ATOMIC GOOGIE ARCHITECTURE FOR EATS!

ALL FROM THE 1950'S & STARTING WITH THE FIRST BUILDING, THIS WAS A PLACE CALLED THE PIGSTAND IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS. THE SUNBELT'S PIGSTAND FIRST BUILT ON THE DALLAS-FT.WORTH ROAD IN TEXAS IN 1921, IS OFTEN CONSIDERED ONE OF THE FIRST, FOLLOWED BY A SERIES OF OTHER DRIVE-INS THROUGHOUT THE SOUTH AND INTO CALIFORNIA. BY 1931 THE PIG STANDS IN LOS ANGELES AND ELSEWHERE, AS WELL AS CARPENTER'S SANDWICHES AND OTHER DRIVE-IN CHAINS, HAD ADOPTED AN OCTAGONAL FORM FOR THEIR ONE-STORY BUILDINGS, WHICH WERE SET IN THE CENTER OF EMPTY CORNER LOTS. THE CONFIGURATION ALLOWED MORE CARS TO PARK CLOSE TO THE BULDING, MAKING SERVICE EASIER AND ATTRACTING MORE CUSTOMERS. THE EXPLODING NUMBER OF DRIVE-INS SHOWED THAT THEY HAD STRUCK A CHORD WITH THE CAR-MOBILE LIFESTYLES OF AMERICANS; APPEARANCES IN MOVIES AND GOSSIP COLUMN ITEMS ABOUT STARS FREQUENTING THE PIG STAND OR CARPENTER'S IN HOLLYWOOD'S HEART AT SUNSET AND VINE HELPED TO POPULARIZE THE FORM.

PHOTO #2 WAS A DRIVE INN RESTAURANT CALLED HERBERT'S ARCHITECTURALLY DESIGNED BY WAYNE MCALLISTER HIMSELF. COMMERCIAL VERNACULAR BUILDINGS LIKE HERBERT'S RESPONDED TO THE DEMANDS OF THE NEW MACHINE AGE AND THE CAR ATLEAST AS IMAGINATIVELY AS MANY BETTER KNOWN MODERN BUILDINGS. THE CIRCULAR PLAN AND NEON PLYON WERE TAILORED TO THE CAR CUSTOMER.

#3 WAS THE SPACE AGE RESTAURANT,

#4 WAS THE EVER SO POPULAR "THE WICH STAND" WHICH STILL TO THIS DAY IS REMEMBERED AS THE NOSTALGIC RESTAURANT CHAIN IN WHICH THEY STARTED OUT IN THE 1930'S AS DRIVE-INS, AND THEN IN THE GLORIOUS 1950'S WERE TURNED INTO COFFEE SHOPS. YOU COULD STOP FOR THE DRIVE-IN, COFFEE, DINING ROOM, OR COCKTAILS.

#5 WAS ANOTHER GREAT DRIVE IN FOR BURGERS & FRIES, SODAS & SHAKES.... TO ALSO INCLUDE SOCIAL GATHERINGS.