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Visit the official Save Johnie's web site at www.johniesbroiler.org Sign the online petition to save this historic building. Download a copy of
the 14-page California Register of Historical Resources
nomination for Johnie's Broiler, authored by Peter C. Moruzzi, April 20,
2002. Available in PDF Format or
Word Document for PC (will automatically
begin download on linking).
Harvey's (later Johnie's) Broiler was the largest and one of the most successful drive-in restaurants ever to spring from the fertile soil of Southern California. Although the nations' first successful Drive-In restaurant is often cited as the Pig Stand in Texas, it was California that streamlined and refined the Drive-In as a machine for eating. Architect Wayne McAllister was responsible for most of the Moderne numbers gracing LA streets between the wars, Herberts, Simons, Roberts. They were everywhere. However efficient, these were still stands, with their lack of windows, let alone doors--tiny locations in the heart of the big city. In 1958, ex-Oklahomans Minnie and Harvey Ortner purchased a nearly 3-acre lot 13 miles from downtown Los Angeles along the highway that connected the dairy and agricultural heart of LA with the manufacturing center, Highway 42, Firestone Blvd. From it's western terminus, in the tire plants of South LA out into the newly developing suburb of Downey. Site of the world's oldest McDonald's, birthplace of NASA's Gemini rockets and home to pop music's Richard and Karen Carpenter. Downey was the prototypical LA suburb. Harvey's Broiler was the culmination of many smaller "Clock Broilers" operated by the Ortners since 1947. The first was in Lynwood and subsequent locations opened in Temple City, Pasadena, Van Nuys and Alhambra. Harvey's Broiler arrived at the exact right place at the exact right time, luring thousands of teenagers into their new kustoms and hot rods made by locals like Ed "Big Daddy" Roth, George Barris and Dean Jeffries. Harvey's became a mecca for showing off and hanging out. Christos John Smyrniotis was a good friend of the Ortners, he was their chef at the Broiler. In 1966, Harvey retired and sold the Broiler to Smyrniotis, who made only one change to their beloved restaurant.. .the addition of "Johnie's" in red neon to the 60 foot rooftop signage. He helped Johnie's achieve celluloid immortality by encouraging large-scale film production in his place. Films like "What's Love got to do with it," "Short Cuts," "Heat" and Reality Bites" made extensive use of Johnie's. Then suddenly on December 31, it was all over, "Johnie" had suddenly rented the icon to a used car dealer, which abruptly closed the place down and began disassembling the behemoth kitchen. "Auto Nation Outlet" filled the Drive-In lot with used cars and started making deals in the naugahyde banquettes. Reportedly without permission, the tenants began removing the cantilevered counter stools, jackhammering out terrazzo floors and demolishing the interior. Soonafter, they started attacking the massive rooftop sign, removing the neon "Coffee Shop" letters before being cited for performing demolition work without a permit. A coalition of concerned residents including students, vintage car enthusiasts, historical society members and the Los Angeles Conservancy, the largest local non-profit preservation organization in the United States, were so moved by the loss of this community gathering place they formed the "Coalition to save Johnie's Broiler". In the first few months, over 3,500 signatures were gathered on petitions to 'save the broiler', in March of 2002 over three dozen protestors hit the streets in two protests that drew enthusiastic honks and cheers from area residents. Representatives from the coalition met with the owner, the city and potential new restaurant operators trying to hammer out a compromise that would allow Johnie's to remain. The Coalition submitted a landmark nomination to the state of California in May and a hearing is scheduled in August. Considering the sheer numbers and seeming ubiquitousness of things like Modern tract homes, Googie coffee shops, drive-in theaters and other hallmarks of the good life in '50s suburbia, it is hard for most people to understand that so much of it has disappeared forever. It is hard to believe that there is ONE Drive-In theater left on Route 66 from Oklahoma to the Pacific Ocean that of over 1000 golden arched McDonald's only a handful remain, that the Holiday Inn "great sign" exists only in a museum. We are living in the last five minutes of this good life, and if we don't act now future generations may not believe it happened at all. Chris Nichols, RPPN California rep., mail to cityofthefuture@webtv.net First printed in Burger Boy magazine, this article is being reproduced in "PLUS" the magazine from the A+D Architecture and design museum in LA..
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