24″ X 36″ original painting on stretched canvas not available.
A History of Americana in Art
24″ X 36″ original painting on stretched canvas not available.
Simonton Lake Drive-in
Elkhart, IN
The era of the 1950s were dominated with the classic cars we now remember and occasionally see at car shows and old movies. There were plenty of popular Drive-in Restaurants, complete with car hops. Elkhart was without exception.
The Simonton Lake Drive-in on Cassopolis Street has endured the years and is still a place to go for fast food and fast cars, when they have their “Cruise-in” car shows. Oh, yes, they also have the car hops to deliver your order.
Home made Root Beer is the signature drink that attracts the customers. Along with their Root Beer in a frosty mug, you may order a burger and fries, or just an ice cream treat, such as a sundae, shake, or even a banana split. Yummy!
This painting was chosen to exhibit in the Juried Art show at the Midwest Museum of American Art, Elkhart, Indiana in 2019.
24” x 36” Original Painting on stretched canvas $1,295
The Warner Theatre
Elkhart, Indiana, Early 1930s.
The Lerner Theatre was built in Elkhart in 1924 by Harry E Lerner and was later sold to the Warner family, who changed the name to “The Warner”. The Warner theatre name existed from 1931 to 1933, then was sold. It was named “The ELCO” until 2011, when it was returned to its original name, “The Lerner” and renovated into the venue you now see.
I found a black and white photo of what the Werner looked like in its heyday and recreated it in Acrylic paint on stretched canvas to bring back the era of the early 1930s, complete with the trolley. The electric car, now on display at the Ruthmere museum is also in the painting.
This painting was finished in September of 2015 and chosen as part of the exhibit of the “Juried Regional” at the Midwest Museum of American Art, from September until mid-December 2015.
Other Theatres I have painted are: The Palace in South Bend, IN; The Reese in Plymouth, IN; Fox in Detroit, Atlanta’s Fox, Fox #2 in Atlanta; The Chicago Theatre; The Los Angeles Theatre; Loew’s Theatre in Jersey City, NJ and the Lerner Sign in Elkhart, Indiana.
24” x 36” Original Painting on stretched canvas $1,295
Crimaldi’s Restaurant & Lounge
Elkhart, IN
Crimaldi’s Restaurant & Lounge is located, in the heart of Elkhart at 117 W. Jackson Blvd. Once named “Bozos”, Mike Crimaldi and his mother Shirley bought it in 1980 and after several years changed the name to Crimaldi’s in 1988, making it one of the go-to places for great food and social activities
When planning the painting, I decided to make it look like 1988 when Crimaldi’s officially opened with the current name. I had a lot of fun creating a local hot spot for social life and good food, complete with cars of the time.
24” x 36” Original Painting on stretched canvas $1,295
The Palace Theatre,
South Bend, Indiana.
As a young boy, I remember all the bright lights of the Palace Theatre in South Bend. All the best movies were there, including the Premier of the movie “Knute Rockne: All American”, starring Ronald Raegan as George Gipp (The Gipper), with Rudy Vallee, Bob Hope, Jane Wyman, Kate Smith and Pat O’Brian as Knute Rockne.. The theatre was built in 1922 and closed in the 1960’s. Several years later, it was saved from demolition and remodeled into a theatrical venue with the help of Mrs. Ella. M. Morris, from South Bend. It was renamed “The Morris Civic Auditorium” and later “The Morris Performing Arts Center” now focusing on Broadway Productions and name brand talent.
South Bend had five theatres in the 1960’s when I was growing up. I have also painted the State Theatre. The two of them and are popular when exhibiting in local shows. Since South Bend was the home of the Studebaker, I had to put one in the painting.
Other Theatre paintings are: The Reese in Plymouth, IN; Fox in Detroit, Atlanta’s Fox, Fox #2 in Atlanta; The Chicago Theatre; The Los Angeles Theatre; Loew’s Theatre in Jersey City, NJ, Warner Theatre, Elkhart and the Lerner Sign in Elkhart, Indiana.
18” x 24” Original Painting on stretched canvas – Not Available
Midway Bait and Tackle
Osceola, Indiana
The painting of the Bait and Tackle shop portrays the small bait store on the corner of CR 16 and Ash Road at the St. Joseph/Elkhart County Line overlooking the St. Joseph River in Osceola, Indiana.
Due to a recent auto accident, the store, which had been there for decades was destroyed by fire. Just recently the remains of the store have been removed.
This painting portrays an earlier time, as I removed some of the metal buildings. The fisherman and his dog are off to an early start in the morning, for a few hours of fishing. They stopped at the bait shop to pick up some earth worms,as everyone refers to. He must be that “Early Bird”.
The painting was selected to be part of an exhibit at the Midwest Museum of American Art, located in Elkhart, Indiana from October through the middle of December, 2020.
Here the links to the other lures I have painted: Paw Paw Lippy Joe, Carter’s Best Ever, Flat Fish Frog and Pikie Minnow.
Here are links to salmon flies I have painted: Blue Doctor, black and white hook, black hook and small fly.
Related to fishing, here are two other paintings you may be interested in.
24” x 36” ……….$1,295.00 Original Painting on stretched canvas
Corby’s Irish Pub
South Bend, Indiana
The famous inspirational movie “Rudy” was the beginning of this popular South Bend Pub. There was once a popular student hangout located near the Notre Dame campus on Corby Blvd., at the corner of Eddy Street where South Bend Avenue was also a part of the intersection called 5 Points.
The movie “Rudy”, about a young boy with aspirations of growing up and playing football for Notre Dame and the journey that he took to reach his goal.
The movie company chose Corby’s Irish Pub, previously called, The Cap and Cork” to film the bar scenes for the movie. The name of the bar was then changed to Corby’s Irish Pub and has taken the place of the old Corby’s, which was torn down.
The Pub is at the corner of Niles Avenue and LaSalle Avenue, in downtown South Bend, becoming a destination for students, fans and with all the movie memorabilia, a great place for tourists to visit. It is complete with several TVs, to keep up with what is happening in the sports world, as well as other fun activities throughout the establishment, thanks to owner Joe Mittiga.
In the painting, I wanted to capture the feeling and realism of the pub and with the wet sidewalk, street and cars, it gives extra excitement created from the glowing neon signs and lights.
24″ x 36″ Original Painting on Canvas……….$2,295.00
Copyright Larry Johnston
“Piano Through a Window”
Somewhere in Georgia
While traveling around the country, I was always on the lookout for places and things of nostalgia. One Sunday afternoon, while driving down a 2-lane road in west-central Georgia, between Atlanta and Macon, we passed through a community which may have been too small to call a town, but it was the community of Concord, Georgia. They had a building, with a row of stores on the north side of the road. In the R.F. Strickland Building, was an antique shop, so we stopped, camera in hand. It was obvious they were closed because there were no cars in sight and no people. As I peered in the windows, I saw several old things that would interest me. One was an old carousel horse and another, an upright old piano covered with dust.
I took pictures of both items, but since they were closed, I shot them through the window, hence the painting is called “Piano through a Window”.
11″ x 14″Black Edge………. $148.82
11″ x 14″ White Edge………. $148.82
11″ x 14″ Wrapped Edge………. $148.82
16″ x 20″ Black Edge ………. $204.72
16″ x 20″ White Edge………. $204.72
16″ x 20″ Wrapped Edge………. $204.72
16″ x 20″ ………. $375.00 original painting on stretched canvas not available.
24” x 36” ………. $1,295.00 Original Painting
Copyright Larry Johnston
Juke Box Table Song Selector
Long before restaurants and Diners had piped in music, there was the song selector that was mounted on the table tops next to the salt, and pepper shakers. The usually had a sugar shaker also, but the one in the photo was being used by someone else. The nickels, dimes and quarters patiently await their turn to make some music. In the 1950s, I remember all the Diners had them. Sometimes, when you had finished eating, and your song hasn’t played yet, you hung around until after everyone else’s song had played, so you can hear yours.
They were ahead of their time. It was kind of like a remote controller!
11″ x 14″Black Edge………. $148.82
11″ x 14″ White Edge………. $148.82
11″ x 14″ Wrapped Edge………. $148.82
16″ x 20″ Black Edge ………. $204.72
16″ x 20″ White Edge………. $204.72
16″ x 20″ Wrapped Edge………. $204.72
16″ x 20″ ………. $375.00 original painting on stretched canvas not available.