Farewell to Googie Architect Eldon Davis

2011 April 28

tags: Eldon Davis, googie, Googie architecture, mid century modern diners, mid-century modern, Norms

by Abby Rayner

Norms on La Cienega

If you’ve driven along La Cienega, chances are you’ve noticed NORMS diner. The iconic, saw tooth sign and aerodynamic rooftop beckons passersby. Designed by Eldon Davis, it is the oldest NORMS still in operation and represents iconic Googie architecture. First introduced in the late 1940′s in Southern California, Googie style was found at coffee houses, motels and bowling alleys at that time. Features of Googie include upswept roofs, curvaceous, geometric shapes, and bold use of glass, steel and neon.

Known as the father of the California coffee shop for mid-century designs, Eldon Davis, 94, passed away on Tuesday, April 26. A risk taker who defined a style by making it his own, Davis exposed modern architecture to the masses. Other Davis designs include prototypes for local Denny’s and Bob’s Big Boy restaurants.