There are many things to like about this 1945 photo of Herbert’s drive-in restaurant on the southeast corner of Beverly Blvd and Fairfax Ave: The HERBERTS blade sign, the shiny pre-war cars that people were still driving because automobile production was halted for the duration of the war, the falling dusk in the background. But I especially love the concentric circles of neon on the underside of the overhang, and how they’re reflected in the cars’ paint jobs.
** UPDATE ** – According to Tessa, Herbert’s was owned by L.A. restaurateur Sydney Hoedemaker (who also owned the Hody’s restaurant chain) and opened in the early 1930s.
That corner is now the parking lot of CBS Television City. It was built in 1952, which is when I assume Herbert’s came down. This image is from August 2022.
At least the cars in the newer picture are still shiny.
Just a shame that those kind of places have to go away. I hate progress!!! If that is what you call it.
I’ve never heard of Herbert’s, but since it was torn down the year after I was born, I guess that’s not too surprising.
But my dad went to Fairfax High which is pretty close to this, and his name was Herbert!
I will always remember the mirage scene in the Bob Hope & Bing Crosby film, On the Road to Morocco. Faced with certain death on an arid desert, the film duo both see a beautiful art deco drive-in hamburger stand, cars parked in a ring with 10 car hops tossing hamburgers in the middle of the Sahara desert. The name of that Drive-in……..Herberts Sandwiches. the same one on the southeast corner of Beverly Blvd and Fairfax.
Oh wow – I must look out for that next time I watch that movie. Thanks for the heads up, Joe.