This is from laobserved.com: http://www.laobserved.com/archive/2007/01/historic_googie_demolishe.php
Word swept through local preservation ranks
yesterday that a crew began demolishing Downey's historic Johnie's Broiler
about 3 pm — on a Sunday. No permit had been issued, activists say, but they
rushed to the scene and found that the reports were true. They managed to stop
the demolition after the interior was gutted. Chris Nichols described the scene
at the website of the L.A.
Conservancy Modern Committee: "It really was like a plane crash. The
demo crew didn't even put up a fence - no asbestos abatement - nothing. Just
moved the cars over a few feet and started pushing it over." Harvey's, the original name, opened in 1958 as a Googie-style drive-in on Firestone Boulevard. It was recently deemed eligible for the state's register of historic
buildings. Roadside
Peek has more.
News footage and stories:
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Photo: LottaLiving.com