When I saw this photo, my first thought was “There’s a 1950s California beach scene if ever I saw one. This is Patmar’s Motel & Cafe & Cocktail Lounge in El Segundo, which is immediately south of LA International Airport. The two newest cars here are 1949 Ford and 1949 Mercury so this was taken very early 1950s. With motel room, a café and a bar, Patmar’s had you covered! (And my second thought was “This looks like a place Mildred Pierce might have worked at—or owned by the end of the movie.)
My grandparents, Carl and Mary Virden, were the resident managers of Patmars in the late 50’s and early 60’s. I have great memories of running around the grounds, playing hide-n-seek with my cousins during our Sunday evening visits, and on Christmas eves.
The drive-in building was originally moved to a nearby golf course, where it became the Pro Shop.
I wouldn’t doubt that it was moved again after that, so it may be the Simon’s you refer to.
When I saw this photo, my first thought was “There’s a 1950s California beach scene if ever I saw one. This is Patmar’s Motel & Cafe & Cocktail Lounge in El Segundo, which is immediately south of LA International Airport. The two newest cars here are 1949 Ford and 1949 Mercury so this was taken very early 1950s. With motel room, a café and a bar, Patmar’s had you covered! (And my second thought was “This looks like a place Mildred Pierce might have worked at—or owned by the end of the movie.)
The good ol’ days.
My grandparents, Carl and Mary Virden, were the resident managers of Patmars in the late 50’s and early 60’s. I have great memories of running around the grounds, playing hide-n-seek with my cousins during our Sunday evening visits, and on Christmas eves.
Wow, Jim, lucky you! What a wonderful playground to run around in!
Now why in the world does the drive-in look just like the Simon’s on Sunset Blvd. (the one that went Dolores later)?
The drive-in building was originally moved to a nearby golf course, where it became the Pro Shop.
I wouldn’t doubt that it was moved again after that, so it may be the Simon’s you refer to.