Urban Archeology: Sambo's Restaurants (WARNING: Image heavy about 4.5 megs) - Beyond Tiki

T Tangaroa Tiki Socialite Joined: Apr 25, 2002 Posts: 1566	T Tangaroa Posted posted on Mon, Dec 13, 2004 6:27 PM So - I took the family to Disneyland for the holidays this last Friday, and I made the extra effort to eat at the former Sambo's on Katella & West that I used to eat at as a kid. Here's what you get now folks - and it's sad sad sad. The original Sambo's on Katella & West. Here it is today - it's now a Coco's. It looks to be an all too common theme (or lack therof) - pink and or beige stucco, with unecessary additions like that upstairs area, which probably isn't even functional. Here's the interior from the 1960s, with those wonderful back-lit panels. Today in 2004. Feels like design from 1989, doesn't it? Here's a great photo taken by 'Synthetrix' on West street, shortly before it's demise in 1980. (By the way - do yourself a favor & check out his website http://www.synthetrix.com - be sure to check out 'Photos Of The Forgotten' & 'Anaheim - Growing up in the shadow of Disneyland' unbelievably great photos & information) Here's my lame attempt to take the same shot in full sunlight. Oh well, here's Stovall's wonderful 'Topiary Gardens' which bordered Sambo's & ran down West Street (now Disney Drive or some such nonsense). I love those rock walls - nothing says 60s to me like those. Stovall's Inn Of Tomorrow (now just Stovall's Inn) has a few sad topiaries just to tease us of what once was... Here's Stovall's Inn Of Tomorrow in all it's 1960's glory (read more about the various 60s/space age themed hotels here: http://65.254.59.194/%7Evstapf/SAM/sa1.htm ) But, as you can see - it has aged well, like a fine wine... The 'Topiary Gardens' (which I'm sure were inspired by the topiaries outside 'It's A Small World') ran behind the pool area and down West Street... Let's walk down West Street... Here's the pool area in the 60s - compare this with the Geodesic "Moon House" at Stovall's Space Age Hotel - http://65.254.59.194/%7Evstapf/SAM/sa3.htm ) Not too dissimilar today. Lastly - here's the God-like lobby of the Inn Of Tomorrow during it's heyday: And here it is today... Here's to the future folks! "Oh mystic powers - hear my call... From my limbs, let new life fall..." http://www.christophermerritt.com [ Edited by: Tangaroa on 2004-12-13 18:37 ]

So - I took the family to Disneyland for the holidays this last Friday, and I made the extra effort to eat at the former Sambo's on Katella & West that I used to eat at as a kid.

Here's what you get now folks - and it's sad sad sad.

The original Sambo's on Katella & West.

Here it is today - it's now a Coco's.

It looks to be an all too common theme (or lack therof) - pink and or beige stucco, with unecessary additions like that upstairs area, which probably isn't even functional.

Here's the interior from the 1960s, with those wonderful back-lit panels.

Today in 2004.

Feels like design from 1989, doesn't it?

Here's a great photo taken by 'Synthetrix' on West street, shortly before it's demise in 1980. (By the way - do yourself a favor & check out his website http://www.synthetrix.com - be sure to check out 'Photos Of The Forgotten' & 'Anaheim - Growing up in the shadow of Disneyland' unbelievably great photos & information)

Here's my lame attempt to take the same shot in full sunlight.

Oh well, here's Stovall's wonderful 'Topiary Gardens' which bordered Sambo's & ran down West Street (now Disney Drive or some such nonsense).

I love those rock walls - nothing says 60s to me like those.

Stovall's Inn Of Tomorrow (now just Stovall's Inn) has a few sad topiaries just to tease us of what once was...

Here's Stovall's Inn Of Tomorrow in all it's 1960's glory (read more about the various 60s/space age themed hotels here: http://65.254.59.194/%7Evstapf/SAM/sa1.htm )

But, as you can see - it has aged well, like a fine wine...

The 'Topiary Gardens' (which I'm sure were inspired by the topiaries outside 'It's A Small World') ran behind the pool area and down West Street...

Let's walk down West Street...

Here's the pool area in the 60s - compare this with the Geodesic "Moon House" at Stovall's Space Age Hotel - http://65.254.59.194/%7Evstapf/SAM/sa3.htm )

Not too dissimilar today.

Lastly - here's the God-like lobby of the Inn Of Tomorrow during it's heyday:

And here it is today...

Here's to the future folks!

"Oh mystic powers - hear my call...
From my limbs, let new life fall..."
http://www.christophermerritt.com

[ Edited by: Tangaroa on 2004-12-13 18:37 ]

Post #130839 by Tangaroa on Mon, Dec 13, 2004 6:27 PM