I was born and raised in Orange County and have lived here for 39 of my 43 years. The county has changed tremendously during that time - some I like and some I don't. One I don't enjoy is the gradual disappearance of the urban landscape I grew up with: the post-war architecture (of which Googie is the most famous) that used to define so much of OC.
So, we're launching a new regular feature here on Red County/OC Blog called "Old School OC" in which we'll pay tribute to those pockets of crazy, neon post-war architecture still remaining the Orange Curtain: burning bright and untouched by the forces of redevelopment.
We'll start it off with Linbrook Bowl in Anaheim, located -- as the name implies -- at the corner or Lincoln and Brookhurst (201 S. Brookhurst Street, to be precise).
Linbrook Bowl has been around since 1958. If I recall correctly it came perilously close to going out of business a few years ago, but is thankfully still among the living.
The landmark sign -- with it's giant, rotating neon bowling pin -- is a glorious icon of Googie. architecture:
It's even appeared in the off-beat comic strip "Zippy the Pinhead."
I've been out photographing these neon landmarks of post-war, Space Age, American optimism and will be posting them regularly, but I'd appreciate tips from readers about any such landmarks (motels, liquors stores and drive-in dairies seem to be the remaining concentrations) that I may be overlooking.
Next week: the La Palma Chicken Pie Shop!
