mormon) Temple in Provo Utah. This building was built in the early 1970's and deviated markedly from the more traditional gothic look of most LDS Temples built prior to that time. The look has a Googie feel to it which was a bit contaversial at the time. A detail shot of the Angel Maroni Statue on the top of the spire can be seen here farm3.static.flickr.com/2229/2338267436_d5096c3d60_b.jpg
The Ogden, Utah Temple is a twin of this temple. You can find the Ogden Temple here. farm3.static.flickr.com/2034/2468599710_bd062b7b40_b.jpg
Hyattsville Brach Library, Prince George’s County Memorial Library System’s (PGCMLS). Built in 1964. The library is known for its Googie flying saucer entrance. Closed in 2017 for renovation. 6530 Adelphi Road.
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.
Old motel sign and Googie Style Silver Spoon Restaurant (possible former Big Boy?) along route 66 in Kingman, AZ.
Pann's Restaurant & Coffee Shop, located at 6710 Tijera Boulevard in Westchester, was opened in 1958 by George and Rena Panagopulos. Designed by Eldon Davis and Helen Liu Fong of Armét & Davis, the iconic building is one LA's best preserved examples of midcentury Googie architecture, featuring iconic neon signage, an angular roofline, and terrazzo floors, and neon signage. Pann’s, still family-owned (currently run by Jim Poulos), became a neighborhood institution and a touchstone for travelers thanks to its location near LAX. The menu features diner staples with Southern influences — most famously fried chicken, waffles, burgers, and hearty breakfasts. Its pop-culture status was cemented in films like Next, Bewitched and XXX: State of the Union (but contrary to popular belief, not Pulp Fiction).
Googie-ish sign for the South Towne Coin Operated Laundry in Greenville, Ohio. Looks like it might have used to have neon.
Located on Dandenong Road, this was Victoria's first motel, which was completed in 1957. Many more would quickly open around the state.
The motel operated for decades and remained in near-unaltered state until it was sold in 2008 to developers who wished to build apartments on site. By then the motel was on Victoria's Heritage Register as an intact example of 'Googie' architecture.
A battle between the developer, VCAT, the Monash Council and Heritage Victoria resulted in the motel building 'saved' - kind of - as a shell. The rooms were gutted internally and a second storey with rendered cladding added to turn the motel into 'Parkview Terraces'
Taken at the Anaheim Historical Society's Annual Dinner, 6-13-2008, at the Linbrook Bowl in Anaheim, California.
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."
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."
3301 East Van Buren Street in Phoenix, Arizona. Currently home to the Airport Pyramid Inn. No more Googie.
On back of card: "Room phones. Refrigeration. T.V. in all rooms. Ceramic tile tub and shower combination. Wall to wall carpeting. 50 ft. Heated Pool. Phoenix' Newest, in the heart of Motel Row. Reasonable Rates."
Shell Gas Station located at 5515 Auto Mall Pkwy. in Fremont,CA. This gas station was built ground up a few years ago with this outrageous design. I did not do any modifying to this photo, the gas station actually looks like this!
Googie architecture in an unexpected place -- Green River< Utah. Bens has all of the classic elements of an aging googie diner. It is a little difficult to see all of the elements but it was afterall dark. Note the googie starburst at the top of the sign.
There were Apaches in Chicago?
There are ladder rungs on the sign. Climbing up the overhanging tower to change bulbs must have been SUCH fun.
I need nourishment while out and about, walking and taking photos. Naturally, I will seek out the places with the googie signs! Norms is a chain of restaurants in the greater L.A. area, most have a sign like this, some of them have googie styled buildings as well. This one in Van Nuys is the only one in the San Fernando Valley.
Postcard from my collection.
Information on the back of card:
HI-HO Restaurants, Inc.
Salem, Oregon, Market St. Exit I-5
Portland, Oregon, Exit 12 I-205
Roseburg, Oregon, City Center Exit, I-5
CT-3104
Smith-Western Inc., 1133 N.W. Gilsan Street, Portland, OR 97209
This card is for a chain of restaurants in Oregon although I'm not sure if any of them are still there. We never ate at any of them but I would have loved to see the wonderful Googie style one in the top left.
Part of the Bowlero Lanes building in Lakewood, Washington
Bowlero Lanes
3852 Steilacoom Blvd S.W.
Lakewood, WA 98499
Phone: (253) 584-0212
The now defunct Southwest Bowl on Western Ave. in South LA is shuttered and for sale and this large bowl sign is all that's left of the cool googie signage that is at the place (the other signage is gone) And from the look of the neighborhood I'd doubt this place is coming back.............
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."
Googie-Style,
Built in 1964
Originally called The United Founders Life Tower
2nd building in the U.S. to have a revolving restaurant
Eugene, Lane County, OR
Listed: 06/01/2011
Car dealerships generally aren’t known for their great architecture, but the Lew Williams Chevrolet Dealership is an exception. With its character-defining “space age” display pavilion – influenced by the International building style – it has long served as an icon of modern design for the city of Eugene, Oregon. So much so, that the pavilion, considered “the strongest example of Googie in Eugene," is now listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Prior to becoming a car dealership, the c. 1949 building was actually home to a Coca-Cola bottling plant, but when the plant moved in the late 1950s, Lew Williams, who already had a dealership downtown, bought it for its prime location next to the newly widened Highway 99. The site needed a little sprucing up though, so he consulted with Balzhiser, Sedar, and Rhodes, a local architecture firm. The result was the c. 1960 attachment of a one-story, elliptical building with floor-to-ceiling windows and a “potato chip” style roof, which attracts admirers even today. The building was sold to Joseph Romania in 1969 and remained a Chevrolet dealership until 2005 when the University of Oregon purchased it. Considered significant for its association with the changing transportation infrastructure and automotive patterns, and as an outstanding example of post-war modern era commercial architecture, the dealership was listed in the register on June 1.
Semi-Googie
Richmond Heights, MO
I think an outdoor-furniture store used to occupy this sprawling showroom, built around an A-frame center. It was a nice, lower-key companion to the nearby Parkmoor, which for years was the St. Louis area's prime Googie landmark.
Sigels Liquor Store No.7 at Lemmon and Inwood in Dallas, Texas is scheduled to close by the end of April 2009. With it will go this landmark sign which has lit this busy corner since the 1950’s. A note, the sign is an example of the “Googie” style of architecture, named after a Los Angeles coffee shop
Coogie architecture . . . Googie architecture.
Googie architecture was named after Googie's Coffee Shop at the corner of Sunset Boulevard and Crescent Heights Boulevard in Los Angeles. Coogie's, on the other hand, is located 7.7 miles away at Santa Monica Boulevard and Yale Street in Santa Monica.
The Baltimore Sun ran an article, Go on a SoCal Hunt for Googie Architecture, on May 18, 2008.
Coogie's Cafe Santa Monica
2906 Santa Monica Blvd
Santa Monica, CA 90404
(310) 829-7871
This photo is geo-tagged.
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