Bob`s Big Boy Broiler Downey

Transcription

SCC NEWSLETTER VOLUME 43, NUMBER 7
JULY 2013
SOUTH COAST CORSA
Corvair
10AM-3PM
Flyer and T-shirt art by
Chuck and Margie Rust.
Download Registration Form: http://www.corvair.org/chapters/southcoast/events/
CarShowReg2013.pdf or see page 7 of this newsletter. Register now or on the Day of Show!
CORVAIR.ORG/CHAPTERS/SOUTHCOAST
PAGE 1
JULY 2013
SOUTH COAST CORSA
CRUISES INTO THE HISTORIC
BOB’S BIG BOY BROILER,
DOWNEY, CA
SATURDAY, SEPT 7, 2013
10AM-3PM
SAVE THE DATE!
REGISTER NOW!
South Coast Corsa is pleased to announcer the 6th Annual All Corvair Car Show on Saturday,
September 7, 2013―Bob’s Big Boy Broiler in Downey, CA! Bob’s Big Boy Broiler holds a rich
history for any Southern California car enthusiasts, and it is certainly one of the premier destinations for
classic and collector cars to meet. Become a part of history and attend this show!
[This is a reprint of an article that appeared in SCC’s July 2011 newsletter.]
It all began when original owners Harvey and Minnie Ortner purchased ‘Sally’s Fryers,’ a chicken
farm on the corner of Firestone Boulevard and Old River School Road in Downey. However, Harvey
Ortner had no intention of ever raising chickens. Harvey entertained the idea that the property was a
perfect spot for a restaurant due to the unique, sharp turn Firestone took where the property stood,
creating a perfect high-visibility location for the busy traffic moving east and west. Ortner envisioned a
large, red script Harvey's Broiler sign that would be visible for a mile in either direction―and he was
right about that. Harvey’s became an overnight success and Mecca for the Southern California car
(continued page 4)
culture.
PAGE 2
JULY 2013
Designed by Paul B. Clayton and opened in 1958, Harvey’s Broiler was one of the last coffee shop/
drive-ins constructed in Southern California, incorporating the space-age "Googie" elements associated with coffee shop and drive-in architectural styles: strongly articulated rooflines, glass walls, brightlylit interiors and exteriors, enormous "V" shaped car canopies, semi-exhibition cooking, and gigantic
signage. The restaurant ran 24/7 in order to
accommodate the large crowds flocking to
“The Broiler”.
In 1964, Hot-Rodding magazine wrote an
article about Harvey's Broiler calling it, "The
center of attraction for Southern California
auto enthusiasts since 1958, Harvey's lures
an almost unbelievable 5000 cars every
weekend night. Harvey Ortner, owner and
operator, has become the impresario of what
is certainly the largest, richest, and most
spectacular automotive exposition in the
world. It all takes place in the extra large
paved area surrounding the restaurant which
provides plenty of 'cruising' room. Many
times, however, traffic is lined up more than a
city block in an effort to join the action. The crowd is made up of young people from Long Beach,
Pasadena, San Diego, San Bernardino, and other cities within a 100 mile radius, in addition to the local
patrons." Hot rodders and custom car enthusiasts would make the circuit: Grisinger's (now George's)
drive-in, in Long Beach; to Holly's, Hawthorne Boulevard and 137th, Hawthorne;
to Wich Stand, Slauson and Overhill, Inglewood; ending at Harvey’s Broiler.
Writer Tom Wolfe chronicled a night of cruising at Harvey's Broiler in an essay ‘The Hair Boys’ from his 1968 book The Pump House Gang, "Every Friday
night at Harvey's, starting about 9:30 p.m., kids from all over the Los Angeles
teenage netherworld, from West Los Angeles, Bell, Maywood, Hollywood, Gardena, San Pedro, white Watts, San Gabriel, even Santa Ana, Santa Monica, Covina―they all drive to Harvey's Drive-in in their cruising cars...The real reason
they come is simply to promenade, or, in the parlance of Harvey's Drive-in, ‘to
cruise.’ They cruise around in their cars in Harvey's huge parking lot, boys and
girls, showing each other the latest in fashions in cars, hairdos (male and female) and clothes in the Los Angeles Teenage...and Second-Generation Teenage...modes. Rank moderne! Teenage Paris! Harvey's Drive-in!"
In 1968, the Ortner’s sold the business to a Mr. Johnson (hence the reason
PAGE 3
JULY 2013
for one "N" in the name Johnie's) who reportedly
changed the name to Johnie’s Broiler. The "Fat Boy"
mascot was added in 1969 and was attached to the
original roof sign. In 1970 and according to city
construction permits, Johnie’s was acquired by former
Harvey’s 2nd chef, Christos Smyrniotis who operated
Johnie’s Broiler until its closing on New Years’ Eve
2001
In 1986, Lee McCullough, aka "Mr. Harvey's
Cruise-Nite," requested and received financial compensation and started up Harvey's Cruise Nite, based
on the success of an earlier cruise originated by
Street Rodder magazine contributing editor and Harvey's alumni Burlie Burlile, in tribute to “The Broiler's”
heyday of 1960's and late 50's cruising. DJ, Randy
Roubal, played oldies, and hundreds of hot rods and vintage cars from the
'30s to the early '70s attended the popular cruise nite on Wednesday evenings. In July 1990, because of a dispute with the owner, McCullough’s
Cruise Nite ended. Cruising returned in 1991 and ended again in 1994.
Rod & Custom Magazine shot their December 1993 cover at Johnie’s to
raised public awareness, and Johnie’s experienced a brief revival that
slowly declined again until closing in 2001.
In early 2002, a grass-roots campaign to have the restaurant’s exterior preserved began and was successful in having Johnie's Broiler placed
on the State's official Register of Historical Places. But, according to a
Los Angeles Times story, Smyrniotis objected on “economic grounds” to
the property's being included on the list.
The property was leased as a car dealership until January 7, 2007. In
August 2006, the dealership’s lease was terminated and a new 99-year
lease was signed with a new tenant, Ardas Yanik, who took it upon himself
to illegally demolish the restaurant, “without
even fencing off the property or disconnecting the utilities" after the city had turned
down a demolition permit in November of
that year. The city and concerned citizens
were able to stop the demolition before
most of the structure had been destroyed;
much of the main structure has been
heavily damaged, leaving the large main
sign, front facade and car canopy structures
still remaining upright, the original kitchen
and the back of the coffee shop had been
demolished. The Downey city prosecutor
filed a criminal case against the site's
tenant, who has been charged with
conducting a demolition without a permit, among other things. After pleading no contest to three
misdemeanor charges in October 2007, property lessee Yanik was sentenced to three years' probation,
a $2,500 fine, reimbursement of $4,600 to the City of Downey, and fifteen days of community service
work with the California Department of Transportation.
Shocked by the almost total demolition, supporters regrouped and committees like the Mod-Com
(Los Angeles Conservancy’s Modern Committee), Friends of Johnie's Broiler, and the Coalition to Save
& Rebuild Harvey's Broiler sprang into action, and the city put moratorium on any further destruction.
In 2008 Bob’s Big Boy franchise owner, Jim Louder, entered into negotiations with owner
Smyrniotis. Louder reconstructed the Googie icon using as much remaining original material as pos-
PAGE 4
JULY 2013
sible. Additionally, the restaurant was rebuilt following original architect Paul Clayton's 1958 blueprints
and reopened as Bob’s Big Boy Broiler on October 19, 2009.
(Author’s note: details of this article were culled from a variety of sources and are as accurate as
possible, considering some contradictory information between the sources.)
WE HOPE YOU CAN MAKE IT ON SEPT 7, 2013! REGISTER NOW or DAY-OF-SHOW!!!
PAGE 5
JULY 2013
PA R K I N G L AY O U T F O R C A R S H O W 2 0 1 3
SHOW PARKING
DJ JIM
SHOW PARKING
Registration
and T-shirts
SHOW PARKING
SHOW PARKING
Bobs’ Big Boy is
1.4 miles east of
the 710 (Long
Beach Freeway)
—turn left at
Pomering; and
2.9 miles west of
the 605 (San
Gabriel Freeway)
—turn right at
Pomering.
Enter the Car
Show at
Pomering Road.
Car Show parking
will be at the front
part of the lot.
Come early for
the best parking
spots!
PAGE 6
JULY 2013
DAY-OF-SHOW
REGISTRATIONS ACCEPTED!
Download Reg Form: http://www.corvair.org/chapters/southcoast/events/CarShowReg2013.pdf
PAGE 7
JULY 2013
Santa Monica 4th of July Parade: Mark Fernandez and family in their 1960 Coupe. Darrin McGlothan driving
Greg Vargas’ 1966 Monza 140 Coupe. PLAN NOW to attend the 2014 Santa Monica 4th of July Parade! It
would be fun to get about 10 Corvairs in next year’s parade - the crowd loved the Corvairs.
Darrin
McGlothan’s
1963 Corvair
convertible at
the Montebello
Calvary Chapel
Car Show. Also
seen was a cool
’61 Greenbrier.
Hotter Air by Chuck “V8” Rust
Hi Members!
Hope you all had a wonderful long holiday weekend and are enjoying summer.
The June meeting was eventful and interesting. Bob Nichols led a
discussion about Saginaw transmission bearings and then we went
over a few things we need to do to get ready for the SCC All Corvair
Car Show in September. The new T-shirt design and flyers are ready
and you’ll see them at the next meeting. We also welcomed a new
member to our club. Cary Eisenlokr is a machinist who fabricates
special high performance car parts. Along with that, he is a race car
driver and he builds custom cars too. Soon, we will all get to see the
Corvair he recently purchased which is currently in Oregon. A multitalented guy for sure and we are happy to have him as a member. He
and Dan Drommerhausen are going to work together to develop a
better quality Saginaw transmission main shaft. Looking forward to
hearing about their progress in the months to come.
So, polish your cars and get them out on the road!!!! Enjoy the
summer blasting down the highway.
“Corvairally” yours,
Chuck Rust, President (really fast driver and pressure plate breaker)
PAGE 8
Our 40 th Year!
Get the new 2013-2018
Clar k’s Cor vair Catalog.
W hen you place your 1st
or der over $40.00 from
March 1-December 24,
2013, you get a FREE
catalog as a 40 th
Anniver sar y T hank You.
(Additional Catalogs $3 with an order)
The new Catalog includes parts from the last 5
Supplements as well as 100’s of improvements,
(Including better descriptions, more photos &
new charts). Changes/additions to over 70% of
the pages, this is our most major revision ever.
Clark’s Corvair Parts®
400 Mohawk Trail, Shelburne Falls,
MA 01370
(413) 625-9776 www.corvair.com
JUNE 2013 MTG. MINUTES
BY GREG CZOPEK
✦No minutes taken during the meeting.
JULY 2013
NEXT SCC CLUB
MEETING
T H U R S D AY,
AUGUST 15,
7PM
MEETING
L O C AT I O N :
P O L LY ’ S P I E S
8 1 9 W. C A R S O N ,
TORRANCE
(east of Vermont; west of
the 110 Freeway)
1960 Corvair on Pawn Stars
UPCOMING SCC EVENTS
★JULY 19 - Performance Plus Long Beach
Summer Cruise Night - 5PM
★JULY
20 - Glendale Cruise Night. Visit: http://
www.glendalecruisenight.com
★JULY
28 - Sam Fine’s South Bay Mustang
Owners Car Show. All makes and models
welcome! VISIT: southbaymustangowners.org
★AUG
11 - Wounded Warrior Car Show at
WyoTech. Visit: http://
www.woundedwarriorcarshow.com
★AUG 24 - El Segundo Mail Street Car Show.
Visit: https://www.facebook.com/
MainStreetCarShow
★SEP
8 - Belmont Shores Car Show. Visit: http://
www.baycityrodders.com
★NOV
1 - We’ve been invited to attend the
Northeast Veteran’s Day Parade in Eagle Rock.
If interested, see Greg Vargas
PAGE 9
JULY 2013
FAN BELT TOSS 2013 FAN BELT TOSS 2013
MORE INFO: http://www.iecorvairclub.com
Let’s get SCC Members to attend the Fan
Belt Toss! We’ll be selling shirts, selling
parts (bring your used parts for the swap
meet), hosting the Fan Belt Toss Games,
and having some fun. The big day is
Saturday October 26 - the day of the
show and games. If you want to make a
weekend of it, there is available lodging
throughout Palm Springs. Host hotel is
the Quality Inn on E. Palm Canyon Dr..
Also recommended are the Vagabond Inn
and The Best Western In (both on S. Palm
Canyon Dr.). Hope to see you there.
South Coast Corsa is a
Enthusiast Club
South Coast Corsa Newsletter is published monthly.
Letters, Tech Tips, and articles are solicited from
members and friends. If you have an article to submit
or information you want to spread to other members,
the deadline for submission is the 3rd Thursday of
each month.
SCC CLUB EMAIL ADDRESS:
[email protected]
SCC OFFICERS
President
Chuck Rust
[email protected]
310-732-1091
Vice President
Darrin McGlothan
[email protected]
310-908-8492
Treasurer & Secretary
Greg Czopek
[email protected]
562-490-0845
Technical Officer
Dan Drommerhausen
310-518-3277
Newsletter and Website
Greg “Goyo” Vargas
[email protected]
310-998-0095
NEWS AND WEB MAIL:
South Coast Corsa Corvair
c/o Greg Vargas
2340 Virginia Ave.
Santa Monica, CA 90404
[email protected]
MEMBERSHIP DUES:
Dues are $25 per year; $28 if not a CORSA
member (prorated $2 per month if joining after
September). Application. Send dues to:
South Coast Corsa Corvair
c/o Greg Vargas
2340 Virginia Ave
Santa Monica, CA 90404
A chapter of CORSA
#903
Corvair Society of
America —
CORVAIR.ORG
Join CORSA!
PAGE 10
JULY 2013
SCC ADVERTISING POLICY
Classified ads: available to all SCC members whose dues are paid in full.
Commercial ads: available for $25 per year beginning in September (prorated at $2
per month). If you would like commercial ad space, please send payment to South
Coast Corsa Corvair, c/o Greg Vargas, 2340 Virginia Ave, Santa Monica, CA
90404 (indicate payment “Commercial Ad Space”)
Artwork: Mail art or classified listing info to the NEWS SNAIL MAIL address above.
Submission deadline is the 3rd Thursday of every month. Email artwork or classified
ad info to: [email protected].
ADVERTISING
DAN
DROMMERHAUSEN
Transmissions and Differentials
310-518-2377
Call during regular business
hours only - 9AM-5PM PST
JEFF WILLIAMS
Classics of Los
Angeles
Marco Padilla
213-272-3239
G r e g Pe t e r s e n
(310)
5 9 4 - 7 2 2 5
Instagram: @corvairspecialties
PAGE 11
JULY 2013
Bob’s Big Boy
Broiler Downey
7447 Firestone Blvd.,
Downey, CA 90241
Mon-Ths & Sun: 7am-11pm
Fri: 7am-12am
HOME OF THE SCC 2013
ALL CORVAIR
PEOPLE’S CHOICE CAR SHOW
SEPTEMBER 7, 2013
SAVE THE DATE!!
Star Silkscreen - shirts, caps,
decals, artwork for Club Logos.
Operated by SCC member
Chuck Rust. Call (310) 679-7443
www.starsilkscreen.com
PAGE 12

Bob`s Big Boy Broiler Downey

Transcription

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