Mini Run For The Border

Just when I thought I’d seen everything wacky in San Diego Dept.…

Near San Diego State University exists a miniature Taco Bell, as seen above. Yesterday I had to see this one for myself. I couldn’t believe my eyes. I’m so glad I made the short trek to see it, as these days, some moron will eventually spray paint it or vandalize it. As to the backstory, I found this on Roadside America website:

Faithful reproduction of the Mission-style first Taco Bell in San Diego, which stood from 1965 to 2008. This mini-version is across from a new Taco Bell's drive-thru. This miniature Taco Bell appears to be a utility box of some sort, faithfully decorated to commemorate the first Taco Bell in San Diego. It's adjacent to the drive-thru of the more recently remodeled Taco Bell that still stands at the corner of College and University Avenues. San Diego's original Taco Bell was built in 1965 and stood for over 40 years.



This little plaque gives a thanks to Glen and Marty Bell:



Turns out Glen Bell is the Taco Bell founder and Marty was his second wife. Edited from his obituary on newspapers.com:


Glen W. Bell Jr., the innovator and entrepreneur who tapped an unsated hunger for Mexican fare as Americans discovered fast food, creating Taco Tia, El Taco and in 1962 his signature Taco Bell, has died. He was 86. “We changed the eating habits of an entire nation,” Bell said in his 1999 biography, “Taco Titan: The Glen Bell Story.” When post-World War II Americans began to realize they could no longer survive without cheaply purchased, quickly delivered hamburgers, the Southern California born-and-bred Bell looked for another simple staple for the masses. He chose the taco, which he first sold in 1951 for 19 cents each at a drive-in in San Bernardino. Eventually, Bell coaxed multiethnic palates across the country into salivating for his tacos and later additions of burritos, tostadas, frijoles and chili burgers. PepsiCo purchased Taco Bell in 1978 for $125 million and eventually spun off its restaurants into Tricon Global Restaurants Inc., now known as Yum Brands. Taco Bell serves more than 36 million customers each week in more than 5,600 U.S. locations. Over the decades, Bell developed what he called his “recipes for success” -- some 60 homilies outlined in his biography. His first three rules were the formula for his restaurant chains: * You build a business one customer at a time; * Find the right product, then find a way to mass-produce it; * An innovative product will set you apart. “I’m an entrepreneur, not an administrator,” he said. “Taco Bell prospered because I recognized my limitations, hired professional managers to make up for them, and knew when to let go.”



If only this thing lit up at night…



The details are mind blowing. Somebody spent some time on this thing:





For a sense of scale, you can see the existing restaurant behind it, which was doing a steady business while I was there:



I’ve never been a big Taco Bell diner; I’d like to say I have fond memories of eating there, but the majority of times I was drunk and it was 3am. Yes, back in my college era. I think the last time I ate there was with Little Miss Sunshine back in 1994.

On the way home, I passed the Tower Bar in City Heights. What an interesting piece of architecture. Art Deco meets Andy Warhol.





…and this Rodney Dangerfield mural:



It pays to get off the couch and explore!
 
See more San Diego photos at my main website.

Traces of Tut

In 1922, a team led by British Egyptologist Howard Carter excavated the tomb of Tutankhamun (aka “Tut”) from the Valley of the Kings. The discovery received worldwide press coverage; with over 5,000 artifacts, it generated a frenzy of public interest in ancient Egypt that spilled over into American Architecture, as witnessed by today’s post. The first shot is from the City Heights neighborhood of San Diego and shows a detail from what was once known as the Egyptian Garage. Built in 1923 at the end of the old East San Diego trolley line, it was one of three Egyptian Revival streetcar electrical substations. It was sold two years later, remodeled, and from 1926 to 1932 was known as the Egyptian Garage, complete with gas pumps in front. I wonder if the attendants dressed as Tut?



Since 1957 it has been the home of Big City Liquor.



A few neighborhoods away is Hillcrest, which also has a number of Egyptian Revival remnants that have survived the years. On Park Boulevard you’ll find the Nile Apartments, complete with stained-glass doors that carry out the Egyptian theme.



Maybe the Pharaoh's Court Apartments from 1928 are more your style.





Across the street is the Egyptian Court Apartment complex, built in 1926 by Paul Carle. Two small shops and two apartment entrances face the street. The building is classic Egyptian Revival Art Deco, with the courtyard pond and garden designed and installed by Milton P. Sessions, nephew of San Diego horticulturist Kate Sessions, the “Mother of Balboa Park.”





The Bush Egyptian Movie Theater opened on June 30, 1926 and was one of San Diego’s original luxury movie houses. Patrons entered past huge columns in an open courtyard lobby. Today, only a portion of the original entrance remains, with a huge condominium now surrounding it. This was one of the theatres that my father went to as a little boy.



No Tut post would be complete without the Steve Martin song from 1978 that addressed the second wave of fame the “Boy King” experienced when his possessions toured around the world.



See more San Diego photos at my main website.

Tats and Pomps at the El Rey

Today's post shows photos from a shoot at El Rey Tattoo and Barber.



Barber Robbie "Bravo" Bazzani asked if his hair should be small, medium, or large. I had to see large. And it did not disappoint.



I had no idea what a cool place this hole-in-the-wall Tattoo and Barber Shop would turn out to be. Located in the City Heights neighborhood of San Diego, El Rey Tattoo and Barber is like walking into another world.



My first exposure to Rockabilly culture was with the music group the Rockats, back in 1994. They were playing at the annual Rockabilly music festival. Imagine Elvis…all tatted up…and with big hair. BIG hair. As founders of the modern Rockabilly scene, all Cat bands were inspired by the Rockats. Numerous appearances on network TV shows like Midnight Special, American Bandstand, Merv Griffin and a featured musical slot in "Where the Boys Are 84" cemented the Rockats' place in Rock 'n Roll History. They toured with The Clash, Kiss, Iggy Pop, and David Bowie, all the while being photographed by Andy Warhol, interviewed by Debbie Harry, and being early MTV favorites. Here they are (with a groupie), the morning after. This is why the hair is a bit smaller.



Can you believe this pompadour is done in only 7 minutes?



Impressive, at any angle.



Obviously, there's a lot of hairspray used in the production of such a 'do.





Ready for your cut at El Rey?



See more vintage & current Daveland photos on my main website.