Inspired by Yankee Jim's HJ thread.
You pulled up and ordered through a drive-in type speaker and the "waitress" brought your food out on a tray, which sat on a device that pivoted into the car, cool wasn't it. I wanna a Mighty Mo!

Haha! Out here in California it was Bob's Big Boy Hamburgers - drive-ins with carhops. This nostalgia site is not only great for those of us who remember it, but it gives a good sense of what the society USED to be! (The early 50s were a bit early for me, I remember them from the 60s and 70s) (These photos must be kinda heavy :( if they don't all show, hit refresh a couple of times, they'll come back)

http://members.aol.com/pugwm/anoun8.jpghttp://members.aol.com/pugwm/carhops1.jpghttp://members.aol.com/pugwm/carmark3.jpg
http://members.aol.com/pugwm/bobsvn_2.gif
http://members.aol.com/pugwm/drivein6.jpghttp://members.aol.com/pugwm/bbani1.gif
Tray inside or outside? http://members.aol.com/pugwm/carhop1.jpg

Best hamburger ever (they put the greatest Thousand Island dressing on it - you can still get that and their fabulous thick Bleu Cheese dressing!)
http://members.aol.com/pugwm/burger1a.jpg http://members.aol.com/pugwm/sundae2.gif


http://members.aol.com/PUGWM/bbbanner1.gif (http://members.aol.com/Pugwm/bobs.html)

Bob's Still Has a Carhop Drive In in Burbank California (http://www.bobs.net/newact/carhop.html)
Car Hop Now Serving at Bob's Big Boy
in 4211 Riverside Drive, Burbank, California

Greg Harvey had heard stories about the carhops at the Bob's Big Boy in Burbank. His dad was a regular here in the 50's, spending his weekends in a 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air. Greg's wife, Jill, frequented the Burbank restaurant, too, but she was 10 years old and came with her parents. When Greg learned that the carhops were back, he took a trip down memory lane, Borrowing his dad's 1969 Copo Camaro, he pulled into Stall 15 on a recent Saturday night. Greg ordered a Big Boy Combo with blue cheese dressing, his childhood favorite, while Jill chewed on a burger with fries. As music of the Beach Boys played in the background, the Harveys basked in nostalgia. "It's the same as it was when I was a kid," Jill says. "But back then it was more crowded. There were people and cars everywhere." Opened in 1949, Bob's Burbank is the oldest restaurant in the nationwide chain. When the City of Burbank declaired the restaurant a historicl landmark last year, the '50's diner underwent a face lift to re-create the '50s style. Managers agreed that the restoration wouldn't be complete without the revival of the carhop. "We wanted to bring the historical '50s style back," general manager Mike Lopez stated.

Note: Not sure I'd enjoy it as much now if I went back and found niggers or beaners as carhops :mad:

Haha! Out here in California it was Bob's Big Boy Hamburgers - drive-ins with carhops.

Ah yes, carhops, thanks for the reminder, I couldn't remember the name. Those are some great pics you found too Jane.

Would that be similar to Sonic? Here in my town they still deliver the food at Sonic in roller skates!

While we're at it, how about drive in movies? I don't know about the rest of the country, but these died out in California a long time ago - a real shame, but I suppose now it really wouldn't be too safe to be in a darkened parking lot like that at night - Heaven only knows what kind of lowlifes you'd encounter! I mean, today would you let your kids go to the snack bar alone? (Can you tell I'm bored ... or fed up ... or both :( )

DRIVE-IN INTERMISSION #1

DRIVE IN INTERMISSION #2

http://www.driveintheater.com/mrwoof/drive16.jpg http://www.driveintheater.com/mrwoof/drive31.jpg
http://www.driveintheater.com/images/adds/112963a1.gifhttp://www.driveintheater.com/images/adds/112963a2.gif
http://www.driveintheater.com/images/adds/072469a.gifhttp://www.driveintheater.com/images/link/hwy50.jpg

driveintheater.com (http://www.driveintheater.com/index.htm)

While we're at it, how about drive in movies? I don't know about the rest of the country, but these died out in California a long time ago - a real shame, but I suppose now it really wouldn't be too safe to be in a darkened parking lot like that at night - Heaven only knows what kind of lowlifes you'd encounter! I mean, today would you let your kids go to the snack bar alone? (Can you tell I'm bored ... or fed up ... or both :( )


When I was growing up in the fifties, our parents would throw blankets and pillows into the station wagon and off we'd go. Then during my teen years, they became the favorite place to go on a date. :cool:
The last of them in here in PA closed probably twenty-five years ago, I do remember seeing Star Wars there in the late '70's. The land where the Drive-Ins were are now occupied mostly by shopping malls.
Another piece of Americana gone forever.

While we're at it, how about drive in movies?

http://www.michigandriveins.com/DI/83/C_CUSTOM_PHOTO_RESTORATION_COURTESY_KEITH_MILFORD.JPG


http://www.michigandriveins.com/DI/83/A0_OAK_GRAND_OPENING_AD_10-19-49.jpg


My grandparents on my father's side divorced back in 1959-60 or so.
Soon, my grandmother found a new "boyfriend." He just happened to own the Oak Drive-In. :D

I remember her taking us there a couple of times...as special guests. Can you even begin to imagine what it was like for us two kids to get the royal treatment at the snack bar? :)


Above picture taken from THIS DRIVE-IN WEB SITE (http://www.michigandriveins.com/detail.asp?id=83).

For some strange reason...I don't seem to remember Hot Shoppes. :o


-Jim

http://www.michigandriveins.com/DI/83/C_CUSTOM_PHOTO_RESTORATION_COURTESY_KEITH_MILFORD.JPG


http://www.michigandriveins.com/DI/83/A0_OAK_GRAND_OPENING_AD_10-19-49.jpg


My grandparents on my father's side divorced back in 1959-60 or so.
Soon, my grandmother found a new "boyfriend." He just happened to own the Oak Drive-In. :D

I remember her taking us there a couple of times...as special guests. Can you even begin to imagine what it was like for us two kids to get the royal treatment at the snack bar? :)


Above picture taken from THIS DRIVE-IN WEB SITE (http://www.michigandriveins.com/detail.asp?id=83).

For some strange reason...I don't seem to remember Hot Shoppes. :o


-Jim

What a great drive in! It was huge. I looked at those aerial photos - they scream volumes. Notice how much untouched land was around that theatre and see how many houses they crammed on that ground by now?? :eek:

That must have been a real experience as a kid - like you're the king of the world! That drive in experience was really unique - great website!

Only thing I remember about Drive-In's is that they were used to fuel the mexican invaders economy in the earlier days by holding swap meets during the week.

For Joe McGee - I found this Hot Shoppes nostalgia page that includes the recipe for the Mighty Mo Famous Sauce and a recipe on how to build a Mighty Mo. Apparently they were owned by Marriott and a cookbook of their recipes is published - "Marriott Hot Shoppes Cookbook: Sixty Years of American Cookery", By Alice Sheets Marriott

MIGHTY MO RECIPE HERE! (http://www.shaboomskitchen.com/hotshoppes1.html)

AND HERE (http://cheddarbay.com/0000special/mightymo/mightymo.html)

The second site actually had a few photos - they were hard to find, not many out there... :(

http://cheddarbay.com/0000special/mightymo/burger1b.jpg
http://cheddarbay.com/0000special/mightymo/hotshoppes.jpg
http://cheddarbay.com/0000special/mightymo/hotshoppes_arlington.jpg
http://cheddarbay.com/0000special/mightymo/hotshoppes1.jpghttp://cheddarbay.com/0000special/mightymo/hotshoppes2.jpg

Only thing I remember about Drive-In's is that they were used to fuel the mexican invaders economy in the earlier days by holding swap meets during the week.

That all started in the waning days of the drive in theater - they were a lot more than that before

While we're at it, how about drive in movies? I don't know about the rest of the country, but these died out in California a long time ago - a real shame, but I suppose now it really wouldn't be too safe to be in a darkened parking lot like that at night - Heaven only knows what kind of lowlifes you'd encounter! I mean, today would you let your kids go to the snack bar alone? (Can you tell I'm bored ... or fed up ... or both :( )



As far as I know there's only one or two left here in British Columbia.I can remember as a teen ager going to the drive in theatre.We'd get all tanked up and drive to the big one several towns over.Pissed out of our minds we'd fight with the locals and scatter empty beer bottles all over the place.Then we'd drive the back roads,completely tanked,'till we made it home or ended up in a ditch.:DThose were the days!!!

These are great threads. Allows us to engage in a little healthy nostalgia for the good ole days.

I don't remember "Hot Shoppes" either. They must have been specific to a particular area of the country. I lived in Richmond, VA from 1954 to 1966, from Chapel Hill NC from 1966-1973, from Auburn, AL from 1973 to 1983 and in Atlanta from 1983 until now, and I don't remember those places in any of those cities. Maybe they were specific to the North.

But, I do remember drive in movies. Around 1964 or 1965 there was one built down the road in Richmond and we used to go there. I remember seeing several Disney movies there. Of course, it was all white and safe as well. There was a playground down in front where kids could play before the movie started. And, yep, we'd take pillows and blankets and sleep in the back of our station wagon. Fun!!!!

Popcorn was such a rare treat back then...we'd get the oil popper out at home and pop a big container of popcorn to take with us. Imagine popcorn being such a big deal, but it was back then. There was no microwave so you had to heat oil in the popcorn popper and put corn kernels in. And then you got to watch them pop through the glass top. What fun!!! If we were at home we'd fill a bowl and go sit in front of the tv watching something thinking what a rare treat that was!

These are great threads. Allows us to engage in a little healthy nostalgia for the good ole days.

I don't remember "Hot Shoppes" either. They must have been specific to a particular area of the country.


I hope Fred stops in to view this thread. ;)

http://www.michigandriveins.com/DI/40/A1_GREENVILLE_GRAND_OPENING_AD_6-19-50.JPG


Above found HERE (http://www.michigandriveins.com/detail.asp?id=40) fred. :)


-Jim

http://www.davesmock.com/bolds/olds.JPG


Bob Seger wrote a song and it has a line in it talking about "cruising on Woodward Avenue." (Horizontal Bop" I believe is the song?)

Anyway...I used to cruise Woodward Avenue in my '69 Roadrunner. It wasn't the same as back in the fifties/early sixties though I'm sure! ;)

Below is from a "fun" story I found. :)


We would start our circuit south of Eight Mile Rd, at the eight mile Big Boy. Across the street was the Dipsy Doodle drive in. There was no eight mile overpass, as yet. The next stop was always the best, the Totem Pole drive in. Unquestionably the coolest drive in on Woodward. I spent countless hours of my youth parked in the Totem Pole, watching the other cruisers, and making comments like, "Check out the baby moons." or, "She's a skag.", or "WOW - check THAT!"

Then we would head north. Mavericks, Ted’s, and finally the thirteen mile Big Boy was usually the turn around point. Then do it all in reverse. Then do it all again. Ron began to grow weary. "Hey, I got a number to call!" he announced. "Pull over somewhere."

http://www.davesmock.com/bolds/


-Jim

For Joe McGee - I found this Hot Shoppes nostalgia page that includes the recipe for the Mighty Mo Famous Sauce and a recipe on how to build a Mighty Mo. Apparently they were owned by Marriott and a cookbook of their recipes is published - "Marriott Hot Shoppes Cookbook: Sixty Years of American Cookery", By Alice Sheets Marriott



Wow! Imagine that, I ask for a sandwich that hasn't been on the market in around 35 years, and yankee jane produces the recipe for me. I'll think of you with every bite Jane, thanks so much. :)
BTW...Great job of digging up those pics, Jane and Jim, they're even from the pre carhop days too....wayyyyy back.

Wow! Imagine that, I ask for a sandwich that hasn't been on the market in around 35 years, and yankee jane produces the recipe for me. I'll think of you with every bite Jane, thanks so much. :)
BTW...Great job of digging up those pics, Jane and Jim, they're even from the pre carhop days too....wayyyyy back.

Hahahahaha ... the first time you have one, have it in front of your computer, look over those old photos and then close your eyes and remember what it was like back when you were in the car having a Mighty Mo when you take your first bite ... it will taste a million times better! :rofl

(There seem to be a lot of other people out there who prefer things as they were and are getting some relief from the current cesspool by gathering and posting nostalgia items online)

http://www.davesmock.com/bolds/olds.JPG


Bob Seger wrote a song and it has a line in it talking about "cruising on Woodward Avenue." (Horizontal Bop" I believe is the song?)

Anyway...I used to cruise Woodward Avenue in my '69 Roadrunner. It wasn't the same as back in the fifties/early sixties though I'm sure! ;)

Below is from a "fun" story I found. :)

Quote:
We would start our circuit south of Eight Mile Rd, at the eight mile Big Boy. Across the street was the Dipsy Doodle drive in. There was no eight mile overpass, as yet. The next stop was always the best, the Totem Pole drive in. Unquestionably the coolest drive in on Woodward. I spent countless hours of my youth parked in the Totem Pole, watching the other cruisers, and making comments like, "Check out the baby moons." or, "She's a skag.", or "WOW - check THAT!"

Then we would head north. Mavericks, Ted’s, and finally the thirteen mile Big Boy was usually the turn around point. Then do it all in reverse. Then do it all again. Ron began to grow weary. "Hey, I got a number to call!" he announced. "Pull over somewhere."

http://www.davesmock.com/bolds/


-Jim


Haha - great stuff - that photo reminded me of my very first car when I was in high school. A huge Chevy Impala convertible, turquoise with a white top and you could live in the trunk. I don't remember the year, but I think it had four round tail lights on each side, not three. It was enormous, the top went up and down automatically like a dream and it was THE best car EVER!!

Love those additional drive in pics too ... the speakers really had a unique quality, definitely not Dolby SurroundSound, but the whole drive in experience was really unique ... would love to have that back again along with the old movies!

These are great threads. Allows us to engage in a little healthy nostalgia for the good ole days.

I don't remember "Hot Shoppes" either. They must have been specific to a particular area of the country. I lived in Richmond, VA from 1954 to 1966, from Chapel Hill NC from 1966-1973, from Auburn, AL from 1973 to 1983 and in Atlanta from 1983 until now, and I don't remember those places in any of those cities. Maybe they were specific to the North.

But, I do remember drive in movies. Around 1964 or 1965 there was one built down the road in Richmond and we used to go there. I remember seeing several Disney movies there. Of course, it was all white and safe as well. There was a playground down in front where kids could play before the movie started. And, yep, we'd take pillows and blankets and sleep in the back of our station wagon. Fun!!!!

Popcorn was such a rare treat back then...we'd get the oil popper out at home and pop a big container of popcorn to take with us. Imagine popcorn being such a big deal, but it was back then. There was no microwave so you had to heat oil in the popcorn popper and put corn kernels in. And then you got to watch them pop through the glass top. What fun!!! If we were at home we'd fill a bowl and go sit in front of the tv watching something thinking what a rare treat that was!

Yup, blankets, pillows, pajamas, bathrobe and slippers (it was a trip going into the snack bar like that, but when you're a kid you really don't care much!). REAL popcorn is great ... if you still like it, try this site - every color, size, type around, corn poppers, oil, everything to make real popcorn and they grow it on their own farm and get it from surrounding farms - and for the survivalists who are stockpiling, if stored properly, popcorn can last almost forever :rolleyes: (Gee, aside from bomb shelters, we never worried about survivalism back them... ;) )

AMISH COUNTRY POPCORN (http://www.amishcountrypopcorn.com/)

I don't remember the year, but I think it had four round tail lights on each side, not three. It was enormous, the top went up and down automatically like a dream and it was THE best car EVER!!



I've always known Imapalas to have three tail lights. Bel Air/Biscaynes always had two. :confused:


http://www.hubcapcafe.com/i/2001/storycty/chev6001a.JPG

http://designercars.net/biler/Chevrolet-Impala-4.jpg

http://www.seriouswheels.com/pics-1950-1959/1958-Chevrolet-Impala-Convertible-Aqua-Rear-PO.jpg


-Jim

Yup, blankets, pillows, pajamas, bathrobe and slippers (it was a trip going into the snack bar like that, but when you're a kid you really don't care much!).


Or...if you were really cool like me...those pajamas with the "footies" in them. :cool:


http://www.footed-pajamas.com/galipette-400.jpg


-Jim

http://designercars.net/biler/Chevrolet-Impala-4.jpg

This one looks really close to my car, maybe it was a three, but I have seen them with four - smaller and closer together. It's soooooo beautiful!!

On the rare occasions I see one, my gut wrenches - I wanna cry!!! Waaaahahaha I want my old car back!!! http://bestsmileys.com/crying/5.gif

My evil father made me get rid of it and got me a stupid Datsun instead. I never forgave him for that. http://bestsmileys.com/angry1/6.gif

http://www.footed-pajamas.com/galipette-400.jpg

Heh heh ... you were a cute kid ;) My mother was too practical, never got me any of those pajamas - too complicated at "potty time" you know :D

Jim that does bring back memories. I learned how to drive in a '59 El Camino.

My first car was a red pinto. My favorite car and the one I get upset seeing around is the '73 el camino.

http://designercars.net/biler/Chevrolet-Impala-4.jpg

This one looks really close to my car, maybe it was a three, but I have seen them with four - smaller and closer together. It's soooooo beautiful!!

On the rare occasions I see one, my gut wrenches - I wanna cry!!! Waaaahahaha I want my old car back!!! http://bestsmileys.com/crying/5.gif

My evil father made me get rid of it and got me a stupid Datsun instead. I never forgave him for that. http://bestsmileys.com/angry1/6.gif

That is either a '63, or '64 Chevy, I'd need a side view to know for sure. I believe the difference in number of lights was between an Impala and Bel Air, or perhaps the year, but I'm not positive. But it is definitely a '63 or '64 Chevy. If this was "Millionaire," I'd say, "Final answer, '63," because ot the way the body comes to a point in the rear, just above the bumper.
Thanks Yankee Jim, I had forgotten all about Biscaynes.

My first car was a red pinto. My favorite car and the one I get upset seeing around is the '73 el camino.

My first car was a '52 Dodge, undefeated in the impromptu, "Demoliton Derbies" we had. I destroyed my friends '55 Pontiac, which although just three years newer, wasn't nearly the tank mine was.

I've always known Imapalas to have three tail lights. Bel Air/Biscaynes always had two. :confused:


http://www.hubcapcafe.com/i/2001/storycty/chev6001a.JPG

http://designercars.net/biler/Chevrolet-Impala-4.jpg

http://www.seriouswheels.com/pics-1950-1959/1958-Chevrolet-Impala-Convertible-Aqua-Rear-PO.jpg


-Jim

The bottom (turgoise) is a '58, the middle a '63, or '64, and the top a '60, or
'61.
59's had just one long light in the back if I'm not mistaken.
What memories is right!

http://designercars.net/biler/Chevrolet-Impala-4.jpg

This one looks really close to my car, maybe it was a three, but I have seen them with four - smaller and closer together. It's soooooo beautiful!!



Above is a 1962.

Here's a 1961:

http://www.misterw.com/Chevrolet/61Chev2Dr02b.jpg

Here's a 1963:

http://www.hubcapcafe.com/i/2002/cars4kids/chev6301a.JPGhttp://www.hubcapcafe.com/i/2002/cars4kids/chev6301b.jpg


Here's a 1964:

http://www.misterw.com/Chevrolet/64Chev2Dr10b.jpg

Here's a 1965:

http://www.solent-renegades.co.uk/images/shows/wheels_day/wd20040409_064.jpg


Here's a 1966 Biscayne:

http://dream-car-locators.tripod.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/dsc00733.jpg

(look what it sold for! HERE (http://dream-car-locators.tripod.com/id2.html))


-Jim

My first car (that I bought for Myself) was a 1969 RS/SS Camaro 'vert. 396 c.i.

Man, would I like to have that car again..Bone stock.

I think that's the one - 64 (my turquoise and white was much prettier!). Aren't they all great! They used to know how to make cars, remember two tone? When you drove these cars, you knew you were in something substantial with something under the hood and talk about room - look at the seats in that red baby - and convertible to boot! I'd take these over a lousey Mercedes any day!! Thanks for the great pics! http://bestsmileys.com/happy/3.gif

http://www.misterw.com/Chevrolet/64Chev2Dr10b.jpg

Here's a 1965:

http://www.solent-renegades.co.uk/images/shows/wheels_day/wd20040409_064.jpg



I had one like this, mine was an Impala, turquoise with black leather interior, bucket seats, 327 w/4 speed on the floor.

Jim, thanks for the great pics. Amazing that differences that were
marked 40 years ago seem so subtle now when trying to identify each year.

Thanks for all the cool pics of all the cool cars back then. I can't identify many of them, maybe a Thunderbird or something like that, but they're fun to look at. So much better looking than the crap we drive nowadays. As in everything else, everything was just so much better back then! So much more personality and beauty and character. Sorta like white people!!!

Oooooo... Did someone say TBird? When I was a kid, my dad had one - baby blue (Like these 61/62):

http://www.hubcapcafe.com/i/2000/nu_brite2000/bird6101.JPG http://www.hubcapcafe.com/i/2000/waconia2000/bird6101.JPG http://www.hubcapcafe.com/i/2000/nu_brite2000/bird6201.jpg

He also had a Mustang in that classic orangey-red color, black interior, like this 65:

http://www.hubcapcafe.com/i/2001/cars4kids/must6501.JPG

He changed cars a lot. He must have known somebody. :rolleyes:

http://www.hubcapcafe.com/i/2001/cars4kids/must6501.JPG




My first car...a 1966 Mustang. It was rear ended (bad) and repaired correctly. My mother sold it to me for $200.00 back in 1970 I believe. She let me give her a hundred bucks, and pay the rest out.

Had a 289. It was very red, (not that orangey red) with a black vinyl top and black bucket seats. (auto floor shift and console I believe)

Used to cost me around $4.00 to fill up! Never really filled up though...I used to pull up to the pumps and say "$2.00 regular please." :D

Of course...this was back when the arabs didn't "hate our freedom and democracy"! :rolleyes:


-Jim

Used to cost me around $4.00 to fill up! Never really filled up though...I used to pull up to the pumps and say "$2.00 regular please." :D


Those were the good old days, with a $5 bill, you were good to go. $2 in the gas tank, on which you could cruise all night, $2 for a six pack, and $1 for a pack of smokes.
Kudos again on finding the pics, Jim and Jane.