The Parasol Restaurant

12241 Seal Beach Blvd, Seal Beach CA

So I guess there were two Parasol restaurants in Southern California. One in Torrance, and one in Seal Beach. This photo is from the Seal beach location last year. This site has been in danger of redevelopment for a while, and is in fact now stripped to the bare wood. It is supposed to reopen next year as part of the new development, but I have no idea how close to the original design it will be. I am always afraid when something like this happens, the developers often "change" their mind and we end up losing our treasures. It would be a huge sham if this place reopened looking completely different than it was supposed to. It is just so beautiful and it would be a horrible to lose such an important piece of architectural originality.


2690 Pacific Coast Highway, Torrance, CA

This place on the other hand was not so fortunate, The Torrance location, known as Dinah's Parasol was demolished a few years ago. But I guess it was for the greater good, because we all needed yet another Walgreens Pharmacy. I figure style loses out to drugs every time. So when you're driving past Crenshaw Blvd. and PCH, remember to stop by the pharmacy and pick up some drugs, that's what it's there for.

Visit the friends of the Parasol and see photos of the construction here.

Or find a Walgreens near you here.

Tags: Parasol Architecture Roadside Attractions Demolition Googie

J's Coffee Shop

The focus today is on J's Coffee House in Delano Ca. Every year a few of us go to Sequoia National park, and I always try to get some pictures of the cool roadside signs along the way. Most of these places are gone, but the signs remain to serve as a reminder of a time when style and optimism meant something.


Here's another view from our return trip. I'd eat there if it was still open. I love greasy spoons (even if my stomach doesn't).

Tags: Roadside Attractions Signage Demolition

Movieland- Tom Selleck

One of the newer, least detailed sets in the museum. Not much here except Tom lounging around in a tuxedo. I'm not sure, but perhaps this set was used with another figure because it seems so out of place. Maybe if he was wearing a blue Hawaiian shirt and short OP shorts then he could be Magnum P.I. But I guess the Detroit Tigers baseball cap would mess up his hair.


A closer picture makes Tom look like he does not want to be here. But It's the Movieland Wax Museum! Lighten up.


When I first read this sign , I thought that this was supposed to be a scene from Christopher Columbus: The Discovery. I haven't seen that movie, but I doubt he wears a tuxedo in it. I like how it says Tom Selleck is wearing the actually tuxedo, not the figure is wearing it. Both cool and creepy at the same time. The set sold for $550 at auction. Mr. Selleck did not go up for sale. He moved up north to the Wax Museum at Fisherman's Wharf where he resides with other "Hollywood hunks".


Many of the figures moved to a sister wax museum at Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco. Find out which figures moved by visiting the Wax Museum's website here.

View Tom's profile and extensive motion picture and television credits here.

Tags: Movieland Wax Museum Wax Figure Wax Tom Selleck

der Kinder Garden

With its really cool sign, this preschool was next to the Roadium for as long as I can remember. For the last few years the building has sat unoccupied, until this week that is. Every time I drove past this place I wanted to take a picture because I loved its 60's (I'm assuming) architecture.


But this is how it looked this past week. And now it is completely rubble, and will soon be gone. I don't know what will happen to the property, but I hope that it doesn't become ugly town homes. I'd rather it become more parking for the Roadium.


This section of the building was still standing when I took this photograph (obviously), but this too is rubble now. Check out the cool angles on those support columns.

Check out more pictures from this set here.

Tags: Architecture Demolition Signage