Bob R. suggest checking into these places:

 

Petrelli's Steakhouse  5615 S. Sepulveda Blvd. Culver City..1931

 

Magee's Kitchen 6333 W. 3rd. St...(Farmers Market) Los Angeles 1934

 

Tail of the Pup   San Vicente North of Beverly Blvd.  1938

 

Hotel Bel Air  701 Stone Canyon   Beverly Hills..1942

 

Domminick's.8715 Beverly Blvd  Los Angeles 1946

 

Dino's 2055 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena  1949

 

Snake Pit  7529 Melrose Los Angeles 1956 [added]

 

Jan's Coffee Shop 8424 Beverly Blvd  Los Angeles 1957

 

Andre's 6322 W. 3rd. St. (Town and Country)  Los Angeles 1963 (webmaster's note: would someone let me know if this is still around?)

 

Beverly Laurel Coffee Shop  [now Swingers] 8020 Beverly Blvd. L.A. 1964

 

Nibblers 8383 Wilshire, Beverly Hills ( just closed this week ..maybe temporarily) 1965

 

Twin Dragon 8597 W. Pico Blvd. Los Angeles 1966

 

House of Pies 1869 N. Vermont Ave. Los Angeles 1970 [remodeled]

 

There are a few that I am sure  were opened 1970 or earlier but I do not have any clue as to the dates:

 

Key Club  9039 Sunset Blvd.Los Angeles

R J's Ribs  252 N. Beverly Drive   Beverly Hills 

Moonshadows 20356 Pacific Coast Highway   Malibu 

 

Hayford P. remembers Chasen's, Perino's and La Rue:

I greatly enjoyed your pages about the old LAX restaurants. I was a teenager there in the '50s and '60s and ate out a lot with my mother, mostly in moderately up-scale places although occasionally in Chasens, Perinos, and LaRue.

Just off the top of my head, here are the names of some others that I remember:

The Duck Press, way downtown, famous for duck
Bess Eilers -- family restaurant in Santa Monica on Wilshire Blvd.
The Fox and Hounds, also on Wilshire in Santa Monica.
Chips, a great little steakhouse and bar, on, I think, Santa Monica Blvd. in Santa Monica.
Stears -- a steakhouse on La Cienega that, I think, was briefly run by
Lawry's, practically across the street.
The Intrepid Fox, on, I think, Sepulveda
Robaire's French restaurant on La Brea -- they opened a second one in the Valley at one point
Frascati's -- there were 3 or 4 of them in the general Beverly Hills area
The Bantam Cock and Tail o' the Cock, both on La Cienega

The one I miss the most after nearly 50 years is still the late, great Don the Beachcomber's. By the way, although he was indeed born Earnest Gantt or whatnot, and was then nicknamed Don the Beachcomber, he eventually "legally" changed his name to Donn Beach -- with 2 "n"s....

Jeff P offers these suggestions for Orange County:

“La Cave”, in Costa Mesa is a good candidate for a time machine. It’s in the basement of a three story building and has a good 60’s feel. It’s been a long time since I’ve been there, so it might have changed. It’s the same sort of place as the Fireside/Riviera in Westminster (listed on your site).

As for bars there’s the Royal Hawaiian in Laguna Beach, as pretty good tiki bar. Again, it’s been a long time since I’ve been there, but I drive by it regularly and nothing has changed.

Oh, I know a really great old-style tiki restaurant in Sunset Beach; but I Just can’t think of the name right now.

Oh, another restaurant is the Chicken Dinner restaurant at Knott’s Berry Farm [now added] (http://www.knotts.com/camplace/dine_restaurant.shtml). It’s got a great 60’s tropical ambiance. Not tiki or anything, but there’s volcanic stone fountains and it has a really vintage feel. And really good chicken.

The Original Pancake House in Anaheim is a good one to add, too. It’s in an old house. It isn’t doesn’t really epitomize a particular style or anything, but it’s a family run-restaurant that’s been in the same place for a long time. Here’s more http://www.originalpancakehouse.com/index.htm.

I think this would fit into your site (or maybe not), but there’s Old Word, a German-themed village with restaurants and shops and a couple of bars. http://www.oldworldvillage.net/.

Richard L provides the following important info on Yuma and other Arizona towns:

The Mission Inn or something like that in Riverside, CA. It was were President Nixon got married. Mission Inn,

In Yuma there are several places that are famous or were famous and are still, outside at least, largely unchanged.

The El Rancho Motel on 4th Avenue and 22nd Street. We have live in Yuma since 1952 and it was around when we moved there. I was told that Clark Gable always stayed there when he was in Yuma for Dove hunting season. It really hasn't changed much on the outside and I doubt if the rooms are changed much.

Lutes Casino at 221 South Main Street (Old Town). I am not sure if it is in its original place but it has always been on main street. Don't let the casino name fool you, I think they might have some card games, dominos comes to mind as well, but I have never been in it. It is a cafe. But, I understand it is pretty much the same as it has always been and has been in downtown Yuma since the 50's and probably earlier. It is famous for its Lutes Burger (I think that is the name).
Lutes' Gretna Green Wedding Chapel at 500 W. 1st. More than 35 years ago it was moved from its original location and I think, at that time, it was just the Gretna Wedding Chapel, although Lute's may have been apart of the name. It is in the original large two story house and, legend has it, many movie stars were married there. In the golden age of Hollywood California required a blood test before marriage, Arizona didn't. So, many movie stars came to Yuma to get married some, if not a lot, I believe, in this wedding chapel  I am sure that either San Laurel or Oliver Hardy....or both..got married there.

La Casa Gutierrez 520 South Orange Ave. It almost closed last year. It is an old Mexican restaurant in one of Yuma's oldest houses. It isn't that large-I think the original living room and dining room and one former bedroom make up the entire eating area. It has, beyond a doubt, the best toasted cheese or toasted butter tortillas, folded butter tortillas (you can squeeze the butter out of it) and refried beans and tacos around as far as I am concerned. Of course it could be because that was where I would take my girlfriends in high school and that, plus the atmosphere, and memories, may make the food taste extra good.

 The old Downtown Yuma Post Office, at least from the outside it has not changed. Some company now owns it and I have not been inside so I don't know what they did to the interior.

The Bow and Arrow Motel on 4th Ave. Now more of a dump than anything else but it hasn't changed much since we moved there. I think we once stayed there (when it was still a valid motel, not run down as today) while looking for a home in Yuma as I remember my mother always called it the "buggy motel."

The Coronado Motel and Restaurant 233 S. 4th Ave. It is, or was, the oldest motel in the Best Western Chain and the original part dates way before the 1950's I am sure. Outside it looks pretty much as it has always looked, but can not vouch for the inside.
Hotel Lee 390 S. Main Street recently won some type of reward for preservation or restoration or the like.

Casa Linda Apartments (may have new name) on Orange Ave. Where we first lived when we moved to Yuma in 1952. They have not changed much at all...actually most of Orange Avenue is a walk back into time.

Roxaboxin (spelling) Park on 3rd or some place..not sure of the exact street but near downtown. I am not sure of the date but it is the place the children's book by the same name was written about.

(20th Century Fox )Yuma Theatre downtown Yuma. Has been restored - I understand - to its original decor inside. It now has art shows and film series and such. It was, I believe, originally built by 20th Century Fox Studios to show case their films.

Sad but true, the old KIVA (Channel 11) television studio. It is falling down just outside Yuma near the California Inspection Station. It was one of the first TV stations in Arizona, and, I believe, the first outside of Phoenix and Tucson. Since it served California as well (Imperial Valley) it may have been one of the first in California. All shows were on California time which meant a lot of good shows were on too late for kids (like me) in Yuma to watch. It was also the first and possibly only station allowed to carry shows from all three networks, ABC, NBC, CBS. For some reason it could not carry commercials from the network shows. I believe it started up in 1953 or 1954.

In Flagstaff almost all of downtown Flagstaff is a time machine.

The Hotel Monte Vista is pretty much the same as it was originally. It still has its original sign on top.

The Weatherford Hotel in downtown Flagstaff (where Zane Grey wrote Call of the Canyon) has been restored and just recently got its "witches hat" (upside down cone shape on roof) back.

The Museum Club on Hwy 66 is, as I understand it, pretty much the same inside as outside. It has animal heads all over and is rumored to be haunted. Today it is mostly a place for Country Music bands to play.

Winslow has a few, probably more, and all are more famous than our (I also live in Winslow) stupid "standing on the corner" park.

The La Posada Motel and Restaurant is pretty much the same as it was when it was a Harvey House. It has been remodeled inside but that is because for years it was the headquarters for the Santa Fe Railroad and they covered up almost everything. I have not been in it but I understand the inside is being restored, bit by bit, to its original Harvey House glory.

Many buildings in downtown Winslow (those that have not fallen or burnt down) have not changed outside. The famous Store for Men (clothes store) that was advertised all along Rt. 66 has been closed for over 20 years but I think the building it was in is still there.

 Casey's-this is stretching it. When I first moved to Winslow it was like walking into an old time hardware store...a little bit of everything. It still has a little bit of everything (including 1950's type toys-paint by number sets, models, etc.) and is still like walking back in time (especially the toy and hobby section) but I don't know about the outside and they have done some remodeling and put in modern check-out areas and such.

The Winslow theatre downtown-outside the same as it always has been. It has been restored and remodeled by same man who is doing the La Posada and shows movies. However, I have not been on the inside and do not know if it is a "time machine" inside.

Holbrook is a time machine of its own. It is 30 miles east of Winslow.

The downtown still has sections of the original covering over the side walks.
The Bucket of Blood Saloon (so called because legend says so many were shot in it the floor looked like some one had washed it with a "bucket of blood.") may be restored soon.

The hotel where the cowboys from the Hashknife Ranch (same bunch Zane Grey wrote his book The Hashknife Outfit about) would stay when in town is still standing but not being used. In a way this is good as it has not changed much at all but is falling down.

And, of course, the Wigwam Motel one of only two remaining such motels on Hwy. 66. Talk about a time machine. I have never been in one of the "wigwams" but they are restored as they were and even have 1950's and 1960's classic cars parked around them (it is open to the public).

Before I end this I want to mention a restaurant at 9 South Main Street, Taylor, Arizona (30 miles south of Holbrook). I am sure it is pre 1970 and probably 1950's. It is a small restaurant with the same plastic booths and seats. All food is home made including the bread and pies. By homemade, I mean just that. Even the French fries are home cut and fried. As far as I am concerned it is a step back into time to eat there.

Peter S suggests:

Here's a place... the Revolver and Athletic Club... a cafeteria at the Los Angeles Police Academy. Open to the public. Good breakfasts. Sounds of gunfire from the range.
 

Riley G reminisces:

Have you tried Burger Continental on S. Lake Ave., Pasadena, not far from Pie 'n 'Burger? I hope it's still there. I found it when working at Caltech in the late 1970's, and was back to eat there in the mid 1990's. It's a favorite of people from many walks of life. The owner's are very friendly; coffee and soda refills are free.

It's mostly middle eastern type food. The Sharouma sandwiches are the best I've ever had (Lamb in pita with a special sauce).
It's a stand-in-line-to-order from the counter place (like Philippe's), but often an owner will come down the line to take your order before you reach the counter. Most of the seats are in a pretty interior courtyard, with occasional belly dancers. Nothing particular about the architecture, but it's a unique place that's one of my Los Angeles favorites, along with Philippe's.

Scott S recounts:

One of my faves for downright dirt cheap and tasty Eye-talian food is Pinocchio's Restaurant/Monte Carlo Deli. This is one business with an Italian deli in one side and a pizzeria type restaurant on the other. You can get a huge roast beef sub, served with two sides of fresh salads for about five bucks. The prices are stuck in the past too! Though they recently put in a new floor and a new front door, the first and second dining rooms retain their 1960's red vinyl booth/red checkered tablecloth/ wicker-covered Chianti bottle decor/feel. Check it out. This is on Magnolia Boulevard in Burbank between Hollywood Way and Buena Vista St.
Check out El Paso Barbeque on Ventura Blvd. in Tarzana. Awesome steaks, and I think it's been there since the late 1960's.

Yvonne E recalls:  I just found your site tonight and I can't wait to spend more time browsing around in it. It brings back memories of Ships (in Westwood & on La Cienega) and all the old Los Angeles coffee shops I used to drink coffee at in the 80's. Many of the outlying buildings you've photographed have also caught my eye while I spent the past decade commuting from Corona into Los Angeles Now that I'm back in Los Angeles, I'm saddened by the buildings that have been demolished and others that will probably soon come under the wrecking ball.

2 things:
1) The oldest building in Los Angeles may actually be part of an old adobe that's attached to The Consolidated Plaza in Baldwin Hills on Don Felipe Drive. (If you take Crenshaw south from the 10, you'll notice that the original 'Bowl' and 'Pontiac' signs, as well as the original Bowling Alley Coffee Shop facade have all been saved as part of a new shopping center. The original Crenshaw Plaza sign is also still in tact, also on the East side of the street.
2) Don the Beachcomber's old Hollywood location may now be the King King club http://www.kingkinghollywood.com/

Thanks for taking the time to do all the wonderful research and the great pictures!

Charles C remembers:

You might be interested to know that in its last life, the downtown Standard was built as the California Bank Building, and served as the "Brent Building," Perry Mason's building on the old T.V. Show.

During my 1960's childhood in Hollywood, Young China was an upscale Chinese restaurant at 6615 Hollywood Blvd that owed its origin to the "Young China" movement of the 30s and 40s (branch of the Kuomintang), or so it's said. It has been a cheezier place called "China King" for quite a while. I've been there in decades, but rumor has it that it is now a chain clothing store --- have to find out next time I'm down that way. The Cat and Fiddle on Sunset was Mouling's back in my youth, another well-known Chinese place. Barbata's on Ventura Bl. has closed (2002).My brother and I love your site --- so many of our fave places!

 Joel T comments:

Thanks for putting this site together. I grew up and spent most of my adult life in the Los Angeles area and went to many of the restaurants and bars that you've documented. I also have fond memories of going to a lot of the theaters mentioned such as the Los Angeles, Orpheum, Wiltern and others. In the 70's and early 80's I did not appreciate the "time machine" character of a lot of the places but now I think it is incredibly cool when an older restaurant, building, theater or bar has that old time feel and look. One suggestion for a closed restaurant: Far East Cafe. This was a classic 1930's Chinese (Cantonese which is what most were at the time: before Hunan, Sichuan, etc styles) restaurant located in Little Tokyo on 1st Street. Due to the Northridge earthquake it was closed sometime in the late 80's.

Chip A provides the following very important information:

Barones Italian restaurant will be closing it’s doors tomorrow, January 22nd.  They are relocating and taking over the space currently occupied by the Matterhorn Chef restaurant on Oxnard and Woodman in Van Nuys and should be up and running mid to late March of this year.  The block that Barones currently sits on will be turned into luxury condos. Having grown up in Sherman Oaks I have grown up on Barones and my in laws who also grew up in the valley have been going there since 1951.  Our whole family (14 of us) all went to dinner there last night as a final sendoff. Sad to see such an old time place go but at least they aren’t closing doors altogether. A public auction is being held in the middle of February for anyone that wants to own a piece of Barones history so maybe that is worth noting on your website. Thought you would want the update.  Thanks for running such a cool website.

Larry R remembers:

Your Rip list is missing a restaurant that I loved in the 70s on Sunset called Cyranos. It was on the North side of the street in the Sunset Plaza area and had a great fireplace, maitre de and waiters. They would make the Caesar salad or pasta Alfredo at your table. The maitre de was Gio who opened his own restaurant on sunset later.

Mark L adds these R.I.P's:

Definitely missing some big ones (attached) Hope these help!
The Bagel (ashtray) was 1052 S. Fairfax

STATS had 4 locations :
8300 Wilshire (at san vicente)
9233 Pico
9025 Wilshire
11357 E Valley Blvd. (El Monte)

Mike S shares these memories of Nickodell's:

Thanks for sharing your finds with all so that maybe we can save some of these places. Not just the history, but the whole dining experience has been degraded by the rush to a fast food mentality. So many great old places have been destroyed by the modern “California” dining mentality. Give me dark wood and an even darker corner to enjoy my libations. Here are some rants and raves of no particular importance.

Nickodell was probably the darkest place in town, and with good reason, so that actors could sneak one in between takes and not be bothered by the public. As for location, everyone knows it was at the east corner of the KHJ-TV 9 studios bedecked in its stunning black terra cotta tile. Henrys European Inn was a little further east, on the east side of a short street that led into the Paramount lot. The small bar on the south side of Melrose has been running since the 50’s (maybe the 30’s) but has gone through many changes. My earliest remembrance was that it was an Italian restaurant.

Little Heart of Europe on Western was a little hole in the wall but with the best crisp duck in town. All of the other European fare was barely edible. We often had to walk out when the owner reported that there was no duck. During the meal, the owner would play the piano and the violin. Another great European spot was “The Paprika” in Hollywood. Anyone whoever ate there remembers their wood plate special.

Guess that’s it for now. Except, can anyone recall the name of the donut factory at the southwest corner of Western and Santa Monica? I remember it as a kid (early 60’s) but not much else. I think it lasted up until the 70’s when all the massage parlors entered the area. And then there were all those great characters such as Mr. Baseball, General Hershey, Julius Caesar, etc., etc., but that would be something for another website
 

Suzanne O recalls these great times at the Brown Derby:

I grew up with the granddaughter of Bob Cobb in Beverly Hills and we would sometimes walk home from school and stop at the Beverly Hills Brown Derby. The staff there adored the granddaughter (Mary) and we would sit at the bar and eat their famous spaghetti dinner. Later on when I ate at the Hollywood Brown Derby, one of the staff remembered me from Beverly Hills and stopped at our table to ask about the family.
I always wondered why the family didn't take a stronger interest in preserving the Derby. Does anyone know what happened to all the famous caricature pictures of the stars that used to line the walls there?
 

Mary Jo B.  remembers Kelbo's:

I was surprised to not see the following 3 restaurants on your Extinct List:

2 extinct restaurants I had many meals at while at UCLA in the late 50's early 60's: Ships and the "V.D." Village Delicatessen in Westwood.

Another favorite in the 50's: Kelbo's - Loved their barbecued ribs and had my first legal drink at age 21 there: a mai tai.
 

Joe V. remembers the "Chili Bowl":

I've been meaning to get around to writing to you about the old Chili Bowl building in Alhambra, but I wasn't sure it was still there, and only found out a couple of days ago that it is. It was one of a couple of dozen Chili Bowls built by Arthur Whizen in the 1930's and 1940's. By the time I first saw the Alhambra building, it had become a Chinese Restaurant called the China Doll (which name allowed a fairly cheap conversion of the "Chili Bowl" signage.) My dad told me it had once been a place called the Chili Bowl, and that that was why the building was shaped... well, like a chili bowl.

Anyway, the building at 501 West Valley Boulevard (only four blocks from
The Hat) is still there, and still an Asian restaurant, though it's now
called Kim Chuy. It turns out that there's a picture of it on Roadside
Peek:
http://www.roadsidepeek.com/archit/vernac/index2.htm
And the same page has a picture of another surviving Chili Bowl building,
in Huntington Park, though that one has had its windows sealed up.

It also turns out that a third Chili Bowl survives in West L.A., and is a
restaurant called Mr. Cecil's California Ribs. I've never seen that one,
but it's listed (without picture) at LA.COM:
http://www.la.com/dining/dinersdelisbbq/mrcecilscaliforniaribswestla/8036
I don't know how much the interiors of these buildings have been altered,
but the outside of the Alhambra building at least looks very much as it
did forty years ago. Maybe not exactly a time machine, but worthy of
notice next time you go to The Hat. I hear from friends still in the area
that Valley Boulevard is changing rapidly, and I don't know how much
longer this little building will survive amid the new banks that are
popping up like weeds all along the street.

Joseph provides these valuable observations:

Restaurants

I'm browsing through your pages, and noticed your objection to the remodeled glass dividers at Canter's DELI. this was done for a filming there, though you'd have to call them to find out what movie or TV show it was. the same filming also painted "Delicatessen" on the front windows. Canter's DELI liked these (free) improvements enough that they kept them. I also notice you don't have The Brite Spot (on Sunset in Silver Lake) listed. totally worth checking out.

TOTALLY worth the drive, the 24-hour Saugus Cafe, a truckstop diner
made out of a trailer, open (gently remodeled) since the 1890s.
http://tinyurl.com/grvdr

across from Canter's DELI, you might include Damiano's as a trip back in
time, and Nova Express as a trip into the future, albeit a future
straight out of a 1950s B-movie. lava lamps and glowing tables.
beware the loud music of the live DJs, though.

also your review of Taix French Restaurant says it's run by decedents (dead people). :)

(extinct:) there was also a Kelbo's on W Pico Blvd in WLA. miss that place.

Bars:

in the Horseshoe Tavern, you mention the tv show Cheers. I believe
the MTM team was based in New York, and according to the bull & finch
pub in boston, they were the inspiration: http://tinyurl.com/zcvj2

Theaters

The Rialto Movie Palace in Pasadena is a Landmark theater and is in regular
operation. the Vista is also in regular operation. the Wiltern is,
of course, not used for movies anymore (except for special bookings).
I wasn't sure from reading the page whether you knew this, and it
might be cool to add :)
the Aero is run by the Cinematheque now.

I believe The Palace is a rental theater now and is owned by
well-intentioned preservationists who are looking for people who want
to use it. they plan to use the income to keep improving the place.
putting in a good word about that with a phone number on your site
might do them some good. *shrug*

the old town music hall in el segundo has a wurlitzer, and it is used
for every show (according to the website): http://www.otmh.org/

Shelley K. provides this information: I just cataloged a recipe by the tea room at 644 So. Flower called: Assembly Secrets, dated 1926.

Recipes include:

Sailor duff pudding, butter scotch pie, blackberry jam cake, date and nut cake, ice box cookies, clover leaf rolls, orange rolls, poultry dressing, escalloped lamb, New England corn chowder, panned oysters, lobster a la Newburg, ginger ale salad, and pickled spiced fruits.

They must have sold it at the restaurant.

Jim E. recounts these memories:

I want to complement you on your website. I enjoyed the descriptions of the various locations and the many different links. With regard to many of the extinct restaurants you listed, the walk down memory lane has been bittersweet - fun and a little sad at the same time. Great job! Having grown up in the west San Gabriel Valley there were a few restaurants that I frequented with my family when I was a kid that were pretty special (at least to us) that have been gone for some time. I thought I might pass a few of them along to you with the hope that they are worthy of a mention in the extinct restaurant pages. If a somehow missed them, I apologize in advance for wasting your time.

1. Van de Kamps Restaurant and Bakery
Multiple locations but the one we went to most often was off of Fletcher Drive in Los Angeles by the Glendale (2) freeway. (I think some were later converted to Tiny Naylor restaurants). Each coffee shop style restaurant had a distinctive type of architecture that usually featured a lighted windmill that actually turned. Served many of the dishes that later became part of their frozen food line sold in supermarkets - chicken pot pies, enchiladas, etc.

2. El Poche Cafe
Located on Mission Dr. in San Gabriel (just down the street from the Mission). The restaurant was in an old adobe type building with water fountains and colored lights featured throughout the interior - for a kid it was enchanting. Good, authentic Mexican food that was far better than its rival Panchitos (located just down the street and I believe it is also extinct). The restaurant burned to the ground in the late 70's or early 80's.

3. The Tikis
Located on Potrero Grande Dr. in Monterey Park. A Polynesian restaurant that was an amazing place to dine as a kid. I was so bummed when it closed! The following is the text from their matchbook:

12 Acres of Tropical Enchantment
50 feet of underground lava tubes
80 foot erupting volcano
Waterfalls, lagoons, jungle trails
3 to 7 bands
POLYNESIAN EXTRAVAGANZA featuring the finest of Hawaii, Tahiti, Fiji, Samoa, Tonga and New Zealand.
Accommodates to 5000 persons, 18 acres of parking
Complete year round banquet facilities
Private facilities for birthday parties
We specialize in holiday parties
Sundays bring the kids
12 exciting rides, petting zoo
Polynesian cultural center of the islands
Train ride through ½ mile of Polynesian settings and monster caves

According to Book of Tiki author Sven Kirsten, The Tikis was finally shut down in the 1970s by neighbors who didn't like the jungle drums in their backyards and the entertainment license was revoked. "Danny Balsz was a driven man. He packed up his Tikis and built them a new home in Lake Elsinore, further south of L.A. There he labored for years, re-erecting a complete new lava land. Patiently his Tikis stood guard over it, waiting the grand re-opening. But the times had changed, and the great day never came."
Currently part of the remains of the Lake Elsinore property are used as a paintball facility. You can still wander about the site just off N.Potrero Grande Drive in Monterey Park.


Joe V. provides more important information:

I just saw your photo of Shaker's restaurant in Pasadena. I believe I recognize it as a branch of a short-lived chain from the 1960's called Preble's. For ages, the Preble family operated a grocery store on Dayton Street west of Fair Oaks in Pasadena. Located in a couple of old arehouses in the midst of a run down neighborhood, it was nevertheless very popular with the well-to-do residents of the south Orange Grove Boulevard area of town. Its presence gave rise to a few other shops and a couple of art galleries that operated along the street for a few years- sort of an early, spontaneous flowering of what became Old Town.Anyway, about 1960, the Prebles decided to open a chain of restaurants. I think they managed to open four or so, all in the San Gabriel Valley. I'm not sure when they gave up on the restaurants, or when they closed the market. However, in case you haven't seen it, another one of the old Preble's restaurants is located on the northwest corner of 2nd and Main in downtown Alhambra.

It is currently open as a trendy cafe called The Diner on Main. I haven't been there (I only found out about it still being in existence when I was looking at the city of Alhambra's web site the other day), and I don't know how much of the original interior remains, if any, but I don't recall any major changes having been done to the place as of 1986, the last time I was in Alhambra. It might be worth checking out. In 1964, I lived in the next block east on Main Street, in a flat above a photo studio in the small building now occupied by a cigar bar. I spent quite a bit of time in Preble's, and it was a nice bit of classic Googie design. I hope that at least some of its ambiance remains today.

Jennifer C comments:

Great site! You've put a lot of work into it. Here are some suggestions:

1. Original BBQ (extinct restaurant)
It was on the southwest corner of 8th St and Vermont, and had the best bbqed chicken and the best cole slaw I've ever tasted. We lived nearby in the 1950's, and I know it still was in business in the early 80's.

2. Blarney Castle (extinct restaurant)
It was on the west side of Western Ave, just north of Wilshire. My parents used to take me there when I was a kid in the 50's. It was basically a steak house, and also served delicious lobster. I remember decades later trying to find it, only to discover the restaurant closed and empty, but with all the tables set. Weird. I believe the building it was in is gone now.  [For more information see the Richard O'Neill hyperlink on the great Restaurateur page].

John Michael W discusses these old joints:

"Har-Omar Restaurant 1608 N. Cosmo and later 1605 No. Ivar, Hollywood. Armenian food."

I ate at the Ivar address pre-'57, and sometime between '60 and '63, at their new (last?) location on the Sunset Strip, near Crescent Heights I think, in a north-side second-floor room with a picture window looking south -- great view on a clear night. I moved away then, and never found them again.

A regular performer there was Ara Sevanian, who played the Egyptian Harp, or Kanon,a 72-string instrument like a zither. I bought a mono 12" LP of his music there, "Egyptian Harp, "Kanon" Volume Two. I've heard the music nowhere else. Magnificent food, music, setting.

You don't mention that there was a Don the Beachcomber Bar/Restaurant in the International Marketplace, on Kalakaua Ave. in Waikiki, that had wonderful tropical-jazz entertainment, from at least 4/'57 (before Hawaii was a state) to mid-'60.

I visited this great place often from mid-'60 to late '62.  It was run by the Shelby Brothers, Lebanese or Syrians; one cooked .  The other entertained, a strolling violinist, both in the downstairs restaurant.

I spent more time in the upstairs nightclub (a firetrap - one tiny stairway that my shoulders nearly filled), with only one unisex toilet.  Often, newcomers would have too much too drink, fail to lock the door, immediately off the main floor.  Suddenly the door would open, and the brightly lit toilet and occupant were the comic relief.

They had great oud and dumbek (small drum) music, and mostly amateur belly dancers -- BEAUTIFUL co-eds, mainly from UCLA.  Little English was spoken.  One sat on cushions on the floor, and I think could order snacks--  hummus,etc.

About 6 years later, after the assassination of RFK by Sirhan Sirhan, I read that he had currently, or for a time, played oud at the Fez.

Mark G adds this info on the Bun 'n Burger among others:

Ron D. shares these memories:

I discovered your site yesterday while surfing the net. I am trying to remember how I navigated to it, but that's not important. I just want you to know how much I am enjoying it.

Restaurants have always been a part of my life. One of my earliest remembrances is my dad taking me to Marsals. My mom worked there in the 40's and 50's. As of about 20 years ago, the building, on Firestone Blvd. west of Long Beach Blvd. in Southgate, was still in use as a service club. Elks Club, or V.F.W. ? Can't quite remember. I didn't go in but wondered the were still using the original bar.

I began working in restaurants along Ventura Blvd. in the late 50's at age 13 as a busboy or dishwasher. I was lucky to feel so "grown up" hanging out at coffee shops with restaurant workers after closing time. I remember one character who came to these 2am breakfasts was a waiter or maybe even maitre d' at Romanoff's. Very continental, spoke several languages.

My adult working years were spent as a Los Angeles deputy sheriff. Worked patrol in East L.A., West Hollywood, Lennox (near LAX and Hawthorne), and Marina Del Rey. Ate a lot of burgers over the hood of a radio car. Looked for cop hang outs on your website but maybe they are no longer around. Hill's Code 7 in downtown L.A. and El Tepeyac in East L.A. (home of the "Hollenbeck burrito" and mentioned in Joseph Wambaugh's first book The New Centurions) come to mind.

You feature Monty's. My mom hostessed at the old location on Ventura Blvd. near White Oak in the 80's. It burned to the ground 15 or so years ago. Sad enough, but even more so because the bar was full of Dodger baseball memorabilia. The new location on Topanga Canyon just didn't cut it for me the one time I visited.

Well, I am starting to ramble too much. One suggestion: if you have never been, next time your travels take you to Palm Springs, try my favorite place, The Ingleside Inn. The great restaurant and bar there is called Melvyn's. Off the main drag and VERY much "old" Palm Springs.

Garry P. recounts the "jazz" life:

I truly enjoyed your website, as I lived in Los Angeles in the late fifties and sixties. One of my favorite places to hang out (and sometimes sit-in with the jazz band) was Paul Cummins' Roaring Twenties on La Cienega Blvd. I remember that one of the magazines (Look, Life, or one similar) did an article on that club. I have never been able to find it, or anything else on the place. And who could forget Dick Webster's incomparable lemon pies, a little farther down the boulevard! L.A. was truly a great place to be in those days..........I would not mind re-living that experience all over again.

Thanks for the memories, as they say.

Leon R provides these important memories of Clifton's Meals for Millions:

I worked at the Meals For Millions office at Clifton's in about 1952 as a part timer while going to USC. They still had the "Pay what you wish" policy then. Your write up seemed to think this was a '30s thing. We mailed out packets of the MFM food free to the starving areas of the world.

I've looked through your whole list and had many happy memories of
places such as the Tam (welsh rarebit, toad in the hole), Micelis, etc.
I'm trying to remember the name of a place in Leimert Park where we
ate a lot. They served a frozen parfait with every meal.
They closed down and started or bought the Silver Saddle in Downey.
What was the name of the original place? The owner was German I believe.

The Hollywood Tick Tock was a favorite with their multiple courses
all served at breakneck speed. You soon learned to eat with one hand
holding on to your dish or it would be whisked away and replaced with
the next course. Lots of fun. I went to the one in Toluca Lake once.
It also had rapid service. We entered, ordered, ate and left and
thought perhaps the swinging doors were still moving from our entrance.
Two beer places I remember from the USC days were Tobacco Rhodas
which showed silent comedies continuously, and Bibos, which was a German beer hall. Can't remember the locations. Thanks for the site.
 

Dale B provides these memories of Harvey's Broiler:

 The JOHNNY'S BROILER in Downey was originally HARVEY'S BROILER when we cruised there in the sixties. Some of the fastest street rods in LA cruised there and at BOB'S in Whittier.

BTW, there was a restaurant in North Long Beach called THE PRINCE OF WALES . I had shrimp or Halibut (fresh water) as least once a month. I have not had good shrimp or Halibut since the place closed. (The area went down hill and patrons were harassed or their cars were broken into so they stopped coming to the restaurant.) They had been in the same location since 1929. I just wish I could find some shrimp or Halibut with the same quality and flavor.

Pat C brings the Warner Grand to our attention:

I found your fabulous site by accident looking for info on Billingsleys restaurant. Anyway, browsed around and bookmarked for future reference. Great stuff!!
Didn't see our fabulous local restored theater the Warner Grand in the theater section. It's one of the few Art Deco treasures still around. You would love it! Actually closing soon for a few months for more refurbishing (new seat thank goodness.)
www.warnergrand.org will get you all the info.
Thanks for all the great info on many places I've forgotten and others I've yet to visit.

Here's a really nice email from John G:

I just wanted to drop you a note to say "Thank you!" Thanks for taking the time to put together such a great web site. I LOVE it. I absolutely love visiting these places and getting just a taste of what a wonderful place Los Angeles must have been way back. I have been to quite a few of the restaurants mentioned on your site, both before but mostly after a friend turned me on to your site: The Smoke House Restaurant, Pig 'n' Whistle, Miceli's, Roscoe's Chicken and Waffles, The Apple Pan, Cassell's, Canter's Deli, as well as Fillippi's Pizza Grotto in San Diego, and many others.

Just today, I dropped my wife off at LAX and decided to take my daughter by Hawthorne to visit the Beach Boys landmark that was recently installed to mark the location of the Wilson's home (torn down to make way for the 105). Along the way, we grabbed a couple of malts at the Foster's Freeze where the Wilson boys used to eat and decided to cruise Hawthorne Blvd. to check out what's left of the historical buildings. We passed Chips Restaurant as well as a place you might want to investigate: Pizza Show on Hawthorne Blvd. (east side of street south from Chips). We didn't eat there but the exterior certainly looks interesting. All of these places are mentioned on a cool web site. Check it out: http://cougartown.com/hangouts.html. Incidentally, my fairly new love of the Beach Boys has only fed my nostalgia. A lot of Beach Boys fans really seem to love the old Southern California that spawned the group. If you have time, you should check out the following blog: http://dumbangelmag.blogspot.com/. They've had some great writeups on 60's-era So Cal. Really good stuff. They put out a great print magazine called Dumb Angel that really focuses on that period of history. I highly recommend it.

To continue with my little story (sorry about the length of this "note"!), we drove up to Inglewood and past the old Wich Stand at Slauson and Overhill (great Googie architecture, though I can't imagine the bright green paint is true to history!). We decided to get a bite to eat and I thought, "Why not hit a time machine?" We ended up in Eagle Rock at the Casa Bianca Pizza Pie shop. Terrific place! Very good thin crust pizza and a great environment inside. Definitely eat there when you get a chance. After dinner, we continued down Colorado toward our home in Orange County. Along the way we passed so many wonderful buildings and restaurants: The Derby, Rod's Diner (sure looked open to me!), the old Van de Kamp's, etc. What a great day.

I'll continue to visit as many of these places as I can. It's strange as I'm 32 years old and really have no "connection" to these places but I get so nostalgic about them. It really bums me out when one of these places closes or worse, gets demolished. Please keep up the TERRIFIC work so that I can keep visiting these places and keep that link to our past alive and well. There's so much more I could say but I've taken too much of your time already! I will scout Orange County locations for you to check out. Jeez, what a rambling e-mail! Okay, that's all!


Ben K points out:

The La Frite sign was from the previous restaurant (Pappy Jacks). It was basically flap jacks, etc, that's why the sign has aguy flipping pancakes. I used to work 50 feet from it in the mid-60s atA&W Root Beer (which became a used car lot, vetc).

Otto's Pink Pig on Van Nuys Blvd was a staple in the 60s. Owned by Otto Nasser. Long gone. $7.45 for a full prime rib dinner. Tail O' the Cock on Ventura Blvd long gone, too. Used to be next to Tail O' the Pup hot dog joint shaped like a hot dog. As is Robaire's, Love's BBQ, Diamond Jim's,Chuck's Steak House, Hody's, Choo Choo's restaurant (where model train brought you your food) and others...


Leon R provides this important information on Wurlitzer's:

I just finished reading your review of the LA movie palaces. I am a
theatre organ buff and am familiar with many of them. There are active
Wurlitzer organs in Plummer Auditorium in Fullerton (one of the last
installations and fully restored) and the Bay Theatre I believe in
Venice or a close by beach city. Both are huge 4 manual models. The
Rialto in Pasadena was the site of many George Wright organ concerts.
He was the very best theatre organist of the 50's and 60's. Allen Organ
company named several of their electronic theatre organs after him and
there was a recent concert at the Rialto by Lyn Larsen, one of the
handful of top professional theatre organists today. This was on a
Allen electronic and is available on CD. The Wiltern had a 4 manual
Kimball organ which was used for many concerts. The theatre in Santa
Barbara has a 4 manual "Wonder" Morton organ. Mortons were built
locally and were the big competition to Wurlitzer which was built in
Tondawanda , NY.

John S. writes about San Diego:

Hi, just got turned on to your amazing site by a friend. As a lifelong San Diegan (until moving to Maine recently) I was pleased to discover your excellent coverage of what my brother and I call "Duckburg". My mother and I moved near Texas and University after my Dad passed in the early 70's. One night she was meeting some friends in the Red Fox Room and invited me along. I could not believe what I was seeing - very grateful to you for researching the history of the interior. In my Mom's later years, she insisted that my wife and I escort her to the Fireside in Escondido for Christmas dinner. Sorry to hear of its' demise.
On another note, I remember the sandwich shop downtown and think the location you list is correct. I worked at the Union-Tribune at the time and would often go there for the pastrami on rye - best ever. I do not recall the name as being Manny's, but I believe the gentleman's name was Bill. One thing I am sure of was his response after taking your request......"Sold American!"
Finally, the chicken place you refer to was, I am relatively sure, a bit further out ECB, before 70th St, right where Montezuma fed onto the Boulevard (near Pep Boys). It was called the "College Inn", and had excellent food. Owned by a Wes Shirts, or Shirtz and was in business into the mid-nineties, I believe the location now houses the "Daily Grinds Cafe". (619) 697-0750
Keep up the GREAT work!!......and thanks - John S.

Denise M remembers:

Although I now live in NYC, I'm a second generation native Californian (Los Angeles). Watching the Food Channel today (Alton Brown on the road), there was a mention of old fashioned tea rooms and I remembered one of my favorites in downtown LA - Blairs. In doing a search, I came across your website.

Thank you for documenting some of these classic restaurants. I see some that I remember as a kid, some I see regularly when I'm visiting family and the list of gone but not forgotten is a wonderful trip down memory lane! I've managed to get my husband to a number of classics, some now gone - Dupars Coffee Shop in the Farmer's Market (a favorite of mine for years - I have their 50th anniversary coffee mug), El Chavo, Philippes (my son is addicted to the mustard which my brother sent him for Christmas last year along with a treasured Tshirt. we have enough mustard to last a few years...). Taylor's is a family tradition - we always end our visits with a big dinner there.

Anyway, I don't mean to ramble, but your site is fab. Keep up the great work, we'll be referring to it for our next visit out West!

Caroline B. provides this very valuable information:

There were a several restaurants not listed on the extinct page that I think are worth including:

Hong Kong Low restaurant – 425 Gin Ling Way, Chinatown plaza, 213-628-6217: Classic Cantonese cuisine, hosted punk bands upstairs. Had the most beautiful blue and green enamel ceiling I’ve ever seen. My mom used to take me there every year on the last day of school in June. The place was partly owned by infamous Chinatown murder victim Yee Wo Tai.

The Islander – 385 N. La Cienega Blvd at Westmount Dr. , 213-655-7570: Polynesian and Chinese fare, Hawaiian salad bar and breakfast buffet, awesome tiki décor including a tropical bird aviary and a gift shop. You had to taking a winding ramp and cross a bamboo suspension bridge to the entrance. Popular rainstorm effect show several times a day. Closed in 1983. Owner Bernard Tohl also owned the CaptainR17;s Table (301 S. La Cienega) and the Blue Boar. http://www.critiki.com/cgi-bin/location.cgi?loc_id=95, LA Times 8/11/60 p. A3, 8/9/59 p. F6

Hawaiian Kitchen – 222 N. Western Ave. near Beverly Blvd., 213-466-5783: Chinese/Polynesian cuisine, also with great tiki décor. Low key place, food was so-so, but I had my first fried rice there. Master chef was from Trader Vic’s.

El Gato – 7324 Sepulveda Blvd., Van Nuys: Mexican restaurant with a popular mariachi and puppet show for kids.

Thistle Inn – 2395 Glendale Blvd., Silverlake, across the street from the Red Lion Tavern, 213-663-8243 – Continental cuisine with swanky style. Richard Neutra and his pals used to hang out there, as his studio was just down the street. That place was there For-EVER!

Our Contribution – 13230 Burbank Blvd., Van Nuys, next door to Valley Cities JCC, 213-988-2332: great hippie vegetarian and natural food joint. Braless waitresses in Birkenstocks, carob and tofu in everything, and plenty of sprouts on the salads. Co-owned by Mike Farrell of MASH fame. I had my first smoothie there! L.A. Times 8/25/81 p. I1, 6/8/80 p. Q103

Magic Pan – Beverly Hills, Arcadia, Woodland Hills, Costa Mesa, Glendale and many other locations: Creperie – wonderful entrée and dessert crepes. Spinach salad with mandarin orange sections and hot bacon dressing. YUM! Reaching its peak of popularity in 1979, Quaker Oats sold off the chain in 1982, leaving the individual locations to sink or swim. They all finally sank. L.A. Times 10/4/79 p. V12

Lawrys California Center – 570 W. Ave .26 at San Fernando Road: Best nachos on the planet, and the jasmine bloomed all year round. L.A. Times 10/3/82 p. Y36

So good to know there is one Bear Pit BBQ left. Must try it for lunch!

Larry T corrects a previous comment:

Don't know where to go on your site to add comments on the "new page" section, but a comment on the Yuma AZ entry: Lutes' Gretna Green Wedding Chapel was and is indeed a classic, but it's not true that in the old days, when movie stars went there to get married, California required blood tests and Arizona didn't. The reason people went there (it's just over the border from California) was that it was the closest place which didn't have a waiting period between license and wedding. The story is great -- the "chapel" is a big old colonial style building and Rev. Lutes' (the "Rev" was honorary, he was a justice of the peace) routine was: you drove up the driveway which passed by the side of the house, got your license and gave blood at a window which opened on the driveway, and went in back to park for the chapel. While you were parking the technician tested your blood and by the time you were in the chapel the results were in and you got married. And they're still in business, though Las Vegas has pretty much taken over.

Now a question, I can't think of the name of the Polynesian restaurant which is now an Acapulco, at 385 North La Cienega in Los Angeles (between Beverly and Melrose). Was it the Islander? [Answer: Yes - see comment above by Caroline B.]

RJ provides these comments:

Hey, thanks for this site.

I live like 2 blocks from Colombo's in Eagle Rock.

Casa Bianca annually gets a mention as "Best Pizza in LA" but I
like Two Guys From Italy (in Glendale) better.

We took a friend from New York to Colombo's. As soon as we walked
in, he said "Oh, this is a New Jersey Red Bar."

He said New Jersey is dotted with places like this.
They're called Red Bars because of
- Red wine
- Red meat
- Red sauces
- Red leather booths

Keep up the good work! Oh yeah, my Dad moved here (actually, Culver City) in 1940.
One of his first jobs was at Cliftons Cafeteria downtown. He told
me he learned to eat kidney pie there. Yecch.

Some great memories from Shelly K:

Petrillos was forced to remodel after a fire in the 1990s. Other than that, the pizza is still the same as is the pasta. Nothing beats this Sicilian style, pile it on type of pizza. The bread is still excellent, but the crust has changed a bit. They also wussed out and put soft provolone instead of hard aged in the antipasto, but it is still full of cherry peppers, mortadella and salami.

I have been going here my whole life. My parents went here on dates in the 1950s.

Other notes:

I met my Husband at Pie n Burger. We go to Daemon's for prime rib to celebrate anything.  We got engaged at Cole's P.E. Buffet. The Building was indeed remodeled, but Cole's has not been touched. Hell, it hasn't even been dusted since 1930.

I haven't been to Taix since the 70s. I have a memory of a huge plate of French fries cooked in coconut oil. It has to be Taix or Mme. Portier's.

You are also the only site I have seen that mentions Quan Brother's. If this is the one in China Town, my parents used to take us there all the time. I knew them for their appetizers like fried wonton and mai tais. Okay, so I stole a few sips when I could.

I never really liked Little Joes, but it is sad to see it standing there all forlorn.

You might want to dig into Marcel and Jean's, a French restaurant in Montebello. The restaurant and sign were still there a few years ago, but the owner went to France and never returned. Also, Butterfield's off Sunset Blvd. was a popular place. I was a kid so I knew them for sarsaparilla and fried parsley. I think they served omelets and health food. Saw Vincent Price there one day in 1975.

Twoheys is still in Alhambra and worth a mention. [See the remodeled page]

Thanks for the memories!