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California Drive-ins (page 3)

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Bob's Drive-in
Lindsay, CA
Bob's Drive-in is probably from the 1950s or 1960s. The sign was repainted sometime after 2008. For more, see this website. [map]

Fantastic Burgers
Long Beach, CA
The Fantastic Burgers building looks to be from the 1950s or 1960s. [map]

Tom's Burgers
Long Beach, CA
Tom's Burgers is just south of Fantastic Burgers described above. It also appears to be from the 1950s or 1960s. [map]

Scenic Drive-in
Modesto, CA
The Scenic Drive-in opened in 1956. The owner bought the dog sign from another business and added it to the text sign in 1963. The dog is outlined with white neon. His eyes are yellow and his mouth is red. "Scenic" is lit in green while "Drive-in" is lit with red neon. [map]

Gillman's Frosties
Oakdale, CA

2014:

2017:
Gillman's Frosties opened in 1955. These photos are from 2014. The building and sign were repainted around 2015. In 2017, the sign blew off the roof in heavy winds. It was replaced with a new one. [map]

former Mel's Drive-in
Oakland, CA
This former Mel's Drive-in now houses a hair salon and a dentist's office. [map]

Grinder Haven
Ontario, CA

2008:

2013:
Grinder Haven opened in 1958 as D'Elia's Grinder Haven. The sign's blue paint has faded to green. Sometime after 2016, the sign was painted a darker green and the neon removed. The place closed soon after that. In 2019, the sign's neon was removed and the panels were repainted and adapted for a taco shop. The building is still there. [map]

Polka Dot
Quincy, CA
The Polka Dot opened in 1962. [map]

Gene's Drive-in
Redding, CA

2015:

2022:
Gene's Drive-in opened in 1954. The sign used to read "19 cents" over the criss-crossed neon in the center of the sign. Gene's closed in 2017. The building was demolished in 2018. The sign was restored and is now installed at the Redding Dragstrip. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2.

George's Drive-in
Riverside, CA

2013:

2023:
George's Drive-in opened as a different drive-in in 1955. It may have been Tina's Drive-in. The sign was built in 1957. The drive-in became George's in 1974. There was an identical sign in San Bernardino, CA which has been further remodeled and doesn't look like that anymore. An advertisement from 1957 listed that business as Ted's Shortstop Drive-in. Perhaps George's was a Ted's Shortstop originally or had the same owner. In 2023, the Riverside sign was painted red. The text was changed from "Tacos Fries" to "Fries Shakes." New neon tubing was installed on top of the letters. The previous neon outlined the letters. For more, see this website. [map]

former Eat & Run
Marysville Rd.
Sacramento, CA
former Eat & Run
60th St.
Sacramento, CA
former Eat & Run
Fruitridge Rd.
Sacramento, CA
The Marysville Rd. Eat & Run has been vacant since at least 2007 and probably much longer than that. I believe all or most of the locations had these steaming burger signs. [map]

The 60th St. Eat & Run opened in 1958. There were six locations by 1959. Two of those had been built by 1954. The building has housed the Village Drive-in since around 1989. [map]

The Fruitridge Rd. Eat & Run was built in 1958. The building now houses JJ Fish & Chicken. [map]

CA Drive-ins
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CA Drive-ins
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CA Drive-ins
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Sno-White Drive-ins CA Ice Cream
CA Misc.
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Los Angeles
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SoCal Chains
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Central &
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