Chili Dogs

Varsity #1

Admin

   Copyright Larry Johnston

Copyright Larry Johnston

“The Varsity”

Atlanta, GA.

The first thing you hear when you arrive at the Varsity are the words, “What’ll ya have?” If you don’t know about the varsity, I need to bring you up to date.  The date was 1928, when the varsity was opened, just a couple of blocks from Georgia Tech, in Atlanta, GA.  It has become to be the World’s Largest Drive-in Restaurant. It can accommodate 600 cars and 800 people inside.

I have heard the drive-in restaurant serves 2 miles of Hot Dogs, a ton of Onions, 2500 pounds of Potatoes, 5000 Fried Pies and 300 gallons of Chili, made from scratch daily. That’s a lot of food they would have to have ready!

So, you see why I had to paint this painting.  Of course, I had to include a well-known classic car to add to the picture, as if the Varsity needed to have anything added.  By the way, the chili cheese dogs are outstanding!  So, if you’re heading south on I-75 through downtown Atlanta, the Varsity will be on your left side.

You can learn more about the history and menu of the Varsity Drive-In Restaurant at:

www.thevarsity.com 

Prints:
 
16” x 20” ………. Limited Edition Paper Print $45.00
 
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” ………. $1,295.00 Original Painting

 

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

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

 

Skyline Chili #2

Admin

Copyright Larry Johnston

Copyright Larry Johnston

Skyline Chili

Cincinnati, Ohio

Founded in 1949, the first Skyline Chili on Glenway Avenue, in Cincinnati, Ohio is an area now known as Price Hill.  The building is no longer there, however around the corner at 3714 Warsaw Ave (above painting), is a combination restaurant and drive through Skyline Chili.

Famous for their special chili, coney dogs and my favorites, the 3-way, 4-way and 5-way which offers a combination of Spaghetti, topped with their special Chili, covered with cheese.  Onions and beans can be added.

While exhibiting in the Cincinnati area Art shows, we discovered Skyline Chili and soon after, I painted two versions of the restaurant on Warsaw Avenue.  In the first version,  I painted the first wienermobile in the painting, as it was leaving the restaurant. (Click to View).  I guess the driver was craving a Skyline coney dog.  A couple, I met at an art festival, wanted me to paint the painting without those vehicles and wanted theirs in the painting instead. I have personalized other paintings over my career, especially at their favorite restaurants or places they grew up around.

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

Skyline Chili #1

Admin

Copyright Larry Johnston

Copyright Larry Johnston

Skyline Chili & Wienermobile.

Cincinnati, Ohio

Skyline Chili is well known around Cincinnati, so while in the area exhibiting in several shows, I decided to paint one of their locations. Actually, I painted 2 Skyline paintings, one commissioned by a customer, to include his car in the painting. (View)

The painting above was the closest to the original restaurant, which has since closed.  Since they were famous for chili dogs, I included the original Wienermobile in the painting. I didn’t know what brand of hot dogs they used, but the Skyline Chili Restaurant with the Wienermobile was quite a popular painting.

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” ………. $1,295.00 Original Painting

4 Way Lunch

Admin

Copyright Larry Johnston
Copyright Larry Johnston

Copyright Larry Johnston
Copyright Larry Johnston

4 Way Lunch

Cartersville, Georgia

Located in Cartersville, Georgia, at the corner of East Main Street (Hwy 41) and Gilmer Street, the  “4-Way”, as the locals called it, has been there since 1931. I painted the painting in about 1984, when I was exhibiting in art shows in the area.  It was one of my most popular paintings of the time.

The 4-Way was small, but it had front doors and a side door.  As you entered through the front doors, you noticed there were no tables, just 8 stools across the front of the counter. They may have had 2 or 3 at the end of the counter, but they were always  full. As soon as you finished eating, they asked you to get up, pay and go on about your day. Their menu was simple with hot dogs, hamburgers and fried chicken.  Their gravy burgers, you had to eat with a fork.  I enjoyed watching them make the chili dogs,  The cook lined up all the hot dogs up and down his arm and look a ladle and filled them with the chili. The health department would not allow such a thing in todays world!

The 4-way was not a place for a leisure lunch with friends and conversation.  When you finished eating, you had to leave, to let the next person come in and have a place to sit.  It was quite an experience.

It is located just off I-75 about 40 miles north of Atlanta.  It’s well worth the experience.

I painted several Cartersville places, and some really close by, here are the links…

Cartersville Depot

Ross Diner

Roselawn, Sam Jones Home

Euharlee Covered Bridge

Euharlee Covered Bridge in the Spring

Valley View

Tilley Park

Tilley Trolley

4 Way