Los Angeles Time Machines
November 7, 2005 7:42 PM   Subscribe

LA Bars & Restaurants of the 30s 40s 50s 60s as well as motels on Route 66, movie palaces, Vegas motels and all things Googie [previously discussed]. If I ever make it to the States this will be my guidebook.
posted by tellurian (15 comments total)
 
This is great, thanks! Living in LA I've made it to a number of these over the past five years, but this is a wonderful guide to places I haven't discovered yet. I know what I'm doing this weekend!
posted by scody at 7:50 PM on November 7, 2005


I *live* to find diamonds-in-the-rough surviving 20th-century shops like these. When the finally go, they're gone forever, man.
posted by Heywood Mogroot at 7:59 PM on November 7, 2005


On the other coast, Wildwood, New Jersey has similar architecture you might like.
posted by Fat Guy at 8:06 PM on November 7, 2005


If I ever make it to the States this will be my guidebook.

Assuming we don't arbitrarily decide to detain you indefinitely without representation, of course.
posted by Ryvar at 8:09 PM on November 7, 2005


I'm with you Heywood Mogroot. That RIP list is heartbreaking (the original Googie's for goodness sake).
posted by tellurian at 8:10 PM on November 7, 2005


Nice group of photos on Flickr
posted by Sagres at 8:52 PM on November 7, 2005


I want to like this site, but I am dismayed by the lack of actual historical data, the inclusion of so many semi-authentic places, and the missing places which stick out like sore thumbs.

No Little Pedro's? No Chez Jay? (and that's just to start...)

Still a good site, but could use some more rigorous filtering and some historical data.
posted by cell divide at 9:26 PM on November 7, 2005


Chez Jay is on the list of 'Yet to explore'.
posted by tellurian at 10:05 PM on November 7, 2005


These images evoke a strange sense of barren longing for what seems to be a time of infinite prosperity and carefree whimsy. But then you realize these were built under the shadow of Naziism and THE BOMB. I have a deep admiration for art and architecture that cheerily ignores the prevailing politics of its time. It seems to be something we've forgotten how to do. Or am I just having a Peggy Noonan moment?
posted by slatternus at 10:34 PM on November 7, 2005


Very cool.
posted by Smedleyman at 11:41 PM on November 7, 2005


My fiancee swears by Apple Pan's apple pie. I wouldn't go that far, but the burgers are good. They recently stopped using the paper cones for soda, though.

El Coyote is crap. :)

Dolores is on the list? Wow. The food's diner food. I'd say you're there for the ambience but even that's kinda lacking. Go the Pantry in downtown.

Langer's... isn't all that great (they're living virtually on reputation and the lunch crowd alone). Go to Canter's, instead. Open 24 hours, good eats (and a fine selection of pickles).

Philippe's is cheaaaap.

Pink's is just a hotdog. It's just that it's Pink's. That's the only appeal.

Tom Bergin's is a nice Irish pub and restaurant. Regulars get a four-leaf clover they write their name on that gets pasted onto the walls or ceiling.

So they list a McDonald's but not Randy's Donuts?

I guess Billingsley's is too "new" to be listed, either, even if they have the best bang for buck prime rib dinners in town. And remember to choose chili for the soup.
posted by linux at 10:56 AM on November 8, 2005


They recently stopped using the paper cones for soda, though.

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
posted by Heywood Mogroot at 2:01 PM on November 8, 2005


Go the Pantry in downtown.

No, don't. Not unless you like really shitty food. (Try as I may, I've never had a decent meal there, and I give up.)

Langer's... isn't all that great

Except for the fact that it's still the finest pastrami sandwich I've ever had.

Pink's is just a hotdog. It's just that it's Pink's. That's the only appeal.

Please! There's nothing like the layer of bright orange grease that floats atop the pan of that chili, made of ... some kind of extremely finely ground meat, and the crisp snap of the skin on those dogs. That said, there's no way I'm waiting in line for 45 minutes to get one anymore.

I miss the good old days at Pink's, when you didn't have to stand in a ridiculously long line, when they still served Mitz kosher sodas ("Don't schvitz, drink Mitz!") and when Johnny would scowl and snap at anyone who dared to order French fries ("You want French fries, go to McDonald's!").

The best dogs in town, though, are the ones you get on the street from Mexican ladies who wrap them in bacon, top them with grilled onions and slather mustard and mayonnaise on top.

[The Apple Pan] recently stopped using the paper cones for soda, though.

That's a bummer.
posted by chuq at 3:38 PM on November 8, 2005


I don't understand, how do you serve soda (are we talking like Coca Cola here?) in a paper cone (are we talking like greaseproof paper rolled into a cone shape?).
posted by tellurian at 4:30 PM on November 8, 2005


It would be lovely to see a site like this for Seattle. There are still some real gems that the MicroShaft yuppie maggots havent invaded. Last Saturday, friends took me to a Persian restaurant in the 1900 block of 1st Ave S -- like stepping into another world. Great food, traditional music, everybody dressed in black (most of the customers were in parties of 15-20), people smoking hookahs, waitstaff running around and yelling, kids hanging around, everybody talking Farsi. It was a trip.
posted by warbaby at 6:35 PM on November 8, 2005


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