Andy Chase

Pico Rivera, California
Next to the Paradise Island Apartments.

Once the initial excitement of finding an actual tiki in the wild wore off, it was sad to see the general disrepair of the building and the whole area in general.

I was amazed a few months later when I found a tiki-themed Hawaiian shirt with an image of this very tiki on it - right down to the slant.

12/30/2001 - 15130 Whittier Blvd
Whittier, California

12/30/2001 - Shangri Lodge Hotel

5640 Rosemead Boulevard • Pico Rivera, California

A classic 1950's hotel name if ever there was one.

12/30/2001 - Paradise Island
5430 Rosemead Boulevard • Pico Rivera, California

I nearly locked the brakes on my poor car when I spotted this amazing tiki apartment building on Rosemead boulevard. I quickly pulled onto a side street and parked to take some photos.

12/30/2001 - Friendly Hills Bowl

15545 East Whittier Boulevard • Whittier, California

The marquis has seen better days, but the "B O W L" sign is still a commanding presence along Whittier Boulevard.

12/30/2001 - El Monte Sign Company

2710 Santa Anita Ave • El Monte, California

The El Monte sign company has taken good care of this specimen, outfitting him with a pair of crisp bluejeans and a polo shirt sporting the company name, topped off by a jaunty white baseball cap. In his hands he holds a golf club.

This is the first Muffler Man I've had the privilege of being able to walk right up to; the Van Nuys and Malibu men are mounted on tall poles, making them inaccessible. You get a much better appreciation for their sheer size.

12/30/2001 - El Monte Sign Company

2710 Santa Anita Ave • El Monte, California

Another shot of the golfclub-wielding El Monte Sign Company Muffler Man.

Even in a full-body shot at ground level, it's difficult to appreciate his scale. Note the chainlink fence at the back of the lot, and figure it's about 7 or 8 feet. He's pretty damn tall.

12/30/2001 - 12/30/2001 - Friendly Hills Bowl

15545 East Whittier Boulevard • Whittier, California

The contrast of the futuristic boomerang roof against the stone material of the wall is a perfect example of the Googie style.

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12/30/2001 - Jack's Whittier Restaurant
13221 Whittier Boulevard • Whittier, California

Although the coffee shop itself has lost any Googie character it may have once had, the Jack's sign has held up nicely over the years.

12/30/2001 - Dal Rae Restaurant

9023 Washington Boulevard • Pico Rivera, California

Opened in 1958¹, the Dal Rae looks like a great restaurant inside and out; See the Dal Rae web site for photos of the dining areas.

¹ The Dal Rae Story. Dal Rae Restaurant. 31 Jan 2002. <http://www.dalrae.com/about.htm>