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Orange County used to be home to the best googie signage and architecture around, back in the days when Disneyland was still young. Unfortunately, the City of Anaheim in recent years began a push to remodel the surrounding area around Disneyland to a "resort" look, as opposed to the eye-catching "googie" look that Anaheim was so well known for.

Don't forget to check out other googie stuff at Roadside Peek's The Googie Page.


Al's Liquor (Demolished)
Anaheim, CA

Photo courtesy Georg Balandran

Fortunately, although many googie treasures have been removed and demolished within the last couple of years, there are still quite a few of the original signage and structures left standing. Here is Roadside Peek's tribute to the last signposts of Anaheim's (and surrounding communities) yesteryear. Check out more stuff at Roadside Peek's Roadside Signage.

Update : Al's Liquor is now history and the sign is sitting in the Museum of Neon Art.


Anaheim Convention Center
Anaheim, CA
RoadsidePeek.com

The Anaheim Convention Center sports a space-age looking structure, a cross between a Martian hat and a War of the Worlds imaginary visitor.


The marquee outside also looks like some sort of space teleport. This type of space age architecture is now becoming increasingly rare.

Anaheim Convention Center Marquee
Anaheim, CA
RoadsidePeek.com


Satellite Mobile Home Park
Anaheim, CA
RoadsidePeek.com

The front facade for the Satellite Mobile Home Park looks like piece from a giant erector set. The girders surrounding the entranceway feature holes throughout as a weight and material saver. Nowadays, the "S" on top of the girders has been removed.


Carter Bowl (Removed)
Anaheim, CA
RoadsidePeek.com

Carter Bowl is another familiar neighborhood bowling center with a marquee "AMF'd" in recent years. This bowling alley sign was a treat, featuring prominent googie lettering and mid-century shapes. See more at Roadside Peek's Ten Pin Alleys.


Beach-lin Car Wash
Anaheim, CA
RoadsidePeek.com

The Beach-Lin Car Wash features boomerangs that make an almost butterfly effect if looked at from the side. This place is at the corner of Beach and Lincoln. Check out more examples of carwashes at Roadside Peek's Retro Car Washes.


Capri Coffee Shop (demolished)
Anaheim, CA

RoadsidePeek.com

The Capri Coffee Shop is yet another one of the former Denny's that took a life of its own. This restaurant, which used to be across the street from the former Al's Liquor, was demolished a couple of years ago. See others at Roadside Peek's Coffee Shops.


Anaheim Drive-in (demolished)
Anaheim, CA

RoadsidePeek.com

This sign was all that was left of the old Anaheim Drive-in Theatre on Lemon, across from the Carter Bowl. Unfortunately, this sign was recently removed too.

 

 

Covered Wagon (Demolished)
Anaheim, CA
RoadsidePeek.com
This former site of Van de Kamp's lost its windmill and turned into a dutch looking restaurant with a Western theme. Alas, the Western theme didn't appear to work as the Covered Wagon is now just another vacant building, now demolished.


Golden Forest Inn (Demolished)
Anaheim, CA

RoadsidePeek.com

The Golden Forest Inn used to be located across the street from the Disneyland parking lot. Now, California Adventure is across the street and the Golden Forest Inn is no more.


Stovall's Inn
Anaheim, CA
RoadsidePeek.com

Stovall's Inn features a swimming pool out back that looks like it came from the dark side of the moon. Check out the odd looking spaceport.


Edwards Cinema (Demolished)
Costa Mesa, CA

RoadsidePeek.com


This single screen cinema features a real mid-century front facade. However, the Edwards Cinema in Costa Mesa no longer shows first-run movies. In fact, it shows no movies at all. The theatre was demolished in 2000.


Linbrook Bowl
Anaheim, CA
Photo courtesy Georg Balandran

The marquee for the Linbrook Bowl is something to see, especially at night. This bowling alley is still in good shape. Check out more bowling alleys at Roadside Peek's Ten Pin Alleys.


Parasol (Remodeled)
Seal Beach, CA
RoadsidePeek.com

The Parasol Restaurant in Seal Beach is a restaurant that looks like its name. In recent years, there were two Parasol's remaining in the area. However, Dinah's Parasol in Torrance was demolished in the last couple of years. Check out more coffee shops at Roadside Peek's Coffee Shops.

Parasol rendering
Courtesy John Flores


Parkside Inn
Anaheim, CA

RoadsidePeek.com

The Parkside Inn features a boomerang overhang to its entrance port.

Kona Lanes (Demolished)
Costa Mesa, CA
RoadsidePeek.com

The Kona Lanes Bowl in Costa Mesa still features its grand marquee. This bowling alley was largely intact until 2003, when the bulldozers and sign remover came knocking.

Westcoast Anaheim
Anaheim, CA
RoadsidePeek.com

The Westcoast Anaheim car port is another survivor of the futuristic shells that used to populate the area around Disneyland.

 

 

 

 

 

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Page Last Updated August 6, 2006