By: Phil Salvatti
Photos courtesy of Minnie Ortner & Adriene Biono
You’ve seen them in movies such as “American Graffiti” and “Grease.” On television shows like ‘Happy Days’ and ‘The Beach Boys Story.’ And even sung about in early rock n roll pop songs. I am referring to the classic carhop-drive-in restaurants of yesteryear, where in the 1950’s America’s youth, their hot rods, steady girls, and friends grabbed burgers, fries and shakes in their cars. Carhop drive-ins were once as Americana as apple pie, as Rods and ‘Kustoms’ lined up with radios blaring while girls on roller skates brought orders on trays to attach to the car door while kids hopped from car to car. The popularity of carhops waned in the mid 1960’s as the world and culture shifted with the Vietnam war ramping up.
Sadly today this part of American pop culure is no more. The closest one comes today is a fast food drive up window. Luckily, there are a small number of retro drive-ins still in existence today scantly scattered around the U.S. Some are Bobs Big Boy reudx restaurants for instance and in some cases, independently mom and pop owned businesses. Stories of original coffee shop style carhops are fighting valiant wars to survive total destruction is fact and for those that made, “Hot Rod nights” a weekly event, take you back to Blue Berry hill and surfing USA.
One classic Drive-in that saw serious battle to survive is Downey California’s historical ‘Harvey’s Broiler.’ Which became ‘Johnnies Broiler’ and today is up and operating as ‘Bobs Big Boy Broiler’. Harvey’s history is full and first opened in 1958 by owner Harvey Ortner who was previously a partner in the famous ‘Clock Broiler’ Restaurants of Alhambra, Lynwood, Bellflower, Culver City, Van Nuys, South Pasadena and Temple City. All in Southern California. 
Architect Paul B. Clayton was commissioned to design the Harvey’s restaurant and incorporates Southern California’s “Googie” architectural elements to help attract customers and motorists. (There are two great historical books on Googie designs available, including the books ‘Southern California Eats’) Harvey’s became an overnight success and thousands of people came from all over the United States to experience the phenomenon of “The Broiler.” The restaurant was renamed as Johnie’s Broiler in 1968.
During its heyday, hot rods would cruise from drive-in to drive-in. Starting in Long Beach at Grisinger’s (now George’s) drive-in, continuing on to Holly’s (featured in the movie “Pulp Fiction” just prior to its demolition)
On New Year’s Eve 2001, Johnie’s Broiler closed its doors and stopped operating as a restaurant. The property soon after was converted into a small used car lot, yet the historic site stood intact. In 2006 the dealership’s lease was terminated while a new 99-year lease was drafted, and signed with a new tenant and wanted to tear the Broiler down, but city officials had turned down a demolition permit. Not long after, on a quiet Sunday afternoon, he took it upon himself to demolish the restaurant illegally. What took place next was amazing as community members who witnessed the starting of this got the word out quickly to police and officials before a full tear down could take place literally stopping the bulldozer dead in its tracks.
A grass roots committee of supporters quickly came together. The ‘Friends of Johnie’s’, along with ‘the ‘Coalition to Save & Rebuild Harvey’s Broiler’ sprung into action attending multiple hearings, city council meetings that got the word out that The Broiler needed the people’s help.
In April 2008, The Broiler found a new lease on life and was committed to a rebuild in a partial (original) incarnation. Reconstruction of the property, (based upon the original blueprints) began and JKBBD Corp., that owns Bob’s Big Boy restaurants in Torrance, Ca., took over reopening it as ‘Bobs Big Boy Broiler’ with all the classic Harvey’s symbolic fanfare.
Today it is a popular family Hot Rod community hangout and recognized historical site. And yes, the girls on skates are back. Wednesday nights are cruise night at the Bobs Broiler, so bring your classic rod, your best girl and chow down on a cheeseburger.
Now for a HOT ROD Music interlude : :
