Fast Food Restaurants – Larry Johnston, Nostalgic Artist

BBF – Burger Boy Food-O-Rama

October 28, 2020January 24, 2021 Admin

BBF

Burger Boy Food-O-Rama

Columbus, Ohio

BBF first opened in Columbus, Ohio in 1961 competing with the McDonald’s fast food chain. They eventually opened 48 BBF restaurants in Ohio West Virginia and Kentucky before it was sold in 1970 to Bordon, Inc. The revolving neon Rotospheres on top of their sign always fascinated me and I’m sure it helped attract business. I painted the BBF to accept the sign, as well as the nostalgic history of one of the 15 cent hamburger pioneers. I also included a few classic cars of the time to add to the nostalgia.

**Prints:**

**ALL PRINTS** are printed on **canvas and stretched on wooden stretcher bars** and prices vary according to size ordered. Most are 2:3 proportion

**Options:**

**wrapped print-** part of the image is wrapped

around the sides of the wood.

**Non-wrapped print-** The full image is on the face, with white or black edges

**(frames and hardware are not included)**

**8″ x 12″ Black Edge**………. $109.17

**8″ x 12″ White Edge**………. $109.17

**8″ x 12″ Wrapped Edge**………. $109.17

12” x 18” White Edge ………. $168.07

12” x 18” Wrapped Edge ………. $168.07

16” x 24” White Edge ………. $226.14 (Most popular)

16” x 24” Wrapped Edge ………. $226.14 (Most popular)

20” x 30” White Edge………. $314.34

20” x 30” Wrapped Edge………. $314.34

24” x 36”Black Edge ………. $335.65

24” x 36”White Edge ………. $335.65

24” x 36” ………. $1,295.00 Original Painting on stretched canvas

Varsity #2

October 18, 2020February 22, 2021 Admin

The Varsity #2

Atlanta, Georgia

The first Painting of the Varsity, in Atlanta, was so popular, that I had a couple approach me and commissioned me to paint their” his and her” cars in a Varsity picture. Hers was the Camero. I was participating in quite a few festivals and art shows in the Atlanta, GA area during that time, so the Varsity prints were very popular.

around the sides of the wood.

8″ x 12″ white Edge………. $109.17

8″ x 12″ wrapped Edge………. $109.17

Luigi’s Pizza

October 14, 2020March 13, 2022 Admin

Luigi’s Pizza,

South Bend, Indiana.

I remember when I was in High school many decades ago, riding my bicycle to Luigi’s Pizza, several miles away, in an area called River Park, for a pizza. Luigi’s is still around, but have moved from the place on the corner. My Aunt, Jean, used to talk about going to Luigi’s when she was in High School. She is now over 90 years old. That’s an indication as to how long they have been making pizzas.

When I painted the painting, I included her driving her favorite car (Ford Retractable) and around the corner is Uncle Don, with his Studebaker (Silver Hawk). When they came to one of my art shows, they saw it for the first time. When they said they loved it, I told them that I painted it for them.

Uncle Don has since passed-away, but the painting still hangs in Aunt Jean’s Family Room where she can see it easily while watching TV or just relaxing.

around the sides of the wood.

A & W Root Beer Barrel

October 14, 2020February 22, 2021 Admin

A&W Root Beer Barrel

South Bend – Elkhart, Indiana

There was a time when building designs were used to attract customers, as well as Signs and other types of advertising. The Barrel became a popular design for Root Beer, as they buildings resembled the Barrel.

The Root Beer barrel I painted here was in the South Bend – Elkhart area. There were barrels located at 3 locations in South Bend, on Lincolnway, across the river from the Farmers Market , State Road 23 & Ironwood and at Mayflower and Western area. Elkhart had a barrel located on North Main Street. There were a few others located in the Michiana area. I painted it to look like as if it could have been any one of those locations. Of course, as usual, I surrounded the building with cars that could have been there during the 1950s.

I lived on North Ironwood, so it was just a short bicycle ride to the Barrel at Ironwood and State Road 23. There is a supermarket at that location now and all of the other A & W Root Beer Barrels have since disappeared, replaced with more modern buildings and equipment.

Other A & W paintings that I have done: A & W Rootbeer Drive-in, Taylor, MI

around the sides of the wood.

24” x 36” ………. $1,295.00 Original Painting

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Azar’s Big Boy

October 14, 2020February 22, 2021 Admin

Azar’s Big Boy

South Bend, IN

Azar’s Big Boy was a typical 1950s Drive-in, complete with Car Hops. It was right next to another Drive-in called Bonnie Doon. The back of the drive-ins was an alley, so it became a way to go in one and drive to the other and exit back to the street, around the block and do it all over again. This was called the “Merry-go-round”. Also popular in the 1960s, when I was in High School were motor scooters. The 2 pictured are the Cushman brand. The one of the left is like the one my brother drove. It even had a stick shift. Another popular scooter at the time was the Allstate. It had bubble type fenders with a storage compartment on one side, unlike the red Cushman with the storage compartment under the seat.

This painting was one of my first paintings when I started featuring classic cars.

around the sides of the wood.

Bonnie Doon Drive-in South Michigan St

October 13, 2020February 22, 2021 Admin

Copyright Larry Johnstobn — Copyright Larry Johnston

**Bonnie Doon Drive-in, S. Michigan St.,**

**South Bend, Indiana**.

Bonnie Doon Ice Cream started in 1941 and in 1944, they opened their first drive-in. One of their most popular locations was on S. Michigan Street, in South Bend, Indiana. At the time, when I frequented that location, there were 5 locations in the area.

During my High School days, Michigan Street was a one-way street going north and the next street over, Main Street was one way going south. Bonnie Doon and Azar’s Big Boy sat next door to each other, so they became the hang out as the cars would drives through both establishments, go around the block and back through, over and over, eventually referred to as the merry-go-round. The teenagers would sit on their cars in the parking lot and watch the cars go by. I remember the cars stopping along Main Street to meet. I am sure many romances started at Bonnie Doon.

I have decided to bring back some of these historic buildings that have since become vacant or torn down. This painting on S. Michigan Street, in South Bend, Indiana, brought back memories and stories from the people who saw it. I asked my customers if they could find the Corvette Stingray in the painting. Most couldn’t find it, until I pointed out the reflection in the side of the car in the foreground. I have since painted Bonnie Doon – US 31, South Bend, Bonnie Doon 4^th St, Mishawaka 1940, Bonnie Doon 4^th St., Mishawaka 1950s, Bonnie Doon- Lincolnway, Mishawaka, Indiana.

**Prints:**

**ALL PRINTS** are printed on **canvas and stretched on wooden stretcher bars** and prices vary according to size ordered. Most are 2:3 proportion

**Options:**

**wrapped print-** part of the image is wrapped

around the sides of the wood.

**Non-wrapped print-** The full image is on the face, with white or black edges

**(frames and hardware are not included)**

**8″ x 12″ Black Edge**………. $109.17

**8″ x 12″ White Edge**………. $109.17

**8″ x 12″ Wrapped Edge**………. $109.17

**12” x 18” Black Edge** ………. $168.07

**12” x 18” White Edge** ………. $168.07

**12” x 18” Wrapped Edge** ………. $168.07

**16” x 24” Black Edge** ………. $226.14 (Most popular)

**16” x 24” White Edge** ………. $226.14 (Most popular)

**16” x 24” Wrapped Edge** ………. $226.14 (Most popular)

**20” x 30” Black Edge**………. $314.34

**20” x 30” White Edge**………. $314.34

**20” x 30” Wrapped Edge**………. $314.34

**24” x 36”Black Edge** ………. $335.65

**24” x 36”White Edge** ………. $335.65

**24” x 36”Wrapped Edge** ………. $335.65

Copyright Larry Johnston

**Bonnie Doon Drive-in, S. Michigan St.,**

**South Bend, Indiana**.

Bonnie Doon Ice Cream started in 1941 and in 1944, they opened their first drive-in. One of their most popular locations was on S. Michigan Street, in South Bend, Indiana. At the time, when I frequented that location, there were 5 locations in the area.

During my High School days, Michigan Street was a one-way street going north and the next street over, Main Street was one way going south. Bonnie Doon and Azar’s Big Boy sat next door to each other, so they became the hang out as the cars would drives through both establishments, go around the block and back through, over and over, eventually referred to as the merry-go-round. The teenagers would sit on their cars in the parking lot and watch the cars go by. I remember the cars stopping along Main Street to meet. I am sure many romances started at Bonnie Doon.

I have decided to bring back some of these historic buildings that have since become vacant or torn down. This painting on S. Michigan Street, in South Bend, Indiana, brought back memories and stories from the people who saw it. I asked my customers if they could find the Corvette Stingray in the painting. Most couldn’t find it, until I pointed out the reflection in the side of the car in the foreground. I have since painted Bonnie Doon – US 31, South Bend, Bonnie Doon 4^th St, Mishawaka 1940, Bonnie Doon 4^th St., Mishawaka 1950s, Bonnie Doon- Lincolnway, Mishawaka, Indiana.

**Prints:**

**ALL PRINTS** are printed on **canvas and stretched on wooden stretcher bars** and prices vary according to size ordered. Most are 2:3 proportion

**Options:**

**wrapped print-** part of the image is wrapped

around the sides of the wood.

**Non-wrapped print-** The full image is on the face, with white or black edges

**(frames and hardware are not included)**

**8″ x 12″ Black Edge**………. $109.17

**8″ x 12″ White Edge**………. $109.17

**8″ x 12″ Wrapped Edge**………. $109.17

**12” x 18” Black Edge** ………. $168.07

**12” x 18” White Edge** ………. $168.07

**12” x 18” Wrapped Edge** ………. $168.07

**16” x 24” Black Edge** ………. $226.14 (Most popular)

**16” x 24” White Edge** ………. $226.14 (Most popular)

**16” x 24” Wrapped Edge** ………. $226.14 (Most popular)

**20” x 30” Black Edge**………. $314.34

**20” x 30” White Edge**………. $314.34

**20” x 30” Wrapped Edge**………. $314.34

**24” x 36”Black Edge** ………. $335.65

**24” x 36”White Edge** ………. $335.65

**24” x 36”Wrapped Edge** ………. $335.65

24” x 36” Original Painting on stretched canvas……….Not Available

G & H Coffee Shop

October 13, 2020February 22, 2021 Admin

G & H 24-Hour Coffee Shop

“The Gag and Heave”,

South Bend, Indiana.

The White House Restaurants in South Bend were a local chain of 24-hour diners in the area. The most famous was the one across from John Adams High School. The Diner had several nicknames, such as “Fat Shirley’s”, and the most memorable, “The Gag and Heave”. The owner, Burke Hammond established the restaurant in 1955. They even had bumper stickers that advertised the diner as the “Gag & Heave”. The High School students loved it. On the other side of town, the Studebaker workers also called their local White House Restaurant, “The Gag & Heave”. Since I went to John Adams High School, I just had to paint the building with the 1962 Studebaker Lark Police car sitting outside, ready for action, just as it was frequently seen during those late-night hours.

The G & H, was eventually sold and is now “Jeanie’s” and has been remodeled and still sits at the corner of Mishawaka Avenue and Twyckenham Avenue, in South Bend across from the High School at 1444 Mishawaka Avenue, serving those late night burgers and lots of coffee.

24” x 36” ………. $1,295.00 Original Painting

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Louis Lunch

January 2, 2015February 22, 2021 Admin

Louis’ Lunch

Gainesville, Florida

I remember stopping in at Louis’ Lunch during our times at the Gainesville Art Festivals and talking to the owner and looking at all the historic pictures on the walls. Louis’ Lunch, was established in 1928 by Louis Pennisi. The building sat at the corner of SE Fifth Ave and SE Second Street.

His unique Burgers were inspired by his mother’s meatball recipe, which became a staple of the area, along with the milk shakes and fries. Louis sold the business to his son in 1952, where Freddie continued the tradition until his father’s death at age 104.

During a burglary attempt, Freddie was killed in 1993 and in 1995 Tom Pennisi reopened the business.

Louis’ Lunch, eventually closed because of the recession and the road construction in the area in November, 2010. The painting is now an icon in the History of Gainesville, Florida

White Castle

January 1, 2015February 22, 2021 Admin

White Castle

Chicago, Illinois

The White Castle Restaurants started in 1927, as the first one opened in Cincinnati, Ohio. The first White Castle in Chicago was located at Wabash and Cermak, in 1930. The restaurant chain offered small hamburgers that sold for 5 cents until the 1940s. The American term for a small sandwich 3 inches across or smaller was called a “Slider”, which became a common term for a White Castle Burger.

The original Chicago building has become a landmark, as the building has been restored to the original design but is no longer a White Castle restaurant.

The painting was done in my early years, when I started exhibiting at the Chicago area shows. It was a popular item, especially in the Midwest area. It was also included in my set of 4 Chicago prints, along with Billy Goat Tavern, Superdawg and Hot Diggity Dogs, which were horizontal paintings. I added the Chicago Cubs panting later, but it was a vertical painting.

Steak n Shake

January 1, 2015February 22, 2021 Admin

Nostalgia Painting Larry Johnston

“Steak and Shake”

St. Louis, MO.

While exhibiting in the area of St. Louis, I decided to see what they had in their area that was nostalgic. After some discussion with area locals, we found that the oldest Steak and Shake still in existence, was just off of Hwy 55, in St. Louis. Of course I had to check it out, along with some other possible places.

The Steak and Shake painting drew attention wherever I went. I put the cars into the painting to add to the time period of the building. Many people bought prints, some of the building and others for the classic cars.

I managed to do some of my painting at the shows, but customers kept me busy with questions. I liked the questions. The painting just drew the attention.

around the sides of the wood.