Pann's pt 4- Waiting for a Table

I usually hate sitting around the lobby of a restaurant waiting to be seated, but since so much of Pann's is vintage, I didn't mind one bit. Check out the cool bench, and the seats over at the counter! Incredible.

Even this glass divider has artistic detail. Don't settle for plain old frosted glass anymore!

Inside the building there's a neon recreation of their famous sign. Their logo is world class Googie to the core.

Visit the Pann's website here.

Next time. . . ceiling high jinks.

Tags: Googie Architecture Pann's Coffee Shop Restaurant

Pann's pt 3- Googie Paradise

Here's the wonderfully sloped roof of Pann's. The lighting also adds to the ambiance and mood of the restaurant. How could someone dislike Googie architecture? Standing in front of this place gave me chills and caused me to appreciate the few examples we have left of this amazing era of the twentieth century.

Basically, the same shot as before, but with more of the lighting present. Night pictures are always difficult to get right, so I thought I'd include two. Even if they are fairly similar.

A close up of the Yucca trees in front. One important detail of good landscaping is having plants and trees that are appropriate to the architectural theme. And Pann's landscaping does just that.

Even the street number is Googie! Remember, that's 6710 La Tijera Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90045.

Visit the Pann's website here.

Next time. . . we wait to be seated.

Tags: Googie Architecture Pann's Coffee Shop Restaurant

Pann's pt 2- Stuck in the Parking Lot

Even the parking lot signs are cool at Pann's. This sign, which warns non customers to not even think of using Pann's parking lot, has the vintage style and design we'd come to expect from Pann's.

The same sign taken with the flash on. What a difference!

I like the font here, and anyone in the area, feel free to order some nice Coffee shop food.

A view of our destination. Even from the parking lot side, the building has wonderful style and detail; The angled roof, the glittered stucco, the stone wall. Wait until we see Pann's from the most beautiful angle!

Visit the Pann's website here.

Next time. . . full frontal pictures of the exterior.

Tags: Googie Architecture Pann's Coffee Shop Restaurant

Pann's pt 1- Sign of the Times

6710 La Tijera Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90045

The absolute coolest Googie restaurant in all of Los Angeles is Pann's Coffee Shop. The next several posts will concentrate on a recent trip I made to this historic and iconic landmark. This sign shows the originality, and just incredibly wonderful detail of Googie architecture.

A close up of the sign without the neon lights on. They actually flash on and off, signaling to motorists to come in and spend a few minutes in mid century heaven.

With the lights on, unfortunately they weren't all working (As you can see). If only the sign didn't reference the 50's, then there would be no distinguishing it from how it was fifty years ago.

The side of the building is stamped with the Pann's logo. A very nice detail that most places overlook these days.

Visit the Pann's website here.

Next time. . . more exterior shots.

Tags: Googie Architecture Pann's Coffee Shop Restaurant

Movieland- The Lucy Show

A very simple display of Lucille Ball stands unassumingly off in a corner. I suppose the figure itself is the main focus of this set. It would have to be. Lucy was born in 1911 and died in 1989. She is definitely considered one of the greatest female comics of all time. Her career spanned decades and this redhead became the top draw on television. This figure honors the contribution she made to the fields of television and comedy.

A close up of the wonderfully sculpted Lucy figure. It looks as though she is ready to spend a night on the town, as she has her pocket book along to pay for all of it. Don't tell Ricky. Actually, the figure is supposed to represent her later series, The Lucy Show which ran from 1962-68.

A fairly dark picture of the clapboard sign shows information about when this three dimensional representation is supposed to take place. The Lucy figure was not sold at the auction, but the small set sold for $300.

View the filmography of Lucille Ball here.

For more pictures of wax museums visit Houses of Wax here.

Tags: Movieland Wax Museum Wax Figure Wax Lucille Ball

Last 76 Ball in Torrance Destroyed!

These photographs both disgust and sadden me. On Hawthorne Blvd and 182nd st, the last remaining orange 76 ball in Torrance, and I'm pretty sure the whole South Bay, has just been removed. Not only did they take it down, but they really did a real number on it. This wasn't unexpected in general, but I did not think that they would do it so soon. The station hasn't been remodeled yet, and the ball is often the last to go. You can see in the back of the picture that the building and island still look old. But I noticed about a moth ago that they stopped spinning the ball, and that got me worried (for a good reason it seems).

A close up of the destruction. Those bastards! I wonder if Conoco Phillips actually realizes that they're weakening their brand by removing its uniqueness. I won't go to a Seventy Six anymore thanks to their stupidity. Now if they ever start adding balls again, then maybe I'll change my stance. Where are the new red balls that we were promised?

This is what replaced the wonderful 76 ball this week. Does this really look any better? A flat sign? Welcome to the unimaginative, bland 21st century. McDonalds thinks they're Starbucks, and Conoco Phillips wants their brands to get lost in the crowd.

Thanks to Ben Taniguchi of Galvin Preservation for the first two pictures.

Visit savethe76ball.com

Tags: 76 Ball Removed Orange Red Torrance California

Old Towne Mall- Clown With Family

Rest Stop in the Old Towne Mall

Here's another scene from the Old Towne mall. It shows a wonderfully surreal clown entertaining shoppers in what must have been a common sight in the early days of the mall. We also see other mall goers enjoying themselves, whether window shopping or taking a break on a bench. I guess their motto was correct when the proclaimed that "Old Town is a family affair." I don't recall ever seeing a clown at the mall when I was a kid, but by the time I was old enough to understand what was going on around me I think the mall stopped most of their usual street entertainment. It's a shame that so many attractions today focus solely on one demographic. Either kids are the main focus, or it's high end trendy fashion. Nothing seems to be made that kids can enjoy that doesn't bore parents. I suppose the joy of nostalgia and the optimism of youth don't mix as well as it used to.

A close up of the clown interacting with a boy whose head movement caused picture blur.

Sorry about the watermark on the main photo, but a couple of sites have been using my pictures without linking back here.

Tags: Old Towne Mall Torrance California Clown

Tom Sawyer Island pt 5- Smuggler's Cove

As we make our way across Tom Sawyer Island, we eventually find Smuggler's Cove. There we encounter two classic and wonderful attractions, the Pontoon, and suspension bridges. Instead of thrills, they offer fun and simple experiences that fit quite well with the theme of the island.

The Suspension bridge one day when it was closed off. You can see the leaves collected on top of it. This was back when it was unknown if the bridge would ever carry people again. Good thing it eventually reopened.

The sign warning people to be safe on the bridge.

Another view of the suspension bridge on another day. No pirates around.

Two children enjoy the up and down bobble of the Pontoon Bridge. One of the greatest simple pleasures at Disneyland.

Don't say we didn't warn you. You don't have to go this way. But why would anyone choose not to?

Tags: Disneyland Frontierland Pirates Tom Sawyer Island Smuggler's Cove

Tom Sawyer Island pt 4- Injun Joe's Cave

Before it became Dead Man's Grotto, there was Injun Joe's Cave. Children and adults both marveled at its mysteries. Would they discover the treasure, or run into Injun Joe himself? Only the brave who dared to enter will find out.

The sign further intensifies the mysteriousness of the cave. Maybe Disneyland does have some unexplored elements after all.

The cave is dark and dreary (When you don't use the flash on your camera), and we hear screams call from out from nowhere. Who is the man who screams in such agony?

This sign explains that the sound is from the ghost of Injun Joe. A supernatural element is now added to the experience.

The bottomless pit is not so bottomless. In fact we can see the remnants of the last person who fell down the hole; someone who got a set of free green beads over in New Orleans Square.


The backside of the cave, or is it the entrance?

Tags: Disneyland Frontierland Pirates Tom Sawyer Island Injun Joe

Tom Sawyer Island pt 3- More Fort Wilderness

Lights out in front of Fort Wilderness. The island would be so fun to explore at night, but Tom Sawyer Island always closed at dusk. This shot was another of my attempts at art.

Just in case anybody missed the giant fort on the island, a sign directs visitors to view, if not enter, the once magical structure.

From the Mark Twain riverboat guests get a slightly obstructed view of the fort. Gun shots could once be heard when passing the fort, as kids and adults pretended the fort was under attack by hostile natives. The guns were removed a few years ago after a child was injured in an accident with one of the rifles.

A peek inside the closed fort. A water cooler can be seen inside the Regimental Headquarters which now appears to be a break room for cast members. I wonder if the figure of the Andrew Jackson is still in there.

Find more information on Fort Wilderness here.

Tags: Disneyland Frontierland Pirates Tom Sawyer Island Fort Wilderness