Carwash, Lakewood Center, Lakewood, CA, 1958
The sparkling clean car is a 1955 Mercury Montclair finished beautifully in aqua and cream, inside and out. This model was among the first of the 50s cars to be recognized as a classic. Thankfully the location of where this ultra rare car wash shot was taken is revealed in the background by the space age LAKEWOOD CENTER sign. When I was a kid my Aunt Karen and Uncle Melvin lived in Lakewood and I spent a lot of time there
Lakewood is one of Southern California’s most unique cities. In its day it was the biggest and most ambitious suburban tract home development ever. Covering more than ten square miles, it was promoted as the “world’s largest planned community.” And with each house equipped with a Waste King Pulverator, it was also called the “world’s first garbage-free city.
Started from scratch in 1950, by 1953 Lakewood had 135 miles of freshly paved streets, twenty parks, ten schools and seventeen-thousand cookie cutter homes, all surrounding the Lakewood Center.
The Lakewood Center was exactly that – the center of Lakewood. It was much more than just a shopping center. It was the modern equivalent of the classic town square. Along with a smart modern-style pedestrian promenade of shops there were office buildings, restaurants, a bowling center, theater, post office, civic center and car wash all perfectly complimented by parking for 12,000 cars
The crowning touch and center’s centerpiece was the tallest building in town, the May Co. department store. The giant towering yellow neon M’s that crowned the retail castle on four sides were each nineteen feet tall and visible from every street in town
Lakewood was basically an instant-just-add-water city with all the trimmings – Southern California’s very own utopia, the model suburban city
GOD BLESS AMERICANA and LAKEWOODANA
I grew up in Lakewood, CA in the late 1950′s (was born in Bellfower). I remember scenes like this. Thank’s for a blast from the past. I don’t have a website, but I found a cool one, and I’ll e-mail it to you.
Take care, Jay Taylor
I was in the Maryknoll All Girls Drum and Bugle Corps. (This was in the late 50′s, early 60′s) Wasn’t there an annual parade In Lakewood? I recall marching in that parade. Being part Asian, I always thought of Lakewood as a modern suburb; cookie cutter houses with pools, where only white people lived.
I grew up on Sunfield Ave. in Lakewood during the 50′s, and I remember Lakewood Center all too well. The Butler Brothers store manager was always telling us to not play on the elevator. Thanks for the memories!
I currently live in Lakewood for two years. This place is awesome and i wouldn’t move anywhere else. Im 25 yrs old and never saw the golden times but im fascinated with its history. Thanks…
I grew up in Lakewood, but have been gone for many years. I have been wracking my brain trying to remember the name of a hamburger drive-in joint on South St just west of Lakewood Blvd. It was the traditional drive-ion with car-hops who brought your order to the car and put on a tray on your window ledge.
They had great fish & chips and lime freezes. I just can’t remember the name of the place. It might have been a man’s name. Anybody have an answer to this? Thanks!