Ben Frank's, Los Angeles, 1962
A brave pedestrian jay walks across the legendary and very busy Sunset Strip. Behind him a man hangs his arm out of a two-toned 1960 Chevrolet Station Wagon. It has gull-wing fins, cat-eye tail lights and a two-tone paint that coordinates with one of LA’s greatest coffee shops in its first year of business. Ben Frank’s sophisticated yet snappy harvest gold and orange color scheme is way ahead of its time. And that smart and sassy asymmetrical a-frame looks like a relaxed Der Winerschnitzel or House of Pancakes
Among the plantings in the Palos Verdes Stone planters is a tri-tone sign post. Its part rocket, part spear, part paper airplane and part giant toothpick and labeled Ben Frank’s in a friendly font. Is Ben Frank short for Ben Franklin? I always pondered that question as I thoroughly enjoyed Liver and Onions there several Sunday afternoons in a row shortly after I moved to town in 1982.
Today, forty five years later the classic coffee shop structure still stands. But about decade or so ago Ben became Mel when Ben Frank’s quietly closed and morphed into a trendy retro diner called Mel’s Diner. I wonder if they have Liver and Onions on the menu.
Here’s to “59 Chevy’s, Ben Frank’s, orange and harvest gold, Liver and Onions and YOU!
Ben Frank’s plays another role in our national pop culture. When the creators of The Monkees sent out the casting call, they specified Ben Frank’s types! Thank you for showing us the source material!
Wow what fuzzy memories I have of that place late late at night after gigs in the late sixties/early seventies. I think.
Hey Charles!
Sorry, but you’re wrong about the Chevy — that’s a 1959 Chevrolet Brookwood Station Wagon (not 1960). The 1960 model has two round tail-lights on each side. I should know – my parents had ~two~ 1960 Chevy’s.
Next time, just Google it!
That looks like the same 1959 wagon that a woman was standing in front of by the side of the 101 freeway in a slide of the week from last year!
Wow! A snapshot in time. Wonder if the guy was going to see Dr.No? Some of the cars look like the ones from the movie. Or he could’ve been on his way back to his motel room to relax and watch “Route 66″ later. Great show. I’m sure the man grabbed a bite to eat first at the restaurant.
What a great photo! Jim Charles, you of all people should know that’s a ’59, not a ’60, Chevy wagon. The fins on that car match the roof of Ben Franks! WOW!
Looking at the photo of Ben Frank’s, it looked
both “far out” and really comfortable. I realize that, growing up in L.A. during the
50′s and 60′s, that space age architecture was
all around us and just seemed natural, modern
and fun. It lifted our spirits to eat in places
like that. Thanks for the great photo and the
memories it brought back.
In pulpy fictitious deliciousness, I am with you on the liver and onions. I’ll have mine with the mashed potatoes, brown gravy,and side of coleslaw. Love it.
Ben Frank’s was a way cooler place to meet up with friends after concerts on the strip back in the late 80′s and early 90′s. And at 5am, after a night out drinking with the Irish-band-on-tour of the week, they had the bestest french toast anywhere!!! I was sad when they closed up shop, and to be honest, don’t think I’ve had french taost since.
Charles: Well, the ’59 Chevy has been commented
upon already so, I’ll move to the Mel’s section
and comment on the food there. I’ve eaten in a
number of Mel’s Diners and the food isn’t worth the price. I did eat in THIS Ben/Mel’s a
few times and wouldn’t go out of my way to eat
there again either. An aside; today for lunch I
went to the Musso & Frank Grill on Hollywood Blvd where they charge from $2.50 to $3.75 for
the dressing on your salad! I had a ham sandwich and creamed spinach on the side and a
really refreshing brewed iced tea. A good restaurant has good cooks/chefs doing the work,
Mel’s lacks in that department. But, the build-
ing is a classic, yes it is.
I remember the place very well. I remember going there before heading towards Whiskey a Go Go for the evening and listening to Johnny Rivers. Thank you very much for the memories of the 60s.
ok, we’ve id’ed the Chevy, but Joyce, could it not be the top-of-the-line Nomad rather than the Brookwood? How about that nifty 1960 Ford
Convertible. Ford stylists were peeking over the fence at GM and spied the 59 chev styling.
They made the ’60 tailites oblong and copied the chev fins in 1960.. Did not sell too well so round tailites returned in 61. See the 57 Ford coupe in front of the Chev. James Bond painted it black and chased Dr No’s henchmen in Jamaica in 1960. Great slide, Charles
I missed the liver and onions and mashed taters . I drove by the place back in the early 60s and the place was a hang out for hippies regular folks and sonny and cher.
I always loved Ben Frank’s and thought the food was very good. After hours Strip hang out for many many years! I could never understand why they would close a perfectly good real retro diner and turn it into a fake one!
This was THE place to go after the clubs on Sunset closed. The Trip was down the street along with the Whisky a go go and Gazzaris’. I was there in summer 1966 and 1967. Also liked Canters’ and Hamberger Hamlet.