LOST Ship's Westwood Coffee Shop (1958, Martin Stern, Jr.) on Wilshire at Westwood LOST Tiny Naylor's (1949, Douglas Honnold) on Sunset at La Brea. In the 1980s, these two exceptional examples of California coffee shop architecture were demolished. As a direct result, the Los Angeles Conservancy's Fifties Task Force was established in 1984 to preserve remaining examples of this quickly vanishing breed of building. This group later became known as the 'Modern and Post-World War II Committee' and finally as just the 'Modern Committee.' SAVED Bob's Big Boy (1949, Wayne McAllister) on Riverside Drive near Pass, Toluca Lake The Modern Committee spent much of 1992 rallying support and convincing the L.A. County Board of Supervisors of the significance of this site. After a long battle, the building and monumental sign were designated a "California State Point of Historic Interest" in 1993. The owner invested in restoration and promoted and 'merchandised' its historic status. It is now the top revenue producing Big Boy in the United States. SAVED Downey McDonald's (1953, Stanley C. Meston) on Lakewood at Florence, Downey The McDonald's in Downey is the oldest original remaining golden-arches in America. This restaurant operates beneath a 60 foot tall neon sign with the original company icon 'Speedee.' Although determined eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places in 1984, the building was targeted for demoltion after the 1994 Northridge earthquake. Over the next three years, the Modern Committee organized several highly-publicized rallies gaining international exposure and support. The front page of the New York Times Sunday Edition even carried the story. The National Trust for Historic Preservation identified it as one of eleven most endangered structures in the U.S. And ultimately, the Committee achieved victory by negotiating with McDonald's Corporation for a restored restaurant and gift shop which re-opened on December 15, 1996. SAVED Pann's (1958, Armet and Davis) Corner of La Tijera, La Cienega and Centinela, Ladera Heights One of the last, and best, monumental futuristic coffee shops, Pann's traffic island is an oasis of subtropical planting beneath an immense hovering "tortoise shell" roof. An off-kilter, animated neon sign bursts skyward. The building contains custom-designed artwork including an illustrated history of the owners' migrations from Greece executed in resin near the entrance. Second generation owner, Jim Poulos, completely restored Pann's to its original stature. The Modern Committee nominated Pann's and Mr. Poulos received a Los Angeles Conservancy Preservation Award for his efforts in 1993. SAVED Van De Kamp's (1967, Harold Bissner Jr.) on Route 66 at Santa Anita Avenue, Arcadia This is the last windmill and folded-plate roof Van de Kamp's restaurant left on Route 66. When the Modern Committee became aware of the imminent demolition of the historic windmill atop the Van De Kamps restaurant in conjunction with a 1950s diner re-design, a rally was organized. The friendly, yet bliztkrieg-style advocacy effort was covered by all major news outlets in Los Angeles and within 24 hours Denny's issued a press release stating that the windmill would not be demolished and would be incorporated into the new re-design of the restaurant. SAVED Cinerama Dome (1963, Welton Becket & Associates) on Sunset at Ivar, Los Angeles The Cinerama Dome is the first and only geodesic dome in concrete (316 precast panels) anywhere in the world, with striking innovations in lighting and luxury seating. Its 32-by-86 foot screen, then the largest in the world, was designed for three camera projection of 70mm film, and curved to offer the 959 patrons an almost three-dimensional effect. In 1998 and 1999 a number of grass roots groups, including the Modern Committee, successfully convinced Pacific Theaters of the value of restoring the Dome as the centerpiece of a new multiplex and retail center. SAVED Tramway Gas Station (1963, Albert Frey) on Highway 111, Palm Springs This stunning hyberbolic-paraboloid roof structure at the northern desert entrance to Palm Springs was threatened with demolition by a major resort development company that planned to replace it with landscaping. In 1997 the Modern Committee contributed to a letter writing campaign and attended the City Council's hearing to convince the council members that the building was significant. The Gas Station has been restored and converted into gallery space. UNCERTAIN Hanna Barbera Studio (1962, Arthur Froelich) on Ventura Blvd., Universal City In 1998, The Modern Committee was not successful in supporting the designation of this site as an Los Angeles Cultural Heritage Landmark despite its obvious importance as the birthplace of television animation. SAVED LAX Theme Building (1962, Pereira, Luckman, Becket, Williams) Los Angeles International Airport The Modern Committee supported the nomination of the lobby and exterior of this quintessential symbol of Modern Jet Age Los Angeles and it was designated as a Los Angeles Cultural Heritage Monument in 1994. It was remodeled by Disney Imagineering into a popular and successful lunch, dinner and cocktails destination called, 'Encounters.' SAVED Wich Stand (1958, Armet and Davis) on Slauson at Overhill, Ladera Heights This Space Age masterpiece with a soaring roof, glass walls, and a sign pylon piercing the ceiling up to the sky was closed in 1987. In 1988, the Modern Committee successfully achieved designation of this important combination drive-in, coffee shop and cocktail lounge as a "California State Point of Historic Interest." More recently, it was adaptively reused as Simply Wholesome, a health food restaurant and store. LOST Machinist's Lodge (1958, Smith and Williams) on Victory at Hollywood Way, Burbank This outstanding structure was in pristine condition and reiterates the importance of the Committee's work. It was designed by award winning Case Study architects and it served as a pivotal socioeconomic building of it's time. It was the Aeronautical Machinists Lodge - built at a time when the San Fernando Valley economy depended on the work of nearby aerospace firms. It was torn down before a nomination could even be drafted.