16.5: Car Cultures and Faster Food

The rise of the car culture led to the development of new architectural styles that were designed to accommodate the needs of motorists. For example, drive-thru restaurants and car washes became popular, as did malls and buildings with large parking lots. Additionally, the use of glass and steel in architecture became more common, as these materials were seen as being more modern and car friendly.

California Car Culture

California has long been a car-centric state. The state's mild climate, vast open spaces, and love of the open road have all contributed to the rise of car culture in California. In fact, the automobile also influenced the advent of the Freeway. The Arroyo Seco Parkway, also known as the Pasadena Freeway, is one of the oldest freeways built in the United States, (the 110 Freeway would replace the California Cycleway, which was a 9-mile elevated bicycle tollway built in 1900). It connects Los Angeles with Pasadena alongside the Arroyo Seco seasonal river. It is notable not only for being an early freeway, mostly opened in 1940, but for representing the transitional phase between early parkways and modern freeways. It conformed to modern standards when it was built, but is now regarded as a narrow, outdated roadway. A 1953 extension brought the south end to the Four Level Interchange in downtown Los Angeles and a connection with the rest of the freeway system.

Figure 16.6: The Tunnels Through Elysian Park- Along the Arroyo Seco Freeway. Image by Gardner-Thompson Company and California Scenic Views, made available Copley Library, University of San Diego, allowed for non-commercial, personal, educational, and research use only.

In 1903, the first Model A Ford was produced in Detroit, Michigan. The Model A was an affordable and reliable car that was well-suited for the roads of California. As a result, the Model A quickly became popular in California.

In the 1920s, the popularity of car culture in California exploded. The state's population was growing rapidly, and new roads were being built all over the state. This made it easier for people to get around by car, and car ownership became increasingly common.

The 1930s saw the rise of the "California Dream." This was the idea that California was a place where people could escape the hustle and bustle of the East Coast and start a new life. The California Dream was often associated with cars, as cars were seen as a symbol of freedom and mobility.

The 1940s and 1950s saw the golden age of car culture in California. The state's economy was booming, and new car models were being introduced all the time. Cars were becoming more affordable, and more people were able to own them. This led to a boom in car-related businesses, such as drive-in restaurants, motels, and gas stations.

Figure 16.7: The 1957 Chevy Belair- An Iconic Space Age Car. Image by Chevrolet Pre-1978 is in the public domain.

The 1960s saw the rise of the counterculture movement in California. This movement challenged the traditional values of American society, and cars were often seen as a symbol of the status quo. In fact, in 1960 it was estimated that in California alone, 31% households had two or more cars, while places like New York only had 12% of the households owning two or more cars. As a result, some members of the counterculture movement turned to motorcycles and vans as an alternative to cars.

The 1970s saw the oil crisis, which led to a decline in car culture in California in a few different ways. As gas prices rose, people started to drive less, and new car ownership began to decline as Californians were pushed to purchase fuel economic vehicles, rather than based on social class and design. However, car culture in California never fully disappeared. In fact, it has made a resurgence in recent years, as people have become more interested in classic cars and hot rods.

U.S. Route 66 - The Will Rogers Memorial Highway

Route 66, also known as the "Mother Road," was one of the original highways in the United States Numbered Highway System. It was established on November 11^th, 1926 and was officially designated as U.S. Route 66 in 1936. The highway was named after its designation as the 66th numbered highway in the system and was originally called the Will Rogers Highway, after the famous American actor and humorist. The highway ran for 2,448 miles (3,940 km) from Chicago, Illinois, to Santa Monica, California, passing through eight states: Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona.

Route 66 was featured in several films and television shows, and movies, including "The Grapes of Wrath," "Easy Rider," and "Cars." In the 1950s, the Interstate Highway System began to be built, and many of the original sections of Route 66 were bypassed by the new highways. As a result, Route 66 began to decline in popularity. However, the highway has since been designated as a National Historic Trail, and it is now a popular destination for Roadtrippers and history buffs.

Figure 16.8: The Wigwam Motels in Rialto California. Image by Carol M. Highsmith is in the public domain.

The beginning of the decline of US Route 66 can be traced to 1956, when President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed the Interstate Highway Act. Many Disney historians believe that Walt Disney's vision of a futuristic highway system, as seen in the Autopia attraction at Disneyland, may have influenced the development of the Interstate Highway System. The similarities between the two projects suggest that Disney's ideas about how to move people around quickly and efficiently may have been shared by some of the architects of the Interstate Highway System. This is especially likely given that the Autopia attraction opened in 1955, just one year before the act was signed.

Drive Thru and Fast-Food

The car culture also led to the development of fast food. Fast food restaurants were designed to be convenient for motorists, with drive-thru windows and parking lots that were easy to access. Additionally, fast-food restaurants often featured bright colors and simple designs that were meant to catch the attention of passing motorists.

Lecture Time: California’s Fast-Food History

Want to learn more? Either scan the QR code or visit this link to learn about the influence California had on perfecting Fast-Food and the influence these establishments had on the landscape. (Video length: 10:34min).

California may not have invented fast food, but it certainly perfected it. The history of fast food can be traced back 1916, when the first White Castle opened in Wichita, Kansas. White Castle was a hamburger restaurant that served food quickly and cheaply. The novelty of getting food fast quickly caught on, and other fast-food restaurants began to open all over the country, including in California.

In the 1940s, two of the most iconic fast-food chains in the world were founded in California: McDonald's and In-N-Out Burger. McDonald's was founded in San Bernardino, California, in 1940 by brothers Maurice and Richard McDonald. The McDonald brothers' restaurant was a simple drive-thru operation that served hamburgers, fries, and shakes. In-N-Out Burger was founded in Baldwin Park, California, in 1948 by Harry and Esther Snyder. The restaurant was the first drive-thru hamburger stand in California, allowing drivers to place orders via a two-way speaker system. This was a new and unique idea, since in post-World War II California, carhops were used to take orders and serve food.

The 1950s saw the golden age of fast food in California. The state's population was growing rapidly, and new roads and freeways were being built all over the state. This made it easier for people to get around by car, and fast-food restaurants became increasingly popular.

By the 1960s, fast food continued to grow in popularity in California especially with the creation of chains, such as Taco Bell, Der Weinerschnitzel, Del Taco, and the International House of Pancakes (IHOP).

Today, fast food is still a major part of the California food landscape, culturally and architecturally, and it is often seen as a symbol of the state's car culture and diversity.