24″ X 36″ – Page 6 – Larry Johnston, Nostalgic Artist

Jimmy’s Hurricane

December 30, 2014February 22, 2021 Admin

Jimmy’s Hurricane

Miami, Florida

Jimmy Ellenburg, was inducted into the Football Hall of Fame in 2000 as an outstanding quarterback and halfback at Miami High School. In the three years that he played, he had two State Championships and graduated in 1935. Years later, Jimmy opened up the restaurant in Miami, Florida. He and his wife operated the restaurant from 1950 to 1966. Since I painted nostalgic places, I was told about a restaurant that was famous in the area, so I started doing some research. The restaurant no longer exists and Jimmy has since passed away, but the memory of his accomplishments and his famous restaurant remains.

around the sides of the wood.

24” x 36” ………. Original Painting on stretched canvas not available.

Fox Theatre Atlanta #1 Singin’ in the Rain

December 29, 2014February 22, 2021 Admin

The FOX Theatre

Atlanta, GA

“Singin’ in the Rain”

Located in the middle of Atlanta, Georgia the FOX Theatre, built and opened in 1929, with vaudeville and later cinema, now features Broadway Shows and Theatrical performances. Since the theatre has become an Icon to Atlanta, I felt it necessary to create a painting of the famous FOX.

The original painting was sold at the Yellow Daisy Festival at Stone Mountain Park, just east of Atlanta. The festival is one of the top-rated festivals in the country. Prints of the painting were popular through the years of exhibiting around the country, especially in Georgia. It was one of the first paintings where I highlighted the painting with rain and water reflections at night.

Other Theatres I have painted are: The Palace in South Bend, IN; The Reese in Plymouth, IN; Fox in Detroit, 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.

around the sides of the wood.

24″ X 36″ original painting on canvas not available.

Chicago Theatre

December 29, 2014April 21, 2021 Admin

The Chicago Theatre,

Downtown, Chicago, Illinois.

There was a time when I started painting neon signs in the paintings, so while I was in Chicago, I couldn’t help but to photograph the Chicago Theatre. Little did I know at the time, the hit movie “Chicago” would be released to the theatres within a year of when the painting was finished. The painting became the center of attention shortly thereafter. The movie came out in 2002 and has become one of my favorites, especially the music soundtrack.

The Chicago theatre, was built in 1921 for 4 million dollars, which included ornate architecture and beautiful murals above the stage and on the ceiling. The vertical “Chicago” sign outside measured six stories high.

The theatre closed in 1985 and was saved from demolition and reopened in 1986 with a gala performance by Frank Sinatra.

The Chicago, is one of several theatres I have painted from around the country. 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 Los Angeles Theatre; Loew’s Theatre in Jersey City, NJ, Warner Theatre, Elkhart and the Lerner Sign in Elkhart, Indiana.

around the sides of the wood.

24″ X 36″ original painting on canvas not available.

Krispy Kreme, Gainesville, FL

December 29, 2014February 22, 2021 Admin

Krispy Kreme

Gainesville, Florida

I was looking for something local to paint while exhibiting in a show in Gainesville, Florida. I found this old- style Krispy Kreme. In researching the company, which was started in North Carolina, it sparked an idea for the painting. Since the common denominators were, NC and doughnuts, I decided to put the police car that was used in Mayberry with Andy Griffith and Don Knotts, in the painting, as it was filmed in Mt. Airy, North Carolina. That’s probably Barney in the car, as he would most likely be the one that went out for doughnuts.

The painting became not only a popular local attraction, but was popular around the country.

around the sides of the wood.

24″ X 36″ original painting on canvas not available.

Dairy Queen

December 29, 2014February 22, 2021 Admin

Dairy Queen

Charlotte, North Carolina

This is one of my first paintings as I started traveling around the country exhibiting in Art Show and Festivals. It was the oldest Dairy Queen in that region at the time. The overhanging roof was made of aluminum, painted as if it were a fabric awning. The design was unlike any other I had seen in other places, so felt compelled to paint it. I have a number of requests for 1965 Ford Mustangs in my work, so I put one in this painting. The Dairy Queen at 2732 Wilkinson Blvd, in Charlotte has since closed, but many people remember when there were lines waiting outside the window to order a frozen treat or hot dog

around the sides of the wood.

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

Ted Peter’s Smoked Fish

December 29, 2014February 22, 2021 Admin

Ted Peter’s Smoked Fish

South Pasadena, Florida

When you hear the name Ted Peter’s Smoked Fish, you may hear St. Petersburg, FL, but it is just west of there at 1350 Pasadena Avenue South, South Pasadena, Florida.

The business opened in 1951 and the family owned business has been at that location for 5 generations. They have their own smoke house next door where you can smell the fresh smoked aroma of Salmon, Mahi-Mahi, Mackerel and Mullet. If you ever stop by, make sure you try their smoked fish spread and maybe take a pint home, as well as fish by the pound. We ate there several times when we were in the area and enjoyed every bite.

We were told by the owner after we showed him the painting, that wherever we would go in the country, we would have people recognize it. He was right, people recognized it from Detroit to Chicago and south to Florida.

Other St Pete places I have painted are:

Biff Burger

28th Street Drive in Theatre

Ted Peters Smoked Fish

Pelican Diner

around the sides of the wood.

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

Rosie’s Diner #2

December 29, 2014February 22, 2021 Admin

Nostalgia Painting Larry Johnston

Rosie’s Diner (2nd Painting)

Rockford, Michigan

While at an art festival, I had my Rosie’s Diner painting on display. One of my customers liked the painting, but wanted his car put into the painting. It was a smaller painting with only his own car highlighted. Rosie’s seemed to be a very busy place for photos of everyone’s favorite car. Here is a link to my first Rosie’s painting. Other Silver Diner paintings that I have done are: Pelican Diner, St Pete Beach, FL; Inside the Silver Diner, Red; Inside the Silver Diner, Pink.

around the sides of the wood.

24″ X 36″ original painting on canvas not available.

Kerchman County Fair

December 29, 2014February 22, 2021 Admin

Kerchman County Fair

“The Carnival”

While exhibiting at an Art Show near Orlando, Florida over fifteen years ago, I was approached by a lady, who was impressed by my paintings and asked if I would be interested in painting a picture for her. That doesn’t sound so, “out of the ordinary”, but then she gave me the details.

She worked for a company, that has a picnic every year about the same time and needed a painting that represented the event, for their poster. Here’s the deal…..Every year, artists submit a picture for competition and the one that is chosen will receive a cash award. They would keep the painting and print 1000 limited edition prints, from the painting and the artist could keep the overruns.

The same artist had won 3 years in a row. I was shown the paintings that had won previously, some watercolor, others were a pastel, pen and ink and colored pencil and they were all very good. I was given a deadline to present the picture, so they could compare it against the other entries. The winning artist would then make corrections, as needed and return the winning piece. She gave me some photographs of the event from previous years to use as a reference.

After presenting the painting, it was chosen as was, with no changes. I heard later that there was another artist, who was upset because he didn’t win. He was counting on the prize money.

15” x 24” ………. $45.00 PAPER Print

around the sides of the wood.

24″ X 36″ original painting on canvas not available.

Oliver Ford

December 29, 2014February 22, 2021 Admin

Oliver Ford

Plymouth, IN

Oliver Ford, Located in Plymouth, Indiana is one of the commission paintings that I have done over many years. The painting was a gift from the owner’s children. They wanted their new dealership painted and also wanted specific vehicles added to the painting. It was a lot of fun adding vehicles to the painting to make it look realistic.

around the sides of the wood.

24″ X 36″ original painting on canvas not available.

Prange Building

December 28, 2014February 22, 2021 Admin

The Prange Building,

Kalamazoo, Michigan

During the Winter months, my Art Festival travels took me to the warmer southern states. During the rest of the year I visited many of the northern states. During a show in Kalamazoo, Michigan, I was asked to paint a painting of a night club and piano bar, called Monaco Bay in Kalamazoo, Michigan, which I previously painted. Later, the same person commissioned me to paint the Prange Building, another building he owned, which had businesses on the main floor and apartments on the upper floors.

This painting was one of many homes and businesses I painted on commission, during my travels.

around the sides of the wood.

24″ X 36″ original painting on canvas not available.