Tag Archives: Memetic architecture
Two girls in the rumble seat of a car parked across from The Tamale restaurant, 6421 Whittier Blvd, East Los Angeles, 1928
It looks like these girls in the rumble seat are looking for a good time and perhaps have found it at a joint at 6421 Whittier Boulevard. It’s called The Tamale because, well, it looks like a big tamale. The … Continue reading
The Mushrooms, a mushrooms-and-toadstools-themed cafe at 3500 W Olive Ave., Los Angeles, 1928
Los Angeles being the home to Hollywood, the city of imagination, it’s little wonder that it’s had a treasure trove of mimetic architecture over the years. I’d love to have seen this one in person: The Mushrooms looked like a … Continue reading
Royal Albatross gas station at Ventura Blvd and Laurel Canyon Blvd, Studio City, 1939
This Royal Albatross gas station used an actual aircraft to catch the eye of passing motorists—and I’m sure it worked! It was at the corner of Ventura Blvd and Laurel Canyon Blvd in Studio City, which is a prime position … Continue reading
The Umbrella Service Station, General Petroleum Gas on La Brea Ave, circa 1930
In a city which has a realty office shaped like the Sphinx and an ice cream store shaped like an ice cream, why wouldn’t you have a gas station shaped like an umbrella? This eye-catcher stood on La Brea Ave, … Continue reading
Gwen Lee in front of the Sphinx Realty Office, 537 N. Fairfax Ave.
Who knew Egyptians made it as far as the West Coast of America? First it was Grauman’s Egyptian Theater, then this fine example of eye-catching Angelean architecture. This was the Sphinx Realty Office at 537 N. Fairfax Ave, which placed … Continue reading
Chapman Fine Ice Creams upside-down cone store
Doncha just love Los Angeles and its memetic architecture (a building constructed in an unusual shape as a novelty)? This upside-down ice cream cone was part of the “Chapman Fancy Ice Creams” chain of ice cream parlors/drugstores. By 1932, they … Continue reading
Ben-Hur Delicious Drip Coffee shop, 1930
The Ben-Hur Delicious Drip Coffee shop featured a giant coffee pot on the roof, and was located at 1950 W. Washington Blvd. (1930) This style of architecture is called “memetic” which denotes a building constructed in an unusual shape as … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged Brown Derby, Memetic architecture, Restaurants, Stores and Shopping
1 Comment