Los Angeles is a design and architecture nerd’s sun-drenched paradise. Here, lookie-loos can find examples of everything from historic Spanish Mission Revival apartment houses to midcentury-modern homes to dazzling art deco theaters. But perhaps one of L.A.’s most iconic and well-known architectural styles is also one of its most unusual: Googie.
The term “Googie” gets its name from the erstwhile coffee shop, Googies, that was once located on the corner of Sunset Boulevard and Crescent Heights in West Hollywood. Designed by inventive architect John Lautner, Googie’s was frequented by Hollywood stars like Marilyn Monroe, James Dean, and Dennis Hopper. But even though the shop was a hit among locals and Hollywood’s heavy hitters, not everybody was a fan. The New York-based architecture critic Douglas Haskell felt the ultra-modern building was simply a reflection of the “tackiness” of Hollywood, and in a 1952 issue of House and Home magazine, he wrote: “After all, [the designers] are working in Hollywood, and Hollywood has let them know what it expects of them.”
Despite the negative press, Googie’s futuristic design soon garnered a reputation as Southern California’s signature architectural style—it was fun, colorful, eye-catching, and frequently utilized natural materials like stone and wood. “Critics didn’t consider it to be serious architecture,” says architect, historian, and preservationist Alan Hess, who has written multiple books on the subject, including Googie: Fifties Coffee Shop Architecture. “And that’s what intrigued me about it. As I studied it more, I realized it was real, modern architecture.”
Here’s a guide to everything you need to know about Googie architecture:
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Image Credit: WhiteMay via Getty Images (left); ElementalImaging via Getty Images (right) When was Googie architecture popular?
Googie architecture is considered to be an L.A.-born and bred architectural style that first rose to prominence during the economic boom years after World War II, from roughly the mid-1940’s to the ‘70s.What is Googie architecture?
Googie architecture is a product of Southern California’s car-centric culture and its mid-century era obsession with Space Age futurism. Everything about Googie—cantilevered roofs, swooping curves, dramatic angles, large sheets of plate glass, starburst details, eye-popping color palettes, and neon signage—was meant to be attention-grabbing. “All of these new technologies promised a greater, brighter future than ever before,” Hess says. “Googie wasn’t all about UFOs and rocketships, per se, but there was a strong interest in the optimism of the future.”At its heart, Googie architecture had an egalitarian edge. Googie pieces were primarily used to house and advertise businesses like fast-food restaurants, car washes, gas stations, drive-in theaters, and apartment buildings—places for everyday Americans. McDonald’s, for example, which opened its first location in San Bernardino in 1940, was an early adopter of Googie architecture.
“[Many businesses] had these large walls of glass, which allowed motorists driving by to look in and see if a place was popular or not,” Hess says. “And, hopefully, that would entice them to pull in and have a hamburger. But for the people sitting inside, it connected them through these big glass walls to the vitality and excitement of Los Angeles.”
Famous examples of Googie architecture in Los Angeles
Although many of the region’s original examples of Googie architecture have been demolished, there are still plenty of prime properties that can be found throughout the Los Angeles area. -
The LAX Theme Building
Location: 201 World Way, Los Angeles, California
For many visitors to L.A. (at least those arriving by plane), the introduction to Googie architecture begins right at the airport. Designed by James Langenheim and completed in 1961, the Theme Building is characterized by its UFO-like shape and is considered to be one of the best architectural examples of Space Age Futurism.
The Theme Building that currently stands is a scaled-down version of a much larger structure that was initially meant to serve as the main terminal hub of LAX, with tunnels and walkways radiating out from its walkway and a glass dome topping it all off. Instead, the plan was waylaid, and a restaurant operated in the Theme Building until 2013, when it closed without plans to reopen. The building itself, however, recently underwent a preservation and structural reinforcement procedure in the hopes that it will last long into the future.
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Pann’s Diner
Image Credit: John Eng Location: 6710 La Tijera Boulevard, Los Angeles, California
There aren’t many places in the world where you can enjoy a classic diner breakfast inside of an architectural wonder, but Pann’s isn’t like many places. With its “tortoise shell” roof and iconic neon signage, Pann’s design was optimized to catch the attention of drivers bustling along La Tijera Boulevard. The restaurant was designed by Armet and Davis’ (one of the most prolific architectural firms that focused on Googie architecture) Helen Liu Fong, who is best known for her inviting coffee shop by the Poulos family since 1958. And don’t miss out on their Dreamburger, which is served with a signature pink mayonnaise.
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The Union 76 Gas Station in Beverly Hills
Image Credit: Chimay Bleue/Flickr Location: 427 N. Crescent Drive, Beverly Hills, California
The Union 76 gas station sited at the corner of Crescent Drive and Little Santa Monica Boulevard in Beverly Hills is considered to be one of the finest examples of Googie architecture and is sometimes called “the best gas station in Southern California.” Designed by architect Gin Wong of Pereira and Associates (who also had a hand in the design of the Theme Building), the building was originally intended to be constructed at LAX but ultimately ended up in Beverly Hills. The gas station is best known for its dramatic, swooping roofline, which is studded with decorative squares and illuminated by strings of fluorescent lights.
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Bob’s Big Boy Broiler
Image Credit: Bob's Big Boy Broiler Location: 4211 W Riverside Drive, Burbank, California
Bob’s Big Boy Broiler is not just an icon in SoCal but also an institution. From the restaurant’s grinning mascot to its red-accented interiors, it’s hard not to love Bob’s Big Boy—and plenty of celebrities feel the same way. Stars like Debbie Reynolds, The Beatles and Mickey Rooney were all known to be frequent customers. And at one point in his life, filmmaker David Lynch visited the restaurant everyday and for his dedication, was awarded with an honorary milkshake goblet!
Designed by Wayne McAllister and completed in 1949, the Burbank location is the oldest Bob’s Big Boy in the nation. Its original 35-foot-tall neon sign is still out front, and its interiors (which incorporate a unique mix of both Streamline Moderne and Googie design elements) have been painstakingly maintained and preserved. Bob’s Big Boy is best known for their Big Boy burgers, which are best paired with an ice-cold milkshake.
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The McDonald’s in Downey
Image Credit: MediaNews Group/Orange County Register via Getty Images Location: 10207 Lakewood Boulevard, Downey, California
This McDonald’s location is the oldest outpost of the popular chain restaurant, and it landed a spot on the National Register of Historic Places in 1984. There were plans to demolish the building in the ‘90s, but thanks to grassroots efforts to save it, it was restored and officially reopened for business in 1994. This McDonald’s was opened in 1953 by the original McDonald brothers (it was their third location) before Ray Kroc was involved in the business. The menu here is exactly the same as any other McDonald’s, but with one exception: there’s classic, fried apple hand pie on offer here.
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