How Los Angeles Got Its Iconic Architecture Style - Cheddar Explains
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- Опубліковано 26 вер 2024
- You might not recognize the name, but if you've driven around Los Angeles you'll definitely recognize the style. Googie architecture became popular in the late 1950s and 1960s thanks to one man's design. Cheddar explains how this architecture style came to be and how it disappeared as quickly as it was created.
Sources:
Curbed
Los Angeles Times
Smithsonian Magazine
Timeline
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Here in Tucson, the city has preserved a lot of the old 50-60’s era signs around downtown. It’s really cool.
Michael Willever yeah it’s really cool fellow Tucsonian here... kinda thought they were gonna say LA got the style from Tucson especially since it had Tucson inn on the thumbnail lol. But we live in a beautiful city in so many different ways.
Was hoping for Tucson to have it’s shining moment! But that’s okay we all know it’s a great place 😊👌🏻
Tucson gang!
Broadway between downtown and Park Place has a bunch of Googie
I live in Tucson and I love the Googie style!!!!
I've always wondered how this architecture style was denominated, as I personally think it has loads of character. I hope one day I can visit the USA to see this and many more of its wonders.
Stay safe everyone. Cheers.
I would like to see a googie inspired modern renaissance. All it takes is one good design to inspire others. I could see a fast food restaurant melding the new McDonalds/Wendy's look with googie adornments. It just takes inspired design.
@@orlandotouristtraps7410 I agree. Architecture nowadays became pretty bland and strictly focused on function. I do understand it from a business point of view, but a little inspiration would make things so much nicer.
Vintage and retro stuff is gaining popularity again, it's almost like a vicious circle - it goes out of fashion but comes back again at some point. Hopefully we'll see a renaissance of the Googie architecture as you mentioned.
I really love the design as well. While I wouldn't want to see it everywhere, having some places utilize it to stand out would be really refreshing and a welcome addition in my book.
@@orlandotouristtraps7410 check out "P. Terry's" diner chain in Texas- its pretty close!
Don’t visit America according to socialists and liberals America is evil
I like that now in America you can drive through most major cities and see every single type of architectural movement. You can drive down the street and see a Victorian style home a block from a Googie burger spot next to a Brutalist office building.
I'm studying architecture and I can say that without a doubt, googie style basically ignores every single thing ever thought at architecture school. Which is why I find it absolutely incredible, beautiful and mesmerizing. I think there is not a better representation of the aim for a better future post WWII, of the consumerism that drives America's lives, of this nostalgia we inevitably feel even though most of us actually never got to be alive in that era.
It's so attention demanding, so colorful, so kitsch-y that it's artsy. They have built a dreamland on a city that subsists of dreams. They have unintentionally captured the spirit of Hollywood's movies on architecture: fast entertainment, glitter and lights, a sense of living in the future.
I know many people don't like this style but I love it, and I hope to someday be able and lucky enough to see it in person.
How ironic. The buildings of the future have become a symbol of the past.
Retrofuturism baby! Sounds like an oxymoron, but it's a really cool style of art and architecture!
They all have. Art Deco, Art Nouveau, Brutalism, Googie, etc. They're the wave of the future until something new and different comes along or technology takes a turn and then they aren't anymore. It's fun to look at projects from the past that were designed to be "The ______ Of The Future!" and the future says "Hold my beer." The city of Brasilia springs to mind.
The same thing will eventually be said for all of the buildings built recently that we'd consider "futuristic" and "modern" looking today, like the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, the Walt Disney Concert Hall in LA, the Oculus in NYC, etc. Who knows, maybe buildings in the distant future will be like holograms or something.
@@barelyaudibleah.8502 exactly
@@barelyaudibleah.8502 why don’t you crawl out to the fallout back to T H E E
This was fascinating for me. I honestly love this look, like everyone else this is the first time I've heard that word. I'd love to see this look come back in to popular fashion once again. Just obviously with a slight updated twist to it.
I always called this style the ‘Jetsons’ look and to this day I love it!
Flintstones too, same with The Jetsons.
And Sonic Drive-Ins always have this same feeling of Googie theme, especially their signboard.
My favourite style of architecture as well as overall decor! Thanks for covering this.
Googie style was everywhere by 1962 when I was five years old living in the Lakewood (Southern California) area. It helped define the times. I loved it! It brings nostalgia when I see remnants of it around the Southern California region.
OMG! I grew up in Lakewood and was five in 1962 also! Do I know you?
Cool, thanks for explaining this for architectural style, I never knew it had a name but I do recall a lot of if from my childhood years in California when everything was seemingly bright and colorful. And the small town of Radiator Springs in the first Pixar Cars movie certainly evokes this style.
I was born in 1962, and old enough to remember the world like this. It was normal then, and now brings back warm and happy memories every time I see this style.
I was born in 1965, and I've seen a lot of this and other aspects of the same period.
FYI, many of the rest areas in Florida still have Googie-style picnic shelters.
Though I'm far far away from California, I think I like this googie style. It's interesting. It gives me a strong retro feel. Nostalgia. It's the opposite of boring to me. But it's hard to judge if I can't visit it for myself, if I really like it.
Nostalgia? You grew up with this?
I love Googie architecture but it may put off a lot of people since most of the buildings are in run-down neighborhoods or parts of town. There are ton in Long Beach, Pomona (especially off Mission), LA, and Fullerton!
@@Dim.g0v If he's a Millennial in his 30s like me, we didn't "grow up with it" in terms of its teen/adult-of-the-50s sense, but in the sense that embodied the world our parents grew up with and influenced on us. Look at the 90s movie Matilda by Danny DeVito, the entire Wormwood family is Googie. And to go along with the video, I grew up with The Jetsons just like my parents did because we watched them together. There were plenty of days my dad and I would switch off watching cartoons. I'd want us to watch The Wild Thornberry's or Rugrats, and then he'd pop in a tape of The Flintstones or The Jetsons and it would be such a good time.
And it does depend on the kid. Like, my mom had me and my sister captivated over Casablanca, Gone with the Wind, Psycho, Some Like It Hot when we were kids (I'm not saying my mom understood age-appropriateness), but I know plenty of kids (and even now as adults) who refuse to even watch black and white movies. I don't get that, but if you're receptive to older things as a kid, I think an appeal to this kind of style and older styles persist, because we see the things that excited people at the time, and that excites us.
Wow. Being from LA, I just thought this style was a time stamp that was everywhere.
Pann’s was our fav restaurant! Awww memories!!
It kinda is a time stamp that was everywhere... here in Tucson the areas north of downtown have a lot of this style well preserved too.
It is I grew up in texas don't live there anymore but they had some buildings in that style too
Googie is hard to ignore - just as Cheddar is hard to ignore!
This video is pure pleasure for me. I have always been a fan of retro, tiki and googie architecture and styles. But until minutes ago I have never heard of googie style. Now I know. Thank you Cheddar.
@@orlandotouristtraps7410I'm glad we both liked googie. What's tiki thought?
That's 60s Retrofuturism for you. Just like The Jetsons TV show has a very atomic age, and space age design.
@@ebena.k.8032 The "tiki" style was heavily infuenced by Polynesian architecture. It was similar to googie, but instead of using bright futuristic colors, it used more earthen tones, rattan/bamboo, and many other tropical themes, including almost always a tiki statue. Examples include Java Bowl, Tropicana lodge, the tropics motor hotel chain, shelter island inn, and the half moon inn. Hope this helps!
It's such a cool style. The 1950's milkshake hangout spots you see in period films just look cool af. So iconic.
Wildwood NJ has a lot of Googie Buildings. Thank you for the information
I actually have a book in my collection that is specifically about the Wildwood Doo Wop Motels. I bought it about 10 years ago. www.amazon.com/Doo-Wop-Motels-Architectural-Treasures/dp/0811733890
I love wildwood!
The world of the 50s and 60s seem so exciting!
Today the world just seems so tired
It's because the 60'ies were wrong.
I mean it depends on your race and gender 🤷
@obama But its ok for celebs to walk around half naked near children.
For sure dude. Rampant racism, sexism, a new war every decade, and the threat of nuclear annihilation.
G O O D
T I M E S
Can't blame them. In the 1950's, the public was sold on an idea the future was bright, cheery, and peaceful. Even Walt Disney believed in it as highlighted in his favorite song "There's a Great, Big, Beautiful Tomorrow". Then the Cuban Missile Crisis happened. Then JFK's assassination, then Tet, then the riots, then 1975. America lost its innocence during that period and the future just didn't shine bright as it did before. Even Disney made that a subtext in their Tomorrowland film: the future is anything but good...
growing up in la i always loved googie architecture and signs. but it wasnt until high school that i learned that googie was from la also. it made me love it even more. the lines really are just exciting, and the colors are much better than all the beige and gray the majority of the city wallows in.
I always wanted to know the name of the architecture. Omg
also a cousin of it is called Populuxe
#BringBackGoogie, who’s with me?
#nothankyou
#moderndesignisthenewdesign
I'm with ya! #BringBackGoogie !
me
#bringbackgoogie
Yea with led screens we could
From 65 and thousands of miles from it, still a googie style fan love the shape and materials. Life my one googie style in the Netherlands where only a few people know what Googie is. Thanks for sharing the video and info. Great way to use maps and street view😊
"How Los Angeles Got Its Iconic Architecture Style"...thumbnail displays a picture in Tucson...
South Florida as well as the Space Coast in Florida also adopted the style as Florida boomed during the post war years especially after the widespread use of air conditioning. The Future is Now thinking was everywhere in new developments of that age. What some considered tacky in that time it was considered hopeful and future looking. Yes that age had many downsides (e.g. Madmen style misogyny, Levittown subdivision racism, and men destroying their lives with Martini lunches, cigarettes and high pressure careers) but there was a boldness and optimism I wish we could capture.
I want a Googie revival NOW!
Googie is definitely a Los Angeles arquitecture and should be preserved and continued🚀
Around Austin Texas you may see a few brand new buildings constructed in this style: P. Terry’s Burger Stands. The founder of the company is a fan of Googie style and has commissioned unique designs for each location.
Thank you for sharing! I looked up P Terry's after reading your comment and I love their designs.
Googie really only works (and lasts) in warm sunshine states. In winter states (think Buffalo New York with five feet of snow) it's just not durable enough.
The Stardust Diner in Times Square has this architecture.
@@Undecided0 Not a free standing structure.
The 50’s and 60’s was definitely the pinnacle of architecture and styling and sadly the only thing that’s around now is the boring and bland styles of today
when we lose our architecture and art we lose our SOUL
Its all concrete cubes and stucco boxes, pretty depressing. Especially the new mcdonalds remodels- have you seen them? They are literally a grey cube. There is nothing at all to enjoy about them
I got my fingers crossed for green architecture, in the future. As in, buildings designed to have plants popping off as many surfaces as you can. Plus, foliage cools cities down dramatically.
I had no idea that John Lautner, who's residential architecture was so timeless, was a founder of the Googie style. It must have been hard for him to switch gears, from designs like the Bell House and the Carling House, to the over-the-top commercial designs of Googie. But you do see it's influence feedback into his later Malin House and Elrod House.
I absolutely love this architecture!!
This was a great video. I always appreciated this style of architecture however knew very little of it. I actually have a diner nearby me in Queens, NY with this look!
Drive-in theater marquees. There are still a few rotting away in my general area and they seem to fit this style to a T. The drive-ins themselves are long gone, but I would assume they'd also be in the same style, which fits the time period when they were opened and active.
I never knew the name of that style until now thanks
3 Disney references:
2:48 the donut joint seen on ZEKE & LUTHER
5:20 Disneyland's Peoplemover
6:05 the street named after one of Penny's friends on THE PROUD FAMILY
Many movie theaters, both old and new, still maintain this architectural style-at least here in Texas and the southwest.
I wish we could save and restore EVERY Googie building. Its the punk rock of architecture. No body wanted it. It just arrived like a punch in the face. And left just like that. A loud piece of history.. Long live the Googie!!!
Still lots of Googie in Downey, CA.
I can't explain it but whenever I see this style of architecture or furniture or appliances.. I get a weird feeling. Like I'm being pulled back to a better time or something. I've never been able to explain it but it's almost like an undefined sense of nostalgia mixed with.. uplifting happiness or something. I just love it. I wish I could be surrounded by this design style all the time. Unfortunately there are very few examples left where I live anymore.
Its great to be a fan of mid century modern architecture and live in Los Angeles!
The five points car wash was renovated and re-opened recently
A fellow Whittier man of culture, I see
I've never been to LA so I don't know they have these kind of buildings in real life! I thought it is only a building drawing style for Hanna Barbera cartoons.
The Jetsons not only copied Googie architecture from Los Angeles but directly incorporated the Chicago Marina City "corn cob" residential towers, themselves Googie architecture.
I normally hate modern architecture but I have a soft spot for this sort of weird fun colorful architecture
The world needs more googie
I finally know the name of this style, thanks
Wish new buildings could look like this, but now there's all those pesky guidelines/restrictions for how buildings look.
I wish new buildings could look like...anything.
"Oh, you need a retail store? Let me build you a concrete brick."
"Oh, you need a home? Let me build you a box"
It's actually depressing...
Simia Malum i mean, i dont like concrete boxes, but neither this futuristic wannabe style lol
Christian B Yeah this style is an abomination. Absolutely ugly.
@@agme8045 What style do you like?
Just drive by a P. Terry’s burger stand.
"How Los Angeles Got Its Iconic Architecture Style"
It's not just LA, Vegas also has them too.
Seattle has it too in a few places.
thatredmanguy x_X Nope. They said it was only in LA.
@@thevinyltruffle the southcenter mall and us bank in seattle both have all these same features and were built in the same era.
It originated in LA though.
@@hiphoprbloverjon9180 I know
Whenever someone doesn't understand what Googie Style means, I just say "Jetson's Style," and immediately they know what I'm talking about.
Great content thanks
You gonna start doing videos on LA instead of NY?
As a native SoCalifornian, I’d love to learn more about my home state!
Googie + Memphis design….. my beloved…….
That’s cool to finally know the name
They say whats the point of preserving Googie architecture? The same reason we need to preserve any type of architecture. It tells a story of a the past and has more character than the style we see today. Love that fun crazy style Googie had.
Growing up in the Los Angeles area, I remember seeing many googie-style buildings and signs.
The Blue Skies sign near Santa Barbara is a favorite. The Ataris’ album “Blue Skies, Broken Hearts...Next 12 Exits” has it on their cover.
In New Jersey we call it Doo-wop Architecture and is found in wildwood New Jersey. To each there own
This type of architecture needs to make a comeback
Interesting
Nice in moderation. I could understand people being concerned that this style would grow too prominent. Every building like this on the strip would be an eyesore.
We need googie back. We're on the verge of going to Mars and moon again.
As someone who lives in Los Angeles, Googie was more of a suburban thing, and associated with Route 66 in the Inland Empire (the suburban region 40 miles east of Los Angeles) than L.A. proper. Los Angeles is actually more known for Art Deco (Union Station, Bullock's Wilshire, Eastern Columbia Bldg) and Mid-Century Modern (Dodger Stadium, LAX Theme Bldg) architecture.
What is the theater sign at 3:36? It is a clear inspiration for Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway! Also, I noticed there's a neon sign that says "Hollywood" that is the origin for the Universal Studios Florida original logo.
This is probably one of the most American architectural styles besides the early skyscrapers. Love it!
I always loved this kind of architecture ever since I first saw Cars as a kid, I didn’t know real buildings ever existed with this style except for those faux-50s cafes, but it’s fascinating to see the history. I think it’s a shame how the style passed on since I think it looks awesome, but I definitely can see why the designers didn’t want to preserve them, they were just built to align with the growth of car culture, and as the quote says: “to sell hamburgers.”
I think car culture caused a lot of damage to LA and I think maybe it’s for the better if this style doesn’t have a resurgence, we need to take steps to reduce car dependance and reviving a building style designed to cater to cars probably isn’t a good idea. But I do think some of the surviving examples (that aren’t fully car centric, e.g. gas stations) should be preserved even after LA slowly breaks its addiction to cars.
That motel you showed in the beginning is a motel in Wildwood NJ. The motel is called The Caribbean. The Wildwoods are known for their Doo-Wop architecture and neon lights. Doo-Wop is the same as Googie.
In northern California, where I live, there is a Googie building that was once a grocery store right in the middle of the downtown. The building is run-down and now is a donut shop and laundry mat - half the town wants to tear it down for a new residential development, but the other half wants to keep it for historical purposes. I am fine keeping it, but only if it can be renovated.
Wasn't Holiday Inn also Googie style?
Googie style was very big with hotels including independents, holiday inn, Howard Johnson. In fact in most cities outside of LA and Los Vegas that’s what has survived to this day: the googie hotels.
Yeah, back in the 1960s
So, how much "Googie" architecture is in the Jetsons cartoons?
3:56 Whoops, that's what I get for commenting before the video is done. ;-)
Easily one of the most interesting architecture, a lot different than other styles. Much more bright and cheery, just like what they thought the future would be
Living in the LA area, I have only heard people from outside the LA area refer to the style as "googie". I more frequently hear it referred to as "California Art Deco" (Officially Art Deco is a different, earlier style, but the California style evolved from the more general style). I also internally think of it by name of the aesthetic of the Golden Age of Science-Fiction that it inspired/was inspired by: "Raygun Gothic" (though I wouldn't call it that out loud).
To paraphrase Professor Amanda Hallay: ‘Architecture is not an island. It is a response.’
There are still two pylon styled carwashes here in Northern California! One is in San Leandro near the Oakland border and the other is in Redwood City!
Sacramento put up a lot of Googie buildings too, and is trying hard to preserve the ones still standing.
i wish this type of architectecture would make a comeback
Googie! Now I know! Thanks
In & out burger
Logo is Googie design
Googie was probably the last populist modern architectual form, colorful and attracted the public while not trying to appeal to some 'intellectual' standard like later styles.
I know these places . I am angry that they are destroying them for STRIP MALLS>
I so jealous I wasn’t born in the 1950s this is so cool I hope this architecture comes back like if you agree I want hope
Googie is so fun and exciting! I think more businesses should think about crafting a creative experience for the consumer. If every building feels the same, as it often does now, then every experience starts to blur together. I’m so so tired of suburban grocery stores, churches, strip malls, office buildings, doctors offices, hospitals, and shops looking exactly the same: a big box in muted colors. Can’t wait to see what style will finally replace the current monotony!
I feel like this was a lot of the Wisconsin Dells when I was a kid, before everything got bought up by one owner and changed.
googie architecture is one of the bright and unique things about Los angelos. Sure you find examples of the style up and down the west coast, Las Vegas, Arizona, and even random towns in Texas and Oklahoma but they just make LA “LA”. I hope cities and towns that have them work harder to preserve them because I always felt it was the one American architecture style we try to forget when it was perhaps the most American one we ever developed.
Wonderfull Architecture 👍
whiskey a go go on the corner at 4:38
Whiskey a googie.
So sad that googie was based on the future. But the future of architecture turned out be bleak and ugly.
I went to the thunderbird inn in Savannah Georgia and it was so beautiful inside and out. There was also a McDonald’s that still had the old style in Lodi California but I haven’t been there in a few years so it could have been changed recently but I hope not
I’ve noticed DC movies tend to use Art Deco and Marvel movies play around with Googie. Which makes sense. They’re owned by Disney
Got so used to this style I didn't know it was a California/los angeles thing
It's neat to see this architecture mixed into everything. I'm on the east coast, but there's plenty of these buildings across south Jersey. Any stewart's rootbeer is a start. I think if everything followed this style, it'd be too much, but growing up in the 90s with it mixed in, and some of these buildings just falling into disrepair, it's what I love about the world around me. I love the design, but there's also something mesmerizing about homes and businesses that followed it, only to just die off. It's the hopeful nature of the post war economy mixed with the stark realization of how the world is, both of the perceived threat of nuclear war at the time and the downsides of the 21st century.
Ah, Mid-Century Retrofuturism, including Space Age and Atomic Age architecture and other styles. Gotta love it.
Thank you Cheddar.
I like how they described the design in the director commentary on The Incredibles, visions of a future that never came to be; I feel like there could still be a place for it if it was modernized somewhat (like with Ruby's, they wouldn't do good to adopt that), but I honestly feel like it's best to keep the places with it to a minimum, kina helps keep it special :p
Thank you.
John Kricfalusi (creator of Ren & Stimpy) seems to be heavily influenced by Googie
The obvious influence no one talks about
I was real upset when they demolished Kona Lanes in Costa Mesa CA. Beautiful Googie design.
I feel like the run-down googie architecture is the current asethetic for LA to vegas
Fantastic stuff!
Makes me want a burger and milkshake delivered to my cadallac
I wonder how many people are calling it, GOOGLE.
In 2020, Cheddar will do a video on how we ended up with Industrialist style of the early 2000s.
i will going back to 1956 when i see Googie places