Tail ‘o The Pup, Los Angeles, 1962
Strung pennants blowing in the breeze, an Arden Ice Cream truck passing by and a Ford convertible parked at the curb provide a perfect backdrop for Los Angeles’s most playful architectural icon. The famous fast food stand is world class. There is no better place in the known universe to enjoy a hot dog.
There are many architectural treasures in this ‘ol world of ours. But few make my spirit soar to the moon and back again like this Land-of-the-Giants scale hot dog! Chipped and peeling paint has never been so charming; dripping mustard so appetizing and a pop-up candy-striped awning so eye-catching. The petit neon sign is the perfect crowing touch.
The Tail ‘o the Pup opened in 1946. It was built in the tradition of the legendary Brown Derby Restaurant and many other buildings in Southern California shaped like things. In the mid-80s when the property the hot dog sat on, at 311 N. La Cienega, was slated for redevelopment we almost lost the little gem. But thankfully a new site was found, 329 San Vincente, just above Beverly where it remains open for business to this day. Nearly sixty years later little has changed.
Speaking of hot dogs, they are an interesting food item. Pulverized animal parts injected into a casing. What are they really made out of anyway? And how closely are they related to the other food matter made form pulverized animal parts, Jell-O? They have so many names, more names than any other food item. Call them weenies, frankfurters, franks, dogs, links or as they are called here “pups.” And they come in so many sizes too – foot-long to cocktail weenies. And some even plump when you cook ‘em! Let’s have a big weenie roast party
Am I the only person to be somewhat unnerved by the sight of that “dog” slipping out from between the buns?
The City of West Hollywood now owns the Tail ‘o the Pup. Currently it sits in storage while a new location is found.
As a child I remember all to well the Tail o’ Pup, amusement park & best of all was the Pony rides. Mom & Dad would drive up to Vegas but before hand drop me off with my Grandpa. Oh I loved it! I just did a search on his address and sadly it’s now a “gated community” What happened to us? Civilized of Corporate junkies? I miss the days you could just walk up on a So Cal Sunny day Go to the amusement park, walk across the street to Owls for a Root-beer float(at the counter, so fun spinning on the seat,lol). Go back ride the pony & on the way back to grandpa’s have a dog at the tail o’ pup.
Best days ever now this grandma won’t be able to share with her granddaughter…
I remember when I was very little, in the late 1940′s, there was a small amusement park near the Pup. The most exciting thing in the world was to go to the amusement park and ride the little roller coaster and ride the ponies, and then go have a hot dog. I remember back then the only store open on Sundays was the Owl Rexall on La Cienega. I always used to go with my father if he was going there for anything, because there was just a chance he would take me to the Pup.
I remember stopping here on Friday and Saturday evenings when it was on La Cienega right before heading to a nightclub just a block away on Beverly Blvd.
I was there once when I lived in Town. It is a landmark and should hold some Historic or Nostaligic value. We have been able to either save or move many Historic buildings and such here in Cleveland.
The Dogs were good! If any of you come to Cleveland ever, I suggest “The Hot Dog Inn” located on the west side of town.
I seem to remember hearing about a legal case where somebody once sued Tail of the Pup because they bumped their head on one side of the protruding weinie!
C’mon people Pinks is terrible -bad dogs stale buns, greasy chili and bad service. Tail o the pup was excellent and the owners knew all the regular customer’s names. I’m gonna miss this place and the great food. The burgers were excellent too. Thanks, Charles, for putting up the old pic.
I used to live about two blocks from this stand and it was fun to see those who ignored it and those (mostly tourists) who’d go ga-ga.
Being kitty-corner from the HardRock did pull some over (those able to resist the ‘lure” of t-shirts, Lucite-encased guitars, and bacon smoke)
Agreed– Pink’s wins hands-down for dogs (Millennium Dog!) and I still occasionally deal with that Pink’s line, not for dogs, but their white cake and it’s awesome sugary, Crisco-frosting? The best.
If anyone sees the ‘Pup resurface let us know where, please…
While the dogs at Tail O’the Pup can’t hold a candle to those featured over at Pink’s on La Brea Ave., the Pup shack blows Pink’s out of the water.
But sadly, as of February, 2006, the Tail O’the Pup is once again without a home. It has been moved into storage to make way for more redevelopment. I am sure that it will resurface somewhere in L.A.eventually, but I imagine that it won’t be very close to it’s original home on La Cienega.
Stay strong little Pup, and know that we love you!