Ultra Swank - Retro Adventures

Postcards of Googie Architecture in California

Written by Chris Alm • July 7th, 2009
Postcards of Googie Architecture in California

Since we all love kitschy postcards, I thought this would be a great way to start off the week. Here’s a sample of postcards of yesteryear California. Including motels, restaurants, diners, bowling alleys and everything between that all share the “Googie” styled design and architecture that became popular on the West Coast in the 1950s and 1960s.

The “Googie” style took its influence from futurist architecture, the new exciting car culture boom and the space-age living mentality from those decades of course. To define the style as simple as possible, think The Flintstones meeting The Jetsons.

Straight lines offset curvy, a cascade of colors, heavy use of plastic, starburst symbols, outdoor elements such as rocks, water and foliage incorporated indoors and big neon signs set with handwritten typefaces.

Source Synthetrix   

Chris Alm

Christopher founded Ultra Swank in 2005. Has a crush on mid-century graphic design, defunct airlines, Disneyland and the Century 21 Exposition. Is a collector of easy listening music from the 60s and 70s and a Swedish expat living in Barcelona, Spain.

Find out more about Chris Alm

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