Welcome to Googie Central, home to some of most space-age, "astro", bold, and yes, Googie architecture and sign in all the land. Back in the 50's and 60's, America was enthusiastically anticipating the future. Space travel was in and many wondered what it would be like to trade in their old automobile for a space ship, just like... The Jetsons. Architects envisioned what "future world" was to look like and began designing buildings with huge "caddy-like" tail-fins, pronounced shapes, and boomerang angles, just to name a few. Not to mention some that just designed the building like a flying saucer.

Photo by Steve Felder

See other examples of Googie at Roadside Peek's Googie Architecture.

To the left is a photo of an old Carrols hamburger drive in. The headquarters was located on the east coast and owned by Slotnick Enterprises, now Carrols Inc.?
Carrols ins now the largest Burger King franchisee of the Northeast. Many thanks to George B. from Syracuse, NY for info.

In Orange County, Disneyland was built with a land specifically dedicated to theworld of tomorrow called Tomorrowland. Tomorrowland contained some of the most outlandish architecture, including Monsanto's House of the Future made of purely synthetic materials. Hence, the world surroundingDisneyland (Anaheim, of course) followed suit and some of the most astro-looking signs and buildings evolved. Indeed, even the Anaheim Convention Center was developed with this googie-ish space age look in mind. To many an observer, the Center looks like a Martian's hat or some sort of exotic spaceship.

Anaheim Convention Center

Other Googie related sections:

Imagine staying at a place shaped like a space ship. Or look out your window and see space age tailfins jutting out at the sky. Check them out here at Roadside Peek's Googie Motels.

Googie signage hearkens back to the time when businesses strived to show that they were up to date and ready for the future. See some of this signage here at Roadside Peek's Googie Signage.

Similarly, the polynesian tiki look evolved and spread to motels, hotels, apartment buildings, restaurants, and what not. Many polynesian styled sites still exist, however for how long, nobody knows.

So sit back, relax, and enjoy what's left of the Googie-era. Incidentally, the term "googie" is a not always fond term describing architecture similar to a Coffee Shop of the 60's, Googies. Imagine having a hot cup of brewed coffee while reading LOOK magazine. Yes, Virginia, there WAS a Googies.

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Page Last Updated June 21, 2005