As many of you know, while traveling around the country, I tried to have paintings from the areas where the Art Festivals were located, so I would have something that they could identify with and enjoy. I exhibited in New Albany, Indiana, which is located just across the Ohio River from Louisville, Kentucky.
I took pictures of several places around the town and one of them was the Firestone Store downtown. I liked the design of the store, so I decided to use the lights to my advantage, by making it a rainy scene, to pick up all the reflections. As usual, I put in the cars that would fit in that era. I hope you like it.
PrintsALL 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 stretched canvas $1,295.00
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.
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.
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 $1,295
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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.
Copyright Larry Johnston
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.
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)
It was the 1950’s, when Neon, Milk Shakes and cool cars came on the scene. In the midst of it all, we had heard of a new restaurant that had burgers, fries and shakes. You couldn’t go inside to eat and they didn’t have car hops that brought it out to your car. The way it worked was, you walked up to the window on the outside of the building and ordered your food, they prepared it, put it in a bag and you either sat in your car or took it home to eat. They called it “Fast Food”. The even had a sign that told you how many hamburgers they had sold nationwide.
These places started in Chicago and were popping up in other states. In January of 1959, the first local McDonald’s opened just one block from the dividing line between South Bend and Mishawaka, Indiana, on Lincolnway West on the Mishawaka side.
As I was traveling and painting for Art Shows, the pubic was excited about my diner and restaurant pictures. Since I did several shows in this area, and was raised in South Bend, I decided to include McDonald’s, as it would have looked, when it first opened here.
While on the road in in Louisville Kentucky, at St. James Court, one of the top shows in the country, we were approached by a family, whos’ father had just retired and sold his collection of a large number of McDonald’s restaurants he had built up, during his restaurant years. The children wanted to pool their money and buy him the painting as a retirement gift.
The McDonald’s painting was my first experience with Classic Cars and Neon, which became a popular theme in later paintings.
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)
20″ x 24″Black Edge………. $148.82
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20″ x 24″ White Edge………. $148.82
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20″ x 24″ Wrapped Edge………. $148.82
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30″ x 36″ Black Edge ………. $204.72
Error! Special characters like [, ], <, > are not supported in the product name.
30″ x 36″ White Edge………. $204.72
Error! Special characters like [, ], <, > are not supported in the product name.
30″ x 36″ Wrapped Edge………. $204.72
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30″ X 36″ original painting on stretched canvas not available.
During the outdoor drive in era, the Ft George Drive-in was built in 1950. It was located at 16300 Fort Street, in Southgate, Michigan. The theatre had one screen and could hold 1200 cars, which later, after remodeling, was able to service 1300.
During a storm in 1990, the screen was damaged by the high winds. It was eventually torn down in 1991.
While touring with my paintings, I had done several theatres, when I was told about the Ft George theatre at the Wyandotte Art Fair, just north of Southgate, where the drive-in theatre used to be. After some research, I found a black and white sketch of the theatre. I believe it was on a matchbook cover.
I painted the 24 x 36 painting before the show, the following year. I made prints of the painting and it became a popular item in the area. It’s amazing how many people remember that theatre along with some of the stories that followed.
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.
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 canvas not available.
This painting was of the popular Biff Burger in St. Petersburg, Florida, located on 49th Street. It still has the original design and is the only one left from the original hundreds of franchised restaurants that disappeared mostly in the 1970s.
Instead of Burgers, Fries and Shakes, they offered many other possibilities, for Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner. While exhibiting at shows is the area, it was suggested that Biff Burger would make a great local addition to my paintings. It was one of my early paintings of nostalgic cars and diners.
Established in 1932, Angels Diner is the oldest diner in the State of Florida. Palatka is located 44 miles east of Gainesville and is open 24 hours. They even serve breakfast at any time. Besides up to one-pound hamburgers, they are also known for their freshly made Onion Rings. (Not Frozen). You can also order Hot Dogs, Fried Chicken and Catfish. The diner also has outside covered seating.
Gainesville has several big Street Art Shows per year, which I exhibited at both. Angels was a big hit after I painted and unveiled it for the shows. The locals recognized it as their own favorite historic place to eat.
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)
