Beyond Tiki, Bilge, and Test / Beyond Tiki
Help Save Johnie's Broiler
Pages: 1 22 replies
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tiki_kiliki
Posted
posted
on
10/27/2002
A post from the Vintage Americana Club: Johnie's Broiler, the oldest drive-in restaurant in California and a beautiful example of Googie architecture, is in danger. A legendary cruising spot in my hometown of Downey, CA, Johnie's has been immortalized in celluloid more than I can possibly remember and even found its way It closed down as a restaurant in December 2001 and has been reopened as a used car dealership. The new lessors are gutting the place and its distinctive architecture is compromised. Downey-based rockabilly band The Blasters is hosting a benefit to help save Johnie's on October 30. Meantime, there's an online petition that I encourage you to sign and a letter you can print out and mail urging the owners to restore Johnie's to its former splendor. Please take a moment and visit the website This place is amazing and I want to encourage everyone to sign the online petition! I'm sure lots of you have seen this place or live near it! |
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TikiGardener
Posted
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01/08/2007
If I just saw correctly, the place has been bulldozed. Illegally apparently. If I saw correctly, this is a sad day. |
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PiPhiRho
Posted
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01/08/2007
Yeah, I just caught something on the news about that. Sad. |
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vintagegirl
Posted
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01/10/2007
Yes, you can read all about it here: |
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procinema29
Posted
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01/10/2007
I just read up on all of this. I had never heard of the place previously, but learning about this now, I am really saddened. I like to see all types of old buildings preserved, to at least see examples from different eras, but seeing googie go away is a very bad thing. |
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tikijackalope
Posted
posted
on
01/10/2007
Johnie's and the Lava Lounge were two places I'd hoped to visit in LA during a trip a year and a half ago. As I was lamenting that I should have moved them higher on the list and skipped something else, I remembered that "something else" might have been Sam's Seafood or Trader Vic's. From a distant perspective, it looks like a lot is being lost out there. Is this perception correct, given the total amount of tiki and googie stuff in LA, or is it skewed because demolitions and closings make news? |
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johnnievelour
Posted
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on
07/08/2008
The location is going to become a Bob's Big Boy and save some of the remaining architectural elements that are still there. |
KBT3
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King Bushwich the 33rd
Posted
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09/16/2009
Former Johnie Broiler/New Bob's Big Boy may open next month... Built from the original 1958 plans of Harvey's Broiler, the predecessor to Johnie's, the 185-seat Big Boy will closely resemble the Googie restaurant. |
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TikiG
Posted
posted
on
09/16/2009
I was absolutely livid when I watched the destruction on the morning news a couple of years ago. I thought the city was going to save it..then BAM! Gone. The original building was a hot topic around LA before the closing. The LA Conservancy/MODCOM group was very keen on saving this building if I remember correctly..town hall meetings and all that. I do remember not much was saved of the building itself. I remember a news photo showing a leveled parking lot. I believed the original huge, iconic neon sign was destroyed too but I must be wrong about that after reading this latest news. Another classic example of faux pas..I mean destroying the original only to replace it with a plastic version and vision. I'm guilty for not supporting the local grass roots efforts to save this place, but I do have personal crusades from time to time saving our nation's traditional amusement parks, especially the mere handful of classic wooden roller-coasters still standing - my first priority. I do love Bobs Big Boy and I applaud the new owner/ city committee/ federal grant money ($900,000!!?!) to restore all that's good with Harvey's/ Johnie's Broiler. Great story and I hope an inspiration for other communities around America with similar situations. I'd hope (as others must feel too) the first round of ground beef served is in the form of 'Yanik Burgers'. Pass the Pepto will 'ya?! |
KBT3
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King Bushwich the 33rd
Posted
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10/20/2009
The former Johnie's Broiler is now open as Bob's |
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TikiG
Posted
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10/20/2009
Looking good, Bobs, looking good! Will have to pay the new Bobs a visit soon... Thanks for posting! |
TS
Tom Slick
Posted
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10/20/2009
Tomorrow(Wednesday) marks the first official cruise night. I'm going to try to get the Lincoln out there and celebrate the Inauguration. Lots of hotrods and kustoms expected to show up, as this day has been anticipated by many for a very long time! |
TSW
The Sperm Whale
Posted
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10/20/2009
I tried to take my Grandmother for lunch over there today and it was too freaking crowded!! |
BK
Big Kahuna
Posted
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10/21/2009
I've been following this story on the HAMB. What a great story. I'd love to go, but I'm not sure the '59 is up for the 6,000 mile round-trip. :lol: |
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Tom Slick
Posted
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10/22/2009
Tranny leak= no go for me.....Sucks, because I really wanted to attend this one. Ahh well, i'll look at the pics on the hamb.. |
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bigtikidude
Posted
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11/11/2009
we should have a get together there. Jeff(btd) |
KBT3
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King Bushwich the 33rd
Posted
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10/07/2010
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KBT3
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King Bushwich the 33rd
Posted
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06/29/2012
Bob's Big Boy Broiler is featured in a photo layout in Rod and Custom Magazine |
BK
Big Kahuna
Posted
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07/01/2012
Made it to 2 Wednesday night cruises at the Broiler in 2011. What an amazing job they did restoring the place. Can't wait to get back there in November. |
KBT3
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King Bushwich the 33rd
Posted
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01/09/2017
Tenth aniversary of the illegal destruction of Harvey’s Broiler (later Johnie’s Broiler then reborn as Bob's Big Boy Broiler). HARVEY’S BROILER 10TH ANNIVERSARY RESTORATION CELEBRATION [ Edited by: King Bushwich the 33rd 2017-01-09 15:42 ] |
KBT3
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King Bushwich the 33rd
Posted
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on
01/10/2017
Charles Phoenix tells the story of the destruction of Harvey's/Johnie's and the rise of Bob's Big Boy. |
KBT3
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King Bushwich the 33rd
Posted
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03/31/2017
So I was watching Earth Girls are Easy (1989) on an HBO channel where they have one scene where they are driving by Johnies Broiler. |
KBT3
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King Bushwich the 33rd
Posted
posted
on
10/10/2019
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Pages: 1 22 replies